From loneliness in Bulgaria to the warmth of God’s family
Anelia grew up feeling alone and far from God. Through Mission Without Borders, she discovered his love, found a second family, and a faith she could truly live.19th February 2026
A familiar loneliness
By the time Anelia was 14, loneliness and feeling out of place had become familiar.
Her father passed away when she was little, and after her first year of school, her mum moved the family from Bulgaria to Greece. Those first months were hard.
“The other children didn’t accept me easily because I was a foreigner and couldn’t speak the language,” she said.
With determination, she learned Greek, adapted, and kept going. But in 2017, when her family returned to Bulgaria, the loneliness came back. Once again, she felt like she didn’t belong anywhere.
Raised in the Orthodox tradition of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, God felt distant too – present in ritual and icons, yet far away from her daily life.
Discovering a close and personal God
Everything began to change for Anelia when her cousin invited her to a Christian youth gathering in Gotse Delchev.
“From the moment I arrived, I was greeted with joy and hugs by the young people from the church,” she said. “For the first time, I knew I was accepted for who I am.”
It was the beginning of Anelia discovering a God who was no longer distant, but close and personal. At the youth group, she also met Ventsislav, a coordinator with Mission Without Borders. When he invited her to a Mission summer camp, she could never have imagined how life-changing it would be.
It was here Anelia gave her life to Jesus. “For the first time, I felt His love as personal, real, and unconditional. He accepted me with all my fears, insecurities, and past hurts,” she said.
The young people at church became like a second family. They laughed together, shared struggles, prayed together, and supported one another in everything. Through this community, Anelia discovered that faith isn’t just about belief, it’s about living God’s love in everyday life.
Bringing joy and hope to others
Anelia, now 23, first began volunteering seven years ago, drawn to Mission Without Borders because of the genuine support it provides to people in need.
“Volunteering allows you to dedicate your time and energy to bringing joy and hope to others,” she said. “It’s about being part of a community that turns love and faith into action, and being an instrument in God’s hands.”
She started at a Soup Kitchen, then worked with children in the sponsorship programme, and helped distribute food packages. “I’ll never forget the joy on the faces of the people waiting for the Mission car,” she said. “Sometimes, simply being there for someone and showing them they are valued is the greatest help.”
Her faith and dedication inspire those around her. As Spaska, a family coordinator, says: “The truth is that our communities urgently need volunteers. I am grateful to people like Anelia, and I hope that more young people will answer the call to help those in need.”
Transform a life: sponsor a child or family today and help them experience God’s love.
