Panajot was one of the most promising young artists in Bulgaria. Then he was accused and convicted of killing his best friend--a charge he strongly denied--and sentenced to 26 years in prison. He became depressed and belligerent with the prison guards, who then refused to let him have his canvases and paints. Some time later, a fellow inmate gave him a piece of Family literature, and Panajot began corresponding with us.

When we moved to Bulgaria last year, we felt Jesus wanted us to visit Panajot in prison. This presented quite a challenge, since he is in a high-security prison where visits are restricted, especially visits by anyone other than members of the prisoners' families. We finally managed to meet with Panajot for 15 minutes in a visiting room, where we were separated by wire mesh. He was so thankful that we had come, as he almost never gets visits. He thanked us profusely for all the reading material we had sent him, especially the Activated magazine.

Last Christmas he painted a Christmas card for us with this message (translated from Bulgarian):

Dear Family,

I want you to know that your ministry of reaching the lost, your beautiful music tapes, and the literature you send me are helping to heal my soul. The process of getting over my anguish and despair is slow, but what you have already done for me has been a great help. Until you came along, no one had been able to so much as scratch the surface. Bars and prison walls bind me, but through your literature I am free in spirit. "If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).

Thank you for all you have done for me. I see my family in all of you, and I am happy to have such loving and caring brothers and sisters. I cry as I write this, but these are tears of joy and thankfulness to have found people who care enough for me to write and visit.

--Panajot

Roumiana is a volunteer with The Family in Bulgaria.