Still Active

In case you were wondering, the blog is still active, just not attended to very well.....I'm reading a historical novel about Bulgarian life in the late 1800s.  Life was more difficult than most can imagine under the brutality of the Ottomon Empire.  Recently my family joined the medical team as we visited the mountain town of Batak.  The history of that place is chilling.  Sadly, the situation described in the novel was lived out there.  By the time the Turks were done, a village of around 7,000 was down to 1,000.  When I finish the book, I plan to write a blog entry about that time.  There is so much to process about the nature of evil, the human spirit, God, and how such things happen.  More later....

If you can't wait, the book is called Under the Yoke by  Ivan Razov.
Or you can check out this website: www.attackingthedevil.co.uk/related/macgahan.php#sthash.kD6aOq9o.jP5DWhui.dpbs

A Day of Family Fun at the Baseball VBS

 A great time was had by all.  I enjoyed being on the field with my friends and teaching the little ones how to play baseball everyday, but my favorite day was Saturday.  The parents and camp volunteers joined in on the fun.  The atmosphere was relaxed and playful - smiles all around!

                                            

                                                 

Field of Dreams

When Toncho and I began meeting together almost a year ago, pulling together a baseball camp that would also be an outreach of the church was only a dream.  We prayed through the process, asking God to give us direction.  We planned as well as we knew how to plan, and then we waited to see what God would do.  Other people came alongside of us to help.  The first was Sam, an intern from the US who had been involved in a baseball related ministry prior to his time in Bulgaria.  We knew that he would not be around for the camp, but he made valuable contributions to our early planning.  As the first day of camp quickly approached, Toncho and I, along with our wives, tended to the final details.  Toncho was making fliers and getting them out into the community.  I spent my last day reconditioning and relacing old gloves.  Susan was helping me think through the organization of the week's activities while Ani was preparing the lessons she would teach.  Toncho and I made a run to the store to pick up snacks and drinks.  Early Tuesday morning, I loaded down my car with baseball gear, much of which was donated by supporting churches in the States.  I went to the field well ahead of schedule and set up stations.  Everything was ready before the first wave of children arrived.  We had a great crew of people who helped with baseball instruction, Bible lessons, providing snacks, and just loving and serving the boys and girls who came out.  It was a great time of fun and fellowship.  Now our "Field of Dreams" is a reality, and our team, the Pumas will begin practice this Tuesday.  As the phrase goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words," so I will close with a big "Thank you!" to our photographer, Deny.  She did a great job all week long.  Not included are pictures from Saturday when we got parents out to play wiffle ball and hit in the batting cage.  I will see what I can do about that.

From the Medical Clinic to the Baseball Field

Much to report on since my last entry -  a quick 3 months in the states, visiting family, friends, and supporters.  The time was too short, but it served as a good reset for preparing us to return to the work in which we are now engaging.  We just finished a week long medical outreach in Pazardjik.  Betsy led this team.  It was good getting a chance to reconnect with her.  Susan and I dropped in on her overnight on our whirlwind through the states and now here she is with us on the other side of the ocean. She is such an encourager and she is a delight to watch as she connects with patients.  I was the only therapist on this team and so I took on all comers.  Most of my patients had conditions that are more typically in the realm of physical therapy, but no matter, I saw them all the same.  Yes, an occupational therapist can treat knees and backs, especially when he is the only game in town.  It was a pleasure to serve the people and the church in this little Bulgarian town.  I prayed with almost all of my patients.  They were all so glad to have me pray for them.  I heard about lots of aches, pains, loneliness, and worries over loved ones - important things to pray over, and so, along with patients and translators, I laid those concerns at the foot of the cross.  On one particular day, I worked with four elderly ladies, one after another.  As we ended our prayers, three of them were crying.  By the third time this happened, I found myself getting emotional and being touched by how alone and forgotten each lady felt.  I thank God for giving me the opportunity to share the burdens felt by those I served.

We are now scrambling to pull together the last details as we are preparing for our first ever baseball camp.  Please pray for us and the families that will be represented.

Seeing the Compassionate Hand of God

I asked teammates Gary & Tammy to share this wonderful story:

Providentially we have become friends with a family from the First Congregational Church in Plovdiv. These friends Nadia and Milen recently invited us to their house for dinner. They had mentioned that another family would be coming for dinner as well. As our evening progressed and we were talking around the table, Krassimir and his wife talked about their furniture business based here in Plovdiv where they built custom furniture. We began to talk about some needs for furniture at the Sunshine House, a Children’s Center, and at the church. As we were leaving Gary noticed something Krassimir was delivering, a piece like a custom pillow, which Krassimir had made for Milen. Gary got very excited and explained that this was similar to something needed to help disabled children. This providential meeting was an answer to prayers. Krassimir was able to make two custom pieces for Greg and they were exactly what Greg needed.

