Prayer Needed, But when Isn't it!

The past few weeks have been extremely challenging at work and pretty much down right unfair. I am rethinking my commitment to stay for the entire year and need prayer on whether I should stick through it or come home early and finish the few classes I have left for my middle school endorsements. It is a hard decision to make because it will be hard to be away from Avat and also I don't want to give up working here but the system is just corrupt and unjust, in all areas. Pray for me for wisdom, guidance and peace in the choices I will make this week.

Love you all and can't wait to see everyone either this Christmas or late January. Thanks for your prayers.

Visitors from Home

The past two weeks my cousin and two of his traveling friends came to Turkey to visit. It was so nice to have people from home come and see where I live, meet my friends and just experience the culture I have been experiencing.

here they are Mike, Steve and Tim

They stayed with me in Istanbul for three days and went off and did some exploring on the west coast before meeting up with me and Whitney in Capadocia. Here are some pictures of our time together! Enjoy.


Whitney and me in the underground city, representing of course!


Whitney, Mike and Tim having a brief discussion. Tim was a little too tall for this underground city!


Enjoying the view from in the valley.


It was very nice to be in nature and see green grass and trees and a stream.


Sunsets are very beautiful here.


In the Hot Air Balloon before take off!

That is it for now. I will post a lot more pics on facebook, this takes too long!

Only in Turkey

The other day my work mate and I went out to dinner and so I had to get back on the bus in bumper to bumper traffic to go home. The bus was so crowded, just like the highway, so I had to stand next to the driver. As I was standing there looking out the window there was a horse drawn trailer...on the HIGHWAY, in bumper to bumper traffic. I mean imagine driving down 90 in the evening after work and all of a sudden a gypsy collecting boxes pulls up next to you on a trailer being pulled by a dirty horse. SO CRAZY. I really wanted to take a photo, and I had my camera, but I could not do it. Next time.

The Turkey Blues...

Yesterday I had a meeting with the principal, who unfortunately was not at my interview, regarding my Christmas holiday. She was shocked to hear that I was going to be gone for two weeks. My department head told her that no where do they give two weeks for Christmas. I got really defensive because after living in the states for 28 years, I have had two weeks off for Christmas, while working and being in the education field as either a student or teacher. It ended this way, I would only take 6 working days off.

Then last night and this morning I couldn't stop thinking about it and have come to the hard but wisest decision that I will not be coming home for Christmas. Instead I will be spending the holiday working in a country that does not celebrate it. I am so sad and extremely homesick now, not knowing when I will be able to come home again. At least I have Avat to spend that Saturday with.