Hello friends!
Amazingly, I have officially graduated from my Discipleship Training School, and I am geared up to return to the States in just a couple of days! The remainder of my time in Bulgaria was FILLED with so much joy in seeing the Holy Spirit moving, and I have mountains of stories to tell. I was able to start friendships with a few of the teenage girls on my street, and all of them are displaying a hunger for the Lord. They are beautiful, and I am so grateful that the Lord allowed me to really get to know them. I will miss seeing them at our front gate!
One of the moments that impacted me the most out of this whole DTS, however, came on the last day in Bulgaria. My team decided to have a street party right outside our house for all our neighbors as well as all of the kids that we had met since our arrival in Sliven. Our closest next door neighbor is a pimp, and I had been asking God for some way to share Christ with him, but it really never seemed like there was prime opportunity for it. By the last day, I had shared my testimony several times and delivered messages, but I had never done a Gospel presentation and altar call. The rest of my team each had gotten to do it at least once, but I hadn't and I honestly felt so incompetent to get up in front of a large group of people to share the message of salvation. On the last day, we decided that we wanted to do one last presentation during the party and I felt like I needed to be the one to do it. I hesitantly raised my hand to volunteer, but after a couple of hours, I asked my Campus Crusade friend to do it instead (I think he's done it about a million times). He said he would, but all through the beginning of the party I felt like God was pushing on my heart to be bold, so I went back and volunteered once again. I had no idea what exactly would come out of my mouth and was so afraid because our next door neighbor was standing outside as well, but when I got up there I just felt the Lord's presence SO strongly and He kept giving me the words to say! As soon as the party was over, my team pulled me aside and told me that the next door neighbor had been on the way into his house when I started to talk but then he stopped and turned around and came back to listen to the rest of it. I am so grateful because God LOVES this man, and he got to hear the message of salvation! We have been working against trafficking while being in Bulgaria, and over and over again God keeps reminding me that His heart is for EVERYONE to be saved and to know His love. It is my prayer that this message really touches this man's heart and that many, many lives are changed because of how Jesus transforms his life. God is so good, and I am so grateful that He uses people even when they are uncomfortable and feel incompetent. God speaks to and through all of His children!
As I am wrapping up my time here, I am still in the process of waiting to see what God has next for me. I plan on spending more time in Colorado over the next year, but it has become even more clear that my heart is still very much for orphans under the poverty line to be placed into loving homes where they can learn about Jesus. I know that the Lord will guide me step by step once I return home, and I would appreciate your continued prayers for Him to open up doors for me!
Amazingly, I have officially graduated from my Discipleship Training School, and I am geared up to return to the States in just a couple of days! The remainder of my time in Bulgaria was FILLED with so much joy in seeing the Holy Spirit moving, and I have mountains of stories to tell. I was able to start friendships with a few of the teenage girls on my street, and all of them are displaying a hunger for the Lord. They are beautiful, and I am so grateful that the Lord allowed me to really get to know them. I will miss seeing them at our front gate!
One of the moments that impacted me the most out of this whole DTS, however, came on the last day in Bulgaria. My team decided to have a street party right outside our house for all our neighbors as well as all of the kids that we had met since our arrival in Sliven. Our closest next door neighbor is a pimp, and I had been asking God for some way to share Christ with him, but it really never seemed like there was prime opportunity for it. By the last day, I had shared my testimony several times and delivered messages, but I had never done a Gospel presentation and altar call. The rest of my team each had gotten to do it at least once, but I hadn't and I honestly felt so incompetent to get up in front of a large group of people to share the message of salvation. On the last day, we decided that we wanted to do one last presentation during the party and I felt like I needed to be the one to do it. I hesitantly raised my hand to volunteer, but after a couple of hours, I asked my Campus Crusade friend to do it instead (I think he's done it about a million times). He said he would, but all through the beginning of the party I felt like God was pushing on my heart to be bold, so I went back and volunteered once again. I had no idea what exactly would come out of my mouth and was so afraid because our next door neighbor was standing outside as well, but when I got up there I just felt the Lord's presence SO strongly and He kept giving me the words to say! As soon as the party was over, my team pulled me aside and told me that the next door neighbor had been on the way into his house when I started to talk but then he stopped and turned around and came back to listen to the rest of it. I am so grateful because God LOVES this man, and he got to hear the message of salvation! We have been working against trafficking while being in Bulgaria, and over and over again God keeps reminding me that His heart is for EVERYONE to be saved and to know His love. It is my prayer that this message really touches this man's heart and that many, many lives are changed because of how Jesus transforms his life. God is so good, and I am so grateful that He uses people even when they are uncomfortable and feel incompetent. God speaks to and through all of His children!
As I am wrapping up my time here, I am still in the process of waiting to see what God has next for me. I plan on spending more time in Colorado over the next year, but it has become even more clear that my heart is still very much for orphans under the poverty line to be placed into loving homes where they can learn about Jesus. I know that the Lord will guide me step by step once I return home, and I would appreciate your continued prayers for Him to open up doors for me!
I look forward to hearing from all of you and sharing more stories that celebrate all that God is doing!! He is AMAZING!!! Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement over the last six months... It has been such a pillar of strength for me!
Blessings to all!
Tracy
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