Bulgaria Sofia Mission

Bulgaria Sofia Mission

Mission Website(s)

LDS Mission Network (Joel Conte, Richard Davies, Chad Rawlinson)

Missionary Site(s)

LDS Mission Network

Dear Elder--Sister Melissa Fuller 2008-2009

Dear Elder--Elder William B. "Bill" Edwards 2007-2009

Dear Elder--Elder Tyler Walquist 2007-2009

Dear Elder--Elder Zachary Bingham 2008-2010

Dear Elder--Elder Jack Wells 2009-2011

Dear Elder--Elder Taylor Bryce Christensen 2008-2010

MissionSite.Net--Elder Cole Turner 2007-2009

MissionSite.Net--Elder David Werden 2006-2008

MissionSite.Net--Elder Aaron Baddley 2008-2010

MissionSite.Net--Elder Matty Rittmanic 2008-2010

MissionSite.Net--Elder Jake Hutchison 2008-2010

MissionSite.Net--Elder John Hopkins IV 2008-2010

MissionSite.Net--Elder Trevor Limburg 2008-2010

MissionSite.Net--Elder Paul Heaton 2007-2009

MissionSite.Net--Elder Jordan Bracken 2008-2010

LDSMissions.com--Elder Conly Allen 2003-2005

LDSMissions.com--Sister Joyce Brinton Anderson 1995-1996

LDSMissions.com--Sister Colette Anderson Hudgins 1993-1994

LDSMissions.com--Elder Davis Andrew 2000-2002

LDSMissions.com--Elder Andrew Barrus 1991-1993

LDSMissions.com--Elder Ryan Belleau 1995-1997

LDSMissions.com--Sister Dorothy Bromley 1999-2001

LDSMissions.com--Elder Hacho Chakmakov 2000-2002

LDSMissions.com--Sister Misty Cook

LDSMissions.com--Elder Nate Crook 1995-1997

LDSMissions.com--Elder Mark Cutchen 1995-1996

LDSMissions.com--Elder Richard Davies 1998-2000

LDSMissions.com--Elder Matt Depeel 1995-1997

LDSMissions.com--Sister Deborah Dushku 1993-1995

LDSMissions.com--Sister Elizabeth Emerson 1997-1998

LDSMissions.com--Elder Steven Esplin 2003-2005

LDSMissions.com--Elder Hannon Ford 1992-1994

LDSMissions.com--Elder Darren Funk 1995-1996

LDSMissions.com--Sister Lorraine Germer/Larson 1995-1996

LDSMissions.com--Elder Kevin Goins 1996-1998

LDSMissions.com--Elder Jason Hay 1993-1995

LDSMissions.com--Elder Jarom Haynie 2002-2004

LDSMissions.com--Sister Lilia Hristova 2004-2006

LDSMissions.com--Elder Josh Jensen 2000-2002

LDSMissions.com--Elder Michael Johnson 1996-1998

LDSMissions.com--Elder Lynden Jones 1999-2001

LDSMissions.com--Elder Heath Madsen 1994-1995

LDSMissions.com--Elder Don Mathis 1998-2000

LDSMissions.com--Elder Michael McDonald

LDSMissions.com--Elder Peter Mendenhall 2002-2004

LDSMissions.com--Elder Douglas Nebeker 1993-1995

LDSMissions.com--Sister Kimberly Neilson 1993-1995

LDSMissions.com--Elder Adam Nelson 2003-2005

LDSMissions.com--Elder Chad O'Loughlin

LDSMissions.com--Elder Ben Olson 1999-2001

LDSMissions.com--Sister Rochelle Poulson 1996-1998

LDSMissions.com--Elder Jacob Rabe 2000-2002

LDSMissions.com--Elder David Simmons 1994-1996

LDSMissions.com--Elder Luke Stoddard 1999-2001

LDSMissions.com--Jamie Stoker 1999-2001

LDSMissions.com--Sister Danna Tjaden Probst 1999-2001

LDSMissions.com--K Tonas 1991-1993

LDSMissions.com--Elder Clint Wilson 2006-2008

Trevor M Beckstead 2009-2011

Deborah Dushku Gardner--One Heart Bulgaria

Chelsia Evans--One Heart Bulgaria

