Ever Changing Roles

I have been meaning to write an update for quite a while now, but upon reflection, it has only been about a month and a half since I’ve been back, so I guess this isn’t as late as it feels! Here are some of the highlights! 

SCA

When I got back to Bulgaria, I only had about 3 days to get readjusted and over jet lag before immediately starting back at school. SCA (Sofia Christian Academy) is very different from my first year there! I am the only teacher of six students from four families of various Mission groups. Fortunately, all of the students are really good kids who want to please. The parents have also been very supportive and understanding, and for this I’m truly grateful.

One room school housing it!

It has been a big adjustment now being the person in charge of everything for the whole school day. Thankfully, I’ve had some help at lunch to give me a short break. Two days a week parents come in and the other two days, one of our interns has been coming and playing games with the kids.

Overall, school has been great, but at the time exhausting.

The students dressed up for halloween

Bulgarian Language Learning

This year I have tried to put more focus on language learning. I had a very rough time my first couple of weeks as I was putting unrealistic pressure on myself to be farther along with the language since it has been two years now. But, I am beginning to gain a more realistic view and expectations, thought I continue to bounce back and forth between feeling like I’ve learned so much and feeling like I know nothing.

Two weeks ago, I finally started back up with my formal language lessons with the same teacher I’ve had the past two years. She is a Bulgarian language professor at one of the local universities. At our first lesson, she expressed she was concerned that I would have forgotten everything after 3 months without lessons, but instead, she said I have continued to improve! This of course is largely due to Angel having enormous amounts of patience with me and trying to teach me so much!

In addition, a huge answer to prayer is that I finally found a language helper! One of our former Bulgarian interns, Teah, and I have been meeting once a week for two hours. She helps me by practicing speaking, teaching me new vocabulary, practicing writing from dictations, and reading from the Bible for pronunciation and comprehension.

Me with my Language helper, Teah

English Clubs

This year, my main focus is obviously with the school. However, since Lydia my teammate in charge of our ESL ministries, is in the States, I have been helping a small amount as a resource to the interns currently running the clubs. I also was able to attend the halloween party where we had a record number of attendees with over 50 people from the English Clubs as well as some of our friends from our church! 

English club friends at the Halloween party

The ESL ministry is continuing strongly with our two clubs, now on two different nights. Our interns have really stepped up with all the planning involved and also they have been able to branch out. Some are working with an outreach to gypsy children where they help teach the children some simple English. In addition, due to an influx of refugees in Bulgaria, they have begun research to see how our church might be able to become involved in helping these people, including holding Bulgarian lessons.

Overall, life has been very different this year, as it has been each year. I am living in a new apartment in a different part of town, but I will only be here until sometime in January when my roommate goes back to the states to transition from a short termer to a career missionary. There are a few different options for what I might do at this time, but I’m unsure exactly what will happen. 

Fall colors with my apartment building

I'm really excited to see what this school year will hold and to see what God has in store! :)

Blessings!