SEVENTY

“Everything began in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where I was born and spent the more significant part of my life. 20 years ago, I was a single mom, and I was living with my mother-circumstances that one might consider unfortunate. But these circumstances turned out to be the most fortunate time in my life because they led me to seek a relationship with my Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ.

The day was the 1st of December 2001. I had seen an ad for free English lessons before, and on this day I decided to check these lessons out. Little did I know that these lessons were offered by the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day saints. At this time I was not involved or was not interested in being involved in any kind of religion, despite that throughout the years I have had some curiosity about what different religions believe. I had a very vague idea of who God and Jesus Christ were. I never had read the Bible or even heard about The Book of Mormon. On rare occasions, during very difficult times in my life, I had sent silent pleas to the unknown, without faith or hope that somebody is listening, or somebody will answer. 

Because of this unbelief, I have missed the answers which surely came, but remained unnoticed by me, until after the time I was baptized and my spiritual eyes were opened. On the evening of the 1st of December 2001, on the very day when I attended the English lessons, the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of the latter-day saints knocked on our door. I did not see that connection at this time.

My mother, on the other hand, had already heard about the Church, and she actually was reading The Book of Mormon. Which was given to her a couple of years prior by previous missionaries who met her at the city park. She excitedly invited the missionaries to come in. This invitation was the beginning of my mother listening to the discussions with the missionaries.

I, however, did not have any interest at that time, and actually proudly declared that: ”These things are not for me”. Later I learned that my mother had been praying unceasingly for my heart to be humbled and to become sensitive to the Spirit, so that I could start listening to the missionary lessons. Ten days later something happened- Elder Evenko, who was teaching my mother, had to be transferred. He told my mother that there would be a different great missionary who would continue to teach her. My mother’s heart was broken. She had grown to love Elder Evenko with the love that God puts in our hearts when we start seeking Him. My mother did not want to see any other missionaries and she was ready to quit the discussions. The only thing that prevented this possible tragedy was the famous Bulgarian hospitality- she had promised to see the missionaries for the next appointment, and she did not want to be rude and cancel it. However, my mother wanted me to be the one to open the door and listen to the lesson. I did not have any other choice but to do it. This is when the miracle happened. When I opened the door and looked at the new missionary, something incredible happened-it was like a memory from a past life. I knew that I knew this person and he would be very important in my life. My then 9-month-old baby boy seemed to recognize him too. After I invited the missionaries in and offered them to sit down, my baby boy quickly climbed the lap of the new missionary, and they both gazed into the eyes each other for a long time. This was another miracle for me because until this time my son had been always crying in the presence of a man in our home. This experience touched my heart to the point that I started to listen to the lesson of the missionaries and this lesson was followed by many more.

The ice in my heart was melting day by day. I started to read the scriptures and pray every day. Spiritual experiences followed and I received a testimony for the Gospel, for Jesus Christ, for the prophet Joseph Smith, and The book of Mormon. A month later my mother (who resumed the lessons) and I committed to being baptized and two weeks after that, on February 2nd of 2002, we were baptized.

I cannot describe with words the happiness and elation, that my mother and I experienced in the first year after our baptism. We literally did not want to go home, if there were a way, we would have slept in the church. We were looking for every possible reason to go to the building, to meet with members or missionaries. Our home was always open for visits with the missionaries, investigators, members, and friends. We wanted to share the joy that we have from the newly found truth with everyone in our life. The missionary fire was burning in us with great power.

Through the years these intense feelings have calmed down to the point that we can sustain them without full exhaustion, and we found the peace and joy that the Gospel brings in the lives of all true disciples. I enjoy the blessings of eternal marriage and the opportunity to raise our children in the light of Christ.

I am eternally grateful that Heavenly Father softened my heart and humbled me, so I can accept His messengers and receive His Son in my life and my heart.”