Mexican night in Turkey

Last week we had a friend over who has spent a lot of time in the states.  We asked her what types of food she missed from America and one of them was Mexican food.  So I made a tex-mex meal for her and chocolate chip cookies as an extra.  

Despite not having everything I needed for things, it turned out great!

The salsa was delicious: tomatoes, onions, green chilies, and some spices!

The finished product! Yum!

Confetti salad! It was supposed to be black bean but I couldn't find any so it's white bean confetti salad.  Beans, corn, red and green bell peppers, onions, a bit of garlic.  For the dressing: honey, olive oil, cumin, garlic, salt and pepper.  So easy to make!

Chicken Tostadas! Perfect!

Dessert was Polvorones de canele (Cinnamon cookies).  I'd never made these before, but they were a delicious light dessert! A perfect end to our tex-mex night!

Flying pests

Our apartment is on the top floor in our apartment building.  And in Turkey some streets aren't that far apart.  One side of our apartment faces another apartment building and the space between the two seems very small.  Our place is one level higher so when we look out our windows or the balconies we see the roof.  In the beginning of the year we noticed a man who would stand on the roof and walk around.  We had a lot of speculations as to what he could be doing.  He could be the gardener for the mini-potted gardens on the roof.  He could have been checking the chimney's, making roof repairs, retired and nothing better to do than to stand on the roof

Well one day we saw Him running around and flailing his arms.  We were so curious and a little concerned about his actions.  We went to the balcony so we could see better and we realized he was chasing pigeons!  He was a pigeon man who's purpose on the roof was to keep pigeons off.  He would chase them, they'd fly away then come back to another part of the roof, so he spent his time running from one end to the other.

This went on all fall and started again in the spring when the pigeons came back.  One day as I was washing dishes I saw the man had two pigeons in each hand by their feet.  He walked over to the edge and threw them off the building only to have them fly right back on top of the awning where he couldn't reach them.  How futile and frustrating for him, but fairly entertaining for us.

Well two weeks ago I noticed a cat on the roof with a little kitten following her.  The man or apartment building had purchased a cat to keep the pigeons off the roof which seems to be a lot more effective and efficient.  But that ended our conversations and updates of pigeon man and his tactics!

Everything

I have mentioned this video to many friends, supporters and faithful prayer partners as well as used it in ministry.  I wanted to share this video with you.  Whenever I watch this I'm astonished at the lengths God chose to go to in order that we may have a right relationship with Him once again.  The love of God as seen through Christ on the cross is truly amazing and daily I want to preach to myself the need of the gospel, the need of Christ's work and Praise God for what He's saved me from.  I hope this touches you and reminds you of who God is.

EVERYTHING SKIT

slowly

Slowly, the Lord is showing me the things which aren't next for me.  It isn't the easiest way and most comfortable way to figure out what's next for me, but for whatever reason this is the way God is allowing me to discover it.  I trust in Him and trust that He allows things and keeps us from things for His purposes and for His glory.  I want my life to glorify God, so if there are ways that would be less honoring or situations where He would get less glory, I'm glad He's removing those from my life.  It is hard, and sorely disappointing at times, but I trust Him.  This walk with Him is always an adventure and everyday I see that and believe that more and more! I'm clinging to a particular verse today:

Dirilis Bayramı! (Easter!)

 Last weekend we held an Easter celebration and invited many of our friends! We weren't sure what to expect since the holiday happened right before their big exam week, we continued to ask and ask and ask! Most of friends said no, or they'd think about coming but most did not.  We did however end up having around 12 students come. It was a blast!

We painted eggs...

Played "Pebble Walk"...

Watched a skit...

Heard a small talk and had discussion...

Afterward we shared a meal together and enjoyed talking and fellowship.  

Not only was it Easter but it was also one of our dear friends birthday's.  Ibo turned 20 and he has been one of our best and most faithful friends here.  It was a joy to honor him and celebrate him.  We made a cake and the 5 of us girls gathered some American goodies for his present.  He is coming to the States this summer to work and practice English and we wanted to give him a bit of a taste of America.  At the end of the night he told many of us that he couldn't put into words how he was feeling; that this was his most special birthday he's ever had; that he felt so loved and valued.  Pray he would see our love as only coming and possible through Christ.

Ibo and his birthday cake!

Ibo with his Mac & Cheese, Dr. Pepper, Kit Kat, and Swiss Miss hot chocolate!

All of us with Ibo and his birthday presents!

Amazed!

Last week Lindsay and I were with a friend, Isabel! We invited her over to our apartment to watch Magdalena and then I would cook dinner for us afterward.  So she came and we did all that, though the night was different than expected!

She arrived and we gave her a tour, introduced her to our kitty, and showed her pictures of our homes and families and friends.  Then when it was time to start watching the movie, the DVD wouldn't work in Lindsay's computer.  My DVD player is currently broken so we started praying and trying different solutions.  The Lord answer prayer quickly and the movie was quickly underway! During a part of the movie, the Nezan (which is the call to prayer) started going off.  It is unusually loud in our apartment so Lindsay and I, individually, prayed that she would either not hear it or it would be drastically quieter!  Well the Lord answered our prayers! It was quieter! The next time it went off she heard and commented to turn things down. Praise God for those answers!

The most amazing thing during the whole night were her reactions to Jesus' miracles.  When Jesus cast out demons, she said, "WOW!"  When Jesus brought Talitha back to life, she gasped; when Jesus fed the 5,000 she gasped again! But the biggest gasp was at the end of the film when Mary goes to the tomb on the 3rd day.  She sees the stone rolled away and runs in only to find Jesus' grave clothes.  Our friend was shocked. She gasped and stared at the screen in amazement!  We have shared with her the whole gospel numerous times, but seeing it made all the difference! Please prayer for Isabel! Pray that she would see truth! That she would look up these stories in the Incil we gave her! Pray she would see her need for a Savior and that Jesus is that Savior.  That Jesus came to seek and save the Lost, not just western people, not just jews, but ALL people! 

It was an AMAZING night!

Future

I was reading C.S. Lewis the other day and he said "The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." 


Its such a simple thought, yet it gave me such peace.  No matter what I chose, it will come at the same time as everything else.  I have been able to focus on my time here and what I've been called to do here for the past 6 months, Praise God! I had an undivided heart and mind.  Now, as the days and months go by I realize how quickly the time will come when I need to make a decision.  I have been thinking of a lot of possibilities.


As far as I can see now my options include: 
Graduate School...







                                                        
  

                                  getting a job...

                                                                   joining Crusade staff in the states...

joining staff here long term... 

             

or something I don't know about yet....

Daily I go from one option to another seeing how great each one could be for many different reasons.  However on Monday I got exciting news.  I was called by one of the Grad. schools I called, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  They wanted to schedule a phone interview with me! I'm so excited!  I can hardly wait to see what God has for me next no matter what it is!


My interview is March 15, at 8am (Central Standard Time).  Please pray for me and pray God would use this to further show me his plans for me next!