God is amazing!

  So, just in case you forgot, I serve an amazing God!!! His timing is perfect and His plan is precise. Eli started going to a Montesorri school this week and has had a great time getting to know the teachers and other kids. It is taught all in Bulgarian, but most of the teachers speak English as well. GREAT!! Well, I was able to meet with the owner (who also speaks good English from living in South Africa for 12 years) and upon finding out I had an early childhood degree and experience working in a montesorri method, she offered me a job. I won't get paid, but receive a discount off of Eli's tuition. I was hesitant at first because of my full time language schedule. I told her I would only be able to come Monday and Friday mornings and she said that would work. After the meeting I was excited to meet the director of his school to see just how she would want me to help out. The director’s name is Zuzi and I immediately liked her. I was able to talk with her a little about where we were from and what we were doing here. Never quite sure about how to tell people we are missionaries here, I downplayed our involvement so as not to scare her away from the idea of me helping. She told me it would be great if I could teach the kids some songs in English and just talk with them in English as much as possible while I was in the classroom. Sounded good to me, I began planning how I could incorporate all of my Christian children songs into the class, while praying that God would direct me in how to go about presenting my ideas to Zuzi. Well, today God answered that prayer. Zuzi asked me if we could talk and I was concerned it would be about what I would be allowed to teach, but turns out she wanted to tell me….. she is a believer. She is ethnically Turkish and comes from a very muslim background, but accepted Christ when she was 16. She many in the ministry community here in Sofia and shared how she was so excited I was going to be working with the school. She has been working at the school for three years now as the only believer and expressed how she was beginning to get discouraged and had been praying about what to do. She mentioned wanting to get together to study the bible and I almost cried. How amazing is God that I was an answer to her prayers! How blessed I am to be used by The Father!! I can't tell you how excited I am now about getting to work at this school and the opportunity to share with all the other teachers and workers. I can't wait to see how God moves here! Please pray for Zuzi and her family. She told me that her dad accepted Christ just 2 months ago, and this was a huge deal because when she became a believer the family shunned her. Please pray for this opportunity to be a light and partner with a fellow sister in Christ to make Him known.

Hhhmmmm?

I struggled with a title for this blog, because it contains some thoughts I have been going over in my head. I can't say whether they are correct thoughts or not, just some things I feel God has laid on my heart since being here. I now live in a post communist country in which I have already met people who were literally imprisoned for their faith. Having come from a country where the worst thing to happen to you really, is social exile, this was huge for me. I have always heard about, read about, and learned about martyrs, but to actually meet people who lived through an era like that has been inspiring and thought provoking.  I began thinking about all the hardships the church faced under communism, and how hard it was for them to even meet as a body of believers. Then I began to look at most of the churches in America and even here today, and the question emerged, Have we made church to easy? Now the Bible tells us that being a follower of Christ will be no “cake walk”, but it also balances out with saved by grace not by works, so I have found a very fine line of living in fear of God. The churches of old had to find times to secretly meet, and I guarantee you those times were often not the most convenient for people. If anything they were incredibly inconvenient so that the secret police wouldn't find them out. Then they were most likely crammed into a small apartment or maybe even a single room. Then they would sit/stand for hours to hear the word of God and fellowship. Compare this to our church today. We have a variety of services to choose from so you can fit God into your schedule and a coffee house on campus if you get tired and need a little help paying attention for that service. At most churches the minute the sermon is over people are out the door and headed for lunch/dinner. Some may stay behind to chat or catch up on some gossip, but overall many feel their obligation to God is over. Now, before you feel I am being too hard on the church, let me say, I don't think having church on Sat. night is a bad thing. Not all churches have to do things the same way to be effective. I also understand people that work and have to get to a job after services are over, but my main thought is this. How many people would come to church if it wasn't convenient for them, and is that what a church service should be all about? I understand that we as a church body must be open to reaching others, but what kind of commitment to Christ can we expect from people we are asking so little of? There is actually a story in the Bible about the rich man that came to Jesus and said, (paraphrased) "Hey, I want to get in on this action, and I have the money to help you out." This would be a churches dream!! Yes, someone who wants to follow Christ and that tithe will help out our church budget. However, Jesus could see his heart, and told him to go sell everything, then he could follow. Well, the man went away sad. Basically, Jesus turned him away because the man's heart wasn't in it. What can we as a church learn from this? Obviously I am NOT saying we should turn people away, but maybe somehow as a church we should set an example of putting Christ first, and not wherever He will fit for the week. Again, I struggle with this, because this can't be the end. Salvation is free and simple, so why should going to church be difficult for anyone in a free country? Just how as a church do you encourage people to grow in their relationship with Christ without becoming legalistic? Legality is the wrong way to go, "For we are free from the law..", so...... Yep, this is what I have been pondering lately.   You can see the struggle.  As we grow churches here, following the Acts example, I constantly seek God's guidance as to what He wants them to be.  What do you think?

Where did this month go?

