Remember the Stairs?

27Feb10

(posted by stuartgrant)

Did any of our current readers follow the old blog when we came to Bulgarian 2-and-a-half years ago?

We came with a group of 9 people – all from St. John’s – for a 4 week foray into David and Kathryn’s ministry in Bulgaria. At the time, D+K were living in a town 45mins south of here called Kardjali (Кърджали). Some of their team still live and work in Kardjali so we visit the town fairly often. We’ve been meaning to visit one place in particular ever since we arrived in Bulgaria but it took us nearly 9 months to make it there!

These stairs:

You see, building these stairs was one of the practical tasks we had on our Aug-Sept 2007 trip. It’s a nice story: the stairs are in a Romani mahalle (the Rom are another ethnic minority – pretty much the bottom of the social pecking order) where David and Kathryn knew an amazingly faithful believer named Shaziye. As a way of blessing Shaziye in a practical way, D+K organised for us to build these stairs up to the neighbourhood toilet – which is used by about 10 families in the immediate area. So we built them – without a great deal of confidence in ability to do so. We also had to contend with wood that hadn’t been cured properly, so it warped quite badly! But the stairs turned out okay.

When Elly and I checked them out last week (about 2-and-a-half years later), I was almost certain they’d have been broken… or torn down for firewood… or something. But they weren’t! They looked good as new:

You can see what is probably sewage water flowing underneath. Ok, so we built stairs, but neglected the sewage problems. Oh well! You do what you can.

So, Team-of-2007, well done! I certainly felt quite chuffed that the locals appreciated what we did enough to look after it. It was a very small gesture, but I’m glad it’s still helping people!

End of feel-good post.

Cheers,

Stu.

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6 comments so far for “Remember the Stairs?”

Humphrey says on

27Feb 2010 at 9:39 am :


Nice work! for some reason the stairs don’t look dodgy anymore? maybe it was because I’ve been their and seen for myself “quality bulgarian construction”? Maybe it was because I kept laughing to myself watching the owner of a hotel in turkey try and build stairs – and fail terribly!

mum grant says on

28Feb 2010 at 2:50 am :


great story! how gratifying to see the stairs have withstood two and half years and 10 families climbing on them daily!!! Well done you!!
We had some stairs put onto our deck – dad helped by a friend, and it took ages and a lot of nutting out – probably one of the most tricky tasks to achieve. So I’m even more impressed by your pics and how GOOD the steps look!!!
love mum
(stairway to heaven? or heavenly relief?)

Dan says on

01Mar 2010 at 3:40 am :


Dear guys,
Those stairs are a massive step up from what used to be there.

From Dan

Thomas says on

01Mar 2010 at 3:43 am :


I hereby add my thumbs-up to yours, Stu. :) Good job team!

Amelia says on

01Mar 2010 at 10:03 am :


haha!
i remember those steps…and that guy in the photo with stu…whatever happened to that boy :P slacking off somewhere no doubt :P
and dan, aren’t you just mr. witty
xx

Oscar says on

02Mar 2010 at 12:41 am :


Woo hoo!!