Sandy would love you to come visit and help minister,
and fall in love with, the Gypsies!
Send the Fire Ministries takes place outside the four walls of the
church.
If you would like to visit be prepared for hands on street ministry:
Hugging, smiling, laying on of hands and flowing in the Spirit as
you minister to the needy letting Jesus love the Gypsies through
you. You dont have to speak the language, or have a special skill
set, to pour out His Spirit.
We also need hands on people to minister with their
manual labor skills for needs such as: roofing, plumbing, carpentry,
as well as teaching Gypsies these skills as well so that they may
be
able
to help themselves and others in the future.
If you have any connections with dentists or eye
doctors and other health professionals, or are one yourself, there
is always ample opportunity for hygenine instruction and hygene supply
donations ie; toothbrushes/toothpaste/eyeglasses
If you would like to make a visit contact Sandy at sandy@riverlution.net
Plane fare into Bulgaria is typically less expensive in the
Winter and early spring months. Between June and August hotel rates
and plane fare is generally almost double the winter/spring prices.
You can eat in Bulgaria for around 10 US dollars a day (depending
on current exchange rates)
Because Sandy is going to be travelling frequently throughout the
network of Gypsy churches in Bulgaria, as well as taking trips into
Romania, Greece and Turkey, it is best to contact Sandy at least
3 months before you intend to arrive so that she can plan her schedule
accordingly.
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1. WHAT
ARE THE DRESS CODES?
AS IT WILL BE SUMMER TIME THERE,
MODEST SUMMER ATTIRE IS ACCEPTABLE, AND FOR WORSHIP SERVICES,
APPROPRIATE CASUAL “CHURCH” ATTIRE. (NO SUITS
OR TIES REQUIRED.)
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2. WHAT
ARE THE ENTRY/DEPARTURE REQUIREMENTS INTO AND OUT OF Bulgaria/Greece/Turkey?
VISA: none required
for a stay of up to 30 days in Bulgaria... A
visa is required to enter Turkey. The
cost of the visa is included in the package price. Visa
arrangements will be made at the Turkish
border in route to Istanbul.
PASSPORT: valid
at least five (5) months beyond the return
date from Turkey...
Your passport must be on your person at all
times (unless otherwise directed).
VISITOR MUST HOLD:
+
SUFFICIENT FUNDS OR RETURN/ONWARD TICKETS
+ VALID
HEALTH INSURANCE
NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THESE REGULATIONS MAY
RESULT IN FINES AND REFUSAL OF ENTRY
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3. WHAT
IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN Bulgaria/Greece/Turkey
WEATHER INFORMATION for the
region MAY BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.SOFIA.COM
Typically it is
very warm and humid during the summer -
The winters can be harsh in Romania and northern
Bulgaria. But south of the Balkan Mountains, the warm breezes
from Greece make the winters tolerable in Kazanlak and
south of Kazanlak. Thank you Lord!
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4. MUST
I BE A US CITIZEN TO VISIT?
No, but if you may want to check the
following site if you are visiting from another countr
WWW.G3VISAS.COM
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5. IF I ONLY
SPEAK ENGLISH,
CAN I VISIT?
YES, You can pour out the love of Jesus
with hugs, kisses and smiles! If you would like a translator
one can be arranged for you for a minimum price.
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6. WHAT
TYPE OF ITEMS ARE NECESSARY TO BRING FOR A VISIT?
You will want to bring your own toiletries
and clothes. Money for food and lodging and travel, should
you want to visit the Gypsies in Romania and Turkey with
me.
COMFORTABLE WALKING SHOES WILL BE A NECESSITY.
EACH ONE MAY WANT TO BRING HIS OWN ROLL(S) OF TOILET PAPER
FOR USE, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORE RURAL AREAS. (Charmin
now makes a nice portable travel roll available at WAl*mart in the
paper products section)
IF you are bringing any sort
of electrical devices you will require a converter adapter,
AS THE electrical current IS 220.
ALSO, BRING SOME PACKAGES
OF ANTIBACTERIAL HAND WIPES TO CARRY WITH YOU DURING THE
DAY TO CLEAN YOUR HANDS AS NECESSARY.
HAND LAUNDRY CAN
BE DONE, BUT DO NOT ANTICIPATE REGULAR LAUNDRY/DRY
CLEANING FACILITIES AT ALL LOCATIONS.
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7. IS
THERE ANYTHING THAT I SHOULD
NOT BRING?
YES, DO NOT BRING A “USA
MINDSET”. UPON
LEAVING THE US, YOU
WILL BE EXISTING UNDER A NEW SET OF RULES. PLEASE
DO NOT THINK THAT YOU CAN DO IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY THE SAME
THINGS YOU DO IN THE US, OR
DO THINGS THE SAME WAY, AS IN THE US.
