Bulgaria-Illinois Student Mission Trip

July 2001

A team of 17 college students from accros Illinois particapated in a short-term mission trip between Bulgaria and Illinois. After arriving in Sofia, the team was split into two smaller teams. One team conducted a week-long youth camp for the orphanced Bulgarian teens in the Balkan Mountains, then later travelled to Varna to evangelize in the gypsy villages and on the beaches.

The other team served first in with the Evangelical Church in Chiprovci. There they assisted the church members with constrcution work - clearing land and pouring concrete for a driveway, and reaching the local children and youth by teaching them English, sharing Bible stories, playing games, and making crafts. Each evening the team led worship services in the church and in various parts of the town in the streets. They sang praise songs, presented God's message, and gave thier tesimonies. Many relationships were established with the youth and townspeople in Chiprovci.

After 9 days, the Chiprovci team split up and travelled to Dupnitza and Petrich. Both groups worked with youth and led church services. Though the language barrier was always present, the teams taught the Bulgarian youth some American praise songs, and in return the Bulgarian youth taugt the teams their priase songs.

It is our prayer that, through God's work, doors were opened for future mission teams in Bulgaria.

The team arrives in Bulgaria

The Youth Camp team before heading to the Balkan Mountains and Varna to work with orphaned youth

The Construction Team before heading to Chiprovci to assist the local church

The Construction Team arrives in Chiprovci to a traditional Bulgarian welcome by the church members

The young men mixing concrete for a driveway

Students present the witness (using a flannelboard and an interpreter) during an evening street service

Five of the team members with the paster and youth of the 1st Baptist Church in Dupnitza

Bulgarian youth sing during the evening church service

The Bulgarian youth and the team singing praise songs

The people of Chiprovci sacrifice goats and sheep on these crosses for thier sins. The team explained that Jesus made the untilmate sacrifice for all of our sins

The Evangelical Church in Chiprovci

The Construction Team with the members of the Evangelical Church in Chiprovci

Two team members taught a group of children the story of Zaccheus during Sunday School

Preparing to return home in the Vienna International Airport