I know this is an old post, but my heart is just so full right now I had to comment! I was actually looking for something else related to this mission when I came across this article tonight. I was serving as a missionary in this mission when this happened. I remember a few days later, my companion and I went in to the mission home for some visa work, and my mission president shared this story with us and showed us the pictures. I was still pretty new to the mission (I had only been in the country for 9 weeks when Tavian Haddock got there!) I remember sitting in the mission president's office and just crying at how amazing this story was and the spirit that was felt while being told about this wonderful encounter. It was so neat to see and hear about everything that continued to happen over the next (almost) 2 years. This elder was only in this city for 1 transfer before being moved. He DID get to go back here towards the end of his mission (when his language skills had increased, and he was better able to communicate.) I just remember the power of this story, and hearing how adamant my mission president had been at the beginning that he WASN'T starting Elder Haddock in Pazardjik. The Lord's plan is so much better than ours, and I'm so grateful our mission president was humble and in tune enough to follow the Lord's promptings to allow this amazing miracle to take place. It will always be one of the most special stories to me from my time as a missionary there.
Natalie HoyJanuary 21, 2014
Our son, Elder Hoy is serving in Bulgaria right now and just last week did split offs with Elder Haddock and says that he's a wonderful missionary, very well received by the people of Bulgaria!!
Heidi GreenDecember 22, 2013
Amazing! My son is in the mtc heading to Bulgaria in February. He spoke of the sister from Australia as part of his group. He was saying he hopes he can speak as well as she did when he reaches that stage of his journey. What a small world.
JulieDecember 19, 2013
Fabulous article and story! As the adoptive mother of four, this story especially struck at my heart-strings! I likewise have seen the Lord's hand and loving guidance leading up the adoptions and lives of my children. Thanks for sharing your faith and testimony with us. After reading the article, I reread it to two of these kids (now 20 and 16), and they were likewise very touched by your faith and words.
Fatima VerdascaDecember 18, 2013
Thank you for sharing this amaizing true story. It enlighted me and strengthed my testimony. I know we are connected to each other more then what we understand despite of distance and life circunstances. This story shows me that the Lord is in control and should not be afraid.
I would like to know more of the future family encounters and learn from it.
StephenDecember 18, 2013
This beautiful story reminds me of Joseph in Egypt who was led by dreams to save his family. Thanks for sharing.
GregDecember 17, 2013
What a great account of how the Lord does his work. I forwarded this account to a friend who's son also served in the same mission. Miracles do happen all of the time. Aren't they great!
David G. MackeyDecember 17, 2013
Thank you for sharing this remarkable story! The account powerfully demonstrates the love our Heavenly Father has for His children, each is known to Him and precious beyond what any mortal can comprehend--even to the extent that He was willing to send His Only Begotten Son and our brother into the world to rescue us.
Elva GallagherDecember 17, 2013
What a wonderful story. I hope more is written at the completion of Elder Hadddock's mission.
Bruce RupperDecember 16, 2013
Very powerful.
Bruce RupperDecember 16, 2013
Truly inspiring.
Grandma20December 16, 2013
This is a beautiful, inspiring story. What a great honor his young man has to teach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to his own relatives.
SydraDecember 16, 2013
Thank you for sharing. It's really inspiring. It brought tears to my eyes and I was enlightened.
Tracy JensenDecember 16, 2013
This story is amazing. I love it so much and would love to talk to the family. Our family is gearing to pick up our daughter from Bulgaria. She is four years old, and lived two and half years of her life in a crib without being taken out. It's truly a miracle she has hung on to life as long as she has. We can't wait to add her to our family and shower her with love. Thank you for putting the face of international adoption out there into the LDS community in a positive way.
KarenDecember 16, 2013
I know this family personally, and can testify what an amazing family they are. Tavian is an amazing young man, this truly shows that the Lord loves each and every one of us, and has a purpose for us all.
Lei MaheDecember 16, 2013
What a beautiful story, my niece is leaving the MTC this week for Bulgaria, from Sydney, Australia. Exciting to read of the missionary work progressing
Virginia BrownDecember 16, 2013
My daughter was a missionary to Bulgaria. After their missions, she and her companion started an organization that helps orphanages there, so this article was of great interest to us. For more information about their organization, check out the website oneheart-bg.org.
RockiesgirlDecember 16, 2013
This story first caught my eye because my husband served his mission to Bulgaria 20 years ago. I also had tears streaming down my face. A testimony to me that we must seek our Heavenly Father's plan for us. What a touching and inspiring story-I would love to someday know the rest of the story.
