Kendiniz Iyi Bakin

Okay, it's clearly been too long since our last posting. In the last two months we've been busy studying Turkish setting up house and meeting lots of great new friends in our city. It seems that this is a year of severe weather, and as the tornadoes and storms rage through Alabama and snow falls so strong winds and snow fall here.

They had their first snow in 15 years here yesterday. We're huddled in our office room working on Turkish homework and enjoying the space heater. All the while we have felt the blessing of God's guidance and providence. "Kendiniz iyi bakin" is the dynamic equivalent of take care of yourself. Something you hear often in Turkey as people are coming and going. Today I spent some time with a friend practicing Turkish and trying to retrieve his lost cell phone (it is apparently difficult to retrieve a lost cell phone from a city bus). When it came time to part ways he told me to "take care." If only he knew how well we have been taken care of in this place.

This last week we had a great meeting on Sunday evening with a Russian/Turkish family. This next week we begin a weekly study of the book of Luke together. I am constantly amazed at how great God blesses me with greater insight into His word when studying with others. For example I keep gaining new insight through the words of Matthew 11:28-30, I sang for our Turkish speaking friends these words, and through their remarks have grown in my faith and hope for this country. and so even in that way we are taken care of in our striving after Him and His will for us. It is amazing how that only when taking up the yoke of Jesus' lordship do we feel the cares and burdens of the world melt away, and at present we are blessed by that realization.


For now Kendiniz iyi bakin.