Something old

Today, I find myself travelling with some visitors from America to a new part of Turkey for me. I've never been to Konya before, which is known as Iconium in the Bible. Konya is known for the whirling dervishes. But, on the way today we stopped by and visited supposedly the oldest discovered/uncovered civilization in the world. I'm telling you, there is tons and tons of cool stuff in Turkey. I'm sure you could pick up a shovel and dig just about anywhere and find something old and historical. And, an interesting addition to the museum (my personal favorite) was the display of quite possibly the oldest discovered...

...salt shaker in the world! I'm not much of a history buff, but surely that was worth the drive, right? It was interesting. The settlement was interesting to see. But, you couldn't quite distinguish what was what in the dirt so I didn't post a picture. Thought you'd enjoy the oldest discovered salt shaker in the world, just as well. I'm enriching your lives aren't I? (smile).
So, we past tons of squatter villages on the way from this settlement to Konya--our final destination for the next few days. We're looking around here and doing alot of lifting up the people around us in this city that is known for being very nationalistic and religious (Islamic). So, when we past one of these squatter villages on the way, they waved at us and we waved back and took that as a sign that we'd found us some people of peace! We pulled over and immediately were ushered into their tent and offered tea! Turns out they are actually from my city and they are only here for 2-3 months out of the year to harvest sugar beets that grow in this particular area. We had fun conversation as our fearless tour guide and my boss carried on conversation and we loosely translated for our visitors. One of our visitors joked with us--a little too seriously-- that he's pretty sure he can learn Turkish enough to communicate in about 6 weeks roughly... I thought about referring him to the blog to read about all the blogs I have written in my year and a half devoted solely to the lovely blessings of learning a second language. But, I didn't. We all smiled and kept on translating! It was really fun, though. I mean, I am so going to miss that about Turkish people. They are just so hospitable. We pull over on the side of the road into their village and are instantly sitting chatting with the whole village and drinking tea as if they don't have a care in the world--when really probably they had much work to do. These people are so warm. I love that they drop anything they're doing to have conversation over a cup of tea. Conversation ended with the migrant workers (but not before they offered to give us one of their sons, marry off one of our volunteers, and after the main head old guy asked to show us some pictures. Apparently, he moonlights performing circumcisions. He says up to age 12,... yes it can be very different here. The boys get a big party and become prince for a day and then the bad part comes. He apparently does this as a side job and showed us all his medical case and some pictures... Awkward. Conversations can just about always head just about any direction! Pretty much after that, we left. But,as we were leaving and saying goodbyes to the instant friends we'd just made, we did have a chance to give them a gift-- none other than our favorite Book. It was such a neat morning and who knows how He will use it. His Word does not return empty without fulfilling the purpose for which it was sent out.

Something child-ish

I am updating this blog from the perfect spot. I'm at the beach, sitting on my balcony looking at the Mediterranean after a fabulous day lounging in the sun, reading a good book by the ocean and ordering Turkish room service poolside! Pictures to come in the next blog. It's blog worthy. Bea-u-tiful. It's a tough life I live, I know. A girl needs a vacation every now and then...and I definitely needed one after this weekend! So, I had a fabulous birthday. I spent most of my birth 'day' (Friday) on a bus travelling to a Turkish women's conference, that many of the women in our church attended, where Melissa and I provided childcare for the weekend. But, prior to the day of bus travel and lots of Turkish children, I got another, yes another fabulous package from America from sweet friends in MS (thankyou!) and had a party with my discipleship girls Thursday night! And, if that was not enough, Melissa has showered me with gifts and surprised me with a cake tonight at dinner tonight here at the beach! We deemed today my replacement birthday since the actual day was spent in travel and babysitting. I know. Who does that? ...I do.
So, we kept children for this conference last weekend. It was a good thing. I'm really glad that the mothers were able to come and were able to fellowship with fellow sisters in the faith...child-free. I may have had to remind myself of that just a time or two. Really, though, the kids were great, just very energetic. (they're kids). There were some Bible stories, something similar to dodge ball that seemed to be played endlessly, a few games of Twister, and half a movie in there somewhere. It didn't take a ton of Turkish. They totally speak my level (smile). I used the sentence: 'Don't do that', pretty repeatedly. I'm not sure that the lady in charge of childcare could tell I've lived here for a year and a half until I broke out an 'if' clause and said, 'If you weren't doing that, then she wouldn't want to do it'. That's a bit more complicated grammar in Turkish! But, despite the many 'don't do that's, it was a neat weekend. Kind of like VBS. Never really thought I'd do anything like that here. It was a privileged to be able to see these kids that are growing up in the faith. It's more than a rare thing to meet a child who has grown up on Bible stories and is being taught Truth here, so that was really sweet to see. And, of course, kids will be kids, will be kids. Children are so alike. I think my favorite moment of the weekend is a borrowed moment of Melissa's. She's 'reading' a story with this one little girl and the child is 'reading' the story to Melissa. Obviously this child cannot read, we're pretending here. So, the pictures are a sea creature themed story and then she gets to the end of the story and the last pages read something like...'And Jesus told them not to smoke, it's bad for them. And drink lots of water.' No matter where you are, kids just say the funniest things! It was a tiring weekend, but I'm so glad we got to serve those ladies in a small way. And, don't worry, we did have a few free moments. At meal times when we could sneak away for a few minutes, there is one place that makes a rolled up sandwich type food that I have mentioned before on the blog. (the 'doner'). The restaurant is called Liverburger. Supposedly, it will change your life. We've had it before. It never changed our lives, but it was pretty stinking good. Thus, we ate it once a day every day while we were in Antioch! The last day, they gave us balloons and said, 'see you soon'. I had to let them down gently and tell them that they'd have to find new Customers of the Week, we were heading back home!

