One week ago today, we were leaving for Bulgaria from Atlanta, Georgia. Since that time we have traveled over 6,000 miles by airplane, bus, and car. We now live in our flat in Kyustendil, Bulgaria, and have started to get settled in as best as we can.
We are so thankful for the ground work laid before we arrived in our new country. Without the help of other missionaries like Al and Diane Mellinger, and interpreters like Joe, Vladi, and Peggy, we would not be where we are today. We have now a Bulgarian bank account, a flat, two cell phones, and a God appointed city to live in. We also have picked out a van and should be going to get that soon. We are starting to learn where everything is located around us from grocery store to the dollar (leva store).
One thing that has been a constant though the whole process is God's presence. A quick example of that is just after signing the contract to occupy our apartment with our landlord here, he brought us back and showed us all the things he had gifted us with like: sheets, pillows, comforters, glasses, silverware, pots and pans, pictures, clocks, vases, decorations, and even a hair dryer! We were amazed at the outpouring of gifts. These are things we were going to have to get ourselves.
I realize the scripture in Ps 118:26 that says, "Blessed is he who is coming in the name of Jehovah." We have been blessed and the Bulgarian translator that came to help us stated, "You have been blessed by God's provision ahead of you."
This is a remarkable place in which we live. We are 20 km from Macedonia and Serbia. The history in Kyustendil dates back thousands of years from Roman occupation to Ottoman control.
We are waiting to see what the Lord has in store for us concerning the next step. We visited the gypsy church last night in our city. They are located on the ourskirts of Kyustendil in population of about 10,000 we believe. The pastor there is very nice and welcomed us and has helped us along the way. He has a church of 60 adults and we look forward to working with him and helping out any way we can.
Our devotional gave us great wisdom that God gives us what we need for today and if we are constantly concerning ourselves with tomorrow, it takes the energy God has given us for today and we are left with less for this day. We are living off the manna from heaven for each day's provision. We know by His grace, though our faith, and in His Name, we are here to do His will and His work.
Please keep praying for His grace to continue to abound toward us.
We are so thankful for the ground work laid before we arrived in our new country. Without the help of other missionaries like Al and Diane Mellinger, and interpreters like Joe, Vladi, and Peggy, we would not be where we are today. We have now a Bulgarian bank account, a flat, two cell phones, and a God appointed city to live in. We also have picked out a van and should be going to get that soon. We are starting to learn where everything is located around us from grocery store to the dollar (leva store).
One thing that has been a constant though the whole process is God's presence. A quick example of that is just after signing the contract to occupy our apartment with our landlord here, he brought us back and showed us all the things he had gifted us with like: sheets, pillows, comforters, glasses, silverware, pots and pans, pictures, clocks, vases, decorations, and even a hair dryer! We were amazed at the outpouring of gifts. These are things we were going to have to get ourselves.
I realize the scripture in Ps 118:26 that says, "Blessed is he who is coming in the name of Jehovah." We have been blessed and the Bulgarian translator that came to help us stated, "You have been blessed by God's provision ahead of you."
This is a remarkable place in which we live. We are 20 km from Macedonia and Serbia. The history in Kyustendil dates back thousands of years from Roman occupation to Ottoman control.
We are waiting to see what the Lord has in store for us concerning the next step. We visited the gypsy church last night in our city. They are located on the ourskirts of Kyustendil in population of about 10,000 we believe. The pastor there is very nice and welcomed us and has helped us along the way. He has a church of 60 adults and we look forward to working with him and helping out any way we can.
Our devotional gave us great wisdom that God gives us what we need for today and if we are constantly concerning ourselves with tomorrow, it takes the energy God has given us for today and we are left with less for this day. We are living off the manna from heaven for each day's provision. We know by His grace, though our faith, and in His Name, we are here to do His will and His work.
Please keep praying for His grace to continue to abound toward us.
hello. i enjoyed reading your blog. my family is in the process of adopting two children from an orphanage in kyustendil. my husband and I were in kyustendil the last week of November 2011 to meet and visit with our children. we loved the town of kyustendil! we are hoping to travel again soon to pick up our children. your mission is wonderful and I will keep you in my prayers. maybe one day the people of Bulgaria will be accepting of the Roma people. I pray for this. our children are Roma. we can't wait to have them home with us. take care.
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