Visit

I went to visit a friend at her house who was sick and we picked out some nice flowers for her, which is the tradition here.
My friend's mother had made traditional food from her hometown to show me what it is like.  They are like fried tortillas with cheese, onions, peppers, and spices inside.  Very delicious!  And of course tea!  If I could have stayed a bit longer they would have given me Turkish coffee too.

Sweet Find

People always ask me, "Do they have this or that in Turkey?" Almost anything that you could want can be found here now, even fancy and delicious coffee-chocolate drinks!

The Importance of Team

In this country where sometimes it seems like you have to fight for everything, it is good to be a part of a team.  We complement one another with our different gifts and abilities.
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

Christmas

We had a great time decorating our fake tree and decorating the living room for Christmas. 

We opened our gifts a bit early and my parents watched via skype.  I got lots of socks and new PJs. We've celebrated Christmas three times with two more celebrations to attend.  I love this season!

Another Great Year

I celebrated my birthday with my family here who bought me a delicious raspberry cake!  Thanking the Lord for giving me another year of blessings.

Delicious Dessert

We went out for a quick bite to eat and had this for dessert.  Does anyone know what it is?

Conference

This month we attended a wonderful conference about going deeper in your relationship with the Lord.  We had times to just sit and pray and listen to what the Lord would say to us.  This is what He said to me: “No one can understand you, only Jesus.  You are blessed.  I did it all for you.  I want you.  I love you.  I will never, never let you go, leave you, or hurt you.  No matter how angry you get with me, if say terrible things about me, betray me, lie to me, don’t listen to me, disobey me, I will still accept you and want you and love you.  All of your sin is paid for.  You are pure in my eyes.  You, just you, without doing anything are worth it.  I love to listen to your stories.  I always understand just what you want to say, what you meant, what your motives were.  I know you even when you don’t know or understand yourself.  We are one.  I am using you.  I am in you.  You are never alone.  You are safe.  You are filled with my Holy Spirit and my love.  I love you more than you can understand. I don’t see all your sins.  I don’t care. I just love you. I just love to spend time with you.  I am your Father.  I am your love.  I am your Protector."

Earthquake Relief

 

Some of our teammates went to Van to help at the earthquake site.  We met many there with great needs.

 We went to the store and bought food to make packets to hand out.

One day we took a doctor around to visit various families.   We visited with the families and prayed for the sick.

My parents came for a visit

 My parents came for a visit and we had a great time seeing a giant fish and all the fresh bread.

We have 13 pigeons on our porch and they are so fun to watch.

 

My dad had tea with the pigeon seller when we bought them.

And yes, they have Dominos pizza here!

 My parents got to help with everything while they were here.  So glad they came.

Vacation

We had a great vacation in Antalya for a whole 10 days!  We went swimming, on a boat trip, watched some guys catch fish, and went to see a waterfall.  It was a refreshing time in God's beautiful creation.  I am so thankful!

 

Today we had a picnic with some friends of ours.  It was a great chance to get to chat and laugh with them.

This is Sugar, our new pet duck.  Last year we had two ducks but they were eaten by the dogs and we were very sad.  So this time we are trying to take very good care of this precious one.  So cute!

English Class

Our English class has been going great.  I enjoy teaching though it is a challenge with several kids and everyone being at different levels.  We are looking forward to seeing more people come and relationships developed.

Easter

 

I was so happy that I got to go to America and spend Easter with my family.   Just like every year my mom made Easter baskets for everyone.  I got chocolate and a movie.  I enjoyed American chocolate every day I was there. :)

 I hadn't seen my nieces for over a year and we had a great time playing together at the park.  I miss them but they know why I am here and support me all the way.

We played games, which is one of my family's favorite things to do.

Turkish Culture

 

Here I'm enjoying learning more of the ins and outs of Turkish culture.  This type of skirt and scarf is what young girls and housewives wear in the village and many still dress this way at home in the city.

Here are pictures of my new room.

Shortly after I moved in we went and bought a rolling nightstand, a bookshelf and a nice big closet for all my things.  It feel good to be settled in.

 

I often think of how Jesus didn't even have a pillow, let alone a whole closet full of clothes and books. I am very blessed and want to be thankful for everything He gives me everyday. 

Toilet Problem

One Saturday I was looking forward to a day of resting at home, maybe doing laundry, organizing stuff and reading a book.  But as soon as I begun to make these lovely plans, when I flushed the toilet water began running out from the back all over the floor.  I flushed it again and this time a giant flood came pouring out.  The drain in our floor was plugged for some reason so after mopping it up with a towel and squeezing in out in the shower I took off my shoes and braved a few more flood-flushings to try and feel where the water was coming from.  Couldn’t figure out anything except that if I didn’t call the repairman right away the whole house would soon be flooded. 
I called the repair shop that is just 5 minutes up the street, explained the problem on the phone, and an hour or so later a man came and looked at the puddle from the door.  I asked how long it would take to fix it and he said, “Oh I don’t have any tools with me now.  I’ll come back later with tools and fix it.”  Oh my, good thing I didn’t have to go anywhere.  Two hours later a different man, this time with tools thankfully, arrived.  He pulled the whole toilet out and removed a grocery bag full of assorted junk and ick that was plugging the pipe.   