Jeff Swift--One Heart Bulgaria

Craig L. Winder--One Heart Bulgaria

Tony Anderson--One Heart Bulgaria

Wendi Prince

Brian E. Felt

Pictures

Dear Elder--Sister Melissa Fuller

Dear Elder--Elder William B. "Bill" Edwards

Dear Elder--Elder Tyler Walquist

Dear Elder--Elder Jack Wells

MissionSite.Net--Elder Cole Turner

MissionSite.Net--Elder David Werden

MissionSite.Net--Elder Matty Rittmanic

MissionSite.Net--Elder John Hopkins IV

MissionSite.Net--Elder Trevor Limburg

MissionSite.Net--Jordan Bracken

President(s)

"Mission President Assignments: 2009," (new mission president Gerold Roth, former mission president Blair S. Bennett) Church News [Saturday, 7 March 2009].

“New Mission Presidents Now in Place,” (Blair S. Bennett) Liahona, Aug. 2006, N4–N5

“New Mission Presidents Receive Assignments,” (Blair S. Bennett) Ensign, June 2006, 72–74

"New and Returning Mission Presidents," (new mission president Blair S. Bennett, former mission president Jeffrey P. Johnson) Church News [Saturday, 4 March 2006].

"New Mission President," (Blair Shields Bennett) Church News [Saturday, 4 February 2006].

"6 Full-Time General Authorities Released," (Released from part-time service as Area Authority Seventies were: Blair S. Bennett) Church News [Saturday, 4 October 2003].

"New Area Authority Seventies," (Gerold Roth) Church News [Saturday, 19 April 2003].

"Leaders Called; 5 new General Authorities," (Gerold Roth called as Area Authority Seventy) Church News [Saturday, 12 April 2003].

"New Mission Presidents for 105 Missions," (new mission president Jeffrey P. Johnson, former mission president David B. Galbraith) Church News [Saturday, 8 March 2003].

"New Mission Presidents," (Jeffrey Pollard Johnson) Church News [Saturday, 15 February 2003].

"New and Returning Mission Presidents," (new mission president David Brian Galbraith, former mission president Gary Roy Stephens) Church News [Saturday, 11 March 2000].

"New Mission Presidents," (David Brian Galbraith) Church News [Saturday, 22 January 2000].

"New Mission Presidents," (Gary R. Stephens) Church News [Saturday, 29 March 1997].

"New and Returning Mission Presidents: 1997," (new mission president Gary R. Stephens, former mission president Edward M. Partridge) Church News [Saturday, 15 March 1997].

"New Regional Representatives," (Blair Shields Bennett) Church News [Saturday, 23 April 1994].

"New Mission Presidents," (Dale J. Warner) Church News [Saturday, 14 March 1992].

"New Leaders Assigned," (new mission president Dale James Warner, former mission president Kiril P. Kiriakov) Church News [Saturday, 7 March 1992].

"New Mission Presidents," (Kiril P. Kiriakov) Church News [Saturday, 18 May 1991].

Blog(s)

Elder (Daniel) Simmons Mission Update 2009-2011

And then I said... (Sister Kristen Kennedy Bulgaria Sofia Mission)

Voice of Deseret--Anti-Mormon Bigotry In Bulgaria: Orthodox Priests Ask Their Government To Evict All LDS Missionaries And "Decertify" The Church [Friday, 6 June 2008].

LDS Church Growth--The Church in Eastern Europe [Sunday, 24 February 2008].

