New Website!

Hello All - I have switched over to sharing on a new website! If you would like to keep following what I am up to, check out: https://overthehorizion.wordpress.com  Thank you!

Week One In A New Country

For me the last week has been a whirlwind. Adjusting to life here in Sofia, Bulgaria has been an adventure since arriving on January 25. There have been so many highlights already but I will try to be brief as I update you on how things have gone.

Leaving for Bulgaria!

On January 24, I left Dallas, Texas and flew to Frankfurt, Germany, for the first stage of my travel. After a long and rough flight I landed very motion sick. Due to my sickness, I missed my original connecting flight to Sofia and was scheduled to leave later that same day. I arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria the evening of January 25. After my tiring journey it was such a relief to have my feet on solid ground. I was picked up from the airport by some colleagues and after arriving at their home, my host family was so gracious and allowed to get a good night's rest.

Tuesday, mid-morning, I started my week off at a run. I was taken to the grocery store, a place to exchange money, the metro to buy an unlimited transportation card (for the metro, trolley, and bus systems), and was given the chance to visit Sofia Christian Academy. It was a long but wonderful first day and with my desire to take everything in, I neglected to get any pictures.

Wednesday I prepared and travelled to Thessaloniki, Greece, with a few colleagues and a local lawyer, to submit my visa application. Although it was a fast 24-hour trip there and back, I had a great time! Some of the highlights of the trip included: seeing the gorgeous Greek architecture, walking along the Mediterranean Sea, and eating an authentic Greek salad!

The Mediterranean Sea  

Cora in front of a neat artwork display

Fun with New Friends 

The view on the drive to Greece

Friday I went up to the school all day and was able to observe my fellow teachers lead their classes. They did a wonderful job of orienting me and explaining how I will fit into the existing system. I was also able to meet the students and their parents! Everyone was so kind and welcoming! This coming week I will observe some more and will officially begin teaching alongside the other teachers on February 9th.

Saturday I was able to sleep in then walk around Sofia with one of my housemates and fellow teachers. We visited the nearby mall, went grocery shopping, and got coffee together. It was a wonderful time of fellowship! Sunday I attended the local international Baptist church with some friends. I enjoyed worship with a local body of Christ! It was a wonderful way to start of the week! 

Overall, it has been a wonderful and transitional week! Everywhere I go there are new sights, smells, and sounds to experience! It has been nice to try new things as well as learn about the places I can access the comforts of home! I am so excited and eager to see what the next months hold and how the Lord will use me in this new place! 

Some current prayer requests include:

• Health - That my recovery from jet-lag will go quickly and allow for good, quality sleep.
• Teaching - That I can have a smooth beginning to my teaching efforts at SCA.
• Transition - That the Lord will continue to lead and guide as I transition to life here in Sofia.
  

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support! They mean so very much! Blessings!

The News You've All Been Waiting For...

I know, you've been sitting on the edge of your seat, awaiting an update on my trip to Bulgaria, like you may wait expectantly to see the ending of your favorite television show... It has been a grueling and crazy eight months in the making yet the day has finally come.

I am thrilled to announce that I am officially leaving for Sofia, Bulgaria on January 24, 2016! Praise the Lord! First, I would like to thank you for your role in my journey to this point! I so deeply have appreciated all of your gifts, prayers, and sincere questions. They have meant more to me than you know!

Once arriving in Sofia, I will take a few days to rest and recuperate from my travel. Following that I will commence work at Sofia Christian Academy (SCA), where I will be assisting and overseeing the language arts portion of education for a wonderful group of first through fifth graders. Alongside my work at SCA I may also be helping out with additional team responsibilities. However, with ever-changing ministry needs, my portion of these tasks are still to be determined.

Just recently, my budget was drastically reduced by Mission to the World  to help me travel sooner and I was given a newly designated title of Volunteer Intern. My new budget, with the funds that have been received, are enough to cover my travel costs and basic needs. However, some costs not included in my intern budget are: international insurance, personal (non-food) purchases, souvenirs/gifts for family and friends, and tourist travel/activities.

