Bulgarian Summer Team 2006

Before leaving for the trip to Bulgaria, I expected God to work in our team, and he didn't disappoint! It was clear that God's protection was over us, and despite a few mishaps (which could have been so much worse) nothing terrible happened to us. I also did not expect our team to 'gel' as well as it did. There was quite a variety of ages in our team, and yet we became very close as a team and as a group of friends.

We were based in the town of Kazanlak, a town about the same size as Waterlooville, and in the centre of Bulgaria. We were a team of ten people, and were sent to work in the orphanages in and around Kazanlak. Our main project was centred around an orphanage for deaf children in a village called Maglish. We had the task to work with some of the other church members (around 10 Bulgarians), and to decorate ten bedrooms in nine days. We also worked in two of the churches, in a day centre for the elderly, and in an orphanage for severely mentally and physically disabled children in another nearby village, Buzovgrad.

The most memorable thing about the mission team was how welcome we were made by not only our British hosts, Mark and Penny, but by the people of the churches. I will also always remember the family we built - made up of people from Bulgaria, Turkey, Britain, America, the list goes on! From my time in Bulgaria, I have learnt the difference between being physically and spiritually rich - and which one I would rather be!

Jenny Mountain

 Jenny is currently at Exeter University reading History.