FAITHE-SCAPA-DES
So let me just share with you all what Ancient Paths has been up to for the past weeks...right after we wrapped up our time in Kusadasi ( 2weeks),we embarked on a mindblowing faith scapade ( as I call it)... we were split into two teams and had to trust God for transport, food, & accomodation right up to Cappadocia,Goreme which is 7ookm from Kusadasi!..whaaatttttt!!!!?????....yes thats what I was thinking in my head...
So the instructions where that we meet in Goreme on Monday @ 16:00hrs and the first team to arrive wins...however we also had to follow a guide of set rules which were given to us by Fred ( team leader)..we were not allowed to use our personal funds but totally entrust ourselves into the Fathers hands in a country where hiking has mixed feelings attached to it ( some say it is fine & easy..some say..oh my DONT!!!) especially for my team the DONT was like an anthem everywhere we asked or people would give you the "you are crazy foreigner look".... We packed up and started off on our adventure to Goreme!
I will call the first team ( Alpha- Fred,Lisa, Nicole, & Cornelia) and my team ( Omega - Esther, Villandre, & Arne).. the two distinct variations with the two of us is how God was journeying with us..Alpha was told go go go goooo!!!..but us..oh my word...it was gruesome longggg periods of wait wait wait and silence...and alottt of prayer..with a mix of confusion & frustration... Alpha had so much favour with the hiking, Omega was the opposite, no one wanted to even look at us! Part of our challenge was to visit as many churches and castles from the ancient ruins. Alpha managed to visit Ephesus, St.Johns ( where John is supposedly buried), Laodicea ( they where blessed and actually went in!..its 10Lt to go in ( R50) a random guy who works there picked them up and toook them inside!..they met people who blessed them with meals ( even buffets!) but they mostly slept in their tents for the night. As for my team we visited Ephesus, Laodicea ( at the entrance!..lol)..St. Johns ( at the entrance too!), and Hierapolis ( Phamukale natural wonder "white mountains) which was sooo beautiful!..we didnt have so much favour with hiking BUT oh my blessed Jesus the people we met where angels!! We spent our fist night in the streets of Kusadasi and were blessed with money by two YWAM team we randomly met in the "waiting". We used the money to buy supper and what a delicious supper it was!..on our second day we had no idea where we were going to lay our heads or what we would eat, we prayed and prayed and waited..nothing.
So we decided to look for a church in the area that could help us..we found a catholic sisters house knocked but no response, we then knocked at the neighbors and a warm hearted man called Finley ( Scottish but lives in America & Turkey) spoke to me and I asked if he knoew the sister next door, he advised us to go to Marys House which was very far and we had no money, so we resolved it in our spirits that Selcuk ( the town) had not welcomed us and we must move on, to where we had no idea! As we prepared ourselves to leave the town, Finley came out of the house and he blessed us with a wonderful lunch, then to top it all up he opened up his heart and home and we slept in a beautiful house, he cooked a wonderful supper & breakfast in the morning! We were so sad leaving him, because he has such a big heart and saying goodbye was heavy..it felt like we had known him for a long time...during our lunch with him we met a christian couple who own & run the restaurant where he got us food ( St.Johns Cafe)...what an adorable couple, they encouraged us alot, we prayed for them and worked in their restaurant to raise funds for our train ticket to Denizli ( they paid us the actual amount we needed without even knowing the price!).. Finley will forever be in our hearts and the couple forever in our prayers!
On our way from Phamukale, we tried hiking and behold someone stopped!!..we were so tired and hungry and did not know why God told us leave the town there is no rest for you here, but the vevents that unfolded after this mad eme truly understand!..a Turkish couple stopped for us and cramped us int heir little car,nwe insisted to walk but they said no, and helped us fit into the car with our big backpacks, we could not even see where we were going but we knew we were safe. They took us to their home cooked us a three course meal, and accomodated us in their luxurious, beautiful, spectacular home ( breathtaking house), they went all out to make us feel at home, I almost cried.....
We then journeyed on and finally met up with our friends in Goreme, Kapadokya and had a blast catching up 7 sharing what the Lord had done!..I must add that the way we even got to Goreme is a miracle!.. we were fed by a security guard and tourist information guy as we waited for our bus!..and he helped us pay for the shortage we had (busfare)! I will never forget this journey and the beautiful people that helped us all the way!
As we wrap up our time in Turkey, we have been journeying through the book of Colossians and hiked ( 7km) through the Red valley and saw the ancient churches and caves where the early christians hid from being persecuted. Some of these caves have been remodeled into glamorous hotels and shops. Goreme is a thriving tourist hot spot becaus eof its unique beauty and caves, and the hot air balloons that lift off at the dawn of every morning!
I am so thankful...words cannot express the joy and thanksgiving in my heart...
Ancient Paths is now getting ready for Germany!....