Tom works primarily in development and in job and small business creation, using these as a means to address the issues of poverty and trafficking. Tom is also involved in a business-as-mission project, which will support the ministry outreaches of Sofia Baptist Church, build connections with ministries working in community development around the world and provide a place for job training. Terry’s work includes managing a literacy program with Roma children, working with victims of human trafficking, coordinating the Union’s partnership with American Baptist International Ministries and providing support to short-term mission teams.

--The literacy program is off to a roaring start. Literally—the first week there were around 14 kids with several new ones coming. That big of a group makes for a lot of noise!! Pray for the children and the teachers that they will have a great year. Some of the kids who have been coming for a while are hitting the teenage years and keeping them interested in school and learning is a difficult task.

--The café is close to opening after a long process to get this far. We have a person hired to help and will start the training next week on the use of the espresso machine and the preparations of other beverages. Please pray for our employee that she will be the right person for the job. P

Pray for us as we finally get this project off the ground, it is going to consume a lot of Tom’s time as we get up and running.
--Pray for the young woman we work with in Northern Bulgaria. She works extensively with the children and youth in three different villages. The youth raised vegetables in a couple of greenhouses, which we financed and in the garden of one of the houses in the village. The crop in the greenhouses did well and they were able to make some money, but unfortunately, the peppers growing in the garden were stolen when they were ready to be harvested. This meant they did not have as much money as expected to purchase school supplies for those who worked all summer. This young woman is also in the process of starting a foundation. She was advised that this would be a good idea since she does so much work with children.