Being Roma is not easy. You live with society’s preconceived judgement of you, and sometimes you have to hide who you are and where you’re from to have an equal chance and be known before you’re mislabelled. I was born into a Roma family in the town of Sandanski and I have witnessed many times how people treat us with prejudice. But God gave me the strength to look beyond the bad and discrimination and see with love. He gave me the ability to know what is important and what is truly valuable. He taught me not to give up, to fight, and most of all, He gave me the incentive to not just succeed, but to want to be an example and to show good as He is.
My name is Gabriela Tosunova and in my 24 years of life I realize that I have achieved things I never dreamed of. With God’s help, I graduated with honors from my secondary education with a major in economics, and then from my higher education with a major in public administration as valedictorian. My choice for a professional field in university was guided by God. While I was wondering what to enroll in, I received a call from an unknown number – my now colleague – who motivated me to enroll in Public Administration. I took that as God’s answer. All the while, I was hearing from all sides that this major was no good, that I was wasting my time and capacity. But I was reassured that God had a plan for me. Now I am working on my specialty with the lady who called me six years ago.
I have been working as an assistant and program coordinator at the Trust for Social Achievement Foundation for two years now, but I also run two businesses of my own. One is for making caricatures, portraits and other art materials and the second is for organizing children’s birthday parties. A year ago, when I was considering opening the children’s party agency, I went to the UK to buy props. In the evening while praying, I said, “God, what am I doing here if this is not Your will? Answer me, do You want me to set up this agency?” The answer did not delay. Early the next morning I had a message from a stranger, a female client, who wanted to hire me for a birthday party, without any marketing yet for the business. I received it with great joy as my quickest response from God.
But what fills my heart to the bottom is the ministry in the local churches. This is my true passion and calling. For years I have also taken responsibility for the youth and children of the church. But you might ask why? Why is God more precious to me than all other successes?
When I was 12 years old, I became ill with tuberculosis. I could feel my family’s worry, but beyond the fear and pain, I could see their tremendous faith and trust that I would get well. It made me think and I began to seek God in my heart as well. When I was healed and discharged from the hospital I first went to my piggy bank. I remember I had thirty leva that I had been saving for years out of my pocket money for breakfast. With it I bought my first Bible. I read the New Testament in one breath. It was my first personal encounter with my God and to this day He is my meaning. He saved me from death, from sin, from everything bad that confronts me. He always watches over me and every day I see His hand over me and my loved ones. No other success equals this. The faith of others sows faith in me and I want to pass that on.
True success for me is not in material goods. If I say I’m successful because I graduated as a freshman from college, or because I have my businesses, or because I’m working a dream job with high goals, if I say I’m successful because I have the material goods of this world – I would be lying to you. Many people have even more of them, but deep down they know something is lacking. Because these things come and go. Success is measured in knowing God and having as your best friend your Creator who loves you and is there for you. For me, triumph is doing God’s will, living with love for all, even those who hurt me, and being a good example to others. Not to give up when I encounter difficulties, but to overcome them with His help.
“For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his life? And what can he pay to get it back?” Matthew 16:26
I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that God has a plan and I am not afraid of challenges along the way. I have faith that he will bless me and I will become an experienced coordinator who knows the problems of the Roma community and knows how to help solve them. I believe that I will develop my businesses successfully and help my relatives with them.
Because of the ethnicity I represent, I will face difficulties in entrepreneurship as well, but I move forward with the belief that whatever comes will be for the best. I want to be a role model in my community, and not only in it. To show that morals, values and faith are not demode, but are most valuable. I want to be proof that when you trust Him and follow His will, you can achieve things you never dreamed possible. There is no describing the feeling of hearing the words, “We are going to school to become like you.” Being an inspiration to even one person makes me more than successful, and all because I trusted God to give my best and never less, guided by the verse:
“Whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not as unto men” Colossians 3:23
My message to all who read this story is: It doesn’t matter where you start, or who you are, or what you are. It doesn’t matter what obstacles are in front of you. With God by your side, anything is possible. Believe in His plan for you and don’t be afraid.
“Behold, I command you: be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
