The Leach Family - Missionaries in Bulgaria

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Pastor Ismail sends greetings and wants you all to know he’s at 100%. We had a really good crowd at church today. Ismail...
10/18/2026

Pastor Ismail sends greetings and wants you all to know he’s at 100%.

We had a really good crowd at church today. Ismail was his zealous old self. He preached and stomped. He walked over to the wood stove to give an illustration: he said that if that stove burned hot, we’d all feel it. He encouraged the church to let the love of God burn hot in their hearts so that everyone they meet will feel it.

Honestly? Larry and I bawled. We saw him near death, and it wasn’t that long ago. So to see him this way again is nothing short of a miracle.

Larry read a passage of scripture to the church (Philippians 4:19) and shared some thoughts. It was a blessing to the church, and especially to Vizhdane who hasn’t been feeling well for a few weeks.

Pastor Ismail, as he often does, asked me to testify. I shared some thoughts, including that I’ve recently been thinking about what the Bible says about God. God is love. He is the way, the truth, and the life. And so on. Mid-testimony I asked each of the other ladies there to tell me one word on their heart about God. Who is God. Each in turn gave their word. Father. Friend. Savior. Everything. The most used word was Father. I know that being a daughter of God is special to me, so that resonated. And it seemed to bring all of them joy to call out their one word.

Then we had a good season of prayer. Sister Vizhdane asked Larry to put his hand on her head while he prayed. Larry had me come with him and I held her hand. After prayer, she did something we’ve never before experienced - a cultural show of honor - she kissed the back of our hands and then pressed them to her forehead. It was beautiful and precious.

All of the above encouraged Ismail. Plus, he was seen walking in the center of town this morning and was asked to come to someone’s home and preach to them and their family. And he did. He’s back to doing what he loves.

We’ve been doing more coat closet work. A couple of our missionaries have already done a distribution and told us so many joyful stories this morning. We were also able to get school clothes to three kids whose great grandmother is raising them. Today we were told that the clothes fit the kids as if they were made just for them. Joy. Lots of joy.

I’ll close now, but we would love for you all to rejoice with us, and thank God.

We hadn’t planned to shop for hats and gloves today - nope, Monday is grocery shopping day - but when a deal presents it...
10/12/2026

We hadn’t planned to shop for hats and gloves today - nope, Monday is grocery shopping day - but when a deal presents itself, we jump at it. And today’s deal was a doozy! We bought every hat and pair of gloves they had at those prices, including gloves that somehow had a dead cricket on them, yet excluding a hat with a streak of what I’m telling myself was chocolate. We filled two baskets.

Then we went grocery shopping and Larry found five packs of socks on an end-cap that had been seriously discounted. Both of us are watching for good deals constantly.

It’s coat and sock season!! Yay for getting to add some hats and gloves as well.

We sorted socks and put them in baskets, hung the last of the coats, and folded some clothes. We also enjoyed a picnic l...
10/08/2026

We sorted socks and put them in baskets, hung the last of the coats, and folded some clothes. We also enjoyed a picnic lunch. All I wanted was the apple crisp.

As one of our children says, Mom is in her favorite place. And it truly is.

-Carrie

10/08/2026

A day at the Coat Closet

We went on our first sock run of the season, working to fill the closet from nearly empty. We filled a cart to overflowi...
09/26/2026

We went on our first sock run of the season, working to fill the closet from nearly empty. We filled a cart to overflowing and went to the checkout line. The lady knew us. Smiled and said, “You’re early this year.” She called another lady over to help… it takes a long time to ring up all our socks.

This is just a first run and won’t fill all the baskets. We hope to hit a different store for the next run, and just keep going until everything is full. We noticed right away, however, that even the socks we got on clearance (which was most of them) were nearly one and a half times the cost of last year. The non clearance items were about double. This is a huge hit but not really unexpected, since that huge of a hike has hit almost everything here since January. We rely on God to provide.

I wanted to share with you our excitement as we work to fill the closet. Keep praying.

-Carrie

We’re heading home from the Coat Closet, covered in dust and cobwebs, but feeling happy and fulfilled. We washed the tab...
09/23/2026

We’re heading home from the Coat Closet, covered in dust and cobwebs, but feeling happy and fulfilled. We washed the tables, chased spiders, used the shop vac, cleaned the heaters, pulled from the small amount of remaining stock, and set a few clothes and coats out. The sock baskets are empty. I think I counted seven and a half pair of socks left. We checked our supplies (burlap bags, markers and paper for taping on bags headed to the villages, etc) and those look ready. The next step is to fill the sock baskets and look for teen and adult coats, and then put in our order for the bulk shipment of kids coats. Please pray with us about every step.

