Peter Georgiev spends many days with his dedicated team of volunteers putting together parcels of groceries which are distributed on the run up to Christmas.
In the orphanages, the children were delighted to receive gifts with which to celebrate the birth of our Saviour.
Taking home a fortnight’s groceries can provide unimaginable pleasure for someone who is unsure of where their next meal is coming from.
Folk who buy holiday homes in Bulgaria may bring prosperity to some landowners but the general population don’t really benefit. What they need is jobs and a secure future.
In the winter time the temperature can plummet to minus –15o degrees Centigrade so our food parcels containing basic groceries have become a life line for many.
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Giving food and hope at Christmas time in Bulgaria, a practical expression of your Christian love.
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:10
This will be the 15th year of our Christmas parcel outreach to the poor folk in Bulgaria who have come to look to Siloam for encouragement and hope for the future.
After 50 years of communism, many older folk believe they were actually better off on their previously meagre pensions so most now feel worse off under democracy than they did under communism.
Added to that, because of 50 years of atheistic teaching in this country known as ‘little Russia’, there is a terrible spiritual emptiness which is just waiting to be filled with God’s love. As we believe in using social work, education and medical aid as a vehicle for the Gospel, Siloam has teamed up with Pastor Peter Georgiev to help provide gifts for the poorest of the poor in this southeast corner of Europe.
This is a simple programme providing Christmas parcels and meals to those who are without. You don’t need to understand deep theology to express Christian kindness to a person who has come to misbelieve that no one cares or loves them. Your help this Christmas will provide the budget we need to bring love and encouragement again at this special time of the year when we traditionally give presents to others.
What more can I say? Just look inside this brochure and see how much our gifts blessed others less fortunate in Bulgaria last Christmas, - and help Siloam to make it happen again.
Richard Norton Director-Siloam UK
THIS IS HOW WE PLAN TO RAISE THE MONEY
CHRISTMAS 2008 – TARGET £8,250.00
1 benefactor gift of £1,000.00 will provide £1,000.00
2 major gifts of £500.00 will add up to £1,000.00
4 anniversary gifts of £250.00 could raise £1,000.00
10 church collections of £100.00 will account for £1,000.00
10 donations of £50.00 will yield £500.00
100 love gifts of £25.00 will furnish £2,500.00
25 family Christmas gifts of £20.00 will account for £500.00
50 personal gifts of £10.00 will release £500.00
And, 50 widows’ mites of £5.00 (backed with prayer) £250.00
TOTAL FUNDS TO RAISE BY 10th DECEMBER 2008 £8,250.00
JUST HOW FAR WILL YOUR MONEY GO?
1 gift of £250.00 could provide most of the transport requirements.
A gift of £160.00 will provide 25 Christmas parcels.
£80.00 will provide 40 meals. £40.00 will provide 10 smaller Christmas packages.
A gift of £10.00 will provide 8 children’s gifts.
A gift of just £5.00 will provide Christmas meals for two elderly poor pensioners.
How much could you spare this Christmas to bless a believer in Bulgaria?
Letter from Peter Geogiev to Siloam 22nd January 2008
Dear Siloam friends
Warm Christian greetings from the saints in Bulgaria. Like previous years, last Christmas was full of joy for the adults and children who all wish to thank you for your generosity. I apologise for sending you the report late due to our bad weather at the beginning of January. Let me just share with you our outreach schedule.
Between the 7th and 11th of December, we spent time planning the project and deciding which churches and individuals we could help.
On 12th December, we purchased the food for the 1,040 Christmas parcels.
On 13th and 14th, we purchased most of the remaining items and started to prepare the Christmas parcels.
On 15th December, we distributed the first parcels to Bosilkovzi, Bistrensti, Baniska and Byala.
On 16th December, parcels were distributed in the Rousse area after our church service. Also, parcels were despatched to Dve Mogily and Straklevo.
On 17th December, we visited 27 sick people in their homes in the Rousse area and had a time of prayer with each of them and gave them Christmas parcels.
December 18th, parcels were sent by mail to Lom, Vidin and one Pastor from Sliven came with his car to fetch the parcels for his church and his group of children.
We also shared the gospel in our own church together with songs and provided lunch and parcels for 54 invalids who came for the first time.
On 19th December, lunch was provided for 52 poor and elderly citizens together with some of their families.
We also distributed Christmas gift parcels in Peichinovo and Kamen.
On 20th December we visited an orphanage at Mogylino.
On 21st December, lunch was provided for 63 widows.
On 22nd December, dinner was provided for 75 people as well as parcels distributed in Glavenitza, Potoino, Koziak and Silistra.
On 23rd December, parcels were distributed in Tutrakan, Staro selo and Borovo.
On 24th December, Christmas parcels were delivered to Nova cherna, Aidemir, Deliankite and Karadjovo.
On 25th December, at our own church we had dinner for 58 people of a deserving nature.
On 26th December, parcels were distributed in Razgrad, Slivo pole, Malko Vranovo and Tetovo.
On 27th December, parcels were delivered to an invalid’s home but unfortunately we were not able to take photos.
On 28th December, dinner was held at the church for 65 adults and some young people. Finally, on the 7th of January, we visited our orphanage St Dimitar Basarbovski in Rousse and 63 children listened to the Christmas story and received Christmas gifts.
The Christmas food parcels consisted of lentils, rice, canned beef, canned fish, pasta, tinned peas, cans of beans with sausage, macaroni, yellow cheese and sunflower oil etc...
I do hope that many of your supporters will request the DVD which we put together to show you the outreach in a more visual way. I know you will enjoy the rich Bulgarian singing voices which accompany the visual images. What more can I say – Thank you so much for your generous help.
Please take a note of how we spent your valuable donations.
Yours in Christ
Peter Georgiev and fellow believers – Rousse, Bulgaria
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FUNDS RECEIVED FROM SILOAM CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES UK FOR CHRISTMAS OUTREACH PROGRAMME IN BULGARIA – DECEMBER 2007
1. Funds received from Siloam UK – £6,879.00
(Included UK bank transfer charges via American Express £5.00)
2. EXPENSES FOR THE BULGARIAN CHRISTMAS OUTREACH
NATURE OF EXPENSE AND VALUE
A. Food for 1,040 Christmas parcels for 25 churches. £4,943.00
B. Christmas gifts for 660 children (including 128 children in 2 orphanages. £541.00
C. Lunch for 390 widows, poor families, invalids, lonely and other poor local folk. £710.00
D. Support for 2 Pastors working among gipsy communities. £192.00
E. Christmas gifts for the St Dimitar Basarbovski children’s orphanages. £210.00
F. Transport costs and other miscellaneous. £258.00
G. Local bank charges in Bulgaria. £25.00
TOTAL £6,879.00
P.S. Please send for the DVD and help us to motivate others to use this Christmas outreach as a vehicle for the Gospel in Bulgaria.
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