Week 58 – Senior Couples & New Arrivals

August 30, 2023

Hey! The work moves forward! It’s been some time, but I’ve got a few awesome updates!

First off, I went to McDonalds for the first time in a year and went for the Bulgarian favorite “The Big Tasty”.

It tasted like McDonalds, but Bulgarian. So, it looks like another year until I have it again. I’m not super sad about that honestly 🙂

The Senior Couple came! They are amazing. Sister Bailey is Bulgarian, and Elder Bailey is from New Zealand!

They are already becoming the grandparents of the mission.

They are specifically humanitarian missionaries and they’ve already begun to do a lot of good here.

Our mission is recruiting more senior missionaries! There is a huge need.

If you know anyone looking to serve, there are a lot of opportunities in Greece and Bulgaria!!

We’ve seen some really awesome things here in Sofia, and really enjoyed visiting some member homes recently.

Bulgaria is absolutely beautiful. There is so much nature to enjoy here.

As soon as you leave the city, it’s almost immediately forest and rolling hills. So pretty!

So big news! We got new missionaries coming in! Feels like forever since we’ve gotten some, which it has. I got here, and then a year later these new ones came in. So crazy.

There are 7 of them, 2 were delayed due to Visa issues, so 5 have come.

Some more big news, I’m leaving the office! And Sofia!

I’m headed to Varna with two new companions. Elder Georgeson will train Elder Tingy, and I will act as district leader of the Black Sea.

If the other Elder is able to come soon, I will train him either in Varna, or in Burgas. Super exciting!

I’m looking forward to this transfer, it will be nice to have a change of pace.

Until now, I hadn’t served Varna, it’s the last city I have to collect! I’ll make sure to keep everyone updated on the adventures, I’m sure we’ll have some crazy times.

A few recent highlights!

We did service for a lady removing a stump in her garden with an ax. That was fun.

Visited a couple cool old churches, the round one is the oldest standing building in Sofia! Bulit 356 years after Christ.

I found some classic literature in Bulgarian, so naturally I picked up a book or two. So cool

Our last lesson with our friend Damien. I love him so much, he’s such an awesome guy.

He’s progressed so far and is super close to baptism! I’m sad to be leaving him.

The National palace of culture, really cool and beautiful building. It’s like a giant community center.

On the train to Varna there are so many sunflower fields. I can only imagine how beautiful they are in full bloom.

This week I was taught a very valuable principle. Amidst all the chaos of transfers, I was very nervous to leave and head back to the black sea area. There were so many things stacked against us, and I was fearful. However, my dad recently gave a talk on having Faith over fear. As I pondered his words, I remembered the quote: “For God has not given us a spirit of Fear, but of hope” or something like that. How true that is. We have no need to fear while we perform the work of the Lord! If have faith over fear, he provides us with exactly what we need.

I hope you all have a wonderful week; God be with you!

Elder Thornton