Ritchie James Hill Obituary

Articles

"Bulgaria," LDS Newsroom

Bulgaria (Cumorah.Com)

LDS Church's Bulgaria Website

Marvin R. VanDamm, "Mormons Find a Home in Bulgaria," Meridian Magazine [Monday, 23 March 2009].

Elizabeth Miller, "LDS Church Denies Misdeed," Salt Lake Tribune [Tuesday, 10 June 2008].

Michael DeGroote, "Bulgarian Missionary Incident Called a Misunderstanding," Mormon Times [Tuesday, 10 June 2008].

Rositsa Krupeva, "Leaders Greet Mayor in Friendly Setting," (president Blair Bennett meets with mayor Penka Armenkova) Church News [Saturday, 11 August 2007].

"Religious affairs are discussed in Bulgaria," (President Blair Bennett of the Bulgaria Sofia Mission and his wife, Sister Mary Jane Bennett, met with Professor Ognyan Gerdjikov, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of Human Rights and Religious Affairs) Church News [Saturday, 12 May 2007].

"New equipment to aid doctors, ease suffering," (President Blair Bennett of the Bulgaria Sofia Mission, presented officials of the Saint George University Hospital in Plovdiv, one of the largest in Bulgaria, with equipment to diagnose brain and cranial problems.) Church News [Saturday, 24 March 2007].

"Meet with Bulgarian leader," (President Blair S. Bennett of the Bulgaria Sofia Mission and his wife, Sister Mary Jane Bennett, met with Matei Iliev, Councilor of Religious Affairs to President Georgi Parvanov of the Republic of Bulgaria) Church News [Saturday, 10 February 2007].

Rositsa Krupeva, "Strengthening Families," Church News [Saturday, 30 December 2006].

"Missionaries celebrate season," (missionaries from the Bulgaria Sofia Mission performed an improvisational concert of Christmas music in front of the National Palace of Culture in Sofia) Church News [Saturday, 9 December 2006].

"LDS Bulgarians mark Joseph Smith's birth," (mentions Elder Mason McGinn) Church News [Saturday, 24 December 2005].

"Missionaries teach in town square," (gave away 300 Book of Mormon; mentions Elder David Jones) Church News [Saturday, 12 March 2005].

"Where They Served," (Slade Biegelow) Church News [Saturday, 21 February 2004].

“Church Leaders Share Goodwill with Various Nations,” (The First Presidency welcomed the ambassador of Bulgaria and her family during a February visit to Utah. Elena Borislavova Poptodorova was in Utah for a speaking engagement at Brigham Young University’s Kennedy Center for International Studies.) Ensign, June 2003, 77–78

"Facts and figures: Freiberg Germany Temple," Church News [Saturday, 14 September 2002].

"Missionaries return to Serbia," (Six missionaries from the Bulgaria Sofia Mission have been assigned to serve in the Republic of Serbia, ending a 32-month absence of proselytizing missionaries who were withdrawn in March 1999 because of conflict in the region.) Church News [Saturday, 26 January 2002].

"New Mission Presidents," (former missionary Alan W. Dudley called as president Russia Novosibirsk Mission) Church News [Saturday, 10 March 2001].

“Church European Areas Realigned,” (The Europe East Area no longer includes North Africa, the Middle East, and certain parts of central Europe. It now encompasses 13 missions and 25 districts in 18 countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.) Liahona, Jan. 2001, 128

“LDS Scene--First Meetinghouse Dedicated in Bulgaria,” Ensign, Oct. 2000, 79

Scott Lloyd, "European continent realigned into three new areas," (The new Europe East Area, in addition to Russia, retains a number of former Soviet Bloc countries, including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Bulgaria.) Church News [Saturday, 16 September 2000].

Esther McFarlane, "LDS Bulgarians come together for historic dedication: First meetinghouse comes a decade after mission opened," Church News [Saturday, 8 July 2000].

