We're Back...(well almost!)

After a week on the road we've made it home away from home away from home...(you get the picture)...we slept on two buses, a very soft bed in Central Turkey, and a little bungalo near the beach. Now we're back in our apartment in Lara for one final week. So, let's recap the week...

Day 1 (our first anniversary)

Our bus pulled into the otogar at 800am, three hours early! We napped, visited, napped, visited with Turks, and fell asleep.

Day 2

We drove over the ancient volcano, Erciyes, we found a...well Rachel can describe it below! Then we proceeded to a nearby town to give Rachel experience rug shopping. No pressure to buy, no plan either, she picked the best in the shop :-) I guess it makes up for spending our first anniversary on an overnight bus!

Day 3

We began our day separately, I at the barber shop and in the "old" neighborhood with the guys; Rachel was at the mall with the girls. More visiting with Turks and with our hosts, then another overnight bus!

Day 4-6

From one bus to another, from that bus to a packed van. Finally we arrived at Olympos, the beach we began our trip camping on. (mulberries, yuck!) This time we stayed in a small wooden bungalo near the beach, attended retreat meetings, got to know people, helped with childcare, and swam in our freetime. We got up one morning to watch the sunrise: Rachel from a kayak, me on a run. We saw the ruins of ancient Olympos, learned about Paul's travelling teams, and learned more about long-term living here.

So, now we're back! One more week of language learning, teaching, and open eyes... Thanks for your support over this past week, we certainly felt it!

More soon, M&R

"Follow the yellow-brick road..."

Munchkins, witches, and that little dog too! If you've never been out of the country then you probably wouldn't know the extent to which American cinema has invaded the world. A few weeks back I saw a clip from the adventure in "Oz" and the song hasn't left my head...(help!)

12 days ago Rachel and I moved into with a Turkish family I had met two years ago. What an amazing and challenging cultural experience. The man of the house spoke good English, wife and son-zero! A quick summary: all Turkish food, swallowing second hand smoke, sleeping without air conditioning, going for days without a shower, personal space restrictions, late night hours, and seeking to keep our spiritual lives on track with little personal "alone" time. But through it all we had some great experiences: my late night talks with the man of the house, Rachel cooking American/Turkish food with the lady of the house, creating a spiderman costume for their son (2), teaching them to play "pig" (a card game), and smiling/laughing when we just couldn't communicate. We still have much to reflect on together...

The past two days we moved back to our original apartment, now all alone here, for a dose of "American-ness": a good shower, an Italian dinner, cranking up the stereo, ________ (you fill in the blank). After "going Turkish" for so long we just needed a bit of normal. We helped lead the worship service again this morning (Rachel played a great flute duet with a church member). It was a wonderful time in God's presence with God's people setting our minds and hearts on the King again. And it's wonderful to have tea-time after church seeing other believers you may go the whole week without seeing!!

And now we're off again, bags packed, tickets in hand for an overnight bus-ride to a nearby city. We'll be visiting with a couple of "friends" there and seeing what life is like in a smaller, more conservative setting (Antalya is kind of like Miama!). In fact, this whole week we'll be spending most of our time with "foreigners" who live & work here. Our goal is talking through what it looks like to live here, what we may need to do in these next few years to prepare, and to encourage them as well. Basically, we're taking time to talk with people further down the yellow-brick road and get their perspective. We don't know where ours leads just yet but trust the Father's direction. Would you ask him specifically this week to be guiding our thoughts and conversations in such a way as to clarify and not confuse, to confirm and not contradict. We are so grateful for your support in this way.

May He continue to guide each of you in the Way, setting your gaze firmly ahead not straying to the right or the left. Blessings until we're able to udate again.

M&R

P.S.-Tomorrow is our first anniversary...waking up on a bus!!

