Taking Tarsus by Run

I know, you've all been waiting for it. This weekend was the Tarsus Half Marathon (which I did not run in) and the Tarsus People's 5K Run (which I did run in!). We had some friends come in from Istanbul and Izmir to hang out for the weekend and run in the race. Alas, none of them won--the Kenyans took that prize (see picture)--but everyone had alot of fun and ate alot of Adana Kebap which can only be truly enjoyed in the city after which it was named, my current home. Everybody got in Friday night and we relaxed and headed to Tarsus Saturday for a tour for the new folks and to register for the race. But, not before we had a huge pancake breakfast. I am now officially a master pancake chef. Pancakes for 15, no problem! My kitchen can handle it.
The registration managed to be very interesting, in true Turkey fashion. When we got there, the people in charge actually knew our friends by name (everything about foreigners down here tends to be memorable), so they knew their names, but they were not actually totally registered. Then, they ran out of numbers, so while a few of our friends waited to be registered, the race coordinators made some house calls to pre-registered runners to see if people were coming. They needed to know if they could give their numbers away! They were throwing a pasta party that evening, but before the lady invited us, she made sure to tell us...Now don't gossip...but we're having a pasta party. Okay? We won't. I guess they knew if word got out in these parts, everyone in Tarsus would want to show up for the pasta party. We spent the day after that sightseeing. I love Tarsus. It's a really quaint city and always fun to show people around. The tour ended up being a mini-half marathon in itself as we didn't get home till really late. We may have been fabulous hosts, but we managed to do everything wrong before the marathon! We walked all day Saturday sightseeing, then we did have a big carb dinner... too bad we didn't have it until about 10:30 the night before! And to top that off, the time changed in Turkey this weekend, so everyone got a bit less sleep! But, they were troopers!
The race was really fun. I stopped running a couple weeks ago, so I wasn't sure how it was going to go, but it was great. We ran by all the landmarks of the city. We actually ran under Cleopatra's gate as part of the course! At one point, I even managed to get emotional, I know, crazy, me? But, I was running up a hill listening to a praise song singing about His glory going to the nations and I started to pray for the people of this land, and when I reached the hill all these Turks were lining the streets cheering for us. Really, the whole 5K, people sat outside their businesses and old covered ladies stood and clapped for us as we ran by. I just got overwhelmed lifting them up, and then seeing them cheering me on. It was such a neat run. We waited for all our half-marathon friends near the end to cheer them on and ended up cheering on about everyone. The concept of running is somewhat foreign to most Turks. You don't see alot of people exercising down here where we live. And, if they are, they're most likely not running. My training definitely drew some attention from the neighborhood. But, as we cheered on the runners, the excitement caught on and Turks started joining us cheering and clapping! It was great. It was really fun to have these folks down for the weekend, and the weekend in Tarsus was worth the new running shoes and getting back in the habit.

Welcome to the World (Part 1)

This blog finds itself mainly for the foreigners who have been with us here and God has taken them elsewhere on their journeys. We have a new baby in our midst! Pictures as promised... Meet Micah Silas. Micah meet the world. I went over to visit the Brownies today and of course to hold the baby. Everybody has been pitching in, so we cooked them dinner one night this week, but I hated to go empty handed today, but my hands were not empty for long. (smile.) I have missed out and will miss out on holding almost 10 of my friends' babies since I've been here and while I'm finishing up my time. Is that not crazy! I can't believe I'm grown up enough to have that many friends having babies! I've hated missing out and am sad to think about missing out on the births to come, but He has given me some baby bundles to love on here, till I go home!
Even Lukie wanted to get in on the action of holding baby brother. He was thinking I've got two older brothers and they both have younger brothers, it's about time I got a chance! And, then there were four! So, that has been the excitement around here this week. As soon as I get over to the Satt's, then I'll post a picture of their new bundle of baby joy. I'm telling you, there is something in the water here! In other non-baby news, friends from Istanbul are coming down tonight to get ready to run in the Tarsus half marathon on Sunday. Me and my roommate are going to do the People's 5K run. It should be fun having some familiar faces around this weekend, showing them around our village and giving them a tour of Tarsus...a must see on anyone's Turkey tour. It should be fun, I promise some pictures after the weekend!

