Here is a bit of art that came out of my time with my parents looking at what we began to refer to as "old rocks."  They all start to look the same after a while.  I really don't understand how people can do the tourist thing for months on end.  I much prefer real life.  But I definitely learned a lot about the history of the church in this country.  What struck me was even after all these thousands of years even from the piles of "old rocks" it is clear that followers of Jesus, both professors and those who gave their life because they truly believed, were once the majority here.  So much has changed since then.  All that is left from that time is piles of old rocks.  But what God did in people's lives then and is doing now will remain forever.

Valley of Vision

   Learning a new culture, especially as a part of a family has been an amazing blessing and a huge challenge.  The deeper relationships go, the deeper you can get hurt.  But I have also seen how the Father can work in a deeper way in our hearts through this.
   After moving out from my Turkish family's home we continued to spend time together.  Several times I have made cultural mistakes in the relationship that have resulted in miscommunication and hurt feelings.  Several times it got so difficult we weren't even able to speak to each other.  Each time it was a result of my ignorant mistake.  Each time I feared that perhaps I had done something too big to be forgiven and there was no way to fix it.  But each time, as we came to each other to offer and ask for forgiveness, I experienced the grace of being forgiven without being able to change anything or earn anything.  And I saw the Lord work in us all for His glory.
   Click here to see the words and hear a song that has comforted me through this time.  In the Valley
   In this valley I have seen the Lord in the heights watching over me and using all things for the good of those who love Him.  I wouldn't usually decide to be humbled this much.  It's painful, but it's good for me.  And I'm pretty sure I asked people to pray this would happen.  These struggles in relationships and with my own weaknesses and sin are making me more like my Savior.  "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20)  I am learning that love that must be earned is not love from God.  Grace is an amazing and beautiful thing!  If anyone loves or forgives or accepts me it is because of the power of the Lord in their life.
   I have been tested to trust Him to provide what I need.  Is His love really enough for me?  How deep into darkness and uncertainty am I willing to go to know Him more?  Am I willing to keep loving when I don't know how things will turn out?  I want to praise Him for being a God who turns ashes to beauty and brokenness to healing.  I have nothing to fear.  His power is great!

Banana Confusion

The food here was a little hard on my mom's stomach but she really likes bananas.  So one day we were at the train station and I wanted to buy her one for lunch and I saw that the restaurant there had "fruit" on their outside menu.  So I went in and asked in Turkish, "Muz var mu?"  Which means, "Do you have any bananas?"  The cashier said, "Yes, how many do you want?"  "One," I answered, and he looked at me rather strangely as he sent his helper off to get one.  Another man standing there asked me what I had asked for and I repeated with my stuffed-up nose, "Muz, you know, the fruit."  And they all started laughing and explained that they thought I asked for buz which means ice.  Just then the helper walked up with one piece of ice in his hand and a puzzled look and I explained that I wanted a banana not ice.  We all laughed and since they didn't have any bananas they at least gave me some grapes for a very cheap price.  Being sick and trying to speak Turkish at the same time is not a good idea.