If you would like to give to help cover these costs (and any others that may arise) gifts can be sent to:

219 Tanglewood Drive, Duncanville, Texas 75116 

Please note that Mission to the World is no longer accepting gifts on my behalf and gifts sent to the above address are not tax deductible. 

I would greatly appreciate prayer as I prepare and travel to Sofia. Below are listed a few specific prayer requests:

• Visa - That all of my required documents arrive before my departure. I will also have to take an overnight trip to Greece, during my time in Bulgaria, to finalize and process my visa paperwork. Please pray that this time goes smoothly.
• Health  - That I will remain healthy throughout the course of travel and bounce back quickly from any jet lag.
• That the Lord would calm my nerves and prepare me to serve and share his love with others!

Thank you in advance for your continued prayers and support! Without a strong support system, like you, this opportunity would not be possible! While I am overseas I do not intend to send physical update newsletters. I may write a few email updates but my blog and Facebook will be my primary place of sharing! Please check back often to find out how God is working in and through me in the months to come! 

An Update: How Support Is Going and How You Can Help

As you know, it is officially November and without a doubt, I am sure that everyone of you connects that to Thanksgiving. How could you not? What a wonderful holiday to spend reflecting on the things for which we are grateful!

This year, I am thrilled to share my gratitude and thanks for the incredible team of supporters that have come alongside me during the fundraising portion of my trip to Bulgaria! They have been an amazing source of encouragement, support, and prayer! To those of you that have given toward my trip and prayed for me, thank you!

Over the next few weeks my commitment is to give you a regular update on my progress financially as well as highlight a letter from one of the families at Sofia Christian Academy, sharing why my presence at SCA is important to them.

Today I would like to share with you my goals. For reference though, here is my progress so far. Over the last two and a half months, the amount raised toward my trip to Bulgaria has been $8,042 out of my (revised) budget of $25,600. In more simplistic terms, this means that I am 31.4% fundraised! Praise the Lord!

Here is the plan - My overall goal is to be teaching at Sofia Christian Academy for the upcoming spring semester. For that to happen, I really need to be fully funded before the end of 2015. So, if I could be at 65% fundraised before Thanksgiving and then 100% by Christmas I believe that would give me time needed to make it to Bulgaria for the spring semester. What does that look like in dollar signs? To be at 65% fundraised and to meet my first goal, I need to have raised approximately $16,600 in total by Thanksgiving. 

I believe that with the Lord’s help, the funds can be raised. He has called me and he will provide! How can you get involved? If you would like to play a role in my ministry, here is how you can:

• Prayer Support - Prayer has such a crucial role in my ministry! To keep updated on current prayer requests, keep checking here, on my blog. 

• Financial Support - To give toward my ministry go online to donations.mtw.org and use my account number #11442.

Thank you for your support, encouragement, and prayers! The Lord has blessed me so deeply through you and I am so grateful!

Update on Fundraising for My Bulgaria Trip

It has been a while since I first announced my intentions to pursue a missions opportunity, serving as a teacher in Sofia, Bulgaria. Since then I have been blessed to have a wonderful group of people surround me as prayer and financial partners. With their assistance and support I have reached %12 of my total fundraising goal!!

Unfortunately however, this still leaves a significant amount needed. If you are interested in supporting me, through prayer or finances, I would love to know! 

If you would like to give to my ministry, donations can be given online at donations.mtw.org. My account number for reference is #11442.


If you would like to remember me in prayer, some current prayer requests include:

- Financial Provision (That the Lord would provide in his timing for my trip).

- Peace and Patience While I Wait to Leave

- A continued great start of the school year for Sophia Christian Academy

Thank you so much for your prayers, support, and encouragement! You mean so much to me!

Embracing The Next Chapter - Sweet Sisterhood

Why is it that every time I sit in the airport I want to blog?

Perhaps it is because I finally am forced to sit and...oh dear, think. Or maybe, it is because there are so many people around that spark genuine creativity and thought.

Who knows?

Anyway, besides, that is kind of besides the point...

Okay, so what am I doing in an airport again, you ask? Well, I'm headed to a wedding - my younger sister Elsie's wedding! It is real crazy to think that she has matured into such a beautiful bride-to-be! I am so excited for her and unbelievably proud!