If you would like to give to help fill the Coat Closet and keep it stocked, you can send a check to Charity Baptist Mission. And in the memo, please write: Coat Closet.

Charity Baptist Mission
P.O. Box 692
Bristol, TN 37621

-Carrie

P.S. I really did help… but I didn’t take any pictures of myself. Ha

09/05/2026

Dear Brethren, Fall 2026

Since my last letter in June, the remainder of our furlough went by really quickly.We were in a few new churches and met a lot of dear folks. We spent time with old friends. We were invited to speak in home Bible Studies. We took in the sights and sounds of America. Ah, America - she sure is struggling, but she’s still the best! The hills of North Carolina were home for a while, and we found respite there. As a dear preacher friend told me, “You’re not just in the Bible Belt; you’re in the buckle.” We loved it. Being there, getting to know many supporters better, and spending a lot of time fellowshipping, made this furlough my favorite one ever.

I had a goal for this furlough, to raise our support $1,000 per month, and by the end we reached 50% of that goal. We look for God to provide.

After leaving North Carolina, we went to Florida and spent a little time with our son and his precious family. What a great time we had! Then we were back in NC for a few days before heading to middle Tennessee to spend a week with the mother of two of the missionaries in our group. It was a joy to get to spend some time with her - she has given much for the Lord. From there we headed to St. Louis to take our rental car back and fly out. That was eventful but I will spare you the details. We flew St. Louis to Chicago to Vienna to Sofia to Varna, where one of our missionaries picked us up to drive us home.

We knew Pastor Ismail was ill before we came back, but we had no idea it was this bad. The day we flew in, missionaries and national pastors were gathered at Ismail’s house to pray over him. He hardly had the strength to stand. We were told on the ride home that it wasn’t good. The next morning our car wouldn’t start so we bummed a ride to go see Ismail. We had to help him sit up to see us. It sure looked grim. But he soon rallied and began eating again - first solid food he could keep down in over a month. He gained enough strength to stand behind his pulpit and preach. He has some ongoing health problems - God alone knows the future. For now, Carrie and I plan to do our best to take care of him. There will be some extra cost for his care, but God knows where he is and what he needs. And in the meantime I want to help him preach as much as he can. Because, as he said that first day we were back, “I live and breathe to preach.” Pray for him and for us.

Coat Season is right around the corner and it’s time to stock the coat closet with everything it needs, to be filled and overflowing for the needs of the people. Pray for us as we do everything we can to work in the closet and help Pastor Ismail. God will provide.

Because He First Loved Me,
Larry Leach, Jr

Coats for Kids 2026-27It’s September 1st!!It is on this date that we write our first Coats for Kids letter of each seaso...
09/01/2026

Coats for Kids 2026-27

It’s September 1st!!

It is on this date that we write our first Coats for Kids letter of each season, since probably 2011.

Why September 1st? It’s harvest time. A time of gathering before winter. A time to prepare for the cold. And it takes time for churches to talk about the need, send to the mission, and the mission to send to us. This allows us to begin our biggest purchasing on or before November 1st.

You’ve all heard or read the story by now, how this ministry got started… just a few coats in the back of our van. But it has grown and the closet emptied out four times last season. We look for big things again this year!!

Would you prayerfully consider giving to this ministry? It’s still coats, but it has grown to so much more.

If you would like to give, please make checks payable to Charity Baptist Mission and then in the memo, write Coats for Kids. Our treasurer is amazing about making sure 100% of funds get where they’re supposed to go.

Charity Baptist Mission
PO Box 692
Bristol, TN 37621

I’ll leave you with this picture, which is one of my favorites. I got to speak about it several times while we were in America. This is the little boy whose feet I got to warm before putting his new socks on. Idk if he remembers me, but I’ll always remember him.

Please pray for this ministry. And pray for my friend Randa, who will be joining us for a couple weeks to work with us in the closet and out in the field.

Thank you all for being a part of this ministry, which is near and dear to our hearts, by prayer, interest, and support.

Love to All,
Carrie

Leach Update 8/21/26I’m writing this update from a Drury Inn, in St. Louis, MO. Larry just finished making sure of his s...
08/22/2026

Leach Update 8/21/26

I’m writing this update from a Drury Inn, in St. Louis, MO. Larry just finished making sure of his suitcase, which comes in just under the 50lb limit. My two bags are right around the limit and I’m hoping for mercy if one is slightly over. I tried to make sure I only traveled with things I need or would love not to live without. And apparently I would love not to live without a big, bluish, ornate Ball canning jar full of coffee beans. And maybe the other three matching jars that came in the package. Can’t break up the set!

