More from Bulgaria....

A guest post from Amira Corby...

Just recently I have had the opportunity to travel to Bulgaria to meet with local YL staff and volunteer leaders. Going into this, I knew two things: I was going to be part of the training time & we were going to do a day camp at an orphanage for kids with special needs.   Naturally, my adventure seeking self was absolutely thrilled!  Just tell me where to go, what I need to do and I will be there! 

One thing I have learned (of which there is so much more I need to learn) is that when going to a place (even if that place is next door) where you do not speak the language or know the customs it requires flexibility, creativity and big helping of humble.  

As I entered into this time, the training portion was first.  Assembled in this room were YL leaders & staff from Bulgaria and Macedonia. We talked through the philosophies of YL; we had fellowship together over meals and worshipped in song, both in English and Bulgarian.  Communicating in any deep way was difficult given the language barriers.  Many knew English, but it was limited, and I, feeling very ignorant and uni-lingual (if that is even a word) knew no Bulgarian. 

What is amazing is that as our time progressed, language while important, felt like a smaller barrier.  Here we are assembled in a room, sharing one Lord, sharing that same Spirit and one purpose: a purpose to love kids for the sake of Jesus.  As we listened to stories through translator, we hugged, smiled, prayed for each other, and loved each other with a Spirit that transcends language & culture. Together, we were sharing our hearts and love for kids in, what at first appeared to be, unconventional ways. 

The next portion of our trip involved running a day camp at an orphanage in Pernik, Bulgaria.  I am proud to say that this is the first YL Capernaum club in Europe and it is being lead by amazing people. We walked into the orphanage and were met by our Capernaum friends.  Already experienced in day camp and club, they knew what to expect.  Many were non-verbal and those that could speak only spoke Bulgarian.  Here is where I think YL Capernaum leads in sharing Jesus in unconventional ways. 

We are experts in the art of “with-ness.” We can be with our friends and overcome intellectual and developmental “barriers” through: song, dancing, a smile, laughter and sometimes just our physical presence, like sitting with them quietly.  At day camp we did all the same things: games, crafts, dancing & song, but what is so amazing is that we are proclaiming the Gospel in simple, beautiful ways.  Jesus is being made known through our use of a craft and telling each person (through a translator) that they are fearfully and wonderfully made.

The teachers, many of whom have dedicated their lives to this orphanage, are grateful for our presence; they know that we are there because we are “different”.  It’s not that we are coming in there to teach them how to do their job, or be heroes for 4 days. We are there to simply love and share the gospel.  The beauty of the gospel is that as it is proclaimed it overcomes all the barriers that we see in our human-ness. Nothing about the Gospel is conventional; it has the power to break down every barrier. The Gospel asks us: Are we willing?  Will we go? Will we be uncomfortable? Will we be challenged?  Will we humble ourselves?  If that answer is “yes” then the process has begun, kingdom impact is being made and we get the honor of being a part of that story.