Dimitrie and Maria's June Ministry Update

       

      Dear praying friends and partners in ministry,

      Greetings from Bulgaria!

Our 2013 end-of-school year photo

I thank God for your prayers and love for the ministry to which we have been called! In the last two months, we have witnessed God’s mercy and steadfast love, as I was traveling away from home for meetings and ministry appointments in your beautiful country. My wife Maria was “keeping the fort” as many of you would say with a smile and she is a real champion in multitasking – making sure, that Vicki and George keep up with their homework, dealing with the exciting job of filing and reporting our expenses and now with the new summer season, she took a second job at the busiest airport in Bulgaria – which is our regional Burgas airport. It is a seasonal airport, but it has more traffic going through it in 5 months, that the capital city airport in a year! This year, she is serving there as an information service supervisor, which doesn’t exactly mean more pay – it just means more responsibilities. This job really helps us with balancing our family budget out. You know … things like Vicki’s out-of-school math classes and some winter bills.

        I was so blessed to see all of our National Directors in Vienna, VA! We had a wonderful time of sharing about our ministries and each of us shared for a few minutes at a luncheon at Vienna Presbyterian Church. Our time there was short and after 1-2 days, we headed different directions. We were going to meet again for our international leadership retreat and conference in COS, but for a week or so, we had other appointments.

Our Eastern European Staff and hosts from Vienna Pres, VA

       I had the privilege and joy of visiting the home and church of Dennis and Helen Gudz. They have been committed supporters of the ministry of New Hope for many years and now, I had a week of fellowship with them and hey what do you – I visited the Big Apple! I am thankful for the opportunities I had to share and pray with believers and some non-believers. Dennis has been a great advocate for our ministry at his church and he introduced me when I shared there for a few minutes. The response was very positive and I pray and trust the Lord that God willing, we can develop a ministry relationship which would serve to touch the lives of many in our country.      They have a family much bigger than our usual Bulgarian families, so I could meet the two sons who live with them and just before I flew to COS, I took a tour of the historic part of the city of Philadelphia with one of their older sons. Dennis and I had great fellowship and we enjoyed some very honest and prayer filled conversations. And last, but surely not least in importance, I really appreciate Helen’s generous hospitality and great cooking! Thank you Helen! 

Dennis and I on the Staten Island Ferry

In COS, our team of National Directors sat down for 3 intensive days of reporting, brainstorming ideas, discussions and prayer. We are grateful that we could meet all board members of NHI and pray with them. God was truly present during our prayer and worship time and we touched by His Spirit moving among us! We needed that experience so much! We really appreciate the great job that our COS staff did in preparing and hosting the leadership retreat. Great work!  Well, we sure missed the nuns and the deer this spring, but what’re going to do … life is never perfect (Just a reminder that last year, we had our leadership conference at a Convent with a herd of deer gracing the premises with their presence)! 

       I will never forget the time of intercessory prayer we had just before leaving on our way back home and off to some more meetings! The Presence of the Lord filled the room, where we prayed for our COS staff and the board of NHI! I had 4 more days of special time with old and new friends. Several years ago, I met with Susan Palmer and Dave Lyons for the first time, respectively in VA and FL.  

Howard and I in front of the house we were fixing

They have been trying to get me to meet with people from their church in VA and finally, in the Lord’s timing, it did happen! I was hosted by a very family in Alexandria – Howard and Carole Borgstrom. He and Dave are men of merciful and compassionate hearts. They had me join a team of volunteers and we had a day of volunteer labor for the poor of their community. The initiative their church is part of is a national project called “Rebuilding Together”. So, I was cleaning gutters, painting shutters and made new friends with people from their good church. During my stay with Howard and Carole, I had the privilege of sharing with their church congregation and what a generous group of believers they are! Thank God for churches like Heritage Pres! I pray we continue to nurture this new relationship and develop a long-term partnership for the glory of God and for the lives that we will be able to touch through the love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ!  

    

Painting shutters, cleaning gutters 

     And here you go, 20 or so days were gone and I flew back to Bulgaria. There are so many things to look forward to in this busy summer season of harvest for both churches and ministries like New Hope Bulgaria. I cannot list all the prayer needs here, but I’ll make a list of top 5.

     Please, please, uplift us in prayer for:

1. The Lord’s Presence to fill our ministry to youth and families in June, July and August.

2. The leadership training and workshops for children and youth workers June 10-14.

3. The summer camps for children and youth starting the end of June.

4. The family retreat and training for families of leaders of new churches July 15-18.

5. For Maria and our children – Maria will have a busy summer with many night shifts and our children will be staying with their grandparents for almost 2 months. 

We keep praying for you, your families and churches! May the 

Lord bless you and keep you!