So, I thought it had only a week or so since I last posted......man, where did this month go? I guess we have been busier than I realized. We finally found schools for the kids and one offers some great ministry opportunities. We also finally got our one year visas (excited screaming and cheering in the background)!!! I also started meeting with a language helper that speaks only Bulgarian with me. We have also been on two cultural outings, so.....yea, I guess we have been busy.
Okay, I'll start with the visas. It was long and tedious process. Mostly because Steven had to go to the police station at least 2 times a week to check on the status of them. They don't give out a phone number to just call and check, you have to physically go there and ask in person. No problem for someone with a car, but for us it took at least 45min to an hour each way. That is a total of 1 1/2 hrs. to hear someone behind a window say, "No, no reply yet." For those of you who know my sweet husband, you know how much this irked him. He detested taking all that time twice a week for nothing. In the end it paid off though. The last time he met with the police chief, the man said, "Yeah, I know this case and I am tired of hearing about it. Go check and see if they are ready." Basically, he made sure they were ready so he wouldn't have to see us again. He was nice about it, but funny.
Now, about the kids school. School started here on Sept. 15th. Well, we still didn't have visas at this time, and the public school was requiring Audrey and Jonathan to have it before they could apply. So, we were left with the dilemma; leave them out of school until we get the visas (not knowing how long it could take), or find a private school for them. After prayer and seeking counsel, we decided on the later. Looking back I can see how this was God's plan all along. If Audrey would have been in the public class she would have been in a class of 29 students. There is no way the teacher would have had the time to spend with her to help her learn the language. Now, Audrey is in a class with 3 other girls. That's the entire class, just 4 girls. Audrey is very rarely in group where the majority of kids are girls, let alone only girls. She is LOVING it! The teacher is also very nice and speaks a little English. However, she only speaks Bulgarian to Audrey unless more explanation is needed for an assignment. Jonathan is in the class right next door to Audrey's and they have PE and Art class together. Jonathan's class is also small so he is able to receive the attention he needs to learn the language as well. I told Steven that it is only a matter of time now before they have both passed up our language skills.
Eli just started going to a Montesorri school right up the road from our apt. The owners are Bulgarian, but lived in South Africa for 12 years, so they also speak very good English. The school is taught in Bulgarian, but they try to incorporate other languages as well. When Steven met the owner he mentioned my background in education and the owner was very interested. When I met her she offered me a position working at the school so Eli could attend for free. I was thrilled!!! Not only would I be able to get back into a classroom, but Eli would be able to attend for free. I will be helping out on Mon. and Fri. so as not to interfere with my language classes, but told them I might be able to rearrange my lessons to come other days for special events. They want me to teach the kids some songs in English and just talk with them in English. I can do that! I am very excited about the many ministry opportunities I will have with this class of children and teachers!
I have also started meeting with a language helper. Basically this is someone to help me practice what I am learning. I have met with her 5 times and love getting to know her. Her name is Maya, and she has an 18 month old daughter. She was involved in a student exchange program in the states, so she speaks very good English and is able to correct my mistakes and even help me with some new vocabulary. I am looking forward to opportunities to share with her.
Wow, am I still writing?? I guess I should write something about Steven huh? Well, he is doing good. He passed me up in language classes, and now knows a lot more verbs than I do. Kind of upset me at first, but very proud of him at the same time. We have had many chances to get out of the city and practice our language and are now able to conduct basic business all in Bulgarian. We went on a day trip to a little village about an hour and a half outside of Sofia. We didn't reserve a room anywhere, just being spontaneous, so when we arrived we walked around until we found one we liked. Steven did the entire transaction in Bulgarian!! We also got to go to a bio-farm where they made their own fresh cheeses, yogurt and latsenitsa. They made lunch for us after we toured the farm and looked at the cows, goat, puppies, chickens, horses, and calf. Ohhhhh my....it was so good. The table was set with fresh milk form that mornings milking, yogurt that was made just the day before, and cheese that was so tasty. All while overlooking an amazing view of the mountains. I must say, God called us to a beautiful country, and a very hospitable people group.
Okay, I guess that is it for now. I know now not to wait so long between posts, or this is what you end up with. A long rambling of the past months activities. Sorry. If you managed to stay with me till the end I salute you. Have a great day!

I Missed our 6 Month Anniversary

 

I can't believe I completely missed writing about our 6 month anniversary of being here in Bulgaria. While it hasn't all been easy, I can say that it has been amazing. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to explain how much joy I have knowing that I am exactly where God wants me to be and has planned for me to be since I was 8. There are still many days that I look around me and just thank God for how He has worked in my life. I take no credit for anything, but give God total glory for being able to use us among the peoples of Bulgaria. As a family we have grown closer to each other and to the Father. As a mother, I have learned to let go of some control I thought I had to maintain. As a wife I have learned how to truly be a helper to my husband. But most of all as a child of God, I am learning what complete obedience looks like. I have had hard days,  and I know more will come, but overall I have yet to think, "I can't do this, I want to go home." I am home!