We arrived in Turkey after our time in Jordan on our way to meet up with Esther. The month in Turkey consisted of two days in Istanbul, two weeks in Kusidasi, a week on the road and then a week in Cappadocia.
Turkey started with a bang! The first day in Istanbul was an amazing experience; we had a treasure hunt*...and we found treasure for sure. Lisa and Arne met a guy that we could encourage and that really inspired us; hopefully we can see him again before we fly out of Istanbul. Through meeting this guy I realised that my God is a God that answers anyone- He is not a silent God. I got the name 'Peter' and Nicole and Fred actually met a guy named 'Peter' while they got lost when buying lunch for the team. The afternoon we were in a park with two Syrian refugees selling tea and enjoying their company. Istanbul is filled with very dark spiritual things that we experienced that evening in the park. We slept at the airport while waiting for Ester and again met a Syrian Refugee that I could talk to for a few hours.
Kusidasi felt like open-heart surgery for the whole team as God came to bring restoration. We met up with a beautiful family from the States that are full-time in Turkey as well as two YWAM groups . (One of the groups were actually from South Africa) After abundant blessings in Kusidasi, intimate times with Jesus and great team time we left on a challenge.
The challenge was to get to Goreme in Cappadocia from Kusidasi with very little money and try to see as many of the ancient churches as possible. I was on a team with Fred, Nicole and Lisa. 20 different people gave us a lift, we never went to bed with an empty tummy and the unity in our team was so good. The great thing about these challenges is that they force you to ask God for direction step by step and trust Him by being obedient even when the situation seems crazy. On the first day of the challenge I fell asleep in the park while waiting for direction from God. I had a dream about a lady that we met that very next day when someone invited us to go sleep in a pension(hostel). She was also sleeping at the pension and I was privileged to spend some time with her and her little girl. It was amazing to see how the Holy Spirit can speak to me through a dream and use something as a challenge to change my life and the lives of others. We went to Ephesus and even ended up at Laodicea through God's provision. The whole challenge stretched my endurance and made me realise how dependent I must be on God.
Cappadocia has been such a blessing. Goreme, the town we camped in, is surrounded by beautiful fairy chimneys that I never even knew existed. Once again I realise that the year is flying by but I get to keep these memories for a lifetime. My team has really become my friends now and we are learning to be vulnerable and open in front of each other.
I simply cannot summarise what the past month has been like but I know that I do not want to forget the hard times or funny moments. Broken pieces can be healed. Restoration will take place.
From here we will go to Germany and then to Croatia. There is a big possibility that we will spend a day in Switzerland and the whole team is very excited about it.
*Treasure hunt: This is when we pray and ask God for a name, picture or direction and then go into the streets to find that what He has prepared for us.