ON THIS PAGE:  Children's Camp  /  Churches  /  Dolna Banja Girls' Orphanage  /  Tran Orphanage

Bulgaria is a country with high unemployment and great poverty, and many people struggle throughout the year to survive on their meagre incomes. During the severe Balkan winter many old folk die of hypothermia as they cannot afford heating and sufficient food. On his visits Clive has seen old people going through rubbish bins for food scraps. The churches are endeavouring to help the needy, but their resources are limited.

SMILE SPONSORS CHILDREN'S CAMP

Each morning the group of 50 children, many from local orphanages, met for Bible Study followed by art and craft and sports activities throughout the rest of the day, with a team of 15 adults acting as counsellors and staff. The children were also able to visit the lakes in the mountains and enjoyed swimming amongst God's wonderful creation. Several young people made personal commitments to Christ which was a great encouragement.

CHURCHES

   
Evgeniy and Clive at Sofia Baptist Church – Smile team ministering at a Pentecostal church near Dolna Banja – Revs Jan and Steve Worthy at Dr Longs Methodist Church, Sofia

The Roma church at Radomir currently meet in a small residential flat which has two rooms and a bathroom. It is not unusual for the 15x8 foot room to have over 60 people crammed into it. The rest of the congregation have to sit outside and up the stairs. The church have a heart to run a Christian pre-school, after school care group, English language and IT course, in order to help the young people gain employment, and they are praying for larger premises.

   
Radomir Baptist Church held in one small room – Answer to prayer keyboard – Smile team and the entire Radomir congregation

DOLNA BANJA GIRLS ORPHANAGE

In June 2003, 14 members of the Smile Step Out team visited the Dolna Banja Girls' Orphanage, home to 36 girls aged 8-18 years. We continued the work we had begun the previous year in renovating, repairing and decorating this dilapidated building. In partnership with friends at Brandon Full Gospel church, Suffolk, the orphanage was transformed, with newly decorated bedrooms, lounge, new furniture, beds, carpet, bedding, new clothes for the girls and repairing of showers and toilets, which enhanced living conditions immensely.

     
Main building in disrepair – Smile team and girls on a picnic – bedrooms painted and filled with new furniture – Refurbished toilets

TRAN ORPHANAGE

In 2003 Clive visited Tran Orphanage in western Bulgaria, where the conditions can only be described as desperate. At that time we were able to  provide food, clothes and Christmas shoeboxes for the children.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress" James 1:27