August (New Pace)

Hello All,

First, I want to say thank you so much for continuing to support me with prayers as we are on this journey together! God is continuing to teach and provide answers in large ways. This ministry would not be possible without each of you supporting me and my team. Thank you!

This month of August has really changed the pace of the Internship. This month started with new meetings and new projects. Normally this month is a slower pace for the team here. Well the English teaching side of things is normally slower but the RGP side has been continuing on. I have begun classes with the RGP program. From here on, weekly I will be teaching three classes, fitness, english, and cooking. We have a new lady in the program and will be having another one begin some time in the next month or so. The program is being expanded due to more women desiring to enter the program. This will cause many changes for us. We are working on getting a new housing location added to the one we have and also more classrooms along with child care abilities. Many new processes and decisions to make. We are entering a new season for the ministry.

This month we had a team retreat for the whole Bulgarian mission group in a mountain town. It was a  great time to be together and rest from the normal pace of the ministry here. Loved getting the chance to go deeper in relationship with those I am working with here. Then after this a friend from the States visited and we were able to travel to Greece and Turkey. Had the chance to see Corinth, Ephesus and Istanbul. This trip was refreshing and a blessing to me. It's amazing how refreshing this time was and I am so thankful for it. God helped us the whole trip. Taking care of details we could not figure out how to handle. He brought us people who did and they offered to help in the area we needed (many times without us even asking).

 

The pic on the top left is Hagia Sofia. It is a massive beautiful mosque in Istanbul which at one time was a church and you can still see crosses in the decor from the old designs on the ceilings and walls. Top right is the Library of Celsius in Ephesus. This picture shows just a little bit of what is still standing in the old ruins of Ephesus. Then the bottom picture is of my friend (Kelli) and I in the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

Now the team here is getting ready to begin English Club (english classes) before this month ends. So by the next update we should be in full swing with this part of the ministry as well. Continuing to build relationships here and continuing to learn Bulgarian. :) 

Prayer Requests:

• The team who went out on the road this past Sunday, for talking to the women on the street, were in a car accident. The team was uninjured but a woman in the other car has a broken arm. Please pray for healing for the lady but also that we will not have extensive reprocussions for the ministry due to the accident. I have heard "things can become complicated in these matters." Meaning they might put many more stipulations on us. 
• The ministry here also has a school which they provide and run for multiple families. They begin their fall semester this next week. They have two teachers they will be losing after the fall and need new ones to come on staff. 
• As the RGP (the rehab and training part of the Daughters of Bulgaria) expands, pray for wisdom and direction on how to organize this next stage of the ministry. 
• Pray for the women on the road and the ladies who are not only already in the RGP program but also the lady who is going to be starting soon.
• Unity among the team as always working together as one is so important. We have a great team dynamic and this will be important as we move forward in this next season.