Home for the Holidays

He is Faithful..

 

 

Well, let me just say, the first month and a half was definitely...interesting. Our dear friend, Monika, allowed us to live overtake/dominate her 2 bedroom apartment and by the end of our time there, we were ALL ready to be in a place of our own. This was our first Christmas and New Years away from our families and it was not easy. Every Skype call and chat with our family started and ended with tears, but we also had the amazing opportunity to share Christmas Eve with orphans and a few girls who had been rescued from human trafficking and that made it a Christmas to remember.

Christmas morning was chaotic. It took us 45 minutes to get through the Christmas story, but at the end, Jesus finally came to Earth as a baby, so that's good. We tried to keep ourselves as busy as we could, so as to keep our thoughts off of home. Christmas night was spent at some of our close family friends and their kids. There was a total of 9 kids, 6 and under, between the 3 families with only 1 girl. It was crazy.

Vladi and me in our new van

The week before Christmas, my friend and I flew to Germany to purchase a minivan for the family. We did look at a couple of vans here in Bulgaria but it is extremely hard to find a car that hasn't been tampered with, including the mileage being turned back. So, in order to be certain that a car is in good condition, it is best to buy one from Holland, Germany, or Switzerland. The whole trip took about a day and a half with only little 'hiccup' on the way home. Nothing like getting blackmailed and threatened at the Hungarian boarder to remind you just what part of the world you're living in. Anyways, we were blessed to find a Mercedes Vito which is a minivan for the same price that we sold our van in the States. It does feel weird driving a black Mercedes, but I'm sure we will get used to it. ;)




The view from our balcony

At the very end of December, we moved in to our new apartment which is located 2 blocks from the American Embassy. The location is perfect with the Subway only a 5 minute walk away and bordering a park. It is also very spacious almost 2400 square feet. It is a perfect place for having guests and hosting church events. We spent the good part of 2 weeks buying furniture and settling in. It feels good to have a home of our own.

Malachi and Levi started school the first week of January and they LOVE it! They are attending the American English Academy which is the school I attended when we first moved to Bulgaria 20 years ago. It blows my mind how life has come full-circle. We had parent-teacher conferences last week at their school and we couldn't be more proud, not just of how they are adjusting, but of who these boys are becoming: intelligent, friendly, kind, caring...all attributes of their mother by the way. They are also the loudest, most energetic, and curious in the class. They may have gotten that from their old man...maybe.

Even as the boys have fallen into their routine, Andrea and I have as well. I started working full-time for A21 and Zoe church after the first of the year and Andrea is working about 20-30 hours a week. I have been put in charge of 3 projects for A21, including: Roma or Gypsy outreach, connecting and partnering with local churches and pastors throughout Bulgaria, and construction supervision of a cafe that A21 will be opening to support victims of human trafficking. That is just for A21. For Zoe church, Andrea and I are in charge of facilitating The Exchange, which is our midweek teaching and training classes, as well as, connect groups for families, Alpha courses, and toddler/nursery classes on Sunday. So, we are staying busy.

Adjusting has not been easy, but through it all He is faithful. There have been times when we have been at our weakest, but each time with His Grace, He has shown Himself strong. With each door He opens, there are giants to face and with each struggle, we realize our need for Him. I can't even begin to comprehend what this journey would look like without your love, support, and prayers. Thank you for believing in us. It truly is an adventure, but not just ours. Every life touched, every victim saved, and every heart changed through what we are doing is a direct result of your generousity and friendship. We are so grateful and so appreciative.