Teacher thought that Father and Mother might have made a mistake when they arrived at the Seventh-day Adventist kindergarten. Father seemed to be covered from head to toe with tattoos, and Mother resembled a fashion model or beauty queen.

Father and Mother were looking for a place to take their son, Gogi.

Teacher fought back an urge to say the kindergarten might not be the best place for their child. Silently praying, she firmly rejected her prejudices based on the parents’ outer appearance. Then she told the parents that the kindergarten had Seventh-day Adventist teachers who taught children to love Jesus.

“Yes, yes,” the parents replied enthusiastically. “We want to enroll our son here.”

Gogi was developmentally delayed. When he arrived, he was unable to speak with the other children and could only make some sounds. His behavior was typical of children who are on the autism spectrum.

Teacher prayed for Gogi for many days and worked closely with him to develop his speech and social skills.

As time passed, Teacher learned that Gogi’s mother was deeply dedicated to her son and very loyal to the kindergarten. She wanted to help in every way possible. To Teacher’s amazement, this fashion-model-looking mom began going to supermarket sales to buy the best things at the best prices to help the kindergarten save money. Mother was also distressed about Gogi’s development, so Teacher began to meet regularly with her to discuss her concerns and offer guidance on how to support him at home.

Over the months, Gogi began to speak and made other improvements. Teacher and Mother developed a warm friendship. Teacher also learned that Gogi’s father worked as a bodyguard for a Bulgarian gangster.

Teacher continued to pray for Gogi and
his family.

One morning, Teacher received a video message from Mother. Gogi was sick at home, and in the video, he said, “Mommy, it’s time for spiritual breakfast!”

At the kindergarten, Teacher referred to morning worship as spiritual breakfast. Now, Gogi wanted to have morning worship with his mother at home.

In the video, Gogi also sang a Christian song just like those sung during morning worship at the kindergarten. Then, holding his children’s Bible—a gift from the kindergarten—he showed his mother the story that he wanted her to read.

Mother told Teacher she was delighted. Teacher was overjoyed, too. She realized that Mother was open to learning more about God, so she began giving her Bible studies.

Life changed in Gogi’s home. Father stopped eating meat. At the kindergarten, the children were served healthy meals, and Gogi began refusing meat at home. So, the whole family stopped eating it. Mother said Father felt healthier without it. Then, Father quit his job as a bodyguard and enrolled in school to become a physical education teacher.

Later, the family moved to another town so Father could teach physical education. But Teacher and Mother kept in touch.

Today, Gogi is in the fourth grade and is a straight A student. Mother wants to be baptized, but first, she and Father plan to get married. They have lived together in a common-law relationship and now want to make their union official in the eyes of God and the government.

Meanwhile, Mother works as a cosmetician and openly shares her love for Jesus with her clients. The kindergarten has sent her many Bibles and other books to give to her clients. Her dream is to become a missionary.

Teacher now sees clearly: God didn’t make a mistake when He brought Father and Mother to the Seventh-day Adventist kindergarten. He performed a miracle. The decision changed their lives forever.

Part of this quarter’s offering will allow the Colorful Hope (Tzventna Nadezhda) kindergarten to move out of a rented facility into a building of its own in Sofia. More than half of the children who attend come from families who aren’t members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Some don’t believe in God. Thank you for your generous support of this life-changing project in Bulgaria.