Saturday we enjoyed a scrumptious lunch in Afyon at a little off-the-main-thoroughfare, family-owned restaurant. The food was incredibly good, service wonderful and was personally served by the owner with rich hospitality, friendliness, and conversation. We learned much about him - a former police officer, now retired, and much safer and less work owning his own business. Every one of the connections we make comes with a prayer that God will speak to the person, hoping that they will be a "person of peace" through whom a worker raised up for the harvest will connect! We are all touched to the core with the camaraderie and sincere warmth of human connection that has blessed several interactions each day.
Departing Afyon for Usak, we prayed through hundreds of thousands of people who do not know about Jesus! It is a difficult concept to see innumerable people and realize that none of them know the truth ...
Usak ~ we stayed in a charming hotel where, in a by-gone era, the large central core served as a storage and holding facility for cargo and animals, while the upper story housed the travelers. We stayed upstairs, and this is where we enjoyed watching a Turkish wedding in the renovated, and now quite charming, holding facility. Every meal, wedding, purchase, and cordial exchange provides an opportunity to know and pray for a people, a culture, an individual soul and to hopefully leave a fragrance of life, and opportunity for the Holy Spirit to speak or leave an impression.
When I first fractured my foot I asked God to please, somehow, bring good. Interestingly the incredible sympathy I have received from complete strangers has opened many doors to interaction and expressions of love and blessing. One sweet example was rest stop for gas and lunch on ... one leg of this trip ... on one of the recent days! ... beautiful, sweet-servant-hearted Denise searched out the women's restroom to be sure of it's accessibility for me (squatty-potties with a cast are a less-than-welcome challenge). The restroom attendant made it clear she had a place for me. When I went to a near stall, she purposefully took me to the far one - a handicap accessible stall, tall toilet, and sink in the stall. Then the sweet lady also brought me paper towels (a service not extended to most). Her eyes sparkled and her smile showed genuine pleasure in welcoming and tending me. The traditional Turkish two-cheek hug was mutually sincere.
Our journey from Usak to Bergama yesterday was intended to be via Thyatira and Sardis. The adventurous road to Thyatira was finally blocked by a fairly strong flow of water (in the midst of a very dry landscape ...) so we retreated and headed straight to Sardis. One of the main ruins there is Temple of Artemis. I was able to hobble to the fringe of the ruins, but decided to enjoy from the relative ease of an ancient wall since the terrain to and around the ruins was long and rough, and my stamina on crutches is still minimal. The ever-attentive Denise went back to the entrance and asked a gentleman there with a motor scooter if he would give me a ride through the actual temple ruins, and he did! What a gracious and friendly man, and I had an up-close view of the entire thing.
When we were leaving the site to return to the entrance gate, he made an abrupt stop so the team could take a picture, and I think he may have flooded the engine as it wouldn't restart. So he walked the bike ~ and me ~ the few hundred yards to the gate! Not only was his wife NOT jealous (a potential hazard here) but she exhibited the same warm hospitality and friendly spirit that he did. She operated a small booth with local hand-made gifts, so we all blessed them in return with several purchases (it was the least we could do!)
Near the temple was another ruins being restored. This walk was far more treacherous, so I enjoyed ad prayed from a chair in the shade while the rest of the friends went to see what was at one time a large gymnasium. Amazing building and skill the "ancients" had, and quite a social and cultural system!
Now down an even more adventurous, windy, bumpy and back-wood trek to Bergama, a city of about 120,000 people that snuggles beneath the shadow of ancient Pergamum. Our abode for two days is the Athena Mansion, tucked well back into a brick and rock drive, next to the Pergamum hotel, both owned by mutual friends. Our host, Eiden (?sp.) is friend to Osden (?sp) of the Pergamum, who also runs a taxi business to tide through the non-tourist seasons. He became a fast (in more ways than one! What a driver!) and fun friend as he carted us on three different occasions today. He first took me to the entrance to Pergamum, after the rest of the group called and told me there was a place where I could sit outside of the hard-to-trek ruins. He is so friendly, helpful, and informative; obviously loves his family, his city, and his job! He connected me to Jacob at the ruins, whose Japanese wife runs a gift shop in a little mall not far from our hotel. She deals with local hand-made fabric items - scarves, "towels", table runners, etc. - they are number 3 on Trip Advisor in Bergama and after only three years in business found their way into the current "Lonely Planet" travel book! Charming couple with a fascinating story. After dinner and visiting their shop, we walked back to the hotel and were able to meet Osden's wife, who is a lovely woman of similar warmth and charm as her husband!
Connections ... an aroma of Christ ... opportunities. I do have pictures of all of these interaction (and signatures on my cast to boot!) but for some strange reason that is technologically beyond me, just yesterday and today when I put them into the computer they are drastically enlarged, and I don't know how to fix it. If we figure it out, I'll share.
It's late (11:30 p.m. now), we have an early morning for breakfast and devotions, then off to Ephesus! Glory to God. Good night, Friends!
