Merhaba!!!! (Hello in Turkish) So as of right now we are sitting in a hotel room in Izmir recapping over our last day in the huge city of Istanbul. We had to say many bittersweet farewells to friends and contacts. So hope you enjoy the story of our day!!
Kendall
As the bulk of our team was visiting the Ayasophia, Mulv and Andy made their way through the city to meet with a woman from the BCC (Bible Correspondence Corporation). They started a new program called 1881, which basically works to get the word of God out to the people. They agreed to partner with us and give us resources to pass out including Ingeels, tracts, and books of Matthew. The day earlier, we had taken a collection of money for Steve and his family. Each D-group had written a letter to him and given some money. Mulv called Steve on the way to see if he would want to meet him. Steve biked all the way to where they were to meet them!! Mulv and Andy gave him the money, and he started to tear up. He began to explain that money has been very tight lately and he was down to his last 20 lira for the next two weeks. God had prompted us to give over 1000 lira! God is so good!! We're so glad we could bless Steve because of how much he blessed our team.
Nate
So on this trip we are also doing some touristy stuff as well and today's tourist activity was visiting the Ayasophia, a gigantic cathedral turned mosque turned museum. It was once the biggest church in the world and the heart of the Byzantine Empire. It was a breathtaking place filled with mosaics, both finished and half re uncovered. Since the Muslims plastered over all the Christian icons but now that it is a museum archeologists and historians are restoring them. For me (a History major) it was extremely fascinating and exciting. Sorry we don't have any pictures yet we will be sure to post some when we get them!!
Rachel
During the call to prayer our team got to experience the worship of the Muslims in the blue Mosque... the biggest Mosque in Istanbul. It broke many of our hearts to see little children "praying" and not even knowing why they are doing it. To give you just a taste of what the Mosque was like; You walk into the Mosque covering your head and shoulders if you are a girl, and you cover your knees if you are a guy. The men get their own special place up in the front of the Mosque while to women sit in a crammed little spot in the back, even behind the tourists. About 10 mins. after the call goes off the Immom starts leading all of the people in the prayer. Watching all of the men and women synchronized was kind of creepy to me at least because it felt more like a ritual then people actual talking to their god. Please keep them all in your prayers.
Jenna
Remember yesterday, when I mentioned our "serving evangelism" time? One particular story is considered among the team as a "God-story," so I'm going to go more indepth here.
Ryan, Amanda, and I began walking through the streets of Istanbul, all of us rather awkward as we weren't sure what to do.... just walking around, praying that God would speak to us. Amanda suddenly said, "I don't know if this is me, or God... but we should try and find some Incils," which is the Turkish word for NT. We agreed and found ourselves on a road loaded with bookstores--yet after visiting 5 or 6, we still hadn't found any. Disappointed and confused, I noticed one more across the street and suggested we cross. Turns out this store had several, and we purchased three.
Now what? Again, we were eager to serve but unsure how to act. Standing on a corner surrounded by locals and traffic, we read Psalms from Amanda's Bible, including Psalm 27: "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." We continued to meander, praying over and over for God to make his will known. Suddenly a cafe worker called to us, "Come come!"
So we came. The conversation began as practicing our Turkish words, as we drank delicious alma chai [apple tea] and learned about each other. Upon realizing the other two were university [college] students, he mentioned, "Oh, my cousin went to university," and called him over. Both men spoke quite a bit of English. As we talked, Amanda mentioned the call to prayer and asked if they would have to leave and pray. Turns out neither were Muslim; the one working was a deist and the former student an atheist. He had first majored in philosophy before switching to physcology, and was well read in Socretes and Darwin. This guy was not only well-read, but had a thirst for knowledge. He used to believe in God, but "could not see him" and thereby dismissed the idea.
Our conversation jumped as the tables turned. He asked what we believed, and Amanda began to explain our Christian faith. She shared the gospel with him and he listened intently. Questions arose, since he had heard pieces of Christianity but wanted our explanations. We talked through faith [Ryan was able to show him Hebrews 11:1], confession [reiterating that it wasn't necessary], evolution [I love working through the topic and we tossed ideas back and forth], and specific beliefs.
At the end, we gave both men Incils, and the cousin especially poured through it. "Why not," he said, "why not," even telling the one working "I try Christian now." Whether genuine or simply interested, we were able to touch the lives of both with the love and passion of Jesus. Praise God, Amen!!
---Pictures---
Blessings!!!!!!!!!
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