June 28, 2010 Bulgaria

Today was my favorite so far. We attended services at two different CofC's. First, the church our translator, Raicho attends and the other Christos. Raicho's church is a small congregation of young couples with very young children. They have passion and desire to grow. We joined them for lunch following the services and had the opportunity to visit with them and encourage them. We talked to the young women of the church and talked them through how they could help grow the church through their children with classes and activities for the young mother's and children. We talked about the importance of growing the church family through families. They are so eager and hungry for the encouragement from other Christians. We take so for granted the history and deep roots of our church family. This young church longs for the day when they too will have roots so deep. 
At Christos church, the faces were a bit different. His congregation is an older group with no young children there. Their concerns about the future and growth of the church was also evident. Their worship and words were filled with love for the Lord. They also hungered for the encouragement from other Christians and were delighted that we had come to be with them.
Paul speaks in his letters about encouragement to other Christians. I don't think I ever fully grasped the meaning of this until today. This encourement deal is a pretty good thing. There I was receiving hugs and thanks for just being there. For taking the time and making the effort to come to worship with them and encourage them. But it was me who came away so inspired. 
This country is a country seeking. They will find something too. I pray that what they find is the Word of our Lord and not the Koran. We as Christians must remember not only the obivious needs of the world where we can help and be of service; the need for water and medical care, but we also need to remember to nurture and help grow where the seeds have been planted and cultivate what has taken root. 
You would all have been proud of our Rick Odell, Brian Robbins, and Matt Curran. Rick taught the lesson. His words were beautiful and all that . . . but then to hear them translated, as he spoke, into Bulgarian was spell binding. Brian was eloquent in his opening prayer of the service and Matt Curran prayed and served communion. Christos is a very dynamic speaker and though his words were translated for us into English, you could feel what he was saying even before it was translated.

I am still trying to find time in the day to caption some of the pictures to fill in the blanks of this amazing adventure for you all, but not tonight. . .