Women’s Retreat in Varna, Bulgaria

Around 90 women and a few men gathered for the Bulgarian Women’s Forum with the topic “God is Able” from April 12-14, 2019 in Varna, Bulgaria. The women arrived from all parts of the country to spend the weekend together, in order to experience God and His enriching power as well as communion with others.
The guest speaker was Dagmar Dorn, Women’s Ministries Director at the Inter-European Division. Using various Bible stories as illustrations she led in a detailed study of God’s boundless possibilities. If God was able to do the impossible in Bible times, eg. give women a son in their old age, he is just as able to use his power in our lives today, doing the impossible. Do we trust him implicitly? On Sabbath morning she showed how God leads us even when our dreams burst like bubbles and things turn up the opposite from our wishes. Even then we can share God’s faithfulness with others and tell our personal story.
On the Sabbath afternoon some women shared their experiences with God. One lady told about the “Women’s Club” they had started in her church, which has become very popular with church members as well as unchurched women. Another lady shared the story of her conversion, how she had found God in a “Center of Influence”. She will be baptized in June. The impressive testimony of a blind sister who has published a book of poems was moving. She read some of her poems using braille.
Saturday night is always reserved for a social, folksy, program. On Sunday morning the women participated in a special project. All participants had been asked to bring along a small gift and other useful articles like towels, slippers and other things that could be useful in an old people’s home. The idea behind the project was that we do not only want to be recipients but also givers of gifts. These articles were packed and presented to the residents of an old people’s home who were overjoyed and moved by the action. They sang a song for the women as a sign of their gratitude.
All participants of the retreat will look back at the time with good memories and they returned to their homes enriched and empowered and motivated to share what they had experienced.
Reported by EUD WM