Christmas Play 2

Annie (pink) and Teddy (yellow) were also part of the play ... aren't they beautiful?
We are proud of you, kids!

Christmas Play 1

Sammy (left) playing one of the main roles ... he did excellent.
Good job, son!

Opening The Chistmas Service

A little late ... but wanted to share a few pictures from Christmas and New Year before we post some from this year.

The Stefanov reunion

Bobby's brother and his family visited us this week. On the picture:
the five children expecting with great anticipation the opening of the
Christmas presents.

Life is not fair

The temperature where we live ...

The temperature where my mom lives ...

Our car

... covered wit ice. Instead of Renault Espace we call it now Renault
Icespace.

Iskren singing

Yesterday at the church service Bobby's friend from childhood
ministered to us in a song. Good job, Iskren!

Winter has arrived

Couple of days ago we woke up surprised by the snow picture the Great
Artist had drawn during the night.

Bobby preaching

"Don't bury the Gospel" was the topic of Bobby's sermon today. The
Holy Spirit fell in such a mighty way that the meeting lasted four
hours. Daddy, You get the glory again!

Who is this model?

Few hints:
- his name starts with S
- he is 11 years old
- he is playing in a school play today

Bobby's new hairstyle

No comments ...

The Stefanovs

Bobby, Rali, Shelly and Nicky

Bobby preaching

Bobby was invited to preach in a church in Veliko Tarnovo where his
brother is the pastor. A prophetic message was released under the
title "The test of vision". Daddy, you get the glory!

Playing bowling

We are here in the mall in Veliko Tarnovo playing bowling ... how fun!

Bobby praying at a pastor's conference

Friday and Saturday, Bobby attended the Annual Pentecostal Pastor's Conference in Sliven, Bulgaria.

Men's Conference

Bobby was a part of a men's gathering, where Larry Kreider (the International Director of DOVE Christian Fellowship International www.dcfi.org) spoke on "How to really be a real man". Bobby & Larry have known each other for several years.

Navigator's National Conference

Bobby just attended the 2nd National Conference organized by the
Navigators (www.navigators.org) in Bulgaria. The theme was: "Living
and discipling among the lost). On the picture: Bill Mowry (the main
speaker).

The King and the Queen

After a busy summer ... we are back!
We will be posting news more often now - stay 'tuned'.

Pizza

Getting ready to eat pizza with the Eagle Lake Team and some of the
young people from our church in Pizzaria Spiderman.

Concert

Tonight the group from America and my family (except Rali - she is still in America) attended a concert in the Methodist church in Shumen. A German student's choir sang for us. Later we had dinner at Pastor Plamen's home.

Getting on the bus to Sofia

Rali has been preparing for a special event in Texas for 100 days but didn't have money for the ticket. A few days ago she got an email that God had provided the money for the airfare so she left - first to Sofia, then to Munich, Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth. Thank you, Daddy for another miracle!!!!!

The EL team building us a dog house

The Eagle Lake team clearing our back yard

Ali and Pervin

Tonight we had dinner at a very hospitable Christian family in the
Asian part of Istanbul - Ali and Pervin. The felowship was great, too!

Boat cruize

Grand Bazaar

Walking and shopping in Kapalicarsi (Grand Bazaar)

Having chai/coffee

Blue Mosque

We went to the Blue Mosque which is one of the big attractions in
Istanbul. We all had to take our shoes off and the ladies had to cover
their heads.

Haggia Sophia

Visiting St. Sophia was quite an experience. Once a church, then a
mosque, now a museum ... It's just something else.

Walking through Istanbul

Big Apple Hostel

After a long drive and 5 hours stay at the border 11 tired travelers
arrived in the Big Apple Hostel in Istanbul. Do you like the view?

On our way to Istanbul

Yesterday a team of 9 young people from the US arrived in Shumen. They represent the Navigators and the came to our town with a mission to serve. Part of the schedule included a trip to Istanbul for 3 days. So, yesterday afternoon, my friend Vlado and I headed to Turkey with 2 vehicles full of Americans. On the way we stopped at a rest area and the lady that collected the coins for the toilet turned out to be ... guess what? ... from Shumen, Bulgaria. It's a small world after all!

Spiritual warfare

This morning Pastor Plamen preached a powerful sermon on Spiritual Warfare. He reminded us that prayer is not the only weaponry, but being obedient to God is one of the most destructive weapon. Are we fighting today? CHAZAQ

Sammy is learning new things

The last couple of days Sammy's been helping Bobby and had learned so many new things. The best way to learn is to watch how somebody else does it. This is "discipleship".

Physically Challenged Kids Running Race

Our new family business

Our motto: Free Paint 4 The Saint

* Actually, this is us painting the rooms in the house we are moving
into.

Twins or queens?

Rali and Annie wear the same t-shirts -the message is great:
"Hope for the hopeless".

Car race

Our kids took part in a car race today ... well, only in their dreams.
May be one day?!?!

Visit at orphanage Preslav

Today we took the Newcastle group to the orphanage in Preslav. We played with the children and painted the playground. The children there were begging us not to leave.

Flood in the flat

Today we had a number of challenges and for an end ... we experienced a flood in our flat. All day today we didn't have water and one of our children (we know exactly which one) had played with the faucets ... so when we came back from church service ... we found out the water was on and our home flooded. Then the whole family worked as a team and got the house back to normal. Lord, we praise You for the good moments but also for the bad moments!

Visit at orphanage Kalinka

Today we took the team from Newcastle, UK to the orphanage for disabled children Kalinka (Ladybug). We enjoyed playing with the kids there.
"External religious worship (religion as it is expressed in outward acts) that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need ..." The Message

Bobby, Rali and Raya

No, this is not our fourth child. Raya (her name means Paradise) was born to Stoyan and Hrisi, a couple from our church. We love Hrisi as our own daughter and we've come to love Stoyan as our son, as well. Raya, we love you, too!!!

Director of the social center

Veneta Gospodinova (in the middle) is the director of the social center. She gave an awesome presentation to the UK team. She also sits on the board of CompassFoundation.

In the social center

Today we visited the social center in Shumen with the group from
Newcastle. We had an incredible time playing and drawing with the
children there.

Lunch with UK team

Our foundation (CompassFoundation) in partnership with the North Benwell Youth Project organized for 9 young people from Newcastle, UK to come to Shumen, Bulgaria for a week and participate in a social project. Expect more pictures during the week ...

Our beautiful daughter

Annie is a young lady now and we are so proud of her

Guest from Burma

Today one Christian brother from the Union of Myanmar (Burma) showed up at our church service. He happened to be doing a social research in our city this week through an university in Germany. Then he told us that he pastors a group of 400-500 Burmans in Germany. God, bless our new friend Robert Thaung Zam!

Praying for UK team

This coming Saturday we are expecting a team of young people from
Newcastle, UK. Tonight we took time to pray for them.

Sammy moving to math school

Last Sunday Sammy took an entrance exam for the math school. Today the lists with the results were displayed on the school entrance. Out of 140 children Sammy is 3rd - another miracle.
God is awesome!!!

Sammy's graduation

Today Sammy received a certificate for finishing 4th grade and the
elementary level, according to the Bulgarian educational system. He
was one of two students that finished with a full A. Thank you Lord
and bravo Sammy!