Tell you what. Most people jumped for joy when we learned that we had to fly through Turkey in order to get to Indonesia, the country added to our list. Then there was me, and mayyyybe one or two others who didn’t think anything of it. What’s so great about Turkey? Isn’t that on the list of countries advising people to rethink their travel plans? Why do we have to end our time in Bulgaria to go spend 2-3 days there? I like Bulgaria. Our time there was so short anyway. Istanbul’s just gonna be another big city full of thousands of people where the language barrier is frustrating and more of a logistical nightmare than a “fun” or “exciting” reroute.
Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Istanbul, Turkey is a unique and beautiful place. It’s full of beautiful people who are warm, welcoming, helpful, curious, and kind. Istanbul is HUGE and full of breath-taking, intricately designed, and carefully built mosques and skyscrapers. It’s a city where the people are full of life and passion, and I’m not quite sure the party ever stops. It’s a place with a culture of its own that weaves into every part of everyday life. It’s a city that left me dizzy with questions and curious about the more happening all around it.
The sweet woman pictured below is my new friend, Diane, and she has been living in Istanbul and loving on the Turkish people for many years now and described it as a beautiful and dark land. That clicked and rang true throughout our whole time.
It’s a place where the people are lost and hopeless. It’s a place where the LoRd is at work. It’s a place that desperately needs to know Jesus and hear His name pronounced loudly and without shame.
It’s a place I’d actually like to return to.
Pictures are much better than words for a place like this… enjoy:)
Some are mine… the better quality, more artsy, and best capturing pictures are from Miss Jordan Harrington. She’s incredible.
Getting to know the locals over Turkish “milk” and watermelon:)
Just a casual ferry ride between the European and Asian sides of Turkey.
Goodbye Turkey, hello Indonesia!!
