Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to Webster's New World Dictionary "beginning" is defined as: 1. a starting, 2. the time or place of starting; origin, 3. the first part, 4. an early stage. Life is full of beginnings and they can be both exciting and frightening. Often they are both at the same time! Even at those times when we are frightened we can rest assured that we are not alone. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2. This is a letter with several beginnings.
We are now beginning our second year in Bulgaria, and this is the time that we leave behind full time language study and begin defining our ministries. As we have shared before, Tom and his committee have been in the process of selecting agricultural projects. After reviewing the requests, the committee selected two small projects to help with. After further discussions about the projects, the committee decided that those wanting to start a project must be provided some basic education on how to start a small business in Bulgaria. We have therefore decided to conduct several seminars around the country to provide training in writing sound business plans, present different ways of starting a small business in Bulgaria, and discuss the theology of business. These seminars will take place late this spring and early summer. The other idea that came out of the projects and conversations within the committee was to start a program to provide poor families with one or two animals, which would provide some milk or meat for the family. This would not be a big moneymaking project--only help with a small part of the everyday needs of a family living in poverty.
Another new beginning for us is our recent move. We have been living in a townhouse for about one month now, and our boys are glad that they can once again act like children without disturbing a downstairs neighbor! We are thrilled to have a small yard for the boys to play in, and Tom is looking forward to digging in the dirt again in order to plant a small garden this summer.
Tom and Terry Myers
We recently changed our e-mail address. Most of you have already updated your address books, but in case you have not, our new address is: myersbulgaria@msn.com
There are also beginnings at Sofia Baptist Church as they make plans for a new church building and Christian Community Center. We praise God for the plans that have finally been approved by the city's building committee. The process of getting approval to build was difficult and took several months. Evangelical Christians still face difficulties when dealing with some officials, and getting the building plans approved was a big step. Now the focus is on raising the necessary funds to start building.
Then there is the best beginning that any of us can have: a new beginning in Jesus Christ. As you celebrate Easter please pray for our fellow laborers that together we can reach out in love to those who have not heard the gospel story and then they, too, can have a new beginning.
Please pray for:
- Tom and others who will be leading agricultural seminars in several locations throughout Bulgaria this spring and summer.
- The two agricultural projects selected by the committee:
For Veska Racheva as she plants sunflowers to be used for cooking oil
For Mariana Geleva as she purchases fertilizer to be used on her small corn and wheat fields.
- Terry as she continues to search for the ministry where her gifts can best be used by God.
- The leadership of Sofia Baptist Church as they pursue avenues of fundraising to make the new church center a reality and a blessing to the people of this city.
- Peace in our world.
Shalom,
Tom and Terry Myers
Missionaries to Bulgaria