So here in Turkey i found it hard to find my purpose. What did God want me to do and how did He want to use me?
How would i find God’s voice among everyone else?
Oh i dropped my heart, will you take care of it? Hey Jennifer Lopez! Will you ride on this carpet with me? I will go where ever you want me to. You dropped something, oh it’s my heart. You are so beautiful, i will give you half price, Are you from paradise? Cause you are an angel! Dont you wish your boyfriend was hot like me?? and the best one…
Hey! I am here…
We were in the center of tourist town – Istanbul. Every street vendor and every shop owner all had someone sitting, standing or playing outside their store trying to get the attention of the tourists.
My favourite line was the waiters who would say “Hey! I am here! This was my favourite because i could see behind the flirting and mind games they were playing and see straight in to the hearts of these people.
Often tourists would hear the same things over and over, so these young men would be ignored. But i could see behind the phyical and into their hearts.
THEY WERE ALL LONELY. SOMETHING WAS MISSING
Turkey is a Muslim country. The official religion is Islam. The youth do not want a religion
So instead of coming across a strong islamic culture, i found more of an atheist culture.
So hearing these young men call out “Hey, I’m here…” I felt a tug in my spirit that they were saying
“I need someone to notice me! I need someone to listen to me, I need someone who responds to me”
and God said:
“I notice them and see them as My children. I listen to them and talk back, I will respond to them and fill the emptiness.”
I got to know most of the staff at the Hostel where we were staying and could speak life into them.
They needed someone to see them as real people and God showed me how to bring His Life to these guys.
TIME
Spending time with these men, brought down their walls, it brought vulnerability and an openess to share their life.
They shared that they were alone in life, that life hadn’t been good to them and that they couldnt find happiness.
I was able to share the truth of Christ with them, able to show the love of Christ to them and bring the action of love in simplicity such as helping shut up the restaurant, counting out receipts and drinking apple tea as they finished their work.
I had the opportunity to share about the grace of Jesus Christ with one person in particular and even had the chance to give him a bible in the turkish language.
I know nothing i say or do will bring about God’s grace only the Holy Spirit can do that, but i do know my actions speak about God’s love.
The men in Turkey will often compliment how a person looks so i know when i was told…
“You have the most sweetest and beautiful heart!”
i was given the most precious comment in turkey.
I know I left God’s love in that Hostel and that’s all He requires of us.
God is good!
