And, the Answer is Turkey, Go Figure?

Just off the pavement.

What is going on?   After our discussion two weeks ago with our mission president, we saw no chance that Turkey was part of our immediate future.  It appeared that in essence the country was being greatly consolidated and restricted in action and plans.  We were virtually assured that we would be bound for the States for the remaining portion of our missionary service and we had already began dreaming of real meat, baked potatoes and all the little condiments and ingredients that prevent food in Turkey from having any real taste.  It is strange, but who would have thought I could miss Miracle Whip and 2% milk in a gallon container.  It is true; a sandwich is not a sandwich without Miracle Whip and bread that contains at least some salt.

Nevertheless true to the strange and odd events of this mission service, we are going to become MLS (member leader support) missionaries and moved to Ankara, the capital of Turkey.  We will work with the young elders and members of the branch in Ankara.  We will be allowed to teach and have investigators in our apartment to hear lessons of the Gospel.  We will go out with the young elders and attempt to have someone ask about the Church, because there is still no proselyting and no active effort to bring attention to the Church, but we will discontinue our humanitarian efforts.  Hopefully we will be free from the foolishness of Moscow and be able to work directly with President Wilstead, the mission president for Bulgaria and Turkey.

Supposedly the largest Mosque.  Adana, Turkey
Just about 60 miles north of the Syrian Border.
We were there doing an audit.

The greatest blessing of this assignment will be that we can work directly with the refugee families that are members of the Church.  Currently there are 4 known families and their needs are immense.  We want to better understand how the process is suppose to work and if there is any way we can stimulate the process, but most importantly we want to befriend these people and better understand their needs and the uniqueness of their lives.

To be just plain blunt, I am disappointed.  I had truly shifted my mind and had begun to let myself anticipate the return to the comfort of the states.  Never in my wildest imagine did I expect this change in direction again.

Ankara is the second largest city after Istanbul and is located in the central Anatolian plain about 6 bus hours from Istanbul and directly 10 bus hours east of Izmir.  It is about 2500 feet above sea level and has a more temperate climate.  Unfortunately we will get snow that stays on the ground in the winter and a wet season.  We have visited there two times and have found Ankara to be the cleanest of the three major cities.  There is a huge contingent of expats from around the world because over 120 embassies are located there.  As a matter of fact we will be living in the abandoned Portuguese Embassy if the Church completes the lease agreement.

The oldest continuously used bridge in the world.
Adana Turkey

On a personal note, I am out of my walking boot as of today and attempting to ignore my anticipatory pain.  It just feels like I should limp.  The swelling is still there and there is some pain, but it has improved greatly.

Guarding Attaturk's Mausoleum. Ankara Turkey