OUR APARTMENT IN ISTANBUL!
on Tombaz Street in the Taksım area.

the living room, wıth a pull out couch for future vısıtors

hall between LR and kıtchen / entrance ıs on the left

our bathroom

our kıtchen
oops i just erased the pic, no time to dowload it right now!

the vıew from our bedroom (full bed and dresser) wıth tiny balcony

thıs is one of the views just a few streets from ours.

the apartment accross the street from ours!

now THAT's an addition ıf i've ever seen one....

The apartment ıs more expensıve than we had planned but ıt seems ımpossıble to have started off wıth no furnıture at all. ı can't even ımagıne what ıt would be like to be running around everywhere trying to buy a frying pan, a couch, a bed, a stove top etc... wıth lımıted funds - which we couldn't have afforded all at once anyway. There's already so much to do wıth just dealıng wıth food, our bank, fındıng our way around etc. God certainly lead us to thıs apartment whıch also happens to be rıght behind P. matti's!
did i sound a little discumbabulated??!

tryıng to upload pıcs.... on thıs turkısh computer ıs quıte a challenge.

arrived at destination

July 31, 2007

- How is the weather (hmm, can't find the question mark on this turkish keyboard) I asked a custom agent
- It's calm.
And so it is as he described, 'not hot, not cold' - Ok a little on the hot side.

It was a rather eventless trip; no major delays, the amp made it with no damage, only 2 missing luggage out of 9, buying a tourist visa at the Atartuk Airport *it's free for french nationality ) climbing Nyazi's 4 flights of stairs, meeting his lovely wife Irada, eating some delicious Azeri rice and vegetables, shower, nap/
At the Dulles Airport, a kind Massachusset Roseta Stone Sales person informed us of the special deal of the day; Find someone who will buy a language program and the 2 of you get a significant discount. Our flight was delayed just enough to bring an interested customer, who in no time became buyer, allowing us to get the long awaited TURKISH level 1. We were very excited. A 'man' in Turkish is Adam!

This is how i found jediah when i came out of the shower . Stuying Turkish. It's all about faith rest after all.

////Photo to be posted... as soon as we find the cord...////


On our way back from our little 2 year wedding anniversary celebration at Chincoteague Island, we read part of the story of Adoniram and Nancy Judson. They studied the Burmese language 12 hours a day when they first got there. It also took them 1 year to get to Burma by boat. Hmm. How things have changed.

It hardly felt like being in another country for a while until the voice that cries in the cities woke us up from our dreams. Allaaaaaaaaaaaaaah,,,, etc... It must have been around 5 pm. Indeed this is not America!
- though i think we could all use daily reminders for prayer!
I'll never forget the 1st time we heard the call for prayer. We were on our way to our honeymoon, driving from casablanca, Morroco to Marrakesh.... It's the middle of the night, we stop at a tiny little gas station in the middle of absolute no where. the idea is to get some coffee for our driver who is litterally falling asleep on us. that gas station also happens to have its own tower with a loud speaker at the top. When the yelling starts, jediah wakes up from his sleep and his first thought is: We're being attacked by a flock of cows...!!

we're meeting with p matti at 6 tonight and tomorrow the search for an apartment begins.

Family time... BALTIMORE 2007

My sister Melody and her husband P. Beaugard were visiting for 3 weeks and it was a treat to be all together once again. (the last time was 2 years ago) They live in Paris, FR and are very involved in the GGWO church there with singing, teaching etc... We hope they'll be able to be in Baltimore for a bit longer someday!

On the 4th of July at the Watsons...

"Like the potter"........well.... we tried at least.

Devotion in Book Cafe - july 10, 2007 - P Schaller HEBREWS 6:11

Not sloathful, but with faith and with patience, looking afar off... I can have my eyes on myself, and be utterly discouraged or dream with God's promises and see myself how He sees me. The rest will follow.

................................................................
My Quietness

O Thou Who art my quietness, my deep repose,
My rest from strife of tongues, my holy hill,

Fair is Thy pavilion, where I hold me still.
Back let them fall from me, my clamorous foes,
Confusions multiplied;
From crowding things of sense I flee, and in Thee hide.
Until this tyranny be overpast,
Thy hand will hold me fast;
What though the tumult of the storm increase,
Grant to they servant strength, O Lord,
and bless with peace.

Amy Carmichael

PRAYER MEETING at the Villeneuves with singing in Turkish!

CONVENTION - as seen on our lil' TV in the booth -

WAS FABULOUS to say the least!
One of our favorite moments:

Jediah with friends Scott and Carl from Marlboro!

OUR BOOTH :

DESTINATION ISTANBUL, TURKEY !

GOD SENT MANY ANGELS OUR WAY!

Don and Janet Tanguay were the most instrumental people

in the realization of the booth! JANET WAS THE RELENTLESS HEART BEAT AND PUMP OF THIS WHOLE ADVENTURE.... tHANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

also...

Fanny Berthe from France

Shirm Stevens and Scott Dubay showed up one

day we desperately needed more hands...

Mr. and Ms. Johnson!

other friends who's help was very timely:

JOHN VON BUCKWALL -himself leaving for Istanbul in September,

MICHELLE - the infatigable!

HAYLEY TANGUAY - traveling great distances to volunteer her help,

STEPHAN and MINDY,

BEN TANGUAY,

SHANE VILLENEUVE,

CHRIS ALDERSEN,

ESTHER - from Iran,

JASMINE - born in Istanbul,

ALEX - from Philly,

and others who were led by the Spirit to our rescue at various times!