Something unexpected

Something unexpected from me... wonders never cease. I made homemade strawberry jam yesterday. Please be impressed because I surely was. I even decided to give a few as gifts and decorated the jars. Who knew, just who knew is all i can say! Heres hoping the spell won't wear off and I'll still be just as ambitious in the kitchen at home as I've learned to be here. My mom right now is totally going, that's my girl! (smile).
Something unexpected for me...So, my birthday countdown is on. 2 days! And, I got a a fabulous package, which was pretty expected from my parents--the weight of and excessive contents of food, books, movies, and scrap booking material were much unexpected though (thank you)-- and an unexpected package from friends in Alabama. Thank you Harrelsons! Already used the lotion! Home, I loved all the goodies and they've already been rationed out to make the silly goodness last. I could do without, but why when people who love me want to shower me with goodness? I say, let them! Happy Birthday me! So, really maybe this birthday won't be the hugest ever, it's my 3rd birthday out of the country. I feel as though I've said that in a blog before, honest I'm not looking for pity. I think overseas birthdays may be better, at least last year's Turkish one was because everyone wanted to remind me over here that they loved me and went a bit overboard, which I totally loved. Anyhoo, today I went to the university to see some sweet friends that I have been trying to catch up with for a week or so, only to be totally surprised that they, of all people, had remembered my birthday and brought me a cake! I shouldn't be surprised at all. These girls are so sweet! I was in the middle of a marathon day and pretty tired and I was just a bit overwhelmed to be remembered by them. I can't remember the last time we talked about a birthday, it certainly wasn't recent. But, it struck me that this year regardless of whether another package comes or not, regardless of the fact that I'm riding a bus 3 hours away to babysit on my birthday for a Turkish retreat, or whatever...I've already got such great gifts this year at where I am in this stage of being here. I have such great Turkish friends. I know He's put them in my life for a reason and I just keep on sharing my hope with them and lifting them up, but I love how much of a blessing they are in my life. I think the journey here is just as much to do with Him using them in my life as it does Him using me in theirs. I hope it goes go both ways.

Something motherly

When you live this far away, well...you do what you can! So, I wanted to take a minute and use my blog for personal use...I figure it's my blog and I can do what I want with it! Plus, I have the greatest mom, and in case you are wondering...take a look at the pic and you can tell, I might as well be a clone! I needed to say, Happy Mother's Day Momma! You are the best mom and you should know it! Thank you for all you are and all you do! I miss you and love you very much! I wouldn't be who I am today apart from you. We all know, really I am daily becoming you. (smile). You're the best. Love you and wish I was there to be with you, but hopefully next year I will be a drive away instead of an ocean away Love you -jess
(lest you the other eavesdroppers on this blog be disappointed with me, I did send flowers, too.)

Something special

Thursdays have become Turkish cooking 101 for me and my language helper. We talk a little, translate a little, she corrects me alot, and then class ends--but really begins after hours when we begin to cook dinner. This week we made a dried bean soup-ish dish and a famous salad called, 'Shepherd's salad'. I love learning to make this stuff. I've grown to love it, and it just makes me incredibly sentimental knowing I'll be able to take it home with me and share it with some of you one day. Or, when the day comes and I'm missing Turkey something bad, I'll pull out my çay (tea) glasses and sip some tea as I make some Turkish food to eat and reminisce. It's something special. I've grown to love these Thursday times so much. This Thursday, I got to try on some traditional clothes from her village! Yes, minus a few dangles, this is what women used to wear all the time--even when working in the fields--in her village!!! Can you just imagine? This woman has been such an encouraging presence in my life and her friendship is genuine to me in spite of and maybe because of all the patient moments we share working my feelings into words together in Turkish. She is something special. There's something about that time delay, between when a thought enters my head, the time it takes for me to think of the words to put that thought into verbal existence, and the moment I actually act on this in Turkish. It's humbling and it's growing Ephesians into me when Paul says, 'Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment so that it will give grace to those who hear.' Now, you can ask my loved ones and you'll know instantly, I'm not bragging...I am such a work in progress when it comes to this. But, He knows that and slowly, especially of late as I have begun to really speak, not just small talk, the time delay has grown and it's made me think about this verse, this week especially and I'm asking Him to help use this time when I'm practicing this 'think before you speak' practice more than really I ever have in life before, to grow me up. I want to speak love better. It's a work in progress, but I praise Him it's a work at all.
Speaking with this woman and having a real friendship with her is hope for me in this place. Sometimes, I feel like my language may be as good as it is going to get before I leave, like my friendships have plateaued and maybe they won't go deeper than they are now. Can they? Then in these frustrated moments, I meet with her and in a few hours with her, I'm reminded that if I open my mouth, He will fill it with His words, even in Turkish. It makes me feel a bit ecstatic that I can share my heart with this woman in her native language and in that moment we connect. It makes me feel alot of things all at once. It reminds me that if I can do this with her, I can do it in every one of my relationships. It makes me feel excited about ministry to come when I return where I can speak openly without studder and without apprehension about what the Lord is doing in my life in English. It makes me want to retain the humility I feel here always. It makes me want to tell Satan to back off, and remind myself what God is doing in the here and now in spite of how I 'feel' about my language. It makes me want to not be so hard on myself. It makes me want to press on and keep on speaking Truth unashamedly, in spite of my Turkish and in light of my Lord, into all my friendships and let Him do more than I can imagine in them because that's the kind of God I serve. It makes me want to just sit and be amazed at the God I serve. My life here is a testimony to His amazing grace, sovereignty,provision, power made strong in weakness, and love, among nameless other things. Being on this journey with Him is truly something special.