Valley Forge, PA  19482-0851

Again, your gifts can be directed toward a particular missionary or missionaries.

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Some exciting things happened in Bulgaria this summer that we'd like to share with you.  Two summer camps were organized--one for teenagers and young adults, and one for children.  It was decided to combine the young adults and youth into one camp to celebrate the 15th anniversary of youth work in Bulgaria since the governmental changes back in 1990. In communist times it was prohibited to do any Christian activity among young people, so the history of the youth organization is traced back to a national conference which was held in the city of Varna in 1990. This is when the foundation of the Bulgarian Baptist Youth Organization (BBYO) was laid.  That event was the official birth of the BBYO, even though youth ministry had existed in Bulgaria for more than a century before that.

This special camp was held at a former communist pioneer camp in central Bulgaria, and 115 young people, ranging in age from 14-30, were in attendance.  Based on the theme "Adequate Christianity in an Inadequate World," the campers experienced age-appropriate worship, testimonies and seminars in addition to English lessons, music and video clips of the happenings of that day.

The most exciting part of the camp was the end when 13 youth volunteered to take part in three, four-day mission trips after the camp.  They joined with teens from the U.S. who had come to take leadership roles in the camp, and were sent to three different cities around the country where they did work projects and helped with the local church's summer mission activities.  This was quite an experience for Bulgarian youth, who rarely volunteer outside of their own church.  And the U.S. youth were definitely blessed by the experience as well!

The BBYO also sponsored a camp for children, ages 8-13, at the end of August.  35 children and nine youth helpers (who had volunteered to do this previously at the youth camp) spent a week delving into the "Final Week of Jesus' Ministry".  The children memorized scripture, played games, sang, and had an unforgettable experience at a mountain youth hostel in Yundola, on one of the tallest mountains in Bulgaria.  Two girls, aged 11 and 12, decided to accept Christ as a result of the camp!  Praise God for Sara and Alexandra, and for the dedicated leaders of this camp who opened the doors for these girls to become His precious daughters!

The BBYO is planning a winter camp, and then three separate camps in the summer of 2006.  Pray for the BBYO leadership as they are in the process of developing a new vision for youth ministries in Bulgaria.

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Please pray for:

--Our family's continued transition to life in the United States, and for traveling mercies.

--The Bulgarian Baptist Youth Organization as they plan new ways to reach out to even more children and youth in Bulgaria. 

--For Sara and Alexandra as they begin their Christian walk. 

--The World Mission Offering, and that our churches will give generously to ensure all American Baptist missionaries and our partner groups will be able to continue their ministries around the world.

We thank you for your prayers and many kind e-mails and notes since our return to Colorado.  We have enjoyed meeting many of you during these past months, and hope to be able to meet many more of you in the upcoming months.  It is indeed a blessing and a privilege for us to be able to share with you what God is doing in Bulgaria, and to be able to pray with you for the ministries of your churches.

Shalom,

Terry, Tom, A.J. and Nathan Myers

Tom and Terry Myers
Missionaries in Bulgaria
International Ministries
American Baptist Churches, USA

Email: myersbulgaria@msn.com

U.S. address (7/05-7/06):