As the snow is falling outside our window here in Colorado to welcome in 2010, we are thinking about the New Year ahead of us, and what it will bring.  God has blessed us these last six months as we began our home assignment and transitioned back into life in the United States.  Our boys have adjusted well to school and activities here, for which we are very thankful.  Tom and I have enjoyed our travels to churches around the country, greeting old friends and meeting new ones, sharing about the work God is doing in Bulgaria.  

At this time of year, we think especially of our friends and co-laborers back in Bulgaria.  New Year’s Day is a big holiday for Bulgarians, and a wonderful opportunity to wish others much health, happiness and prosperity for the New Year ahead, but morale is not very high.  Our friends in Bulgaria are struggling with many of the same things Americans are—the economic crisis has nearly halted the construction industry which used to provide many jobs, many people are under-employed or unemployed altogether, and it’s hard to get by each day with the rising cost of food and utilities.  No matter where in the world people live, we face many of the same problems.  But we know that it is the same God who holds each of us in his hand and sees us through the tough times as well as the good.  

The next six months will bring more traveling and more opportunities to network with folks who are excited about missions, wherever that work might be.  We are grateful for this opportunity.  And we are looking forward to our return this summer to Bulgaria and our friends and ministries there.

If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand”.  Psalms 37:23-24