Favorites

Ice Cream: Marco Polo Chocolate & Arabian Nut (R), Marco Polo Orange & Vanilla (M)
Drinks: Starbucks Iced Mocha Latte (R), Apple Tea (R), Tea (M), Schweppes Bitter Lemon Soda (M)
Foods: Turkish Pilaf - Rice (R), Tavuk Shish (R), Simits (R), Lentil Soup (M), Kumpir - Stuffed Potatoes (M)
Places: The Beach (R), Our swimming hole (R), The park near Paul's Place (M), Starbucks (R/M), Our Italian Restaurant (R/M)
Activities: Practicing Turkish in the kitchen (R), Cooking (R), Grocery Shopping (M) Early Morning Runs (M), Romantic walks along the cliffs (R/M)
People: Enes - the chef, Soner - the internet cafe guru & Marcus' tutor, Avery - our short-term guide, Hayri - the beloved security guy, Danny - our sunday morning pianist, Nazan - our most eager student

Maybe it's just because I'm reading through the Pentatuch now or maybe it's because of the heat but I find myself eager and able to complain at a moment's notice. As Israel wandered through the wilderness their clothes never wore out, they never lacked food or water, they were never lost or withour protection, and they had the presence of God all along the way. But they complained and complained and complained!! The Lord even heard their grumblings they uttered within their tents. This was not open rebellion but a low, slow murmer that began to permeate the whole camp. We find ourselves in the same place, everything provided and yet easy to complain.

So, everyday we talk on the way home about our "favorite" thing that day: a conversation, a new experience, an insight, a chocolate & arabian nut ice cream cone... With three weeks left in this internship we've battled through the dark clouds of complaint and have broken through to fresh open spaces of joy. Colossians 1 again, "May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy..." That's our request and our desire for each of you as well.

Out of the Comfort Zone

Are you aware of yours? It's a bit hard to define and a bit of a personal subject, but we all have one. Unfortunately we don't realize how much we depend on it until we're pushed out of it's peaceful confines! It's people & places, sounds & smells, preferences & privacy, and on and on...

We're certainly out of our comfort zones now but have the most reassuring peace about it. It's the point on the roller coaster when your stomach stops fluttering and starts to soar with the ride. We are so happy to finally be at that point because the fluttering was wearing on us day after day. We're still uncomfortable at times but this peace is greater than the discomfort.

The host home we're living in now is quite a ride! Every morning we're confronted with the uncomfortable question: "What's for breakfast?" Every conversation we're confronted with the uncomfortable reality: "I can't speak to them even if I wanted to!" Every time their child starts screaming we're confronted with the uncomfortable presence: "Maybe if I just watch the T.V. it will be like I'm not here." And everyday brings new uncomfortable experiences like this that we're gladly and peacefully embracing.

Sheref & Fatosh just moved into their new apartment 5 days ago, we moved in 2 days ago, and we're all still setting up house. Rachel's helping with the cooking, cleaning, and dishes; I'm available for the heavy moving but more for babysitting. (Their two-year old son is a joyful handful!!!) We sleep with a fan at night to avoid the heat & smokiness, we shower in the half-put-together bathroom with a hand spigot, and we eat foods that would not be our normal choices. (Rachel is doing great, I'm so proud of her! 4 slices of tomato for breakfast, eggs, watermelon, tea, tea, tea, -with lots of sugar for sure- and some new syruppy desserts.)

Well, as we enjoy the roller coaster we're constantly forced back to the reason we're doing this. Not for thrills or notches in the belt, not for adventure's sake or accomplishment...but this is for the name and fame of our King. So, to whatever extent you need to jump on board and get out of your comfort zone, this is a great reason to leave it behind. Until next time, enjoy the ride...

Pardon Our Dust...We're Moving!!

We apologize that we've not written as of late, our access to the internet has been a bit more constricted. On top of that we've been busy, surprise, surprise! Some days we're functioning in Turkish mode (more relaxed, take it as it comes) and some days in American mode (have a plan and run with it). The past few days have been a mixture of both, wow!

Yesterday we made the move to our new residence (With a Turkish Family; July, weeks 1&2). Upon moving our suitcase I returned to the cafe to bring Rachel along - it was kind of an American day for her! So, we decided to be a bit American: grab flowers, a couple pizzas, and call before we came. Well, all should have worked to plan except that I got us lost...yes, lost. We took the wrong mini-bus and ended up on the edge of town. After a cell-phone call and a taxi ride we arrived with some cold pizza and mildly wilted flowers, but it was a fun evening with this couple. (We'll write more about them later)

This was a very Turkish morning though: wake up whenever, have breakfast whenever, clean up at leisure, think of something that needs doing and do it! So, we helped unpack boxes, build a wardrobe, and enjoyed the experience. We'll get you another update soon but for now we're going Turkish :-) (Prayers appreciated!)

PIC-The daily tools of our language trade: beginner's book, notebook, dictionary, lesson planer