No, don't think I am taking any credit for her maturity or accomplishments. That is not what we are here to talk about. (Side note though: I can promise you though - All the glory goes to God for the amazing woman she has turned into.)

Honestly however, Elsie has been such an inspiration, encouragement, and joy to have in my life.

From the start Morelle, Elsie and I were pals (trail twinnzies). We are all close in age and I like to think have always been partners in crime. We were rad together. When Adelaide came along we became the fearsome-foursome - the unstoppable Cummins sisters. (Wait... You didn't realize this was going to be a sappy sister post. Oops! Sorry!)

Anyways, over the years us Cummins girls (and boys) have grown and changed (and at times grown apart - remember, we are not perfect). We've laughed, cried, camped, climbed, run, and Skyped our way through life.

Together we have jointly lived in (soon to be) five states (and two different countries) and often been apart. We have spent days, weeks, and months separated, and yet always come back together stronger. At points we fell asleep upset at each other but always awoke to realize that sisterhood means more than a meaningless grudge.

We are not a picture-perfect family but we have plenty of pictures (of wonderful memories)! And those memories that we have made mean more to me now than ever before!

See...

Morelle and Matthew were married in May and are now living and working in Oklahoma.

Elsie and Brandon will be married on Saturday and will begin their life together in Maryland.

Adelaide is beginning her senior year in highschool in continuing college in Texas.

And I am headed to Bulgaria within weeks to launch a new season of life as a missionary teacher.

Life is changing for the fearsome-foursome but we will be all the more stronger and better together as we transform into the sappy six, or the silly seven, or maybe even one day the energetic eight. We will always love, laugh, and live life together because close siblings are inseparable.

So to you my sweet sisters this is my promise:

 ~ I may be miles away, be a missionary teacher, and have my own special man but you three I loved first! That will never change! I love you all! All the best! ~

A Leap of Faith - From Colorado, U.S.A. to Sofia, Bulgaria

Hello Dear Friends and Family,

I am pleased and honored to share with you some exciting news! For a while I have felt God’s calling on my heart to serve overseas. However, it was not until I learned of a unique opportunity in

Bulgaria, to serve as a teacher, that it was confirmed in my heart. After several weeks of prayer, I applied for the teaching position and was hired as a teacher at Sofia Christian Academy for the

2015-2016 school year.While overseas, I will be serving with the organization Mission to the World. Sofia Christian Academy is associated with Mission to the World. While there, I will be overseeing the education of missionary children from various organizations. I will be one of two full-time teachers working at the school and personally I will be instructing five different grade levels, specializing in English and literature.

Along with teaching at the school, I will also be helping in various additional local ministries, alongside current team members. At present there is a significant need for ministerial help in Bulgaria and therefore my present objective is to be overseas by the beginning of September. If you are feeling God’s call to partner with me in this ministry, there are two ways that you can do so. First, I am in serious need of financial support. Since, I will be serving as a missionary, I am required to raise

my own funds for travel costs, as well finances to cover administration, ministry costs, and insurance, along with all of my living expenses while overseas.

My current need is: $31,050.47 – No, that is not a typo. Although this is a large figure, this amount is

recommended for a missionary serving with Mission to the World for ten-months and for the most part I was not able to modify their budget. Regardless of this though, I strongly believe that since God has called me to Bulgaria, he will provide. For more clarification, only about a third of this sum will need to be raised by the time of my departure; whereas the larger amount is required to be pledged. If you would like to give to my ministry in this way, donations can be given online at donations.mtw.org - my account number for reference is: #11442. 

A second, and equally important way in which I need assistance is through prayer. For more specific details on this see please the prayer points listed below:

• God’s provision for financial support before leaving for Bulgaria.

• Smooth and easy access of required documentation needed for my visa.

• Peace and patience throughout the upcoming months of transition.

• Positive closure to my current summer nanny position.

In advance I would like to thank you for your support, encouragement, and prayers. They mean so very much! If you would like to continue to receive updates on the progress of my journey feel free to 

Cora Cummins

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who

proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation,

who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” - Isaiah 52:7