The above painting was done by a new friend of mine, who happens to be quite famous around these parts; his name is Ahmet Fazil Aksoy. We met on Easter Sunday early in the morning as the church gathered at one of Istanbul's most scenic parks with a great view on the Bosphorus. He was up on the hill catching the moment on his canvas. Across the Bosporus to the right is a silhouette of Hagia Sofia and the blue mosque crowing the hills of the golden horn, to the left the Asian hills of Kadikoy. Follow the water between these two scenes into the mouth of the sea of Marmara, round the Princes' Islands and top it off with a chain of mountains edging the horizon and far side of the sea. What a view! Ahmet has traveled the world during his painting career of 30 years and he believes Istanbul is the most scenic city in the world. You'll have to come and decide for yourself. It's hard to catch on camera but his paintings do quite a good job. He has a website - click on WORKS to see nearly 300 of his paintings. Consider leaving him a comment saying you are a friend of mine. http://ahmetfazilaksoy.net/v3_plt/platin.aspx?platinID=33§ion=1&lang=ENG That morning I was privileged to watch him paint for over an hour while he instructed me on what brands of paint, what size brushes, and type of canvas to use. He also gave me numbers for his friends where I could buy discount supplies. Then we made plans to meet again so I could learn more. To my surprise he called me the following Thursday early in the morning and said - I'm over at the park if you'd like to come watch. We had the best time together - as he painted and talked about his trips in the states and I sat on the back of his white mini-van. I had the biggest smile the whole time as I couldn't get over how personal God is to build me up like that. I love to do oil paintings - but it has been so long that I have forgotten how. I don't know if I'll paint again but it was so much fun to think that God may touch this man's life. Pray for him, perhaps there will be much more to the story.
Jediah
Adventures in Istanbul, Turkey as a family of 2, then on to Zambia, Africa as a family or 3 then 4, and now soon to be 5!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
EASTER WEEKEND
SATURDAY NIGHT: 1st Concert in Onay Sanat Cafe, in the heart of Istiklal Street
Here Jediah and his good friend Faruk. Please keep praying for his salvation!!
Elina flew in from Finland with her violin and her gifts to serve us during this Easter Season. She beautified the choir and added a wonderfully heavenly touch with her music. 
My friend Umran (on the R, with scarf) who lives in Kadikoy on the Asian Side came for a little while with her friend, Nur, before heading out to another concert in Taksim. Umran is a fan of Rock music - she plays in a band and so i'm sure our concert was not what she was used to! On top of that she is a devotted muslim and i could tell she was a little uncomfortable when P Matti was preaching; it's amazing she even showed up. She is so sweet. Please keep praying for her.
Our neighboor, Nazife, came to the concert as well, with very little notice.
The next morning at 6:30 am, Nazife and her sister, Aynur, were both waiting outside our house to come with us to the SUNRISE BREAKFAST in a Park nearby.
L to R:
P Matti, a great Turkish man (oops, i forget his name) Jediah, Sarah, Aynur, Zumrad and Nazife. Nazife then attended the church service at 11 am and showed up for the 2cnd concert, sunday night, with her daughter, Shebo. Shebo's both an artist and a flight attendant with the Turkish Airline. She asked me if we could meet to pratice her english and she'd help me with Tukish. Neither her nor her mom are believers.
There was no sun for our sunrise breakfast, but P matti spoke on seeing the invisible; it was a perfect live illustration!!! Later we noticed a famous Turkish painter up on the hill, he was painting the same scene we were looking at but his had a sunrise ;)
Monday, March 17, 2008
today...
Well, today was such a poopy day. I know that's not what you came to hear about, but sorry, that's just how it is. Should I blame it on the hormones? maybe i should and stop wondering.
We did have a great prayer meeting with the ladies from the church this afternoon (Dr. Liisa fr Finland, Margot fr Chermany, Irada fr Azerbaijan, Alfiya and Zamira fr Uzbekistan, and yours truly from where i come from; all speaking the universal english language)
We have a great and busy weekend coming up in honor of the celebration of Easter:
Concert Saturday night (Elina is flying from Finland for that occasion, with her violin of course) I think we'll try to keep her here. Not for the violin; I have my reasons.
Sunday Sunrise breakfast in a nearby park. 'Bring your breakfast, tables and benches are provided. and sunrise"
The view is sublime from there, it's going to be sweet.
Then regular AM service at 11 and another concert at night. The concerts are happening in the Santa Maria Church and in the Onay Sanat Concert Hall on Istiklal for those who are familiar. Great spots to invite friends.
Last night our corner grocery owner told jediah he'd be interested in the breakfast in the park. (you might remember him, he's the one that looks like Joe Murphy, but is not AS good-looking as J.M.)
Jediah just left for Eminonu (2 tram stops away) to meet Taygun for 'Cay'.
Last sunday morning was a remarkable service. P Matti spoke about the value of meditation and defined it in clear terms for our new believers. Good refresher for us 'old' believers as well.
"Without meditation (masticating on words) Bible reading becomes mechanical." Wow. that's a major revelation :)
And so we live our lives by e-v-e-r-y Word that God spoke, and still speaks. It's a good life, like Matt Sliva would put it.
We did have a great prayer meeting with the ladies from the church this afternoon (Dr. Liisa fr Finland, Margot fr Chermany, Irada fr Azerbaijan, Alfiya and Zamira fr Uzbekistan, and yours truly from where i come from; all speaking the universal english language)
We have a great and busy weekend coming up in honor of the celebration of Easter:
Concert Saturday night (Elina is flying from Finland for that occasion, with her violin of course) I think we'll try to keep her here. Not for the violin; I have my reasons.
