3 Continents in 3 days, Africa, Europe and Asia. This is how our 2016 journey began... and if it starts like this, then what else can you hope for but an adventure of a lifetime!
Turkish Delight, it comes in every flavour and colour. Some are crunchy, others melt in your mouth, Some look better than they taste, others look very plain and boring but when you taste it there is a flavour explosion. Some traditional, others the latest trend that comes and goes. Some only made from "healthy" honey and others pure sugar and gelatin. One thing that is sure is that it is found in abundance everywhere in Turkey.
This is similar to the experiences we had in Turkey.
Each experience had its own unique flavour. Some experiences were a bit crunchy others smooth and we melted in them. Some experiences we had high expectations for were not as great as we anticipated whereas simple chats around the dinner table were the most memorable. We experienced the traditional travel sight seeing but definately had once in a life time forever moments that cannot be planned or replayed because they were not planned or paid for.
One thing is for sure, we delighted in them all. From exploring Istanbul, Izmir, Ephesus, Pummakale and Cappadocia to reading some of the many scriptures that were written in and to these places; Ephesians in depth, 1 Peter, Acts and Revelations. Later discovering that John also lived in Ephesus and wrote many of his letters from there. We Saw the caves that the Hittites lived in dating all the way back to Abraham's time. The word has come alive to me, literally, giving me a new and fresh persepctive.
Another very real and practical aspect that we were confronted with was the bombing in Taxim square which we walked through only days after the bomb went off. Syrian Refugees on the streets of Istanbul unable to work or find places to stay. With these things happening right where I am, not somewhere out there on the news it made me see them through news eyes.
Through Turkey there were many unknowns... Where we would go? How we would go? What would it look like? It seemed like a dot to dot drawing where we were moving from one dot to the next, not able to see the full picture. Just when we thought we would be moving on to Macedonia, we found out our visas were denied and that we would be continuing into the unknown. We know that God is with us and that through the unknown we have the amazing opportunity to know and seek God in new and unexpected ways.
Psalm 37 vs 4 Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your heart's desire.
In Turkey I found myself feeling so loved and blessed. God showed me how everything comes from His hand, there were people all around us, blessing us, showing love to us but ultimately we delight in Him.
God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. - John Piper