Heidi BarkerDecember 16, 2013
What a beautiful story! I served a mission in Bulgaria in 1993. Since then, I have felt that I have another mission there to fulfill . . . so a former companion and I started One Heart Bulgaria, a 501c3 which serves Bulgarian orphans. Every time I go back I feel that same feeling of love for the beautiful Bulgarian and Roma people. What a wonderful example of the hand of the Lord in our lives. Thank you, Elder Haddock!
Richard PopovichDecember 16, 2013
It is an absolute miracle as to what is happening in these former communist countries, as well as Russia itself. While the people are not totally free, they are living under much better circumstances than they were fifteen to thirty years ago.
The great blessing of being able to hear the message of the Restoration and the Gospel of Jesus Christ; once thought impossible; has been opened to this region of the World. They will make tremendous Church members in the future because they understand what true freedom really is.
Dennis JohnsonDecember 16, 2013
This was a very impressive story. I will also be going on a mission in a couple of months with my wife and we too feel like we will be able to touch the lives of some of our family. Oh, how the Lord blesses us and those whom we don't even know YET.
Colin RDecember 16, 2013
This just made me think how each and every on of us is known and loved personally by the Savior He directs our paths, particularly as we serve Him. Thanks for sharing this awesome experience and God bless you in the future.
LexaGraemeDecember 16, 2013
The Wilsteads shared this story earlier this year at a branch fireside (I live in this mission's boundaries). We had expected to see it in "Ensign"; it is too good a story not to be shared. Even knowing the story, it still made me teary. Thank you, Meridian, for publishing it.
hENRY December 16, 2013
Miracles. Beautiful. Blessings to him and that God Blessings will come to Bukgaria.
AnnetteDecember 16, 2013
This is such an inspirational account.Tavian will be a blessing to the Bulgarians as will the glorious Gospel he shares with them.
And to his Eternal family,well done,good and faithful children.
Paul W. SextonDecember 16, 2013
I was sorry to come to the end of this article. I realized, however, that the story is not yet over.
Meg N.December 16, 2013
What a beautiful story. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing.
thebigsamoanDecember 16, 2013
What an awe inspiring story! God surely is aware and mindful of this special young man. Hope many more miracles will happen to him before his mission is over.
Comments | Return to Story
Cami DavidsonFebruary 1, 2018
I know this is an old post, but my heart is just so full right now I had to comment! I was actually looking for something else related to this mission when I came across this article tonight. I was serving as a missionary in this mission when this happened. I remember a few days later, my companion and I went in to the mission home for some visa work, and my mission president shared this story with us and showed us the pictures. I was still pretty new to the mission (I had only been in the country for 9 weeks when Tavian Haddock got there!) I remember sitting in the mission president's office and just crying at how amazing this story was and the spirit that was felt while being told about this wonderful encounter. It was so neat to see and hear about everything that continued to happen over the next (almost) 2 years. This elder was only in this city for 1 transfer before being moved. He DID get to go back here towards the end of his mission (when his language skills had increased, and he was better able to communicate.) I just remember the power of this story, and hearing how adamant my mission president had been at the beginning that he WASN'T starting Elder Haddock in Pazardjik. The Lord's plan is so much better than ours, and I'm so grateful our mission president was humble and in tune enough to follow the Lord's promptings to allow this amazing miracle to take place. It will always be one of the most special stories to me from my time as a missionary there.
Natalie HoyJanuary 21, 2014
Our son, Elder Hoy is serving in Bulgaria right now and just last week did split offs with Elder Haddock and says that he's a wonderful missionary, very well received by the people of Bulgaria!!
Heidi GreenDecember 22, 2013
Amazing! My son is in the mtc heading to Bulgaria in February. He spoke of the sister from Australia as part of his group. He was saying he hopes he can speak as well as she did when he reaches that stage of his journey. What a small world.
JulieDecember 19, 2013
Fabulous article and story! As the adoptive mother of four, this story especially struck at my heart-strings! I likewise have seen the Lord's hand and loving guidance leading up the adoptions and lives of my children. Thanks for sharing your faith and testimony with us. After reading the article, I reread it to two of these kids (now 20 and 16), and they were likewise very touched by your faith and words.
Fatima VerdascaDecember 18, 2013
Thank you for sharing this amaizing true story. It enlighted me and strengthed my testimony. I know we are connected to each other more then what we understand despite of distance and life circunstances. This story shows me that the Lord is in control and should not be afraid. I would like to know more of the future family encounters and learn from it.
