Hello Everyone,
It has been a while since i last updated, so here we go!

We have tweaked the candidate list for the first two to be assessed for the Bulgaria Child Project. Mariella will remain on the list, while Pati will be added. This change was made due to some insights acquired recently. During the past two or three camps I have noticed Pati taking care of all the small children. She is very good with them and quite patient. Her love for them is obvious. It was discovered that when she leaves high school and eventually the orphanage, she would like to study in a university and become a teacher for kindergarten or elementary age children. Please be praying for this change.

We have completed our first camp with the older kids and even through some rather in-climate weather, there was some beach time and time for fellowship, small groups and praise. Most of the kids had a week without cigarettes and we discussed the advantage they now have in their ability to quit. Some desire this, but time will tell...another thing to pray for.

The kids from Roman performed a skit on how sin entered the world and how it was defeated by Jesus, on the cross at Calvary. Through my proud, teary eyes, I noticed the other kids, the ones from Sofia and some of the adults were also welling up. Jesus IS making an impact in the hearts of these kids from Roman.

We are now back from a week at the seaside with the smaller children. Mrs. Tosheva, one of the teachers, was there with the children. She is a solid believer and a great strength to those kids who choose to follow Jesus. It is a delight to watch Zoiya and some of the others join in with the praise music so intently. There was, however, and incident worthy of reporting. One of the children from Roman was staying in a room at the camp with a couple of girls from Sofia. When 40 leva went missing, (about $33) it was no stretch to realize who had done this. The bigger issue was, would she own up to it? After 20 minutes, she did admit that she had stolen the leva, and that she felt ashamed. We are tankful for this step of faith on her part, (most children clam up when confronted about bad behavior) and extended our patience and mercy to her and did our Lord to us. It was reinforced to her that Jesus will always love her no matter what and the He is her advocate in times like this.

It was discovered the one of the children, Yulia, 10 years old, cannot read, while Zoiya, 1 year her junior, can read proficiently. I see the need now, more than ever, to launch Bulgaria Child Project. To that end, I will be meeting with Blaga Popova this week to discuss plans to have Pati and Mariella assessed. Also, I will be meeting with Vlady Raivhinov tomorrow to finalize plans for his youth camp starting the week after next. Please be praying for this as it is a great opportunity for the kids to grow closer to the Lord.

I spent a day and night in the mountains above Vratsa with a Dutch group and some of the older kids from Roman. This was a relationship building visit and the leaders and team members were gracious and engaging. This group have been going to Roman for 11 years, and have accomplished many capital improvements at the home and have developed strong bonds with the children. It was good for the kids to see us working together.

I gave photos to some of the kids from Roman that I had brought with me of some of our children from CCE, holding pictures of the children from Roman. The children from Roman were told that the child holding his or her picture would be praying for them. The smiles on their faces were from ear to ear!

Well, all for now...In His grace and for His glory, Mark