Refugee News

Part of our work in Sofia is to minister to refugees here.  Recently this ministry was featured in an online news article.  To read the article, click here.

Missing America Moment.

I have been in Bulgaria for over three years.  Yesterday Sasha and I figured out that I have been away from my birth country longer than she has ever been away from hers.  It has been 37 months since I was last in America.

I've grown quite comfortable here.  I love America, but I have no strong desire to go back.  I miss Chicago style pizza and good Tex Mex, but one can survive without these things.  If I were back in America I would probably miss Shepard's Salad made with fresh Bulgarian vegetables and smothered with feta cheese.

Yesterday however, I did have a bit of a missing America moment.  I was driving through construction and down narrow roads.  I pointed out to Sasha that in America this narrow road would be wider and have shoulders with ample parking.  We would not have the fear of knocking off someone's rear view mirror as we drive to the mall.

Sasha agreed that indeed none of these things would happen in America.  If we were back in the mid-west the roads would be wider.  However, she was quick to point out that in the mid-west driving would not be any less stressful.  The roads are currently covered in snow and ice.  At least other cars and people theoretically avoid being hit.  When was the last time a snow drift jumped out of your way?

Every country has its good and bad aspects.  The secret to enjoy life in different countries it to focus on all the good things and ignore the bad.

Why Bulgaria?

From a missions perspective, Bulgaria may seem to not be a very strategic country.  It is in the corner of Europe at the very southernmost part of the former communist block, and as every news article on Bulgaria will point out, it is the poorest European Union country.  Why would God possibly use this country to do anything great?

I could not disagree more.  Before moving here, I made the argument that starting a ReachGlobal team in Sofia is not only a good way to reach Bulgaria with the Gospel, but to reach the world as well.  My superiors in our organization agreed and sent us here.  We are beginning to see our vision become a reality.

This morning I met with a man from Liberia who I am training to teach the Bible to others.  This evening I lead a Bible study that had in attendance citizens of North America, South America, Africa, and Europe.  Tomorrow I will lead another Bible study with people from America, Africa, and Asia.  On Sunday we have a small group meet at our house.  In attendance are people from Europe and America.  Bulgaria is a great place to meet people from around the world.  It is also a great place to train people from around the world.

If you want to tell the world about Jesus, consider coming to Bulgaria.  Great things are happening in this so called poor, out of the way, little European country.