A Vote

Chris has been observing "what it means to be a man" in Turkey for the past 2 weeks. We have done our fair share of shopping, but today Chris decides I want a "man bag." You may call it a "murse" or "man travel bag," but please don't call it a purse. Here's a pic of him strutting his stuff. Let us know what you think :)

We had a great last night here filled with Turkish food, cay, and dessert (kunefe). We even were able to see the sunset over Istanbul. What a trip!!

Sites from Turkiye

Favorite Traveling Team

Friends living in Istanbul

Genoese Castle
At the end of the Bosporus Tour

Mosaics from inside Hagia Sofia

Hagia Sofia (Aya Sofya)
Ancient Church from around 532 AD

Blue Mosque

Hidiv Kasri
Egyptian Governor's residence during Ottoman Empire

Looking out over the Bosporus...
after climbing A LONG TIME

Topkapi Saray
Palace from the Ottoman Empire

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations

Ulku and her family

Scenery between Ankara & Istanbul

Sunset overlooking the Bosporus

Anitkabir (Ataturk's Mausoleum)

Roses everywhere!!

On the Farm
Outside Ankara

Connecting it all...

Ortakoy...
My favorite place in Istanbul
Ortakoy Mosque and the Bosporus Bridge connecting Europe and Asia

We are wrapping up 2 weeks in Turkey this summer, and also I am finishing a second semester of Systematic Theology. Here are some musings from my heart...

This class came in perfect time for our summer trip. We've been in Turkey the past 2 weeks and have spent time with both Turkish people and "workers" here. God has been challenging my thinking about what it means to be a Christian in a pluralistic society (in America) and also in the world. Chris and I will be heading overseas in 2 years to India, where pluralism is so prevalent. The importance of understanding what this means and how it affects my own theology is huge. It definitely affects how I view God. We have had many challenging discussions the past few weeks over what it means for people to go to hell. It breaks my heart to think that if my friends (who are Muslim) do not profess faith in Christ, they will be sent to hell. I do not want to misunderstand God's global purpose, and I also do not want to be like Jonah running away from the purpose I am supposed to take part in. So, this many times leaves me calling out, "Why God?" or "How long, O Lord, will they not believe?" It makes me very grateful for the grace he has bestowed on me, but also saddened by those whose eyes are truly veiled from belief. The portion of the class where we discussed postmodernism and pluralism was the most challenging for me. It put a name to what so many people believe around me, no matter if I am in Turkey, India, or the US. God will prevail, but for now I pray that in my walk with Jesus he can only help me worship more. It's difficult to see sunshine when so many people around me are perishing. Only by God's provision and the HS's work in their hearts will they believe. I just pray that I can walk closely with Jesus, share the truth of the Gospel, and love those who do not know yet well. This is weighty in my heart, but I know that we serve a God that is to be honored and glorified. May I always glorify him...even in my questioning. The more I study, the more I read, the less I truly feel like I understand the God of the universe.


On a lighter note...
Last night we had a perfect night at a place called Hidiv Kasri. It was the residence of an Egyptian governor during Ottoman times. A huge house is set on beautiful grounds. We were able to walk around and spend time talking about life. We ate a delicious dinner and ended with Turkish coffee. Here's Chris' attempt at drinking the thick, rich coffee :)