Here is an email I sent to my spiritual father, it’s a good summary of what life was like in Turkey so I thought I would share it with you.
Hey Dad!
I’m sorry I haven’t e-mailed you sooner. I’ve been hunting the Taliban! Lol! Literally. We are Ethnographers. The people group our contact is having us search for are the Pashtun people. The Pashtun make up 60% of the Taliban and most of the Pakistan army. So they gave us this quest saying that we would probably never find them. And for two days and 12 hours of walking later, WE FOUND THEM! In the mean time after speaking with a Pashtun, we ended up finding an Islamic school where we could probably find more Pashtun. Instead, three dinners 12 gallons of tea later, and many talks about the Bible vs. the Koran we made great friends with an Islamic teacher that believes Baby Jesus could talk!
I’ll tell you this. I am three months into the race and I don’t even recognize myself. I AM A WOMAN OF GOD! God’s taught me so much! I never knew how many people I would touch, and be touched by. I’ll try to sum up the last three months of what I’ve learned with some words: Community, Community, Community! What would I do without my teammates… As you might know, we have had a team changes. Petra was amazing. I made a new friend: Martha Lemke, she is my other half. But God knows best and she is on a different team now. And now I am part of Fanatic, which is amazing and thank goodness God kept Danielle with me, my other quarter half. lol!
God has been teaching me not to be selfish. Sharing, giving, other people being messy… get over it! The smells… YUK! Not showering… wow! Sleep… yay right! Personal time… what is that? But all in all, this trip has made me strong. He’s brought me around the world to His nations: scrubbing toilets, attempting to raise the dead, jumping off mountains, getting beat up by an old crazy woman, getting drunk in the Spirit, going to heaven, swimming with Jesus and waking up sopping wet! I’ve lost 20 pounds, my heart is healed. Remembering that I’m not my family’s savior, getting over myself, and finally realizing how big of a will God has for me!
I’m a worker of God’s great kingdom (cant use the “m” word) I cant believe how much ive changed. Grace… never knew what that was until now, pure joy! Loving God’s people and seeing them how God does. I never knew that God wanted such a personal relationship with me. I talk to Him more then anyone ive ever talked to in my life. He’s my best friend. I see in my life where He’s been chasing me since ive been born, I can look back and see where He’s been! He’s been a true Father! Helping me, keeping me out of trouble, helping me more then i ever knew.
Just know i wont be coming back the same!
p.s. I might be using this as a blog