This morning we returned the furlough car to the Righteous Rides hub an hour west of St Louis. The folks there are such a joy! They are encouraging, and always pray with us before we walk out the door. One young man there was a MK in Kenya, and today he told us of a luggage mishap where a large jar of omega fish oil burst in their suitcase and soaked the suitcases around it. Note to self: don’t travel with fish oil. We rented this car, paying monthly. And they carry insurance and pay for all maintenance and repairs that arise. Such a blessing for missionaries! We drove over 13,000 miles since March, and went over our allotted mileage. About $700 worth. They chuckled - missionaries on furlough/home assignment frequently go over the allotted mileage. But the car traveled well and we drove through 13 states during that time.

Tomorrow morning we plan to head to the airport and get on the first of four planes. I dread it - I’m not a fan of flying. So please pray for us.

This furlough has been Larry’s and my favorite, because of the amount of fellowship. We may be returning with goals not quite met, but we’re going back encouraged by family and friends. And many new friends. We’ve laughed and cried with folks. Connected with folks. And so many are even more dear to us. We will miss you… so come visit!

I’ll close for now so we can get some sleep. But here are some pictures of our furlough (some of my most precious, most favorite pictures won’t be shared here… but I will tell you right now, they’re of our grandbabies. My goodness, we love them SO MUCH! It is only our love for Jesus that makes us go…).

Please don’t forget to pray for us. And pray for our family.

Love to All!
Carrie

Leach Update - July 20, 2026We’ve got a tad over a month left here in the States, with about a week and a half of that l...
07/20/2026

Leach Update - July 20, 2026

We’ve got a tad over a month left here in the States, with about a week and a half of that left in North Carolina. Our time in NC has been precious. We’ve had a chance to just sit and visit with folks. Have a meal. Hear about their lives and share a little more of ours. Laugh. Cry. Eat. Larry has said several times how much he has enjoyed the fellowship this furlough. It has just felt more meaningful.

Since my last update we have been to some supporting churches and also visited some new ones. We’ve met some really precious people. This week Larry will be filling the pulpit for a Pastor friend for midweek service, but he’s also excited because he’s going to go to VBS for his first time. There’s an adult class and he wants to go. I told him I didn’t think I’d be able to get the others in class to play Red Rover, but that I’d try. I told him to make sure he tried the cookies and koolaid. He said he would learn all his memory verses. I tease, but in all seriousness it’s really nice they have an adult class. And also nice that Larry can experience VBS for the first time, at 50.

I went today for my final dr visit, to tweak the dosages of my prescriptions, and to get a letter to fly with, proving those meds really do belong to me. I’ll use that same letter to see a dr in Bulgaria about writing a prescription for my medications. This dr has been so helpful, spending a lot of time helping me figure out some of this health stuff. Hopefully we’re on the right track to calm the heart palpitations I’ve had for years. I’m extremely thankful to have been told about this office, and to have met someone willing to work with my unique situation. The meds have been expensive, but right when we’ve needed the money for them, we’ve had it. I’m thankful for provision!

The beginning of August we plan to go to Florida and see our son and his family. I can’t wait to get my hands on that baby and squeeze his chubby little self! He’s running now, so I’ll be running to keep up.

From there we will slowly make our way back to North Carolina for a minute and then to middle TN to stay with a dear friend for a few days. Then furlough will be at an end and we will return the rental car (and pay the mileage overage. Sigh… we have driven SO many miles), and fly out of St Louis. Leaving will be hard, even though we love the ministry.

As we prepare to leave this area, let me tell you about a few people to go see. Go to the Valley Hills Mall in Hickory and get a coffee downstairs at the coffee shop. Then ask one of the three Romanian sisters who work there about their mission trips. While you’re at the mall, go to the men’s department at Dillards. There, a bi-vocational pastor will help you find whatever men’s clothes you’re looking for. On a Friday night in the summer, go to Valdese and peruse the classic cars. Find the man with the teal T-Bird, because he wants to tell you how much Jesus loves you. Also look for a black car with red interior (I wish I could remember the make and model) and you’ll find a sweet couple from a long-time supporting church. Get your GPS to guide you to Hog Wild, a BBQ establishment owned by a Christian family. That is, if you didn’t already tank up on ice cream at Myra’s.

And now I should close. I’m tired (we got home at almost midnight from church last night), and now I’m craving BBQ and ice cream.

Pray for us.

Love to All,
Carrie

P.S. To the young man who just sent New York Yankees pencils to the house for Brother Larry - you do not even know how special that was for him, and how much it meant!

Address

P. O. Box 692
Bristol, TN
37621

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