“LDS Scene,” (More than 100 Latter-day Saint youth in Bulgaria recently gathered for the nation’s first youth conference, a three-day event with the theme of “Choose the Right.” Under the direction of Bulgaria Sofia Mission president Gary Stephens and his wife, Annette Stephens) Ensign, Aug. 1999, 80

Shaun Stahle, "Four Generations of Bulgarian Family Now Members of the Church," (Kristeo and Stoyanka Penov) Church News [Saturday, 3 July 1999].

"At conference, Bulgarian youth realize many share their beliefs," (mentions Elder and Sister Don and Sara-Beth Matis) Church News [Saturday, 22 May 1999].

Dennis B. Neuenschwander, “Reflections on Establishing the Gospel in Eastern Europe,” Liahona, Oct 1998, 38

“More Small Temples Announced,” ( The new small temple in Kiev will also serve an additional 10,000 members living in Bulgaria) Ensign, Oct. 1998, 74

"A temple in Ukraine," (The new temple in Ukraine will serve much of Eastern Europe. Missions to be included in the new temple district will be Bulgaria Sofia) Church News [Saturday, 8 August 1998].

Janet Peterson and Dennis B. Neuenschwander, “Friend to Friend,” (In 1987 I was called as president of the Austria Vienna East Mission, which was created to work with the countries in Eastern Europe. The mission began with just a very few missionaries, and the number of baptisms was small. Now many missionaries are serving in countries like Russia, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, and Greece, where people only a few years ago could not worship Heavenly Father as they wanted. Many people are listening to the missionaries and are accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ.) Tambuli, Sep 1994, 6

“Health Specialists Volunteer for Service in Bulgaria,” (Ike Ferguson) Ensign, Sept. 1993, 74

Janet Peterson and Dennis B. Neuenschwander, “Friend to Friend,” Friend, Jul 1993, 6

"Volunteers bring hope to Bulgarian children," (mentions Ike Ferguson) Church News [Saturday, 5 June 1993].

Russell M. Nelson, “Drama on the European Stage,” Tambuli, May 1992, 8

Russell M. Nelson, “Drama on the European Stage,” Ensign, Dec 1991, 7

“Two New Areas Created, Presidencies Assigned,” (The realigned Europe Area now includes fifty-seven thousand members in twenty-two stakes and sixteen missions. With headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, the area includes Austria, Bulgaria) Ensign, Nov. 1991, 104–105

R. Scott Lloyd, "New Seventy Played Key Role in Thrilling Events of the Church," (Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander when president of Austria Vienna East had supervision of Bulgaria in 1990) Church News [Saturday, 18 May 1991].

"Mission to be created in Bulgaria," Church News [Saturday, 18 May 1991].

“Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander Of the Seventy,” Ensign, May 1991, 97

“Six Countries Dedicated, Recognition Granted in Another,” (Bulgaria dedicated on 13 February by Russell M. Nelson) Ensign, July 1990, 78–79

“New Mission in Bulgaria,” Ensign, Aug. 1991, 76

“FYI: For Your Information--The “Sounds of Friendship” Ring Out across Rumania, Bulgaria,” New Era, Jul 1980, 41–43

Kathleen Lubeck, “BYU Sounds at Home and Abroad,” New Era, Sep 1979, 10

Richard Jensen, “A New Home, A New Life,” (Mischa Markow) Ensign, Aug 1973, 56

Stories

Dear Elder--Pamela Meager Bazyk

Maria Kaneva, “Enduring to the Beginning,” NewEra, Oct 2007, 11–13

Maria Kaneva, “Enduring to the Beginning,” Liahona, Oct 2007, 29–31

Deborah Dushku Gardner, 'One Heart' Provides Fresh Produce to Orphans," Church News [Saturday, 9 August 2003].

Dallin H. Oaks, “Miracles,” Ensign, Jun 2001, 6

"Day of miracles has not ceased," (Dallin H. Oaks experience with gift of tongues in Bulgaria) Church News [Saturday, 13 May 2000].

