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September 12 - Befriending a Shoeshiner

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    Yulian could barely feed himself
    from the money he earned shining shoes.
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    He set up every day
    along a busy walking street
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    in Nicosia, Cyprus.
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    Most of his money
    went to buy cigarettes and alcohol.
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    A decade earlier, Yulian had immigrated
    to Cyprus from Bulgaria to look for a job.
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    One day, Filip, a Global Mission pioneer,
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    also from Bulgaria,
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    walked by and greeted Yulian,
    asking if he needed any help.
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    Yulian was surprised.
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    No one had asked him
    such a question in a long time.
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    It was nice to hear someone
    taking an interest in him
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    and speaking his native language,
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    but Yulian didn't answer the question
    and just offered him a shoeshine.
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    While Yulian shined his shoes,
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    Filip told him that Jesus
    loves each one of us,
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    no matter what situation we're in.
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    The mention of Jesus
    grabbed Yulian's attention.
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    The next day, Filip returned
    and asked again if Yulian needed any help.
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    Yulian was surprised
    that the stranger had returned.
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    This time, Filip didn't need a shoeshine,
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    so they just talked for a while
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    and looked through
    the books that he brought.
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    This became a routine.
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    Sometimes Filip read the Bible to Yulian,
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    and eventually the shoeshiner opened up
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    about how he'd worked in construction
    after arriving with his family in Cyprus.
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    He lost his job and was kicked out
    of his home for drinking.
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    His family and friends had rejected him.
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    One day, Yulian led his new friend
    to the abandoned building where he slept.
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    His bed was a hard floor.
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    The sight brought tears to Filip's eyes,
    and they prayed together on the street.
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    Yulian felt valued and felt God's love
    through the pioneer's actions.
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    It was at that point
    that he gave his life to God.
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    Although he'd drunk
    and smoked heavily for 35 years,
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    Yulian decided to give up alcohol
    and tobacco that day.
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    His family welcomed him back home,
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    and now he tells everyone
    who will listen about his love for God.
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    Filip regularly leads
    a Bulgarian language Bible study.
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    Over three years, eight people
    had been baptized through Filip's work,
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    a significant number for a country
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    where the Adventist Church
    has only about 100 members
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    in a population of more than one million.
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    He often spends his time
    mingling with people,
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    getting to know them where they are.
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    Please pray for pioneers like Filip,
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    who are sharing a message of hope
    with their communities.
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    Thank you for supporting Global Mission.
Title:
September 12 - Befriending a Shoeshiner
Description:

Yulian could barely feed himself from the money he earned shining shoes. His life was transformed when he met Filip, a Global Mission pioneer.
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Video Language:
English
Team:
Team Adventist
Project:
Mission Spotlight DVD
Duration:
02:45

English subtitles

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