This was written on November 13th.
Yesterday was probably one of the
best days of my life. It started out with team prayer in the morning
and then we went out into a square less than a block away from our
hotel. We set up our guitars and began to busk. Our budget has been
really tight this month because we’ve found that things in Turkey seem
to be a bit expensive. We’re halfway through our time here and already
have used up two thirds of our budget. Any extra Lira coming in would be a
huge help. But our main focus was not at all money. In fact, we prayed
and released it to God and just decided to dedicate this time
completely to worship. We actually kept the guitar case closed at first
but then someone brought up the point that by doing so kind of blows
our cover. So we opened it.
Being foreigners in Turkey already draws alot attention and even
more now since we are so far east away from the touristy areas. If
there wasn’t enough for us to stand out already, we added a huge,
bright flashing neon sign by setting up in the middle of the square,
playing guitar, pounding on a hand drum and singing.
song after song. We played praise songs for a few hours. Sometimes I’d
throw in a few of my own songs while one of the guys was looking
through a book to pick our next song. It was funny because at first
they would stand far off and watch us. But slowly people would come
closer and closer and they completely surrounded us. It was so
incredible to look into their eyes and sing over them about how God
loves them. You see, Turkey is 99.9% Muslim. So to see them smiling at
us and clapping along to worship songs was amazing. They just listened
so attentively. It was incredible.
crowd and they tried to serve them refreshments. A tea vendor came over
to us and gave us each a cup of tea. Then vendor that sells there round
sesame bread rings came and gave us each one as well. That was so nice
of them!
The great thing about busking is that the people come to you. We’re
always looking for people who speak English and the people here who
know English are always eager to practice. We met two guys named Memet
and Yusuf. They’re 18 years old and in their last year of high school. They are both aspiring to be English teachers. They offered to show us around
the city when we were finished.
We broke for lunch and then went back. There were these two little
girls in the square who I waved at and I motioned for them to follow us
to the bench we were going to sit at to play. They were sweet,
adorable and smiled at me. They actually sat right beside me on the
bench and just listened to the music and were very well behaved.
Unfortunately, we didn’t stay for long because the younger children
must have gotten out of school and they swarmed us. I think I might
know a little bit of what some celebrities feel like when they go out
into crowds and people are all over, crowding them, having no concept
of personal space, reaching out to touch them, pulling on their arms
and jackets. It was mad mad chaos.
square where Memet and Yusuf were waiting for us. When they saw us,
their faces lit up. So they talked with us and led us around
Diyarbakir. They took us to the Grand Mosque (which used to be a
Byzantine church) and then to an indoor bazaar that used to be a hotel.
Coffee shops lined the second level of the courtyard and the shops were
below. It also had an underground book store. It was incredible.
the beaten path. Joe looked back and gave us a nervous look. Memet or
Yusuf said “Don’t be afraid”. We arrived at a huge door beside a
stone wall. Memet pounded on another door to the side. It opens and he
enters inside. Then we hear him trying to open the huge door in front of
us. He struggles, but finally gets it open. We walk in and I see a
massive key in the door. No wonder he had trouble opening the door!
The
n we walk into a courtyard. There is a fountain that’s been retiredfor fall in the middle of it. Beautiful glass and stone and ornately
carved doors leading to different rooms are all over. This is his
uncle’s house. He shows us the kitchen, the living room and then…the
library. Complete with a balcony, might I add.
city of Izmir right now. He’s going to call his uncle and see if we can
stay here instead of at our hotel. SAY WHAAAT!?
