Where did it go?

Time has snuck up on me and I find myself at the beginning of my last day in Turkey. I feel like throwing myself on the ground in a big temper tantrum and screaming, "I don't want to go home! I'm not ready!" I really didn't realize until yesterday that my time here is up, and haven't prepared myself emotionally to leave. Someone even asked me to stay another week, (to work on a dance project!), and it broke my heart to say no, I really can't, I have to be back for work.

I know I'll be back, I just don't know when, or why, or for how long . . .

Cappadocia

So I just got back from two days in Cappadocia, and it was AWESOME! And what made it so amazing was people. Instead of rushing around trying to see everything since I only had a short time, I decided to take time and talk to people. To accept the cups of Turkish tea that are offered, even if it is only because someone is trying to sell me something. To sit down and talk when asked to. After checking into a pansiyon in Uchisar, I started walking to Goreme. I came to a place that advertised a panoramic view, so I went to take a photo and see if they had anything to eat. Only ice cream. OK, ice cream for breakfast it is. When I asked how much a scarf cost, I was offered chai. When I bought a scarf, I was invited to sit down with the family, they were finishing their breakfast. I took their photos and they gave me their address so I can send them copies. And when I headed off to Goreme, they sent their son off to guide me through the valley. So off we go, climbing down the rocks, me with my Turkish-English dictionary, trying to communicate and not feeling so self-conscious about it with a child. Anyhow, the whole thing just made my day. And the trip was filled with such experiences (not all good, but mostly), all because I wasn't afraid to talk to people. It was a fantastic two days.

And . . . riding a scooter through Cappadocia has to be the best thing ever.

Trip

Whoo-hoo, I love traveling! I took an overnight bus to Cappadocia and got here this morning, and it's been a blast all day. Before I left, I really would have preferred someone to come with me, but now I'm glad to be on this little trip just me and Jesus. More to come, now I'm off to a scooter lesson :)

Msg for April

April, what's up with your blog? I can't get to it.

"Gravity"

(I have had my Alison Krauss CD (Lonely Runs Both Ways) for 6 months now and I still wonder how I lived 24 1/2 years without it. Thanks Sarah.)

And the people who love me still ask me
When are you coming back to town?
And I answer, quite frankly, when they stop building roads . . .
And all God needs is gravity to hold me down
-"Gravity"- Alison Krauss and Union Station

OK, so maybe I'm not that much of a wanderer, but I feel the sentiment pulling at me. What's next? Where can I go? What beautiful places are out there for me to see, what cultures to experience? At the same time, I feel the desire to build a home and a life somewhere.



Who will be my gravity?

Family

I need to spend more time with Christian families. This week, I have shared some meals/evenings with a family that lives and "works" here in Antalya and it has been awesome. Since I don't, from my own experience, have an example to follow of raising children in a godly way, I ought to experience some of the ways other parents do this, so that I have a model to look to when I have my own family to raise. It was so cool to be a part of this family's nightly Bible story and question time after dinner, and it blew me away the questions a 7 year old child could answer. And it was incredibly humbling and embarrassing to see that these kids know more about the Bible than I do. I hope those of you who were raised in the Word, with godly parents as examples of how to live, know how blessed you are. I am realizing that I don't really know what a Christian family looks like at all, but I am grateful that God has provided us with a church family that we can learn from and hopeful that He will give me more such opportunities when I return to England.

Chronicles of Narnia

I don't know when the last time I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was, but it must have been before I really had an understanding of the Christian faith, because I don't remember the metaphor being so clear. I read it the other day, and I actually feel like I have a better understanding of what Jesus did for me. Satan has said to Him, because of the rules YOU yourself have put in place, I claim this woman's blood; because of her crimes, she belongs to me. And Jesus has stepped forward, and volunteered His blood in place, He said, "I'll do it. I'll accept her punishment. Take me in her place." I know all this of course, but reading the story made it just a little bit more real.

PS For the Antalya short-termers, if anyone is reading this (are any of ya'll reading this?):
Mon night I took Turkan to Fezih's restaurant (sorry I don't know how to spell his name) but he wasn't there :( But they sure were playing that same wretched CD . . .

PPS Some more Turkey pics up: www.flickr.com/photos/chloelt