October saw the development of another service our team can provid to the neighborhood: a personal finance course taught by my teammate, Dave. Through the process of preparing this course, I learned that one role on our team that I really enjoy is helping other people set up, organize, and advertise their ideas for ministry opportunities. I really enjoyed helping Dave figure out how to do this effectively, writing the registration form and flyers (in Bulgarian, with help, of course!) and being a support to this new opportunity. We’re really excited to start this course in November, and we hope to offer it again in the spring!
This summer I was with our interns as we toured Athens and learned about the work MTW is involved in there. Part of our time included talking with one of the church planters with whom the team has partnered. Out of that trip, I started dreaming of ways we could reach into our community as a team, especially ways to use our Christian Cultural Center beyond English Clubs.
October saw the development of another service our team can provid to the neighborhood: a personal finance course taught by my teammate, Dave. Through the process of preparing this course, I learned that one role on our team that I really enjoy is helping other people set up, organize, and advertise their ideas for ministry opportunities. I really enjoyed helping Dave figure out how to do this effectively, writing the registration form and flyers (in Bulgarian, with help, of course!) and being a support to this new opportunity. We’re really excited to start this course in November, and we hope to offer it again in the spring!
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"You might have to move. Most likely. But we don't know for sure yet. Oh, you can stay, but you'll only be able to live in half of the apartment...the half without a kitchen. We'll let you know next week." ... "It looks like you might not have to move. We're not sure. You see the problem is that the person who makes that decision isn't 100% yet. We want you to stay, but unfortunately...We'll let you know for sure next week." ... "Yes, sadly the decision has been made. You will have to move. I'm so sorry and we are sad to see you go. You have been great renters." October careened franticly towards November. Ministries started (or returned from breaks), training had to take place, visitors came, visitors left, trips were made, English was taught, and through it all last minute appointments with my broker to see yet another flat sprang up. I didn't want to move. I was having difficulty communicating with my roommate and through a series of events we decided not to live together anymore. The countdown toward the end of my lease loomed nearer and nearer as October sprinted toward November. I'll admit it. I wasn't thrilled when I found an apartment. I was sad that I had to move. I was sad that there was all this change coming toward me and it was completely unwanted and unexpected. I felt a little like I had been thrown in the deep-end under a waterfall. Truly the breakers and waves were rolling over me (or so I felt). It was like having a rug pulled out from under my feet, only to find another rug that was just as quickly being pulled out, only to find the same again and again and again. But through the balancing act, I heard a soft reminder I AM with you, daughter. You are not in the sadness and grieving alone. As I sat in my chair in my mostly-packed room (truck wall paper motivating me to keep packing) I realized that God had answered my prayer. He provided an apartment for me. And all I did was cry about having to move and experience all that change again. Dwelling place number 29. Suddenly it struck me. I hadn't said thank you for anything. So I began a list:
I sat on a sofa at one of my frequent haunts--a cafe in The Mall (literally the name of the mall near our office!) and was enjoying the sounds of a toddler playing with her grandmother while I wrote a lesson plan. I usually don't have to try to ignore conversations around me, as they're in Bulgarian and I assume I won't understand. But apparently my Bulgarian skills have improved because suddenly I wasn't merely hearing toddler coos, but I was listening to the conversation between the adults. They were discussing schools for the little one and a school was deemed unacceptable because they accepted gypsies.
Now, something I've learned since moving to Bulgaria is that this term is offensive. Not quite on par with the N word in English but pretty close. And a school was judged lacking because they accepted all people in Bulgaria, not just the white ones. I realized that I'm prone to be prejudiced against people who are racist. I get mad when I hear the word gypsy instead of Roma and I put on my imaginary judge's robes and decide that those people are guilty sinners. I feel better educated and more loving because I don't use demeaning language or judge others because of their race. I just judge others because of the things they say without getting to know them and their own struggles. I think there's a place for addressing social injustice. But that place needs to be from a place of humility and not pride. Tim Keller reminded me of this in his devotional, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life, in one of the readings for this month. He writes, “...it is never race and social standing but faith in Jesus Christ alone that brings you an inheritance in God’s family (Matthew 8: 11–12; 1 Corinthians 1: 27–31; Galatians 3: 26–29).” This reminder brought me perspective and has enabled me to look at my own heart, even as I fight against social injustice in Bulgaria. |
Elisabeth CarySharing the love of Christ to make known the hope of Christ in Bulgaria. Archives
November 2018
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