Things I Love Today...

Today, I love...
I love...weather warm enough to dry the towels in an hour! So fabulous! Just the right weather to walk around without a jacket (at least as far as the foreigners are concerned...the locals are still wearing winter coats, but spring is here. Soon to come are the days of 5 minute towel drying weather! I'm not quite ready for the 113 degree heat yet, but I'm loving spring!).I love...good Chinese food (good is a term I use loosely) and fabulous Turkish friends who will humor you enough to go with you to eat it! It was so worth the 2 buses we again rode to get there! Delish, just delicious. Sweet and sour chicken hit the spot!
I love...having a friend as great as this one here, and not being the only one who doesn't know how to use her chop-sticks! I love this girl. I love...America salsa in my refridgerator that I bought from the American bazar...even if I did pay roughly 15 dollars for it. A girl has got to do what a girl has got to do every now and then. You may make note that it has already been opened. (smile.) It's a good thing, I just now found that American bazar or I might not have been able to hold out this long! Every now and then a treat is just nice! We're wild for mild.
I love...my family and our traditions that travelled to Turkey this year...dying Easter eggs (a tradition I have missed doing with my dad for the second time probably almost since birth! I'm a daddy's girl, old traditions die hard. Leave us be, we love us some quality time.) and making pounds and pounds of deviled eggs (momma's recipe) that apparently Turkish people love! and being able to share with our friends how important Easter is to us and why. The deviled eggs symbolized new life, I shared, but I conveniently left out their traditional America name. No need to try and explain. Is deviled a cooking term? I'm sure so, but there's no translation and there's no room for me to translate 'eggs of satan' here so...the name was omitted!
I love...a celebration because of what we celebrated Sunday and good conversation over who we are, in whose image we were created, why we were created, and how our lives can be redeemed. Conversation that is even sweeter knowing it's between those who know and have chosen and are covered in His righteousness and those who have never had the priviledge to hear or choose.
I love...more sweet friends, some who know Him and some who don't. But all laughing and loving and those who know sharing the love that He's given us with those that don't. Easter just does not get much better than this. To remember Who He is, Hallelujah, that He is Risen. He is Risen Indeed. To appreciate my salvation in deeper new ways daily in a land of darkness and to share it.

Hey Baby...

This week I headed over to Cyprus to say 'bon voyage' to the family over there and to talk to katie's belly all week! I spent a few days with Katie and Craig and baby Curtis to be, before they head home in April and it was the perfect vacation. Relaxing, good food, good conversation, good shopping--thank you Greece, and some love to last me till October. Perfection. We hung out alot and made it to the Greek side for some T.G.I.Friday's--a yummy bacon cheeseburger and bacon cheddar fries (get it while you can), but not after a foiled attempt. I am somewhat of an oddity on the island apparently. I'm not totally American because I live in Turkey and I'm not Turkish at all, but I try to be. This earns me no points with the Greek side of the island I might add. It senses when I am trying to broach it's territory. Last time, we made it over there but with some troubles. This trip, Southern Cyprus was good to me, but it took two tries. Who knew that we would drive all the way to Pizza Hut one day for lunch only to discover that it was Green Monday. Who knew? Apparently the entire Greek side of the island! It's a holiday when the Greek Orthadox Church celebrates what they call 'Clean Monday', (the only place it is referred to as 'Green Monday' is Cyprus). It is something akin to an Ash 'Monday' (for them), because their calendar is different and do not celebrate Easter on the same day that we do. One of the ways they celebrate is to fast from meat, dairy products and other foods and to fly kites. Check. We saw many a kite fly-er out on Monday. We were cautious to go out Tuesday afraid of a blue or red Tuesday, but all was well and as katie says, I shopped till I dropped! Thankyou southern side... and craig for hanging out with a book all afternoon at starbucks!

My last day, katie and i headed to the beach for the morning to try and get a farmer's tan before i left. We stumbled upon a brave snorkeler in the icy March waters who shared with us two of his finds. The octopus was slimy and well, I think my face does what I was feeling justice enough without words! look at all that ink that the squid had in him! We were sad that craig didn't come with us, we knew he would have been game for some adventure in the water...but I could barely muster up the courage to hold it for the photo-op!

