It is About Time

Rare picture of a man going to Friday prayer.
Prayer rug, bag with sandals and the traditional
Turkish stocking cap.

Unfortunately we have not shared as much as we would have liked about the country or more specifically the people of Turkey.  The main reason is that we have been discouraged from talking about many things.  In fact every time I write or talk, I am not really sure what we are allowed to share or what maybe too controversial.  I guess if this gets me kicked out of the country, then we will have served most of our mission anyway.

On the first day we arrived in Turkey we were told there are spies everywhere waiting for us to make a mistake.  We were told that our apartment and the computer were most likely "bugged".  We were told we would be followed and monitored all the time.  We made jokes about needing to talk on our scrambled shoe phone and we expected men in a black Mercedes to suddenly leap from the car and haul us away.

 

Three of our Iranian ladies.  Wonderful women.

The reality is that America seems scarier, as shown on television and we have never felt threatened or intimidated by these people.  In fact, we would tell you this is a very safe and non-threatening country.

First and most important, if the Turks, 99% of which are Muslim, were your only exposure to Islam, you could not feel any dislike of the religion or the people.  You may be confused about many aspects, but fear would not be a natural proclivity.  You might get a little annoyed at the seemingly continuous call to prayer and the chaos of traffic.  I could write a volume about Islam, but I want to talk about the people and not religion.  That being said, much of the action, thoughts and character of the people are a function of the religion but it has become more the culture than knowledge based existence.  Individual knowledge of the religion is at best the claim to be Muslim.  I have never talked to a Muslim that could define their religion or even their perspective of God.

Mount Ataturk

I think the most pronounced and visible element of this country is a universal admiration of Ataturk.  Kemal Ataturk is everywhere even though he died in the 1930's.  He is literally everywhere, statues, banners, pictures and stickers on automobiles.  You must remember that as ancient as the country is, it is in fact only 80+ years in existence.  It never became the Republic of Turkey until the vast Ottoman Empire was eliminated at the end of World War l.  Ataturk rescued a portion of the Ottoman world and founded the Republic of Turkey.

If an oxygen mask drops on a Turkish Airline, Ataturk's face appears on the mask wearing an oxygen mask.  If I took photos everyday, I could not capture all of the many depictions.  Yet there are only about 3 different poses of the man.

The people are incredibly friendly and anxious to talk and find out where you come from.  They think all of America is California, New York or Miami.  They are clueless to the rest of the country.  Most people initially think we are German or British.  Americans are not all that prevalent.

 

Not so clear but oh so typical. family huddled around
an IPad.  It always seems so out of character
to me with the dress and the modern electronics.

They are a clean and well-groomed people but prefer black, gray and brown.  The colors of life seem dull and dreary.  They love children and spoil them to no bounds.  The tight family relations put our claim as being family oriented to shame.  No one would let their parents, siblings, or relatives go without attention and the respect for the old people is to be greatly admired.  To a fault, the youth put off their lives to care for family.  And, conversely, if a young adult has lost a job, a wife or has difficulties, they move back in with their parents.  It almost seems as if no one ever leaves home.  Any young person will willingly give up their seat on a bus or train to an older person and simply insist on being polite.  Whenever you offer thanks to anyone for his or her kindness or service, they simply put their hand to their heart and smile.

I know I have complained about many things, but I really do love these people.  We have been treated with respect, kindness and taught many lessons by a very humble and good people.  Of course I must also mention our friends from Iran, Iraq, West Africa, Mauritania, Egypt and the Philippines.  Our exposure to so many people is the greatest blessing of our service.  We have been in their homes, in the villages and had so many people we have fed (Nori has fed) that it is simply unbelievable. 

Young men of faith, contraband photo from
Istanbul zone conference 1/24.

Their faith is total and so strange in the sense that they cannot describe God nor do they believe they are literal sons and daughters of God, but every thought is always Insha’Allah, If God is willing. They truly believe there is one God and he is all powerful and in full control.

Every school child learns to recite several verses from the Quran, but it is in Arabic, God’s language so most of them have no clue what they have learned to say.  They believe the Quran is only correct in Arabic, and do not read translated verses.  The call to prayer is also Arabic and they are truly isolated from the religion they claim to follow.

We finally received some Christmas cards and some packages from home.  It is amazing how great it is to get tangible proof that someone is still in our homeland.  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.  See you soon, Insha’Allah.

There you are