Change A Comin'

You see, the women in the Roma village culturally aren’t really empowered to have vision, hear from God, and be empowered to implement such things…especially on this scale.  However, I knew the relationship and trust I had built over the years in the community would at least give me a platform to share my heart and ask them to come along for the ride.  We are so much more powerful together.
I set up a meeting on a Saturday night…I had only 4 show up, but I wanted fewer and serious rather than many and not.  The pastor, his wife, and two young ladies we’d been working with for the last four years in a Bible study and English classes were there.  I shared my heart which was everything that I’ve written down here.  I said, “I cannot do this alone.  I need you.  These are your sisters, your neighbors, your friends, your community.”  It was such a powerful response afterward that I received.  The pastor assured me that they were 100% with me, and would help in any way they could. 
We put together a meeting for the next week in Sofia where they would ride with me to a seminar put together just for them to learn all they could about the trafficking issue in Bulgaria.   First, I wanted to educate them on the issues, and have them fully understand what is happening across the country in Bulgaria, then speak about what the organizations are doing in Bulgaria to help, and show them that these organizations are run by and championed by almost all women.
I wanted them to see how they can join together to do their part in their communities.  They are empowered by:
*educating others by sharing what they had learned,
*showing them that the microenterprise program they are a part of (knitting scarves and hats) gives 20% of all of the proceeds toward funding the girl’s home, and
*by them praying and standing together for this prevention home for girls in our area.
 
What a powerful moment it was for me to see the Roma women understanding the big picture, joining in the fight, and feeling so needed and valued that their voice, opinion and agreement counts!  We were changing a long standing tradition that their voice doesn’t matter and they don’t have anything to contribute. 
I am so much more content with this project now…. now that I have the nationals on board.  I look forward to showing them (in my great humility of inadequacy) to depend on the Lord as we see this project through together.  Empowering them to see other women getting vision from the Lord, trusting Him for big things, and implementing projects in a Godly, righteous, and professional manner.  What an honor to partner with these great women of God!
 
Please help us pray.  Pray for these women as we partner together for big things. 
Pray for me please as I trust God whole-heartedly through this process. 
Pray for these young girls that are so vulnerable. 
Where there is great need, big trust, a big leap of faith, there is a big God there to show Himself able!