I had so much fun and I can't wait to meet baby curtis in october. i hope he'll be a şampion baby from the start...curtis' you know what that means...

The Nanny Diaries

So, things have been shaken up here a little bit over the past few weeks. I've shared with most that I'll no longer be giving English lessons here. My internship has ended earlier than I'd anticipated as far as English lessons go...so we've been thinking, praying, and asking for wisdom about reasons for staying, obviously other than my heart's motivation. If I'm going to live here, how am I going to do it...As far as everyone around me is concerned, if my internship or what they see as 'job' is finished, what now they may ask? Welcome to my life as a nanny. I love children and the Lord's opened a door and led me to seek out giving the time I was using to teach, to some families around here that it can be a blessing to and give them some extra time to get out and do what I love and am called to to do in all my 'extra' time (which is most of my time, smile)--be with and lift up the people we live among. So, I've started watching a few children during the week as what I now refer to as my part-time 'job'. I love Turkey, I live here because He's called me here, my time here will not be finished until the fall and I--however I can be legitimate as I'm staying here in the eyes of those around me--am willing to do it in this way. If they see this as my 'job', then that's enough for the next 7-8 months that I'm here. Some of you may be thinking, from nurse to nanny, English teacher somewhere inbetween there? But I'm here for so much more. I hope you realize that by now and have joined the journey by falling in love with this land and these people with me and getting a heart for them. He is working here and I want to keep on being a part of it. "Better is one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." When we're being obedient to go and stay where He's called us, I've found I'm much less concerned with the titles of what I'm doing and just blessed to stay and be part of it, however I can. I know why I'm here. And, if you could see a few of these precious children, it's no big thing to love on them a bit every week. I mean, look at that face. This is an older picture. We've got teeth galore now and I tried to get her to say my name yesterday. I kept trying to get a 'Je-ssi' out. Easy enough, but I kept getting a 'da-ddy' instead. We'll keep working on it. I'm already in love. I feel that more pics are to come of some of my new adopted babies! Today, we went out to lunch with one of our friends from the university and it was a really interesting lunch. We talked about the practice of covering one's head in relationship to Islam. She is very devout in what she believes and covers because it is written in the Koran that she should do so. Legislation was passed recently that girls are allowed now to wear their headcoverings at universities, but she shared some insight about why; however, she still continues not to cover at school. She's such a precious friend. We have to come to a very good place in our friendship where there is room for open-ness and questions in conversation about things of the heart. She actually may now officially be our coolest friend in town because she has a car and is one of the only local girls near my age that I know with a car. She was insistent on giving us a ride home from lunch even though, really the walk might have done me good after all the pizza I ate...well, that and the fact that with intersections being as few and far between as they are here, I think it actually took us longer to drive home than it would have to walk! But, she was excited.

Walking On Sunshine

Today, the weather proved to be absolutely wonderful which proved to be absolutely wonderful for my mood. We went for a 'picnic' (or something like it) after church. We headed down to the lake to eat some gözleme. Thin bread-like tortillas with spicy potatoes and cheese or your choice of inside good stuff made by women straight from the village 5 minutes away that we walked through to get there. Hence, the chickens and view. I've been running down by the lake getting ready for the Tarsus 5K this month...yes, if I successfully whip myself into what I consider good or just good enough shape, then of course, I will post pictures of the run...most likely before pictures, give me a break here. I was going to try and run the half-marathon, but that was the day when I forgot who I was and the last time I had exercised...when I came back to myself, I realized that I could not train for a half-marathon in 2 and a half months (I cannot, I said). So, I decided to start running/jogging again. I run by this lake and it just has become a highlight of my day. The weather has warmed up a bit and I just feel so free, so un-oppressed by the world around me when I see that creation and claim that I am made in the image of it's Creator. So, today we headed down for some sunshine and fun and we had some of both at the lake. Some of us made a marathon of it and headed to the mall after lunch and as I was on the bus--one of my favorite thinking places when I have a seat--I just felt so, I don't know how to describe it other than just happy. Blissfully happy. Lately, I've been struggling with knowing my return is so far away and yet, so close at the same time. Both of the ideas can make me cry or laugh with excitement on any given day. But, today I am absolutely perfect right where I am. That's where I am on the scale. I'm totally excited about being right here with these friends and new ones that keep on finding their way into my life for the next 8 months. I thought about my friends I was with, the gorgeous weather and the fact that the Light of this very world stepped down into darkness to rescue me and them and that we've been redeemed. Our lives have been redeemed from the pit. Their lives in a world of darkness that I never comprehended before have been redeemed. I just found myself praising Him right there on the bus for being so good to open their eyes, to open our eyes. I sometimes have trouble with the balance of being overwhelmed and being overwhelmed with gratefulness because of who I walk among daily. But, today, I just found myself so grateful for the hope that has been revealed to me and to these precious friends of mine.

