Monday, May 31, 2010

Hello Friends,
What a blessed day in Bulgaria. Our team started this exciting day at the baby home in Montana. We were greeted by a great director of the home which gave us a history of the home and its many needs. Shoes and more shoes were placed on many beautiful feet of these babies and some just received socks because of their age or disabilities. The babies were so happy to see us and just needed to be loved as Jesus loves us. The emotions and feelings that our team members felt are beyond words so I have attached pictures. Several children today were sick so they need our prayers as well as the workers taking care of them.



Our lunch today was prepared by three ladies at the Lom Baptist Church. Home cooking would best describe our wonderful lunch that renewed our strength for the afternoon. After lunch we proceeded to the Lom orphanage which consisted of preschoolers to the age of 18. We placed shoes and sandels on these children. Everyone worked so hard and with love and compassion to each child. The children were touched by their shoes and afterwards we went outside to play with the children. Amazing and exciting things happened today in which God had already planned. We ended the afternoon with a stop at the bank of the Danube River before returning to the hotel.





Their are so many emotions that are experienced through our team members that I wish you at home could have an opportunity to experience. Your prayers, thoughts, and excitement make our trip possible because God is at work with us in Bulgaria. Russ





Sunday, May 30, 2010

Jesus is the Light of the World

Slava na Boga, Friends! Today, we rocked it out in a BIG way!

Our morning started in the Rockavitsa gypsy village. We led stories and songs with the children at the Baptist church, sharing that Jesus is the Light! We decorated and wore sun visors; (Note the theme--LIGHT!) Durng the church service, our group shared hymns and sang Jesus Loves Me in Bulgarian accompanied by handbells; (Thanks Blaine!) . Skip shared a beautiful message. Afterwards, the ladies of the church had sweets and juice to share with us.

The afternoon was spent at Berk 4, the home for handicap children. There is a huge variety of ages in this home, ranging from five to 38. Our focus was placing shoes on their feet. My, oh my, their feet! What moves my heart is the sweet, sweet spirit of these children. We arrived. They greeted us with waves and shouts of welcome. They escorted us off the van and eagerly helped us to unload supplies. We set up shop and within two hours we had shoes on 91 children! Debbie served as shoe sizer, measuing each foot! Jane and Bridget provided the socks. Escorted by Russ and Tom, the children then moved on to the sales team: Cindy, Leanne, Kelly, Jeff, and Ron. Skip and Thomas were the runners, handing each sales team member a pair of shoes in the size of their customer. Once fitted with a pair of tennis shoes and sandels, the kids went to see Rachel and Polly for some clothing!

Heart Moments:
*As our team sang, "How Great Thou Art" the people of the gypsy church joined with us in their language and together we praised Jesus!
*We connected with old friends: In fact, a girl asked by name for Emily, a 2009 team member.
*At Berk 4, we were blessed as we experienced pure, unabated love as grown men and children hugged our necks and held our hands. Inspite of not sharing a common language, we share a love of each other and Jesus!
*Seeing how God has worked in the lives of these children in a year's time: Today, I held a child in my lap for 30 minutes !!!! who last year would not interact with us as he thrashed and kicked about the floor alone.
*Seeing God work through our amazing team! Tom: hollering with the gypsy children. Polly: holding a 12 year-old child with cleft lip in her lap. Others: stepping out of their comfort zone to share the light of Jesus!

Friends, we are so blessed to have your love and support. Please continue to keep to us and the people of Bulgaria in your prayers.

Love,
Leanne
(with assistance from Rachel, Kelly, and Bridget)

Saturday, May 29, 2010

may 29

Hey friends! We made it! It's been a long 2 days, but we are in Berkovista, Bulgaria. We had a delay in Charlotte that caused us to miss our flight in Munich, Germany, but all worked out well and we were able to all be placed on the next flight out of Munich to Sofia, Bulgaria. As usual, Paul and Judy met us at the airport. We also met two new additional members of our team - Ron and Thomas from Virginia. They are a father / son team and we are blessed to have them join.

We then drove to Berkovista (Berk for short) to settle into our hotel and then get some food. This is the village that we have stayed and worked in for 2 years. It feels so good to be here.

We are extremely tired and so we will sign off for now - we'll have more to add tomorrow. We will have a church service in the gypsy village and then go the handicap orphange to love on those brothers and sisters. What joy God has in store for us! :)

Blessings,
Rachel

Friday, May 28, 2010

May 28, 2010

Thanks for visiting our site! Stay tuned and we'll write shortly about our trip.

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in teh one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" - Romans 10:14-15

As we begin our journey to Bulgaria, please pray for our safety traveling, the missionaries we are working with (the Ridgways), and for the beautiful orphans. This year's team is focused on placing shoes on orphans feet and sharing God's love through Bible stories (mini VBS). Thanks for your prayers!

Will post soon!

MAY 2009: BULGARIA

MAY 2009: BULGARIA
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us -
yes, establish the work of our hands.
~ Psalm 90:17