Mariya grew up in a loosely Orthodox Christian home. Her father was an alcoholic, and her parents continuously fought. Since her father was Bulgarian and her mother was Russian, Mariya became fluent in both languages. She also studied English in school. At the beginning of her teen years, her father became severely disabled and was bedridden.

 

At 14, Mariya was on a path of rebellion, extremely angry at life and God, smoking marijuana, drinking and using other drugs. By 18, she was a heroin addict and lived with an addicted boyfriend involved in drug trafficking. Before long Mariya found herself traveling from country to country delivering drugs and watching her life unravel.

Alone in a hotel room, far from home, Mariya cried out to God, not even knowing what she was crying out for. She looked at the religious icon her mother had given her and realized how much her mother was worried for her. This only made her despair greater. God heard her cry.

 

Two weeks later Mariya found herself in a French prison serving time for international drug trafficking. In 2005, shortly after being sent back to Bulgaria, Mariya was asked to work for two weeks with an NMSI project needing a Russian to Bulgarian translator. Neither Mariya nor the NMSI missionaries were excited about the prospect of working together, but there was no one else available, and she needed the money.

The project involved Russian youth (from a church NMSI started in Russia) and American short-term participants, working together to hold a children’s program in a Bulgarian Gypsy village. Mariya experienced God’s love during that project and surrendered her life to Christ. She says that during her time with NMSI, she first realized that God loves her regardless of her past. Mariya was so dramatically transformed that her friends in Sofia and the people she worked with asked what had happened.

 

Now she regularly volunteers with NMSI, continues friendships and ministry with the Gypsy church and works with a Christian owned company that helps foreigners adjust to Bulgaria. Mariya has translated for each NMSI short-term project and internship and has become an intricate part in making NMSI’s current ministry in Bulgaria a reality. She desires to see these ministries grow and for God’s love to be spread throughout all nations by those who are sent as missionaries worldwide.

 

Mariya's story is one of hundred that have driven us to launch the 'How Will They Hear?' campaign. Find out more about this effort and get involved!