Dear Turkey,
What a sweet adventure it has been! From a week of debrief in party central Istanbul to Biga for 5 weeks then the 7 churches in 7 days, my love for you only continued to grow. Stepping into Biga, we were given a family to work with and a rough schedule but how that changed. Our time became pure ATL, all the Lords and all our ears. From this, we walked upon Dica, what an odd place to find. We were looking for a coffee shop street and came upon this place; how little we knew about Biga, Turkey. Mehmet, our first friend, directed us to food and next thing we knew, he was the first of a handful of incredible friends. From there, Dica became our home base and all the employees, our friends. Gosh, how I love them. Ilayda, Mehmet, Olson, and Doruk all have a special place in my heart. Then came Katherine’s (my squad mate) very sweet friend Rehan and all her family, our adopted Turkish family. We started our friendship with a yummy Turkish breakfast piled around their small table then got to go to their home in a small village to meet their mom, other siblings and their sheep. We also got the opportunity to join one of their Iftars (the meal in the evening when Muslims break their fast during Ramadan). What a sweet relationship. Thank you for our Turkish family. No day went to waste. Some days included mall visits to my friends in Biga’s only mall. We only got the opportunity to visit one of our mall friend’s Iftars and it was wonderful: yummy food, great conversations and fun traditional dances. Their generosity and love blew me away.
Oh Turkey, how I could never forget you. All the places I went and people I talked to. Lord, I pray that your light shines in all the places we went and in the people we met.
With that, I have learned that Google translate does not translate my jokes or sarcasm well. I’ve learned that I prefer to look someone in the eyes when I am talking to them, not at a translator. I have realized that I really love asking people questions, especially about their faith. I love deep conversations about God, Jesus, Allah, Muhammad, etc. Turkey has been such a sweet memory that I never want to forget.
Also, it is here that I finally fully saw how blessed I am and saw the world in a different light than ever before. Gratitude is a life changer. The Lord is blessing you always, just up to you if you want to focus on that or the sadness and the lack in the world.
Things I have learned:
- I love slow mornings
- I love reading the Old Testament and learning about the consistent, loving and loyal character of the LORD
- I love walking and bringing people I pass on the street joy by simply smiling at them
- I love asking questions
- I love the sun and the sound of the birds
- I love being able to love and see people how the Lord does
- I love doing life at a slower pace, not worried about time but focused on Jesus’s time
- I love doing life with people and don’t want to do it alone no matter what I personally desire to do or what my schedule looks like – there is beauty in every moment
- It is crucial to seek God’s character at all times and to keep your eyes open to how he is moving all around
- Life is more enjoyable when you focus on what God has and is doing instead of what he isn’t doing
Overall, I miss you Turkey…blessed to have had time with you!
Love, Victoria Mateer
