We received an e-mail yesterday from our friends, the Coltons and they have now been reassigned. They were scheduled to go to Izmir, Turkey in February of next year. They are now going to Moscow and will be welfare specialists. They are very disappointed. As a reminder, they are the couple that were originally scheduled to have our assignment in Istanbul and were then reassigned to Izmir.
It seems that the Church is closing the Izmir area for the time being. This is the area where a recent member has gone rogue and has been harassing the Church and drawing away members. It seems that he has created a great deal of problems.
AKCAKALE, Turkey — Turkey and Syria fired artillery and mortars across their volatile border Sunday for a fifth consecutive day, in one of the most serious and prolonged flare-ups of violence along the frontier.
The exchange of fire stoked fears that Syria's civil war would escalate into a regional conflagration drawing in NATO member Turkey, once an ally of President Bashar Assad but now a key supporter of the rebels fighting to topple him.
The above report from Turkey also speaks of the increasing conflict in the area. However the distance as the crow flies from Istanbul is about 12 hours. Who knows how significant the problem really is. So far it does not seem to be a major concern, but every day brings many changes.
The branch president from Istanbul was in Salt Lake for conference last week and there was a special on Turkey presented between broadcasts. Our language instructor, Cemal acted as the translator for both President Packer and Elder Holland. He was very nervous and excited for this assignment.
We are finalizing details and this week preparing for our family reunion next week. Nori has created "Hal-thanks-mas so we will do a three day celebration of the three holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Also, this sunday Oct. 14 we will speak in Church and have our "farewell". Perhaps time will start moving a little faster.
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