A forgotten generation

They were born after Lenin carved his signature into the bloodied fabric of Eastern Europe. As Bulgarian children, some of them knew freedom for a short time. But for all of our babas (grannies), the majority of their lives were lived in the era of Communism. They were in their 40's and 50's when Reagan challenged Gorbachev to tear down the walls and now almost 2 decades later, they exist within a democracy but they are forever chained to their past. They are a lost generation.

The average pensioner lives on just $4 a day. Imagine trying to feed, clothe, and medicate yourself with this meager sum. In their golden years, most huddle under layers of clothing and blankets instead of turning on the heat in their apartments.

To illustrate the tragedy, one of our church grannies, baba Yona, had her leg amputated last year. She lives on the third floor of a communist era apartment building in which the elevator stops between floors. With no wheelchair nor ramps for a wheelchair, she has been a prisoner in her own apartment for almost a year.

Our five distribution centers across Bulgaria provide groceries each month to needy families. Our center in Sofia is run by baba Kostadinka and it serves several babas and single mothers with chronically ill children. Baba Kostadinka suffered a severe stroke three years ago that left her speech challenged. She suffers from problems with her hip that make it difficult to walk. Yet, this dynamic baba not only runs our Sofia center but she also pastors the distribution center families through Bible studies, home visits, and prayer meetings. Two days after Christmas, she helped organize and host a festive afternoon tea for our grannies and families.