Monday, May 27, 2013, 10:15 AM – Pavlikeni, Bulgaria
(The Church)
Bulgaria’s Bio
So, I am
enjoying the World Race! The last couple days have been a little tough, but
good conversations with Freeweini and Jah-Jah the other day have really cheered
up my spirits. Right now I’m just chilling with Jah-Jah in our rockin’ little
room in the church. It’s a really nice little place with a massive tv and dvd
player that we have yet to utilize. Yet, with only a couple days before going
to Sophia I doubt we may ever put it to use.
It’s been
a great month on Bulgaria,
probably my favorite so far. I could definitely come back. I really think I
could try to start and build a church in Stambolovo. I would start by hanging
out in the town center, getting to know people and building relationships. The
more I would get to know them, the more I am sure I would start talking to them
about God.
For those
who are interested we could start playing frisbee games at the school on like
Tuesday nights and then have Bible studies on Thursday nights. During the day,
I could work on the property and maybe even do some more work online or
possibly teach English nearby, just to help pay my own expenses. I think it
could be a solid gig, just loving on kids, getting to know people in the community,
and sharing the Gospel within the context of relationships with other people.
We could even still host World Race teams and have them reach out to the
community.
I would have to be careful though. The kids here are
real headstrong and bold. If you don’t set boundaries, they will ring your
doorbell all day and come into your yard. The community also would consider us
wealthy simply because we’re American. Granted, by comparison Bulgaria is one
of the poorest countries, almost at the bottom in the European Union. In fact,
because of its poverty, when many of the young people grow up, they leave the
villages they knew and either move to the bigger cities or leave the country
altogether. It’s quite similar to what is happening in the rural communities in
Nebraska.
Bulgaria
has an interesting culture. It’s made of three different people groups: Turks,
Bulgarians, and Gypsies. Turks ruled Bulgaria for like 500 years.
Shortly after the Turks left the Communists came in. Only in the last 20 years
or so have the people really experienced some freedom. Yet much of the same
ethnic divisions remain, and even divisions within each group. There are
several different tribes of Gypsies, and it used to be that, at times, a Gypsy
girl who was interested in a Bulgarian man would be endangering her own life by
pursuing that relationship.
The national religion is Orthodox Christian, but most
people are largely agnostic. They view the church as a vending machine. You
come to it on Sunday, you give your change, sing some songs, and it makes you
good with God for some time. The Orthodox church is very liturgical/traditional
and from everything I can gather, dead. You need a priest to have a church.
The culture has some interesting proverbs as well.
“The bowed head does not get cut off.” “Bind the priest and the village has
peace.” Most people do not want to go to church because they don’t want people
to look at them differently. They don’t want people to think them as “committed”
believers. In fact, as Pastor Michael said,
“The only time you will really see people come to
Christ is in two instances: 1) the person has just undergone a severe tragedy
and in their grief they find God, 2) the person is bored to the point of death
and just wants to try something new.”
The crime isn’t really bad. In spite of the fact that
you can easily by combat knives and brass knuckles off the streets, crime
doesn’t seem to be big in Bulgaria.
The people too, though they can stare from time to time at foreigners, haven’t
left me feeling quite as uncomfortable as I did in Albania. And the village folk seem
to be very kind. We were practically celebrities when we left Stambolovo. The
kids were helping us load our vehicles, giving us hugs, and running alongside
the Turbo Wagon as we left. They requested Bibles from us and tracts of the
gospel of Mark. We shared the gospel with them at the park over chocolate
cream, crushed oreo, and gummie worm goodness. No one gave their lives to
Christ that night, but they heard the good news.
It’s a place I could definitely seem myself coming
back to for a time, if only because the country is simply gorgeous. Beyond that
though, the young people really responded to our message and enjoyed our
company. The older people as well were quite interested. We were an anomaly to
the community. We dressed different, talked different, played with this flying
plastic disc, and yet we were really friendly, fun-loving, and involved. For a
small village that sees very little change, we were probably the talk of the
town all month.
It seems like by-and-large, the culture isn’t really
interested in Christianity. But there are some elements here that really
encourage me. One such element is poverty, because the poor seem more open to
the Gospel. Another is the rarity of the Gospel, they aren’t desensitized to
something they’ve heard their entire lives (2% of the population is protestant).
Another is the agnostic culture, because agnostics have no sure hope or true
meaning for life. People need hope, and they can’t live without a sense of
purpose.
Also, I have sensed since arriving here in Bulgaria that
God is on the move in this country. He is raising up workers in this field. I
have met them, prayed with them, and worshipped with them. God is working in
this country, turning people to Him and spreading the Gospel.
So Lord, please bless the country of Bulgaria.
Continue to raise up workers in this nation to love their neighbors and
proclaim the Gospel with boldness. May your Spirit work in the hearts and minds
of the people of Bulgaria,
that they may be drawn to You and come to a knowledge of the salvation in your
Son Jesus Christ. Bless this nation Lord and your children who live in it. May
this land and this people whom you have made for Yourself call upon Your Name.
Amen.
On
another note, I really feel like God is drawing me back to Himself. I’ve been
spending a lot less time in the Word to really try and grow in my relationships
with my new team. Granted these relationships are important, but if I my
relationship with Christ suffers, so will they. So I need to keep first things
first and once again draw near to God. My life is to know Him, to be near Him.
Lord, please draw me back to you. May You be the chief desire of my heart and
nothing else. Amen.
