Greetings from Bulgaria! Welcome to my very first blog! In case you don't know me, let me give a brief introduction. My name is Cecily Willard and I have been a missionary sent out by City on the Hill since 2001. I am presently working in Bulgaria. My first trip to Bulgaria was in the summer of 2007. For two months I volunteered at an orphanage, bringing love to six orphans. I returned to Bulgaria in January of 2008 and began, in March of that year, to work with 10 orphans (at the same orphanage) who have severe physical and mental disabilities. I worked with these children until October of 2009.

Presently I am not working at the orphanage, but I am working with the pastor of a local church on projects to bring help and hope to these 10 children. We are in a bit of a holding pattern at the moment, but during this time I continue my Bulgarian language studies and my internet research related to advocacy for orphans with special needs. (As I organize my resources I hope to reconstruct my website, which you can visit at www.hopefulplace.com) I’ll update this blog as we progress in our work here and I am able to share details.

For all who have prayed and provided love and financial support during the past nine years, I want to express my heart of gratitude to you. Thank you! I am so glad that you are a partner with me in the work the Lord has called us to do on behalf of orphans.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27 ).

Until next time, may the peace of the Lord guard your heart.

~Cecily