Collecting coins for toilet paper on the missionfield..... Rene and Debbie are ever edifying, giving us tips and other very useful information that are already helping us prepare our arrival in Istanbul.

......................................................................
The MIRACLE JOB that enabled us to pay our debts off and 'afford' to look at the possibility of a foreign missionfield! PRAISE GOD!!

"THINKING WITH GOD" is the theme

We are looking forward to the Annual International Convention coming up at the end of this month!! For more information visit: www.ggwo.org

We'll be doing a Turkey booth! Make sure to stop by. (volunteers are welcome!)

Tilmann, Ugur, and Nicati.

The three Christian men who paid the ultimate price

for their faith in Christ on April 18, 2007.

Shemsa, Nicatis' wife, singing a hymn at her husband's funeral.

Divine Turn Around

A Powerful witness in the funeral of the Turkish Martyrs

On Wednesday April 18, 2007, the fledgling Christian community in this nation of 70 million Muslims, suffered a devastating blow, when three of its finest, were brutally murdered for their faith. One German and two other Turkish brothers were found in the print shop, in south central Turkey, where they published and sold Bibles. They had been tortured, stabbed repeatedly, and bound with their throats slit.
Sadly, it was at the hands of five trusted young men, who had claimed to be seekers of our LORD. The murder was skillfully pre-meditated and ruthlessly carried out.
Needless to say, as members of the Body, we have been deeply grieved by this terrible tragedy. Yet, what appeared to be a victory for the enemy has since resulted in the most OPEN DECLARATION of the GOSPEL this nation has seen since the Apostle Paul! Therefore, we rejoice that not one drop of blood shed by these dear saints has fallen to the ground in vain.
Last Saturday, approximately 500 believers gathered in a demonstration of solidarity, to honor the lives of these colleagues. Despite the heavy police and media coverage in a country that is 99.9% Muslim, each of us had determined that is worth the risk and exposure, to stand together for our LORD.
After all, it seemed a small sacrifice, compared to the loss experienced by the wives, children and fiancé of the deceased.
What we witnessed has FOREVER changed our lives! As the body was carried into the courtyard, high upon the shoulders of our Turkish brothers, spontaneous applause burst forth! I leaned over to my national friend and queried, "Is this normal for funerals, in your culture?" "No," he asserted, "it's because he's a martyr!" As the casket continued its journey toward the front, ethereally beautiful worship music erupted—somewhat reminiscent of a Gregorian chant.
Then everyone joined together in the singing of Turkish praise songs.
However, what followed nearly took our breath away!
Approximately 10 Turkish leaders proclaimed openly the GOSPEL in front of television cameras, newspaper reporters, police officials, the Deputy Governor of Izmir and several other important officials.
FEARLESSLY, yet with GENTLE STRENGTH each shared his faith in CHRIST, and HIS FORGIVENESS of those who had committed the heinous murders!
Additionally, they shared that CHRIST had won the VICTORY, and at this very hour the
martyrs were standing before the very throne of GOD! Several mentioned that the lives of these men were perhaps the seeds that must be planted in order for a harvest to come forth. One pastor passionately explained, "We will spread this message, God's Word, because we are children of the Word! You may kill us all, but we will spread this message, because we love you and because Jesus loves you! We forgive the attackers, because we too, have been forgiven. "Powerful applause, "Amens" and "Hallelujahs" erupted from among the scores of nationalities represented there! It was awesome!
However, what happened next..... Can ONLY be explained by the SUPERNATURAL LOVE and STRENGTH that GOD ALONE can give. Spontaneously, in an unplanned moment-- Necati's wife asked if she could speak. "Amid her tears she spoke of her forgiveness of the very men who had tortured and killed her precious husband, and the father of her children! In an emotion filled voice, she asserted: "I know my Necati was praying for them, even while he was being tortured." She also spoke of the wonderful love they shared as a family and their joy in serving the LORD together. Lastly, she stated "I loved my husband very, very much---but, I love my Jesus even more. And that is how I can face tomorrow." Again thunderous applause burst forth! We were spell bound! In the closing moments of this incredible service, one of the pastors shouted "Afferin Necati!!! Afferin Tilman!!! Afferin Ugur!!! ---Which translated means--- "Well done Necati!! Well-done Tilman!! Well done Ugur!! We are certain
the LORD echoed those same sentiments, as he received those precious men into HIS heavenly kingdom!!! Then, as Necati's body was lovingly ushered onward to its final resting place, applause and praise resonated throughout the garden!
As we looked up, we noticed that the media stood utterly dumbfounded! We were quite certain they had NEVER witnessed anything like this before. Yet, as believers we knew we had been in the very presence of the LORD! It seemed as if we had observed church history in the very making. Most importantly,
we believe that the precious blood of these saints was NOT shed in vain, but will be used to further GOD'S KINGDOM in a manner that has not occurred since the time of the apostles! So let it be written--- so let it be done!!!!!!

Doug Epp
Director of Service Learning
Columbia Bible College
Phone: 604-853-3567 ext 317
Toll Free: 1-800-283-0881
Fax: 604-853-3063
Doug.Epp@columbiabc.edu

PRAYER MEETING

Hey! We meet on monday nights at P. Jozsef and Zoumrad's apartment for a fun time of fellowship and PRAYER for the country of Turkey. It's also a time to be updated with the LATEST NEWS about Team Istanbul, laugh with little Jozsi and Rebecca and enjoy some snacks. It was great to pray with the Villeneuves last time. Join us, if you so wish, for a great edifying time!
Details
-> Time: 7:30 PM
-> Where: accross from the church, building 6002, top floor, apt. C1.
-> Contact: 443-839-9203