I was thankful that my Turkish friend talked the guy down from 250 lira to 150.  He bellowed over the phone, “That’s an outrageous price!  I’ll come over there right now if I have to!”  I gave the man his 125 lira, he smiled and took a piece of candy from our bowl by the door and left.  Apparently he was happy with what he got.  And I was just thankful that no pipes burst!

Phil 3:7-10

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed, I count everything a as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."

Sometimes I wonder why I pray for hard things like, “Lord do whatever it takes to make me give up everything that I counted as gain in order that I might know you more.  And Lord, do whatever it takes (even sending me though sufferings) so that I will experience the grace of Your righteousness and blessings given to me just because I have the smallest seed of faith. 

Not because I am clever enough, because I earned it, or because I am good, but just because He wants to.  He answers prayers like this.  And then sometimes I complain, because what I want in the moment is an easy, problem-free life.   I asked everyone to pray I would be more humble, to trust Him more, and for perseverance.  There have been ample opportunities this year where I had no other choice.  Those who ask receive.  May I always remember the good works of the Lord.

Good Food

Mushroom kebap that made me smile.  I haven’t gotten tired of the food here yet, though when you go to restaurants they pretty much all have the same things.  But I think you could say that about America too.  I choose to just enjoy every chance I have to eat something new or delicious, or something routine and unexciting.  Thank You Lord for daily bread that is more than just bread.  I truly am blessed!

An Ir. friend brought over a couple of oranges that I thought were going moldy or something because they had dark spots on the skin.  I thought I better eat the quickly before they went to waste.  To my surprise when I opened it up it was purple inside!  I guess they’re called “blood oranges.”  Maybe this will not come as a surprise to any of you but I couldn’t believe my eyes!  Rather tasty as well.

Reverse Culture Shock

I hadn’t even left Turkey when reverse culture-shock hit.  In the airport a German man began asking an American woman questions about how her trip was and as she replied in “normal” everyone-in-the-whole-airport-can-hear tones I almost couldn’t resist the urge to shush her.  The more she talked on, oblivious to how much she was sticking out, the more irritated and uncomfortable I became.  You just don’t talk that loud here in public.  But she didn’t know that, so I kept my mouth shut and thought about how acculturated I have become.

The airport in Germany was one of the quietest places I have ever been.  Maybe Germans are even quieter in public than Turks.  It was really nice for getting some letter writing done.

My niece asked for if I wanted something while I was drinking juice so I used the convenient Turkish was of saying “no” by simply raising my eyebrows, and then turned away.  Shortly after, I realized that in my present culture this gesture did not communicate the meaning that I had intended.  I explained and my family had a fun time trying out this new way of saying no.

Family Time

Ringing in the New Year with our plates full of our favorite foods.  He is SO good!

Me and my best friend, who listens to me, cries with me, shares her clothes with me, tells the guys in Turkish how to cut my hair right, has served me hundreds of glasses of tea in a needed moment, prays with me, forgives me, hugs me, and shares life here with me.

 

Fish cookout!

Along with lessons about culture and language I've learned to cook a few simple dishes.  This is a meatless rice dish with onions and raisins that is very delicious!  I haven't met any food I don't like yet!

Cooking is a good way to learn new vocabulary and have time to chat while we wait.  They really enjoy sharing something from home that is important to them.
Here is a lesson is the proper way to mold the meat patties so that they turn out the tastiest.




I am so thankful for how the Lord has provided just the right person to help me learn Farsi.  She's quick to pick up on what I want or need to know and amazes me with her ability to read my mind!  She loves to chat and explain new things and is always making jokes.  We laugh a lot together, especially at my mistakes! 

Be Careful What You Say

Today in my language lesson I was learning about what to say when some pays you a compliment.  I wanted to come up with examples so I said to my helper, "Like, what if I said 'I like your jacket'."  She replied, "Then the other person would say, 'Oh, would you like to have it?'" and might try to give it to you.  Wow, cultures are so different.  Can you imagine an American doing something like that?  The way that the compliment can be appropriately given is to say, "It suits you."  And then I guess they won't try to give it to you.  So I need to learn how to say that.  Along with a lot of other things... :)

Sparrows

Today I begin a new year with the Lord at my side.  He has grown me in so many ways over the past year and I know this year I will be changed even more.  This time of language learning, settling in, and building foundations in relationships is difficult.  This morning a million questions were spinning in my mind and I looked out my kitchen window and saw a flock of sparrows perched on a tree.  I opened the screen and as they flew away with a flutter I thought, "God sees each sparrow.  He sees me.  He sees my pain and confusion and sin, and He knows.  He knows what I'm thinking and feeling better than I do.  "So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:31)

Psalm 84
 ¹How lovely is your dwelling place,
   O LORD of hosts!
²My soul longs, yes, faints
   for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
   to the living God.
 ³Even the sparrow finds a home,
   and the swallow a nest for herself,
   where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
    my King and my God.
⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
   ever singing your praise!
                         Selah
 ⁵Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
⁶As they go through the Valley of Baca
   they make it a place of springs;
    the early rain also covers it with pools.
⁷They go from strength to strength;
   each one appears before God in Zion.
 ⁸O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
   give ear, O God of Jacob!
                         Selah

⁹ Behold our shield, O God;
   look on the face of your anointed!
 ¹⁰For a day in your courts is better
   than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
   than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
¹¹For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
   the LORD bestows favor and honor.
 No good thing does he withhold
   from those who walk uprightly.
¹²O LORD of hosts,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you!