There is so much more to tell about this story, but this is where we will start.  The pictures that follow show the original prototype as well as the much improved finished product in use:

Sidelyer made of cardboard, duct tape, and t-shirt being tested

Gary, delivering the more advanced, finished products - a wedge and sidelyer

Mother and son

Ivan was showing off here, letting us see his strength

Coming to America!

We will be traveling back to the U.S. for a three month visit with family, friends, and supporters.  We will do a fair amount of traveling, as we want to share with our partners what God has been doing in Bulgaria.      We are in the process of setting our schedule and contacting people and churches for visits.  If you are a supporter and you haven't heard from us, please send me an email.  It is our desire to meet with as many of you as we can.  Our support account has dipped and so we will also be trying to make new contacts.  We are excited about the direction of ministry in Bulgaria.  There is much work to do.  We are looking forward to spending time with our friends in the States: and yet, we are eager to pick our work here again in June.  To God alone be the glory!

Hasta la vista, baby!

So I was in an autoshop yesterday for the mandatory annual inspection.  This is the first time that I have gone through the process so I didn't know what to expect.  I was told by Vlado where to go for the inspection.  I parked my car in the lot and walked inside.  There was noone at the desk so I wandered around until I found someone who could help me.  I used my best Bulgarian to ask where I should go for an inspection.  She pointed me back to the desk and went to get a man to help me.  When he came out, I gave him my documents, but realized that I did not have everything.  We were having trouble communicating, but he got me to give him my telephone number and I put my name on a list next to a number which I assumed was the cost of the inspection - 16.00.  I returned around 2 pm with the missing document.  This time another man was at the desk.  He spoke even less English than the other and I was struggling to find the right Bulgarian words for the situation.  Finally he brought out the sheet on which I had previously placed my name and number.  He wanted me to give him my information again, but I showed him that my information was already on the sheet next to the inspection price of 16 leva.  When I showed him, he seemed bothered and then, all of a sudden, I began to understand the sheet.  Above 16.00 was 15.30, and below it was 16.30.  These were appointments.  At 1 pm, I signed up for 4 pm, but returned at 2 pm.  I tried to ask if I could leave my car and return when the inspection was completed, but this only created more confusion, so I called Vlado for help.  He spoke to the man and the man explained to him that I could do this, but that I would have to leave some of my personal documents behind.  I agreed and then asked if I should pay now or later.  He was very happy to accept my money, a 100 lev bill, but when I asked for a receipt, he told me that he couldn't give it until the inspection was completed.  With no verification that I had paid, I declined paying up front.  In response the man gave me back my documents and told me that I could not leave my car, but that I would have to come back at 16.00.  What choice did I have?  I complied with his directive because he was in control and he knew it.  At 16.00 I returned and stood in line at the desk where both men were now working.  When I got to the front of the line.  The man said something that I could not understand and pointed to a bench.  I sat as directed, but I was very confused.  He then turned to the lady who was now sitting next to me and said "OT Dyordya."  She smiled and he laughed.  In case you are wondering, yes, he was laughing at me.

He remembered me and that I had trouble understanding earlier, but I understood those words.  They meant "from Georgia."  Actually that is the literal translation.  The meaning was more like, "The reason he is such an idiot is because he's from Georgia."  I sat not knowing what was going on and feeling very uncomfortable.  I wondered if they would make me wait all day because I didn't trust them with 100 lev earlier.  They looked at me and smiled a lot, occasionally chuckling.  I had a hard time understanding most of what they were saying, but I felt like I was being mocked. Then, out of the blue, a change occurred.  The first man said,"Yul Brynner?  Magnificant 7!"  I responded ,"Da," indicating that I knew who he was.  The man continued with other American icons: "Steve McQueen?"  He asked about another actor and seemed disappointed when I didn't know him.  I offered, "Clint Eastwood," but he didn't seem to care for the gunslinger.  The mood lightened.  My Bulgarian began flowing more easily.  He introduced me to another customer and we spoke briefly.  Finally, the inspection was over and my new comrad led me to my car.  He gave me my new card and placed a sticker on my window.  He turned to me and said, "Arnold Schwarzenegger..... Hasta la vista, baby!"  He walked away, but quickly turned back, tapped on my door before I could drive away and said, "Ne!....I'll be back!"  I smiled and said, "Dobre (good/ok)," and then I drove away.