Heidi Glyn Barker served as director of One Heart Bulgaria from its inception until early 2005, and continues to serve as an advisor to the board. A trustee and co-founder of the organization, she first began doing humanitarian work in Bulgaria in 1999, following an 18 month LDS mission to Bulgaria in 1996. During her mission she fell in love with the people, language and culture of the area, and promised herself that she would find a way to remain connected to this beautiful place.

In 2000, following several trips to help friends navigate the Bulgarian adoption system, Heidi and her husband decided to adopt twin Bulgarian boys. Although that adoption didn’t take place, Heidi realized she had found a cause worthy of her best efforts, and One Heart Bulgaria was born.

Heidi has a BA in Literature from Brigham Young University, and began a MA in Slavic Philology at Wuerzburg University in Germany, which is currently on hold until her children are both in school full time. She now lives in Sugar City, Idaho, with her husband Devan, their daughter Milena, and their son Tallis.

“It is a privilege to serve these beautiful children,” Heidi says of her involvement. “I always wanted a way to keep Bulgaria in my life after my mission. Once I started doing this kind of work, I realized the connection was right in my heart.”

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