I am the Bulgarian Administrator for Helping Hands Eastern European Ministries. I worked with the founder, Linda, for three years while she lived in Bulgaria. A couple years after she moved back to the United States, Pastor Hunsicker and Linda started Helping Hands and I became the administrator. Linda thought you would be interested in my life and work, as well as my perspective as a Bulgarian believer.
Although I was born while the Bulgarian government was communist and the practice of any religion was not allowed, I learned about Jesus from my mother. She risked a lot telling me about Christianity but she understood how important it was for my life and well-being. At age four, she made arrangements to have me baptized. Again, she took a lot of chances having this done. I still remember when we got home and she scrubbed my forehead to remove any possible remnant of the oil used to make the sign of the cross placed there by the man who baptized me.
When I was a little older, my mother arranged for me to study English. It was not a common practice during those years because Bulgarians had no opportunities to travel to any country where English is spoken. Maybe God planted this idea in my mother’s mind.
While I was growing up, my mother continued to teach me about Jesus. She had a special love of angels and had a collection of pictures and cards illustrating what these celestial creatures are imagined to look like. I still have some of them. When I was nine years old, my mother died. That was the worst day of my life. I think it was also the worst day of my father’s life as well. We carried on as best we could, but that is an irreplaceable loss for a child and a loving husband.
In school, I did very well in mathematics. I attended a high school that specialized in math. When I went to university, I studied engineering and earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. My husband is also an engineer. We married right after we finished college. A few years later our daughter was born.
In 1989, the Communist rule in Bulgaria came to an abrupt end. It was a surprise to many. Those were chaotic years, and although life was very restricted under Communism, at least everyone had enough food to eat, clothing to wear, and a place to live. That didn’t continue when the new government came into power. The uncertainly and poverty lead to unprecedented crime as well as anxiety.
During the years under Communism, there were different Christian churches, but only the Orthodox church was recognized as the official Christian church in Bulgaria. But the Orthodox churches didn’t function as churches. That is sad because for many years, the Orthodox church had a key role in our country. There were many Christian Bulgarian heroes, especially during the five hundred years of Ottoman rule. They saved Christianity in our country!
The churches were usually empty during the years under Communist rule. People could have work and school problems after just one visit to a church. Today, the Orthodox church functions primarily as a mediator between the people and God. People are charged for every kind of service, even a simple prayer. Many Bulgarians claim to be believers but they don’t know anything that is in the Bible. They don’t even know how to pray. Some Orthodox priests and their churches are preaching the Gospel, but not enough of them. Most people in our country focus on the meals at Easter and Christmas as well as other traditions. It is important to bring the Gospel to them and stress that Jesus is the center of our faith. In the next (and last) interview I’ll discuss my work in Bulgaria.
