Endings and Beginnings

Part of the reason I have written a new update recently is that each time I go to write one, I think about just how much has happened, and I get overwhelmed thinking about how much I have to convey! But it is rather late, and I need to just take the plunge!

SCA

So much has been going on lately as we wrapped up this school year, but we are also in the throws of planning for next year! The school is going to have a complete overhaul, with all new families for next year. All of the families currently at the school will be leaving Bulgaria, either for a short stint back in the States or as a permanent move. With this change of families, comes a great change of students. We will have three kindergarteners, a first grader, and a second grader. Due to this change and the fact the school has never had such young students, we are having to come up with all new curriculum and figure out who can teach what subjects.

It has become a school tradition to have a talent show at the end of the year, and this year boasted of quite a variety of talents! Students sang, played piano, performed a skit, made a virtual replica of the school building on a computer, demonstrated tae-kwon-do, and did a stand up comedy routine. It was a fun time with former SCA students coming to support the current students.

Piano performance

Virtual version of SCA

The whole school from this year

Being goofy

Current and former students/teachers

Civil Ceremony and parents' visit

In April, my parents were able to come to see Bulgaria, meet Angel and his family, and experience first hand my new life here. It was such a special time to have them here! We also were able to schedule the Civil Ceremony while my parents were here (the legal part of the marriage). They will then return in August when we will have the wedding in the church and then be officially married. :) 

While they were here, we were able to travel to a couple of other cities outside of Sofia. I spent some time showing them around the city center here, and they attended my church and the church which Angel's father pastors. It was such a blessing for them spend time with my in-laws and just generally see why I love it here so much! 

Dinner with both sets of parents

With my parents

With Angel's parents

 

What's to come...

This year has already been one of the years of greatest change in my life... and it isn't over yet! God has been growing me and stretching me in ways I had no idea I could bend. Well, actually, I can't bend that way on my own, but with His help, He has shown me new things about myself and the plans He has for my life are so much better than anything I could have ever planned. I hadn't planned to go to Bulgaria. I hadn't planned to stay for three years. I hadn't planned to meet an amazing Godly man whose family and friends would welcome me in as if they have known me my whole life. Yet, this is what God had planned all along. Even though the future will be complicated (don't even get me started on Visa processes, etc), and I know it won't always be easy, when I see how far God has carried me thus far, I must remind myself that He will continue to be faithful, even when I can't see the road ahead. 

As most of you know, I have now wrapped up my "official" term with MTW. It has truly been a blessing to be a part of the MTW Bulgaria team family. They are the reason I wanted to return after my first year here - the amazing community they create and their passion for serving Christ and spreading the gospel. They have been my family and closest friends when I've been so far from everything and everyone back in the States. 

I will continue teaching at the school next year and will maintain a close relationship with the MTW team, but I also am transitioning more into becoming a part of my Bulgarian family. It's not always easy with language barriers and cultural difference, but God is gracious and he transcends every difference and allows me to see the similarities of His creation - each one of us created in his image. 

So thank you to each and everyone of you who has made it possible for me to serve here in Bulgaria. Thank you for all your prayers, love, and financial support. God has encouraged me and blessed me through your notes, messages, and responses to my updates. 

Blessings in Christ,

Bethany