A Night at the Movies

I love watching movies in Turkey. It's so much better than in the States. In fact, I really don't even enjoy going to the movies in the States now after my cinema experiences here. There are really only 2 differences, but they are very crucial differences.

1. Turkish cinemas allow you to choose your seats when you buy your tickets. So, as long as you get your tickets early enough, you never have to worry about getting a bad seat. No more showing up at the movie 20 or even 30 minutes early sometimes only to have to sit there forever waiting for the movie to start. It's wonderful!

2. This is really my favorite difference. Intermission in every movie! Ok, so, sometimes the break isn't always at the smoothest moment possible. But, I love being able take a potty break if needed without missing any of the movie. Or many times, as I did tonight, it's a great time for a snack! I usually don't want a snack when I first get to the movie, but about half way into it, yep, a drink or Ben & Jerries ice cream is great. :-) Tonight it was Vanilla Toffee Crunch. Mmm.

He Saved a Wretch Like Me

Yesterday I prayed that I wouldn't complain about things I "need" or want.

Today I complained because someone nudged me out of my comfortable standing spot on the bus.

Thank you, Lord, for grace and forgiveness!!

Rickety Steps of Faith

Today I climbed three flights of stairs praying on every step that it would hold so I wouldn't crash to the bottom in a mangled mess of decaying wood and concrete. After gratefully reaching the top I sat in a one bedroom apartment that might fit in a nice size walk- in closet. The grandmother we were visiting wouldn't let us take our shoes off in a culture where EVERYONE takes their shoes off before entering someone's home. My friends and I were given the seat of honor, the bed, while the grandmother sat on the floor. In a culture where tea and polite conversation generally take up 3/4 of the visit, there was no tea to be given and no energy for chit chat. Cut to the chase. What do you need? How can we help?

Wood for the stove sitting less than 2 feet away from the bed
Blankets
Shoes and a coat for the 4 year old
Medicine for the 4 year old, she has asthma (most likely from sleeping 2 feet away from the stove her whole life)
Food

Now I'm home in my warm, nicely furnished apartment typing on my macbook using wireless internet, praying that the bags of food and load of wood we gave to this family don't get stolen tonight after everyone in their very seedy neighborhood watched us deliver the goods. Praying that the 4 year old has the opportunity to grow up and know a life better than the one she knows now. Praying that this opportunity to see God provide for His children who don't even know Him will strengthen my faith that He will always provide. Praying that I will never complain again about what I "need" or can't have. Praying that God will be glorified.

Another year

January 7th, 2008 was the day I landed back in Istanbul. I was home in Arkansas on vacation that day this year. It kind of passed without me knowing it. Much like this entire year has passed without me realizing it. It doesn't seem real that I've been back in my new "home" for a year. Gone from America for a year. Away from my family for a year.

It's weird living in another country. When I'm here, this feels normal and yet not. When I'm in Arkansas it feels normal and yet not. No place is home and, yet, both places are home.

My body is still telling me that I'm in America. It's 2 am, and I'm awake as if it's 6 pm.

What have I done in the past year?...

~relearned and still learning another language
~met many, many new friends
~traveled all over the northeast Black Sea area of Turkey
~spent a week in southeast Turkey
~spent a week doing home health 15 minutes away from Ephesus
~traveled all over Israel
~bandaged and trained a Turkish American Football team
~fallen flat on my face before the Lord in acknowledgment that none of this was possible without Him

It will be interesting to see what the next year holds!

Bathroom humor

It's only inevitable to have many anecdotes from bathroom experiences when you travel a lot. Today was actually more on the humorous side than the more typical disgusting side. To sum it up without being too, er, explicate, motion lights aren't really the best form of illumination for a bathroom. I just had to sit there laughing as I continuously waved my hand to keep the light on!

Christmas Traditions

Every year for as long as I can remember, if I was in Arkansas the day or weekend after Thanksgiving, my mom and I put up the Christmas tree and decorated the house. It's always been a really fun time that just sets the mood for December. Christmas music, ornaments full of memories, and always yummy food left over from Thanksgiving. This year I decided this would be a great tradition to keep going with my new Turkish "family". It was a fantastically fun night of laughing, decorating, baking, and of course, eating. To add to the fun, we got to do it in more than one language. :-) Merry Christmas! Noel Gunu kutlu olsun!

Beautiful Promise