StephenDecember 18, 2013
This beautiful story reminds me of Joseph in Egypt who was led by dreams to save his family. Thanks for sharing.
GregDecember 17, 2013
What a great account of how the Lord does his work. I forwarded this account to a friend who's son also served in the same mission. Miracles do happen all of the time. Aren't they great!
David G. MackeyDecember 17, 2013
Thank you for sharing this remarkable story! The account powerfully demonstrates the love our Heavenly Father has for His children, each is known to Him and precious beyond what any mortal can comprehend--even to the extent that He was willing to send His Only Begotten Son and our brother into the world to rescue us.
Elva GallagherDecember 17, 2013
What a wonderful story. I hope more is written at the completion of Elder Hadddock's mission.
Bruce RupperDecember 16, 2013
Very powerful.
Bruce RupperDecember 16, 2013
Truly inspiring.
Grandma20December 16, 2013
This is a beautiful, inspiring story. What a great honor his young man has to teach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to his own relatives.
SydraDecember 16, 2013
Thank you for sharing. It's really inspiring. It brought tears to my eyes and I was enlightened.
Tracy JensenDecember 16, 2013
This story is amazing. I love it so much and would love to talk to the family. Our family is gearing to pick up our daughter from Bulgaria. She is four years old, and lived two and half years of her life in a crib without being taken out. It's truly a miracle she has hung on to life as long as she has. We can't wait to add her to our family and shower her with love. Thank you for putting the face of international adoption out there into the LDS community in a positive way.
KarenDecember 16, 2013
I know this family personally, and can testify what an amazing family they are. Tavian is an amazing young man, this truly shows that the Lord loves each and every one of us, and has a purpose for us all.
Lei MaheDecember 16, 2013
What a beautiful story, my niece is leaving the MTC this week for Bulgaria, from Sydney, Australia. Exciting to read of the missionary work progressing
Virginia BrownDecember 16, 2013
My daughter was a missionary to Bulgaria. After their missions, she and her companion started an organization that helps orphanages there, so this article was of great interest to us. For more information about their organization, check out the website oneheart-bg.org.
RockiesgirlDecember 16, 2013
This story first caught my eye because my husband served his mission to Bulgaria 20 years ago. I also had tears streaming down my face. A testimony to me that we must seek our Heavenly Father's plan for us. What a touching and inspiring story-I would love to someday know the rest of the story.
Heidi BarkerDecember 16, 2013
What a beautiful story! I served a mission in Bulgaria in 1993. Since then, I have felt that I have another mission there to fulfill . . . so a former companion and I started One Heart Bulgaria, a 501c3 which serves Bulgarian orphans. Every time I go back I feel that same feeling of love for the beautiful Bulgarian and Roma people. What a wonderful example of the hand of the Lord in our lives. Thank you, Elder Haddock!
Richard PopovichDecember 16, 2013
It is an absolute miracle as to what is happening in these former communist countries, as well as Russia itself. While the people are not totally free, they are living under much better circumstances than they were fifteen to thirty years ago. The great blessing of being able to hear the message of the Restoration and the Gospel of Jesus Christ; once thought impossible; has been opened to this region of the World. They will make tremendous Church members in the future because they understand what true freedom really is.
Dennis JohnsonDecember 16, 2013
This was a very impressive story. I will also be going on a mission in a couple of months with my wife and we too feel like we will be able to touch the lives of some of our family. Oh, how the Lord blesses us and those whom we don't even know YET.
Colin RDecember 16, 2013
This just made me think how each and every on of us is known and loved personally by the Savior He directs our paths, particularly as we serve Him. Thanks for sharing this awesome experience and God bless you in the future.
LexaGraemeDecember 16, 2013
The Wilsteads shared this story earlier this year at a branch fireside (I live in this mission's boundaries). We had expected to see it in "Ensign"; it is too good a story not to be shared. Even knowing the story, it still made me teary. Thank you, Meridian, for publishing it.
hENRY December 16, 2013
Miracles. Beautiful. Blessings to him and that God Blessings will come to Bukgaria.
AnnetteDecember 16, 2013
This is such an inspirational account.Tavian will be a blessing to the Bulgarians as will the glorious Gospel he shares with them. And to his Eternal family,well done,good and faithful children.
Paul W. SextonDecember 16, 2013
I was sorry to come to the end of this article. I realized, however, that the story is not yet over.
Meg N.December 16, 2013
What a beautiful story. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing.
thebigsamoanDecember 16, 2013
What an awe inspiring story! God surely is aware and mindful of this special young man. Hope many more miracles will happen to him before his mission is over.
ADD A COMMENT