| FBC Cabot, Arkansas -Fall, '07
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Everyone was happy to see Dennis.(click
this or any other picture to enlarge) |
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We have just sent off another great team of volunteers. This one was
from FBC Cabot, Arkansas.
Dennis and Lea Hyland have been here multiple times; Eddie Ward was
here once before; and the rest of the folks, Janice Slaughter, Judy
Comeaux and Pam Smith, were all first-timers. We had a number of tasks
for this team. On the day they arrived they loaded clothes, shoes, toys,
school desks, and chalkboards on the truck. They would be making some
deliveries during the week.
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Doing crafts at Berkovitsa III. |
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On Sunday we had the privilege to share in the worship service at the
Rakovitsa Baptist Church. The church is in a very poor gypsy village.
Team members lead a children's hour. Lea and Dennis had been to
Rakovitsa several times in the past helping with programs for the
children. Many of the church ladies were especially happy to see Lea.
She had served on two teams that ministered here and had taught several
of the ladies to sew. FBC Cabot
has purchased sewing machines that these women use to earn money for
their families. Vladi Raichinov, one of our translators, preached a
beautiful sermon.
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Teaching geography (Massachusetts was NOT the
first colony!) |
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This team had prepared presentations about the states where they were
born. Five different states were represented. They had an opportunity to
present their U.S. Geography lesson to several classes in the Health
School for kids with chronic breathing disorders, the Rakovitsa public
school, and the public school in Mladenovo, a district of Lom. At the
end of the presentations, the children were given compasses and were
shown how to use them to find direction. Of course, this opened itself
beautifully to sharing with the children how we let God provide
direction for our lives. Because of a special donation, the group was
also able to purchase children's Bibles for the these classes.
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Setting up for shoe distribution in Lom. |
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In the school in Rakovitsa, we delivered chairs, desks, and
chalkboards sent by the folks at Williams Trace Baptist church. The
chalkboards were already in use before we left the school that morning.
This school is very poorly equipped with dilapidated furniture and
equipment. Everything we bring them is greatly appreciated.
Each afternoon we worked in the home for handicapped children and
youth that we refer to as Berk. 4 and at another orphanage in the town
we refer to as Berk. 3. The team took one day in Lom to distribute
clothes and winter shoes to the children in the orphanage there. They
also distributed clothing in Berk 3 and 4.
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Chickens! |
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At Berk 4 the welcome was great. The young men were overjoyed to see
Dennis again. He had worked with them for 3 years in a row on building
projects. Dennis had a bout with a serious illness last winter. The boys
had been greatly concerned about him. Some had been praying for his
recovery. They were glad that he could be in Bulgaria working with them
again. This time the project was to repair the roof of the hay barn. By
the way, there are now 30 laying hens living in the special chicken
coops that Dennis and the kids put together last year.
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A child waiting to be fitted with new shoes
in Lom. |
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Lea worked with the sewing and crafts group. The children have sewn
hundreds and hundreds of dolls and nativity sets. In addition to that,
they have also made hundreds of beautiful scarves and hats. They sent
special greetings to Bonne Jensen for all her work on getting them
started in the doll making process.
Pam, Janice, and Judy Comeaux went from group to group with Bible
stories. Some time was spent with Andrew working with the most disabled
children.
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Vida "the mouse" was one of the children who
received therapy. |
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The special program presented by many of the children was a wonderful
end to our week with them. After the singing and dancing, every team
member was presented with a nativity set. Then Dennis and Lea and Paul
and I were presented with dolls to represent us. The Dennis doll had a
work apron complete with saw and hammer. The Lea doll had an apron with
scissors and needles. Paul was in a tux and held a conductor's baton. I
was in a choir robe with a songbook.
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Children at Berkovitsa IV dancing during
their program. |
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At Berk 3 the atmosphere was quite different. There is a general
teachers' strike in Bulgaria so the children in the orphanages have
nothing to do all day. In this home are 14 new first graders who have
yet to attend school. They are literally running wild.
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Two of the young new arrivals at Berkovitsa
III. In addition to older children from nearby homes that
closed, this home also received 14 new 1st graders recently. |
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It took a lot of energy to corral them each day and get their
attention for stories, songs and activities. We divided the group for
about half the time. The older teen girls and one teen boy met together
each day. A team member shared her own life's story with them, a story
of being unwanted, unloved, and even abused at a very early age.
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The Dennis doll ... |
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The teens were greatly moved by this and spoke of how her life had
been much like theirs. This woman shared about the comfort, love, and
acceptance which she had found in the Lord as a young child. After days
of sharing, ten of these teens came to know the grace of the Lord. Pray
for them to grow in their understanding. Asya, one of our translators,
has committed to working with them in Bible study via the internet.
It was, as always, a wonderful but exhausting experience.
--Judy Ridgway
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