ALSO, DO NOT BRING
AN ATTITUDE THAT YOU ARE TRAVELING ALONE, AND
YOUR ACTIONS DO NOT INVOLVE ANYONE ELSE.
ALSO, PLEASE LEAVE
YOUR UNCOOPERATIVE ATTITUDES AT HOME! BECAUSE
BULGARIA IS DIFFERENT THAN THE US AND YOU NEED
TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE AT ALL TIMES. ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THE
REASON FOR BEING THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE
ARE GOING TO SERVE, AND SERVING IS NOT ALWAYS
CONVENIENT, EASY, CLEAN AND NEAT, OR DOING
THINGS YOUR WAY!!!
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8. ARE THERE CULTURAL
DIFFERENCES OF WHICH I SHOULD
BE AWARE SO AS NOT OF OFFEND ANYONE?
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT MODESTY
IN DRESS IS ESSENTIAL!!!
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9. IS
THERE AN AGE/HEALTH RESTRICTION ON VISITORS?
PERSONS IN GOOD HEALTH MAY
PARTICIPATE.
PARTICIPANTS UNDER
THE AGE OF 18 WILL BE TENTATIVELY ACCEPTED
WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
- THEY WILL BE ACCOMPANIED
BY A PARENT/GUARDIAN or a CHAPERONE
APPROVED BY THEIR PARENT/GUARDIAN.
- ANY PARTICIPANT UNDER THE
AGE OF 18, MUST HAVE A LETTER FROM THE PARENT/GUARDIAN,
ALONG WITH THE MEDICAL WAIVER FORM, STATING THE RELEASE
OF SEND THE FIRE MINISTRIES FROM ANY AND ALL RESPONSIBILITY
FOR INJURY, LOSS OR DAMAGE INCURRED TO/BY THE PARTICIPANT,
AND THE
FULL
ACCEPTANCE
FOR ANY COSTS INCURRED IF IT BECOMES NECESSARY FOR THE
PARTICIPANT TO RETURN/BE RETURNED HOME BEFORE THE REGULARLY
SCHEDULED CONCLUSION OF THE MISSION. (OF
COURSE, DUE CARE WILL BE TAKEN FOR THE WELL BEING OF
ALL PARTICIPANTS.)
- ALSO NECESSARY FROM ALL
VISITORS, IS A LETTER FROM THE VISITOR’S
PASTOR STATING THAT THE VISITOR HAS A SERIOUS INTENT/BURDEN
FOR THE MISSION AT HAND, AND THAT THE VISITOR IS
RESPONSIBLE AND SUBMISSIVE TO THOSE IN AUTHORITY.
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10. WHAT
IS THE CURRENCY OF Bulgaria?
BULGARIA USES THE BULGARIAN LEVA.
THE EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATES DAILY. (AS
A SIDE NOTE, I USUALLY GET
$50-$75 IN THE LOCAL CURRENCY FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS
BEFORE DEPARTURE FROM MY HOME CITY. However,
in years past, they were unable to acquire any Leva)
As of this writing, the exchange
rate is: $1US = 1.59120 BGN (Leva)
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11. WHAT
IS THE CURRENCY OF Turkey?
The currency of Turkey
is the Turkish Lira. As
with Bulgaria, the exchange
rate fluctuates daily.
As of this writing, the exchange
rate is: $1US = 1,316,500.00 TRL (Turkish Lira)
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12. ARE
CREDIT CARDS AND TRAVELER’S CHECKS READILY ACCEPTED
IN Bulgaria/Turkey?
NO. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
THAT YOU ANTICIPATE USING CASH *** ONLY!! *** US DOLLARS
BROUGHT FOR EXCHANGE SHOULD BE “CLEAN” CURRENCY.
BILLS
SHOULD HAVE NO MARKINGS, WRITING, INK, RED STAMPS, ETC.
ON THEM. YOU MAY REQUEST FROM
YOUR BANK, NEW, CLEAN, UNMARKED CURRENCY.
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13.
SHOULD I BRING MY CAMERA/VIDEO CAMERA?
YES, DEFINITELY. HOWEVER,
PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE COMMON COURTESIES REQUIRED WHEN
PHOTOGRAPHING/FILMING THOSE OF OTHER CULTURES.
I would suggest digital cameras
over film, as the X-ray machines
at the airports, both in checked and carry on luggage,
damage film, no matter what the security guards tell you.
In the past I have
been able to talk security into swiping my
film, as opposed to scanning, but it does take
some extra time and may result in missing a
flight if we have a short layover, so it's
not the most fool-proof solution.
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