Johnson Ferry Baptist Church team, May 31-June 8, 2008

We are so thankful for the people who come to share in the ministry here. Last week we had a group of folks from Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, GA. Patti Lowe organized a team of 8 from her Sunday School class there. Patti had already been to Bulgaria last May with a group from her parents' church. The teen girls in Berk.3 stole her heart at that time and she had to come back. This time she brought her husband, Jim with her and a whole crew of hard working volunteers: Stacey McCarver, Jim Mock, Darla Childs, Jill Kearney, Robin Nelson and Stephanie Loomis.

They arrived on a Saturday evening with only half their luggage. This is not an encouraging way to begin a trip, but they adapted their activities so that they could do without the missing items and even made do with the few clothes they had packed in their carry-on luggage.

All the bags were packed full of wonderful surprises for the people here. I have never seen any group bring over so much stuff for distribution. They had worked many hours locating just the right items to put in gift bags for each group of children. The activities they prepared required lots of forethought and planning. Of course, the children were very pleased with all they did.

Monday morning found the team hard at work at the home in Lom for children without parent care . This home is unique in that it has preschoolers and school-age children living together. There were around 30 little ones and 40 or more older kids. While the ladies began working with the children with stories, neat craft activities, etc. the guys started work on some remodeling projects. This continued for 3 days with the team working in the orphanage from 9-3:20 each day. We did take an hour out for lunch that was prepared by the great cooks at the Lom Baptist church.

By Wednesday, the guys had scraped, patched, plastered, and painted the end of a hallway and stairwell. They did this will the very enthusiastic help of some of the older residents of the home!

They also replaced broken sidewalk tiles and relaid a large area of the sidewalk at the entrance of the home. I was especially pleased that they were able to eliminate a dangerous situation in the cafeteria serving line – there were 3 or four rusty, ragged-edged short pipes coming up for the floor – right where the kids walk to get their food. The guys got rid of these all together making a much safer environment for the children.

The stories and the activities with the children were really blessed. The little ones loved all the attention they received and the craft projects that brought some color and beauty to their rooms. The older ones were thrilled with their activities too, especially the jewelry making. But more than that, they were very attentive and tuned-in to the discussion.

From 4pm to 6pm, the guys worked with children at a social center serving underprivileged gypsy (Roma) children. They taught computer skills to the children and to the teachers at the center. While there, they repaired and reprogrammed some of the computers. Again, the team had prepared special certificates for those completing the short course.

On Thursday we shifted gears entirely and moved to the town of Berkovitsa. Here we were warmly met by the children and youth at the home for handicapped (Berk 4). They love to hear the Bible stories and to get to act out the parts. Any personal attention they get is so appreciated. While the story team was busy moving from group to group, Jim Mock, Darla Childs and Stephanie Loomis worked with the young men at the sheltered home on the orphanage grounds. Their project was to teach the residents some cooking/kitchen skills. MMMM! Andrew and Patti worked with some of the more severely handicapped children.

We were thrilled when the children did a special program – a short play and lots of singing – in our honor. Each team member was presented with gifts made by the children in the workshops in the home.

Patti was recognized especially because she had worked in this home last year. They even sent gifts to Patti's mother, whom they remembered from last year.

We also worked in a more difficult situation in Berk 3, a home for school-aged children without parental care. There is no discipline in the home. The home is severely understaffed, and the aggressive behavior of the children goes unchecked. We had all the younger ones together for Bible stories and activities. It took most of the team to maintain order and to keep their attention. Patti, Stephanie and Robin had the teen girls together for some good “talk time” and quiet activities. Jim Mock's father-in-law had cut some beautiful race cars and other vehicles from wood. The older boys were well behaved as they painted these. Then the younger ones joined them and the excitement of racing the vehicles was just too much.

Thank you, Patti, and thank you Johnson Ferry Baptist Church for putting together this team of volunteers!