Beth Dayley, “Joy to the World from Bulgaria,” Ensign, Dec 1997, 30

Beth Dayley, “‘Joy to the World’ from Bulgaria,” Liahona, Dec 1996, 26 

Edwin O. Haroldsen, “To Be Free!,” (Kiril P. Kiriakov) Ensign, Oct 1971, 10

One Heart Bulgaria Foundation: Bulgaria Sofia Missionaries Love for Orphans

From time to time I run across an interesting humanitarian effort being done by former missionaries of the church. A couple in the past I mentioned were the King Benjamin Clothing Project and the Wallace Toronto Foundation.

As I was researching the Bulgaria Sofia Mission I found an extremely worthwhile effort--One Heart Bulgaria--where Bulgarian orphanages have been receiving ongoing support from two former sister missionaries who have recruited other former RMs and dozens of financial donors. Their foundation does many worthwhile projects.

"All of One Heart Bulgaria's programs have been created with the primary goal of dramatically improving the lives of orphans in Bulgaria. We achieve this on many critical levels through sponsorships of individual orphanages; completion of special projects for the orphanages; providing specialized medical care; implementing life skills training programs for the teenage orphans; and training orphanage staff, to properly care for the orphans."

Back in 1995 a sister missionary Deborah Dushku visited an orphanage in one of her areas and wrote about its impact on her life:

I remember the first time I walked into an orphanage in Bulgaria. Several small dark-eyed children ran toward me with their arms stretched out calling, "Mommy, Mommy." Each wanted to be embraced. I watched in wonder at these little ones — born in a third-world country, and now orphans. I picked up a little girl, too small for her age, and held her on my hip. I assured myself that someday I'd return and adopt a Bulgarian child. Little did I know how many Bulgarian orphans would become a part of my life.

As she was leaving the country with her companion Heidi Glyn the two discussed their experiences and what they might do about it. Within a few years something happened that made it a reality:

Sometime later, looking out the window of the small plane leaving Bulgaria at the conclusion of my mission, I cried quietly to myself. I had been profoundly affected by my mission and the deeply meaningful relationships I developed.

Seated next to me on that flight was my companion and friend, Glyn Barker, who shared my love for Bulgaria. That flight home was the end of one mission for Glyn, and the beginning of another. Years later, she returned to Bulgaria and tried to adopt two orphan brothers, Lyubcho and Ivan.

Health problems prevented her from completing the adoption process and the two were left. If she couldn't be their mother, she felt there must be a way to nurture them.

So she hired a Bulgarian friend, Radost, to make weekly visits to the orphanage and bring fresh fruits and vegetables. Out of this desire to care for two brothers came inspiration to start "One Heart," an organization to aid Bulgarian orphans. It was organized in March 2003 with Glyn Barker as president and me as vice president. Later that month, as companions again, this time on a different mission, we returned.

We took bags filled with baby aspirin, diaper rash ointment, bottles, underwear, developmental toys, bedding and other essentials requested by an orphanage.

Our three goals were to deliver the supplies to two orphanages, seek out additional orphanages that might be interested in our assistance, and to register the organization with Bulgarian officials. With Heavenly Father's help, we accomplished our goals and more.

The Bulgarian government accepted our humanitarian offer with excitement and gratitude, enabling us to organize a Bulgarian sister foundation to "One Heart."

I noticed that both women Deborah Dushku Gardner were honored. Deborah at Homecoming 2007 with a BYU Distinguished Alumni Award and former companion Heidi Brown Glyn Barker who also received a BYU-Idaho Distinguished Almni Award in 2005 for their efforts.

