OSI - Dupnitza

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Christmas in the Mountains
December 24-26, 2003

Christmas by Bulgarian tradition is very much a family holiday, and thus normally a melancholy time for our orphans.  We were committed to making this year different, and were able to do so thanks to two generous donors who funded a Christmas trip for our kids to a lodge in the mountains, and to all of the kids' sponsors who provided wonderful gifts.  Below are lots of photos taken during our two wonderful days.  Enjoy!

At 2:00 in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, 15 excited kids boarded two mini-busses for the 45-minute trip to Temenuga lodge at Panichishte.  It was extremely windy, cold, and snowy on the mountain, but a warm fire awaited the kids in the lodge.  They spent the remainder of the afternoon setting up and decorating our Christmas tree, and then anxiously perusing all of the gifts that suddenly appeared underneath.  The lodge staff prepared an extraordinary dinner for the kids and contributed to make the occasion very special.  After dinner, by insurrection, the children opened all their gifts.  They played and ate goodies until they all fell asleep.

Click on the photos for a larger image...

	On the bus		Christmas Eve Dinner
	Zdravka and Kami, preparing the Christmas tree		Krassy and his hungry friends
	Christmas tree and gifts		Ina, Kami, Kotsi, Emil
	Our group, ready to open their gifts		Maya & friends

Christmas Day

On Christmas morning, the kids slept in as late as they wanted, which for most of them was pretty late.  After breakfast, they played games and watched television.  After a big lunch, we ventured outdoors with those willing to brave the cold.  The kids enjoyed playing in the snow with some fantastic views of the surrounding mountains.  After dinner our kids joined the other guests at the lodge for a Bulgarian "disco" that lasted until well after midnight.  They slept in late again, of course, and we all headed back to Dupnitza Friday afternoon.

Click on the photos for a larger image...

	Christmas morning view from the lodge		Swinging
	Christmas morning view		Sliding (Kotsi, Krassy, Emil)
	Breakfast with Little Maya		Krassy, Kotsi, & Emil, hanging out
	Braving the cold		Nick taking a walk with little Ruska
	The Boys (Emil, Krassy, Kotsi)		The Disco (Ivanka, Ruska, Maya, Little Maya)

Acknowledgements

The total cost of our Christmas trip for the kids was $335, which included the cost of the lodging, transportation, and gifts for the un-sponsored kids.  This cost was covered primarily by a $250 donation from Kate Malony of New Jersey, USA.  The remainder of the cost of the camp was covered by one of OSI's best  sponsors and friends, Nicholas Tummillo, also of New Jersey.  Without the generosity of these individuals, this trip would not have been possible.  Thank you, Kate and Nicholas, for creating a wonderful memory for these kids!

Thanks also to Bilyana Markova from the Dupnitza orphanage for chaperoning.

 If you are interested in funding a similar project for OSI children, please contact OSI

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