Passport, Visa, packing lists, notarized forms, planning meetings, books to read, letters to send, phone calls to make, a pantry to stock, and fears to face. The trip to Turkey finally came and went, and it was truly an incredible experience.
Full Turkish breakfast every morning – included!
It’s difficult to express all that it meant to me, especially with an inherent limitation on specifics, but I learned so much, met some very special people, and had a couple of opportunities to serve.
My son, Kory, traveled to Turkey in 2012, and I’ve been interested in going ever since. A leadership development and service trip, he returned with a deep respect for those who’ve chosen to live and work in one if its largest cities.
Where I’m sparse on specifics, I can be prolific in photos – and you should know that some of these photos are mine, but some are stolen from other members of the group I traveled with. (Thanks, guys!)
Simit – the Turkish (and Greek) bagel. He walked up and down our street every morning yelling SIMIT! SIMIT! SIMIT!
Olives. And an olive shovel.Artichoke hearts and figs and lots of free samples.The Hagia Sophia. Couldn’t believe I was seeing it in person.Men’s washing area, before entering the mosque for prayer.Symmetrical marble pieces cut with silk threads – about 1500 years ago.Islamic symbols next to and covering up Christian symbols.The crosses were removed from the walls.Blue Mosque – or Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Still an active mosque. Long pants, skirts, and head coverings required even for visitors. Shoes are removed.
We stayed in a part of the city that was also ancient Chalcedon – where the fully man-fully God nature of Christ was settled by the 4th church council.
We HAD to run through the pigeons on our way to the Spice Bazaar.Waiting for the metro.I was captivated by the coverings.Gözleme at the Sali Bazaar. Kind of like a quesadilla – filled with potato, cheese, and spinach…I think. Or any combination of those.He gave me that fig, and it was delicious.Ginger, Cinnamon, and Carob – in the ginger box. We ate the whole carob pod and all
It doesn’t look like it, but Angela and I really enjoyed that “Ottoman Coffee” and all the free samples of nuts, fruits, tea, and Turkish Delight.Beautiful bowls everywhere.Tea for breakfast……tea on the ferry……and more tea! (But without me that time, because…stomach bug. Ugh.)The whole group in front of the library at Ephesus.Jordan reading from Ephesians in the Ephesus theater.
The goddess, Nike. (Also a shoe maker from Oregon according to our guide. 😉 )
We got to make some American treats for our Turkish friends – pancakes with Nutella, jam, fruits, and syrup. They weren’t so sure about the syrup part.Making friends, practicing English, playing games, taking classes.Baklava! There was baklava everywhere, and we even found a shop that had a gluten free version. Yippee!
Does this Turkish doughnut shop look familiar?
There were so may highlights, but I think the most meaningful part of the trip for me was meeting a few expat women who live, work, and raise families there. Angela and I got to spend a morning with them – being silly, listening to their life stories, and studying the Word together. The challenges they faced prior to arriving in Turkey and have faced since moving there were truly heartbreaking, but also in line with what Robert always says about those called to that type of work: it requires purification and refinement – often severe, and as if by fire.
The fire-tested faith stories of those women will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Yes, so many Turkish delights. Really, too many to count, and I’m so thankful.
Such a long time since I have read your blog! Nice new changes and look. It was great to hear your actual voice on the Hey Girl podcast! I so wish we could meet for coffee sometime, but here I am in Florida and you all the way in Massachusetts. I continue to love “hearing” how God is at work in your home and ministry. It is an encouragement to my soul as a fellow homeschooling mom and pastor’s wife.
Blessings,
Kristin (formerly bahamabunting)
Kristin! I was just thinking about you recently, and may have even searched for your blog in the last few months. I’d love to know how you are doing, and yes, if it could be over coffee it would be even better! Thanks so much for checking in and saying hi.
The goddess, Nike. (Also a shoe maker from Oregon according to our guide. 😉 )
Hi Melanie,
Such a long time since I have read your blog! Nice new changes and look. It was great to hear your actual voice on the Hey Girl podcast! I so wish we could meet for coffee sometime, but here I am in Florida and you all the way in Massachusetts. I continue to love “hearing” how God is at work in your home and ministry. It is an encouragement to my soul as a fellow homeschooling mom and pastor’s wife.
Blessings,
Kristin (formerly bahamabunting)
Kristin! I was just thinking about you recently, and may have even searched for your blog in the last few months. I’d love to know how you are doing, and yes, if it could be over coffee it would be even better! Thanks so much for checking in and saying hi.