The BYU press release said of Dushku Gardiner's contributions:

Gardner’s mission to Bulgaria prompted the full-time mother of five to focus on humanitarian aid. She cofounded One Heart Bulgaria, which improves the lives of children in 15 Bulgarian orphanages. As the foundation's executive director, Gardner has organized projects including an immunization program, orphanage renovations, an orphan nurturing program, and a hydrocephalus program that provides life-saving shunts and surgeries for infants and young children. Additionally, she has created a jobs program and a halfway home for teenagers. Gardner guided her 9-year-old daughter in a fund-raising project that raised $1,200 to provide birthday and Christmas parties for orphans.

The history of the organization followed the following chain of events according to the One Heart Bulgaria site:

One Heart Bulgaria's roots go back to 1997, when co-founder, Glyn Barker, delivered a truckload of humanitarian supplies to an orphanage in Sofia, Bulgaria. Moved and saddened by the conditions she saw there, she determined to remain involved in helping this particular group of needy children. In December of 2000, Glyn and a group of interested friends delivered Christmas presents and medical supplies to the orphanages. Another humanitarian shipment was made the next year, arriving on Christmas Day.

Also in 2000, Glyn accompanied a friend on a trip to Bulgaria to assist with an adoption. The plight of two little boys—twin brothers—who lived in one of the orphanages caught her attention, and she decided that there must be something she could do to ease their suffering and bring them a little happiness and hope on an ongoing basis. With the help of her long-time friend, Radost Yanakieva, Glyn began sending monthly donations for food and medicine for the little boys—only to find that the relatively small amount she was sending was having a greater impact than she anticipated.

Interest in this humanitarian effort soon grew among family members and friends, and before long Deborah Dushku Gardner duplicated Glyn’s program in an infant orphanage. By this time, Glyn and Deborah began discussing the possibility of incorporating as a non-profit organization.

In March of 2003, the dream became a reality— One Heart Bulgaria incorporated both as a non-profit organization in America, and as a non-profit foundation in Bulgaria. In the year and a half following the incorporation, One Heart Bulgaria expanded quickly to impact the lives of over 850 children living in ten orphanages in Western Bulgaria. Within three years of incorporating, the organization was improving the quality of life for 1,200 plus orphans living in fourteen orphanages.

Several missionaries have also become involved with the organization including:Chelsia Evans, Jeff Swift, Craig L. Winder, and Tony Anderson.

Many LDS youth groups do fund-raisers to help the many different orphanages that are served by the foundation. They have done such things as car washes, pizza parties, sell candy bars and cookies etc.

Perusing their recent 2008 quarterly newsletter I read of a family that really helped out:

The Stringham family have been dedicated sponsors for the Gorna Koznitsa orphanage since 2003. Gorna Koznitsa is home to 52 mentally handicapped
and disabled children ages 7-19. The dilapidated facility is tucked away in a
remote village making it difficult to access. The small orphanage staff at Gorna Koznitsa is constantly overwhelmed and discouraged by the children’s many needs. Most of the children wet the beds and tear at their mattresses, creating a lot of mess and laundry, not to mention bathing time.

When asked why they chose to sponsor Gorna Koznitsa, Brother Stringham replied:
“...we wanted to help those children who can’t help themselves. Having children of
our own, it is heart breaking to see that there are children who don’t have parents
or families to love and take care of them.”

With the help of the Stringham family’s sponsorship, One Heart Bulgaria has been
able to help alleviate some of the strains and needs at the orphanage by providing boiler repairs for the heating system, water heaters, and a large washing machine. Their sponsorship has also regularly provided for medicines, hygiene supplies, mattress replacements/covers, fresh fruits and vegetables, and detergents.

The organization does much good and has little overhead with the money contributed going to benefit over one thousand orphans in Bulgaria. Deborah is available as a youth motivational speaker and for other public speaking engagements. To schedule a speaking arrangement, please contact Deborah at deborah.gardner@oneheart-bg.org.

You can make a difference by donating to the organization and they have several ways to donate. In addition church groups can combine their efforts so that small amounts of money can be pooled in to larger ones. The group had hoped to have a benefit concert but in checking the BYU ticket office I couldn't find any scheduling information.