Love=Freedom: The Winds of Change

Here we go again...

Dear friends and family, when I first started journaling our adventure I was afraid I would run out of things to say. Well it turns out, I couldn't have been more mistaken. The past month has been a whirlwind. Last week we said goodbye to our dear friend and nanny, Katie. What a godsend she has been and such a blessing to everyone around her. She took the junior high and high school girls under her wing and started a small group while raising up someone to take her place and, all of this, while taking care of our boys full time. Every day she would drop and pick up the kids for school. What other 20 year old girl would set aside 3 months, pack up her entire life, move to another country with a family she doesn't really know, drive in a place where drivers are border-line psychotic, and do it with a smile?! She is truly amazing and we are forever grateful for how much she has sown in to us! We will miss you, Katie!

For the past month, there have been protests in the streets over high electricity bills. While high electricity bills in the winter are common, it wasn't till recently that the power companies were forced to itemize each bill they sent out. It seems as though there were a few people skimming off the top, imagine that. Never really understood how someone could become angry enough to riot over an electricity bill until I received our bill 2 weeks ago to the tune of $450 for 1 month of usage. Ouch! You can see me here in the top right-hand corner with the Bulgarian flag...just kidding! Andrea wouldn't let me. But I now understand the reason behind it. Also amid protest, the Prime Minister and his government resigned which then incited more protests. Just to put your hearts at ease, we are safe. God is still on the throne.

My wife has informed me that I failed to mention a very, VERY important detail in my last blog. We are expecting our fourth, yes fourth, little Ramos. Andrea has been experiencing morning sickness for the past few months and has just recently been feeling better and better. She is amazing and I couldn't imagine having a better life-partner and soul mate. Not once has she wavered or doubted the fact that we are smack dab in the middle of God's will for our lives. Not once has she told me that she wants to go home. I'm amazed at her faith and her strength in all she is going through. We will find out next month the gender of our baby - not that I'm anxious or anything to hear if we're having a girl, just saying, I can't wait is all. =)

I have been busy too. Not anything as important as growing a baby but staying busy none the less. This past week, I met with 5 pastors and discussed human trafficking. Each pastor was receptive and eager to help in anyway they could. A few of the pastors had heard about human trafficking but had never been confronted with the truth of its enormity. It is easy to be overwhelmed with the issue, but it is so good to be reminded that the church is THE answer. It is easy to see that knowing is half the battle. The other half, happens to be poverty. What do you do when you have no choice but to sell yourself or, even worse - your children, just to be able to eat? Well, this is another one of my jobs. A21 helped 8 gypsy kids start school in September and I have been given the responsibilty of going to their village every week, engaging and connecting with the kids, but also building relationship with their parents and giving them a way out through social enterprises, work opportunities, and training. Needless to say, it is a daunting task but so worth it. From the first time we went down there, I fell in love with the kids. Last week when we went down to see them, we brought along a BBQ, a soccer ball and frisbee, as well as some volunteers from church. We spent 4 hours cooking, playing, and chatting with them. It was amazing. We are also working on a few ideas to get the parents working. Slowly but surely, we will see a turn in the tide of poverty. There is a bunch more I am doing including: program director for church, small groups and curriculum, men's ministry, family events, facilitating midweek service and baptisms, and a few other odds and ends. Life truly is full.

In all of the political turmoil, changes of life, culture-adjustment, family stuff, it is easy to lose focus. But one truth still holds true, when you lean on Him for everything, He is faithful to make sure you won't fall. He uses what's in your hand and makes it great. It's amazing when looking in a mirror, how glaring your short-comings are. But what we see is rarely what He sees. So what do we have left, except to trust and to respond to His Grace? He is doing amazing things. We are blessed to be a small part of it and we are blessed that you are a part too.

My mom, of course, has demanded...not asked btw...that I include a few prayer requests. So here they are...(love you, mom)

Favor - with pastors, government leaders, and those in the gypsy community

Finances - we have to apply for our 1 year visas next month to the tune of $3000 and also the birth of Ramos baby #4 due in September(dear Lord, help it be a girl)