Turkish Delight Anyone?

One of the most friendly and hospitable people I have ever met. A country full of Ancient wonders but nearly in the modern 'European Union'. A place of old hills and rugged villages, where the sent of burning wood and tea waft from houses and the beautiful yet empty and hopeless singing rings every couple hours from the mosques high towers. A country that is now cold with winter but jumps to a new Mediterranean beat as summer approaches. Her name is Turkey.

After leaving Greece's mainland we set out by ferry for a small Island named Chios about one hour from mainland Turkey. It was a short stop but a great one as it was our first time to see Greek Island life. On Chios we found this amazing shop dediacted to a special plant called Mastiha. Mastiha is a tree only found on Chios Island and is used as chewing gum. After being poked, it drips out sap in tear shape beads onto the ground. The gum tastes like sap at first but then has the flavor of ginger. It is good for oral hygiene, digestion, cleaning intenstines and healthy skin. Another one of those rare natural treasures. And a very random fact for you to know.

Our arrival in Selcuk, Turkey (located near Ancient Ephesus) was warm. Like I said, the people of Turkey greeted us with such warmth and hospitaltiy. And it's not just because they want you to buy their carpet or Kashmere Scarfs but because they genuinely love having people around. On my first day out with a couple others from school we were invited in for apple tea and quickly began to get to know the local people.

Our next section of study was into the Epistles and what a perfect location to do that. We as a class had the oppotunity to read the book of Ephesians in Ephesus where the people once had an uproar in the great theatre. We had a wonderful yet very busy week with David Hamilton and it was such a blessing to have him in Greece and continuing on with us in Turkey.

This week a young guy from Townsville, Australia has joined us for two weeks in Design. And this could not have come at a better time. We were searching around the community to find a way we could serve them and there didn't seem to be any door opening. Even after speaking with the Governor and Educational Director of Selcuk we still had nothing but then a photography exhibition was introduced to us. I wasn't sure about the amount of work, cost or other details, but after praying with the staff we got a go ahead. We are now one week away from the exhibition and after much intercession and planning things are on their way.

This area is so ripe with photography opportunties. For example, the other day me and a freind went to a small community called Sirnice. This community, built by the Greeks, is full of old stone houses, brightly painted walls, traditional clothes, authentic Turkish pancakes, fruit wines and wonderful people. We even stopped by a random jewelery shop that made all the jewelery for the movie 'Troy'.

During the afternoon me and my friend walked through the old stone streets and saw this beautiful old lady walking with a white horse as the sun shone of the two of them. My friend ran off to take photos and couple minutes later I heard here voice shouting, "Aaron, do you want apple tea?" I said yes and went looking for her but was comfronted with about 40 houses on all levels, all looking the same and a maze of streets. I shouted to her and after several minutes she popped her head out of a house high on the hill. All this to say we ended up having tea with this women in her house which you could see your breath in and bought some knitted socks from her. Through little English and lots of hand motions she showed us her wounded shoulder and we were able to pray for her. It was a beautiful moment as she gave my friend a kiss and warm huge for what we would say an akward amount of time. But that moment was special and she knew what we were doing despite her Muslim background. She said good bye with another hug and a couple apples from her tree and we were on our way.

I can honestly tell you that this is one of the most wonderful countries I have ever been to and hope to return to one day.

Please pray for the photography exhibition this Friday, that God would plant a seed in this community and check out our photo in the Selcuk newspaper http://www.efestenhaberler.com/index.asp?gorev=haberdetay&id=3353. Thanks again for reading and enjoy the photography.

PLEASE DO NOT COPY/PASTE/SAVE PHOTOGRAPHS! THEY ARE FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT BUT NOT TO KEEP. THANKS, AARON