Down to 1 year and 1 month

We have been so busy the last few weeks trying to get so many projects and assignments complete before we move permanently to Izmir on the 16th of April.
While we are on the subject the following is our new address:

Fred and Nori Weaver
1487 Sokak No. 6 Safah Apt.
Kat:3  Daire: 4
35220 Alsacak - Izmir, Turkey

Monument at the edge of
Izmir bay

 We just spent 5 days there preparing the apartment and meeting people.  The highlight of the visit was Easter Sunday.  I hate to say it, but I am thinking that this was the best sacrament meeting of my life.  I hate to say it because I was the program and I am not sure that was so good, but the spirit was just fantastic.  We had a family of 3 visiting from Geneva Switzerland and a young man and young woman from Utah.  They were not married or even engaged, just traveling as plutonic friends.  Maybe he is interested in her, but I do not think she is interested in him.  The family is a husband originally born in Izmir and his wife who is swiss and a daughter, Jasmine age 26.

They were well aware of the awful things that have happened in Izmir over the years with the Church.  It is a shame what can happen when a leader goes wrong.  It only confirms to me how important good leadership is and how easy it is to get someone who is clueless and incapable of leadership or responsibility.

Set up for Sacrament meeting

Unfortunately the failure in leadership rests not only on the immediate problem, but the inability of people to recognize and speak up when foolish things are happening.  This is a classic story of how wrong things can go and how no one steps up to the issue.  Many lessons learned, but the branch was destroyed.  Now we are being ask to try to reestablish a basis for the Church in this terrific city.

We finally got the place cleaned up.  Now we know what it is like to move in after a hoarder.  I have personally never been in such a mess with so much worthless junk stored in the place.  Food stuff that was moldy and rancid with date codes as old as 2004!  Every empty print cartridge for at least 2 years and files dating back to 1994.  Paper with notes everywhere and so much dirt on things that it gives you the creeps.  We hauled out so much stuff that one would deny that it was actually in the building.  When I found a small disc player to play prelude music for sacrament meeting I had to wipe off goobers and sticky stuff.  I think the last person to handle the player was an 18 month old eating a birthday cake and ice cream.  Yuck, Yuck!!!

Our after Church Easter Dinner.  Small congregation.

The master bath had not been fully used because the tub had not been completely assembled.  It had a side panel in the original package that was leaning against the wall still in its original package with 2 years of dust and grim on the cardboard.  It took all of 10 minutes to finish the tub.  The previous couple had told us that they did not feel they could throw away anything that may be important, but how do you explain moldy olives?

The previous man also told me that he did not do manual labor.  His wife confirmed that, so anything needing some work was never done.  I hate to make a comparison, but it is a phred truism:  he voted for Obama both times and admires him.  Typical liberal, he did not need to do manual labor cause he was waiting for a conservative to either pay for it or do the work.  Sorry I could not contain myself.

Back in Istanbul.  We had a typical adventure getting home.  We arrived at Ataturk airport and took the metro to Meter where we caught the Metrobus.  I was so sure we got on the right bus going the right direction, but Nori did not share my enthusiasm for the choice.  We got on the bus, but she kept saying we were going the wrong way.  I was lugging all the baggage and the bus was jammed packed, but I finally said you are right after we had traveled about 5 miles.  We got off at the next stop and headed back the opposite direction.  After about 10 miles, I said now I know we are going the wrong direction so we forced our way through the standing room only crowd with our luggage and got off at the next stop to go back the original direction.  We continued to discuss who was right, but bottom line the original choice was correct.  We only spent a miserable 30 minutes all messed up and sweating with bags and crowds.  I am going to accept all responsibility because I should never have doubted.  Oh well we got home safely.

Famous clock in Konak near Izmir at dusk.

Our street in Izmir.  So nice!

                                                                                 

We are praying for missionaries to be assigned to Izmir in June or July.  That will really change our mission;-)