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| Give us this day our daily bread... |
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Sally Macpherson reports on her recent visit to Bulgaria: It is an unusually warm winter in Bulgaria. The children clamouring around me, shouting for attention, are dressed in threadbare clothes and their shoes (or sandals) are falling apart. A typically cold winter would be horrendous living in their circumstances.
I am in Fakulteta, a gypsy suburb of Sofia. I have been told not to wander the muddy streets alone, so I stay
in the soup kitchen where it is safe, surrounded by the most wonderful children. They are filthy due to the lack of running
water in their homes. Their eyes portray the sorrow in their lives, but in spite of this they are full of fun and laughter.
The thing that strikes me most is that these kids have attitude!
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As I learn a bit about the background of these young lives, I begin to understand more about who they are.
Rumen Ivanov (pictured below), Director of Mission Possible, tells me that as soon as these gypsy children learn to walk they become
a member of a gang. Girls particularly are taught the art of 'pickpocketing'; the better the pickpocket, the higher
the bride price gained for the family when they sell their daughter, usually at the age of 12.
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Soup kitchens close in the summer as the children are all in town, scavenging for their families. Last year,
in Fakulteta, only one boy graduated from high school. Fakulteta is one of many such gypsy communities to be found across
Bulgaria and Mission Possible work in as many of these areas as they can.
The latest initiative Mission Possible have started aims to help girls graduate from school and to find employment -
a definite way to change communities for the better as women tend to lead their households.
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In Filipovtzi, 20 teenagers have lessons in Bulgarian, Mathematics and English every Saturday in a soup kitchen built
with funds from Eurovangelism about four years ago. Local teachers have been enrolled to take these lessons, and the
Mission Possible team also go to encourage and mentor the youth, along with local volunteers. In addition to lessons
and mentoring, the girls are given fantastic life opportunities, including a recent trip to the theatre for a few -
an introduction to culture never experienced before.
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Nada (pictured above) is in the eighth grade and finished seventh grade with great difficulty because of poor marks and
absence from school. Her state school teacher told Mission Possible, "Since she started studying at church she has been coming
to school more regularly". The first step has been made in changing Nada's life!
For those who will find it too difficult to graduate, the programme is also offering training through local hairdressers,
cooks, and others. When training is completed, the girls are helped to find employment.
Currently the programme is only running in Sofia, but if funds are made available, Mission Possible want to start
such schemes throughout Bulgaria. Other villages who have heard about the programme have approached Mission Possible
requesting to be included. Funding is the only thing stopping this from happening.
This is such a fantastic vision to change not only individual lives, but to begin to change the mindset of entire
cultures. Parents of girls on the course are also educated not to sell their daughters, but to keep them in the family
and encourage them to do well in life. Just imagine the difference in whole communities a couple of generations down the
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In addition to social care programmes in gypsy communities, Mission Possible publish the only Christian magazines
in Bulgaria for women (Leah) and children (Friends). These magazines are distributed across Bulgaria and encourage readers
in their Christian life. Especially encouraging is the number of non-believers who read it when passed on from friends -
yet another way to combat the increasing atmosphere of immorality in Bulgarian society as people 'push the limits' after
years of living under communist rule.
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 | Yonka, a reader of Leah, says, "Meeting Leah magazine turned out to be the most important event in my life. I was
given this magazine and I read it. I had heard about God from my mother, but for me He was just someone who helped me
in difficult moments and that was all. While I was reading the articles I started seeing the Lord as a loving father.
Through the magazine I renounced horoscopes and signs, started going to church, there I stopped lying and committing
adultery because I lived with a man without marriage, and then I found my place working for the kingdom of God on
earth."
| Eurovangelism has worked with Mission Possible for many years, but for me personally, this was my first proper
opportunity to visit their projects and spend time with the team. Not only was I inspired by the extremely worthwhile
projects they are involved with, but I was also impressed and encouraged by the unity of the team and their reliance
on God. Before I left, Rumen Ivanov implored me not to forget them. They are desperate for funds. Rumen, a man of
great compassion, is intent on assisting not a handful of people, but all those living in poverty across this enormous
country. I know his intentions are real, I have seen the pain and the love in his eyes as he cares for those he meets.
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Please pray with us:
That God will continue to bless Mission Possible's (MP) work in Bulgaria and publishing.
For Rumen Ivanov to have wisdom and compassion as he leads the team and makes decisions about the projects they are involved in.
For the team - Tanya, Daniella, Krassi, Mariana, Rumen, Radi, Rumen and Svetlana - that they will be unified in their work and may gain encouragement and support through each other.
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| How you can help |
• A gift £5 will provide a year's subscription of the Christian magazine Friends or Leah.
• A gift of £10 will enable a child to attend a soup kitchen and literacy programme for three months.
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