Turkey is a country I never expected to travel to. When sitting around with friends and discussing good vacation spots, this majority Muslim country on the cusp of Europe never crossed my mind. But I loved every second of it, from the food, the shops, the seas and beaches to the markets. The vendors’ pushy attitudes and the permeating heat could not deter my fun and education while in Antalya and Istanbul.
The majority of the trip was spent at a hotel/resort in Antalya, Turkey where the greater part of the Assemblies of God World Missions Eurasia was gathered for a tri-yearly conference. This time comes as a welcomed break for many people. We had a lot of speakers, discussed business and met with various regions. People connected on different levels of ministry, giving ideas and suggestions. And for many of the missionaries, associates and missionary kids, this is the only time they get to spend with other Americans that are anywhere near their age. The conference over-all was a success and I feel a renewed love for Moldova and the goals God has here.
After Antalya, we flew through Istanbul and decided not to miss the opportunity of a few days tourism. We went to the Aya Sofya, the Blue Mosque and even the cisterns. We saw the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market. I had my first Starbucks coffee in two months and felt right at home the coffee shop that looks identical to the ones in Seattle. The EuroCup 2008 has been the talk of all of Europe and I have been watching the games avidly. It was great to hear the streets of Istanbul erupt in joy with both goals of the Turkey team in the semi-finals. I thank God for this great trip and hope for another opportunity to visit this great country.
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