Getting Cut Hurts

When was the last time you wanted to cry? Does it correspond to the last time you went to the hairdresser? Generally here, I associate the two hand in hand. Literally, it tends to be a very painful experience for me. I must be tenderheaded. I've only had my hair cut at a salon twice since I have lived here...but, it has been an experience both times. I'm sorry, I love Turkey, but I just don't love getting my hair cut here. I never told you about my last experience either, so I'll elaborate because going to the hairdresser here, well, it's an experience. I'm never quite satisfied, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. I'm confessing, split ends happen. Eventually, they just do. There have been several conferences that I've been to and been able to have someone from home cut my hair, but it's been awhile and I needed a trim today.
Each time I've been to the hairdresser here, my roommate can attest to the fact that I have come home and had to do a little maintenance. I think they just have wills of steel and they know what your hair wants more than you know what you want. But, who cares what you think my hair wants, I am the one paying! I practiced and asked several friends how to ask for a 'trim'. 'I only want you to trim the split ends of my hair'. Just like that, I said it. Maybe even a bit more dramatic. I made hand gestures. It just hasn't been what has happened both times. The combing after the wash is just too painful. I almost cried. We might have been able to stop there because quite a bit of hair probably got pulled out from that process. Then after I motioned the tiny bit I wanted trimmed off, we went to town. But once that initial cut is made, all you can do is say, 'yeter'! Enough! No more than that! The bangs that I have been growing out since August (that is when I got my last Turkish haircut), are present and accounted for once again.
After the cut, the pain continued. They blow your hair dry which takes about 45 minutes, even though there are 4 people blowing it dry. Yes, four. I am glad my hair did not catch fire. (It took three to cut it. One holding the comb, one cutting, and one hovering.) If I had been pleased with the cut and wasn't quite so tenderheaded, I think I'd feel like a rockstar and love it. Strand by strand is carefully blown straight. Then chunks of hair are wrapped around wire brushes that are left on your head (sometimes 5 at a time, honest) while they wait for the curl to 'set'. These aforementioned five brushes get heavy at some point and I probably start to look chagrinned and finally have to share that my hair will just not hold curl dry. It just won't, we have to stop trying. As if living in a fishbowl is not enough, going to the hairdresser with anything naturally lighter than, well, black hair, calls for some looks and questions as to whether this is really, no is it really, your natural hair. I think it had just already been a long day and well sometimes you just get tired of being stared at. I'm always an oddity. 365 days a year, I'm different. Despite my best efforts to fit in, I'm different...they know it. Sometimes I forget, sometimes I can't, and every now and then I just rock it. But, today I just didn't want my hair petted. At one point, the girl, yes did stare at my hair longingly and pet it several times. I know its a compliment, but I'm just not a cat. I was a bit uncomfortable. I think it also had to do with the fact that minutes before, she had shared with me that I should let her get ahold of my eyebrows because they're in need... maybe that had a little to do with it. I'll take care of the eyebrows at home, thankyou. That is a painful story in itself involving something like dental floss and a dance motion that the girl performed while tweezing my eyebrows. I cried for that, too. Now, I know I'm an emotional girl, but pain is pain! Maybe I have been a bit harsh. I feel a bit emotional after coming home and sitting in front of the mirror trimming the trim. Maybe you live here and you have had tremendous experiences. Power to you my friend. I am happy for you, maybe even jealous. My friend Chris has an excellent relationship with his barber. I wish that I could have the same with my hairdresser(s), but alas, it's not going to be possible. I don't have it in me, and my hair just grows too slow. But, if you ever need to feel like a rock star, the hairdresser is the place to do it!