Sunday Sunrise breakfast in a nearby park. 'Bring your breakfast, tables and benches are provided. and sunrise"
The view is sublime from there, it's going to be sweet.
Then regular AM service at 11 and another concert at night. The concerts are happening in the Santa Maria Church and in the Onay Sanat Concert Hall on Istiklal for those who are familiar. Great spots to invite friends.
Last night our corner grocery owner told jediah he'd be interested in the breakfast in the park. (you might remember him, he's the one that looks like Joe Murphy, but is not AS good-looking as J.M.)
Jediah just left for Eminonu (2 tram stops away) to meet Taygun for 'Cay'.
Last sunday morning was a remarkable service. P Matti spoke about the value of meditation and defined it in clear terms for our new believers. Good refresher for us 'old' believers as well.
"Without meditation (masticating on words) Bible reading becomes mechanical." Wow. that's a major revelation :)
And so we live our lives by e-v-e-r-y Word that God spoke, and still speaks. It's a good life, like Matt Sliva would put it.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
nothing less than a miracle
for those of you who knew that we had some serious problems with our return tickets, here's some shocking news: it's all good; we have return tickets for may 19th.
ok, ok. so with all of you praying it's not so shocking.
but still.
The situation was soooo messy... one manager from United said we had been completely erased from their system only showing a return ticket reserved for june 17th that could NOT be moved and threatened to discharged us if we didn't stop insisting.
There are many reasons why we wanted to be back in the States waaay before that. (one of them being that a group of 15 people is moving in our house end of may... )
Tonight when Jediah called for one last desperate attempt to get the date changed, he 'happened' to talk to the most helpful agent ever.
Well... thank you for praying...
ok, ok. so with all of you praying it's not so shocking.
but still.
The situation was soooo messy... one manager from United said we had been completely erased from their system only showing a return ticket reserved for june 17th that could NOT be moved and threatened to discharged us if we didn't stop insisting.
There are many reasons why we wanted to be back in the States waaay before that. (one of them being that a group of 15 people is moving in our house end of may... )
Tonight when Jediah called for one last desperate attempt to get the date changed, he 'happened' to talk to the most helpful agent ever.
Well... thank you for praying...
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Monday, March 03, 2008
GREAT EXPECTATIONS!
We've had great expectations for this years Euro-Con for sometime now. Last week, our plans changed spontaneously. We were planning to go for just 3 days but suddenly it became clear that wasn't going to work for us. With exactly enough money to purchase the cheaper tickets to Vienna, we decided to move on Faith! :) Saturday we arrived in Vienna for the Vienna-Con with P. Barry Quirk- guest pastors Steve Andrulonis and P. Drew. Great men of God from Vienna were there also like P. Pavel, P. Arpi, and P. Dragon.
The first night we checked into the youth hostel and made our way to the evening concert, where we were so built up by the inspired, vibrant, and tallented group of young and older from Budapest, singing with all their hearts and faith! The opening message by P. Drew floored me, it was all that I had been desperately needing to hear and I was ready with pen in hand to hold onto those precious words.
Isaiah said "Woe is me, I am a man undone"- "Who is telling you that Isaiah? Let those other high thoughts be delivered from you. Then the angels took a 'LIVE coal' off the alter. We need to be TOUCHED WITH A LITTLE LIFE HERE! God wants to take the you out of you. There are other high thoughts- but we are to think soberly- Let this mind be in you! Cast down every thought that exalts itself. We know nothing as we ought to know it."
Well the morning message by Pastor Foster was amazing also "take the simple simplistic answers of the bible and dip in the river 7 times!" Let's get wet all over. Let's continue in faith. Commenting on marriage counselling he said "Maybe some couples should come out to church and develop a capacity in their soul to deal with some of those huge overwhelming issues like passing the salt." :)
P. Barry had compassion on me and found a place for me in the van back to Budapest. And there was a spot for Sarah in one of the cars. We arrived in Budapest and are staying with the Schirmers- P. Jim and Marta (who went on a couple day trip leaving us their beautiful appartment all to ourselves- what a sweet short relief from the team-house!!) God knows our personal needs!
Our faith is desperate these days, and God is so very real and prescious.
Oh one last very incredible miracle. Sarah has been sick in bed for over one month - with all day extreme morning sickness, she has not even been able to go to church except once. She has really been praying and believing for a miracle for this trip. SHE GOT HER MIRACLE! The night before we flew to Vienna she was feeling great and it has been the same for two days now as we've travelled all about Vienna and Budapest! Pray for the rest of the week.
WE LOVE YOU ALL, THANKS FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP! And thank you to all those who with their support made it possible for us to come to Budapest!
The first night we checked into the youth hostel and made our way to the evening concert, where we were so built up by the inspired, vibrant, and tallented group of young and older from Budapest, singing with all their hearts and faith! The opening message by P. Drew floored me, it was all that I had been desperately needing to hear and I was ready with pen in hand to hold onto those precious words.
Isaiah said "Woe is me, I am a man undone"- "Who is telling you that Isaiah? Let those other high thoughts be delivered from you. Then the angels took a 'LIVE coal' off the alter. We need to be TOUCHED WITH A LITTLE LIFE HERE! God wants to take the you out of you. There are other high thoughts- but we are to think soberly- Let this mind be in you! Cast down every thought that exalts itself. We know nothing as we ought to know it."
Well the morning message by Pastor Foster was amazing also "take the simple simplistic answers of the bible and dip in the river 7 times!" Let's get wet all over. Let's continue in faith. Commenting on marriage counselling he said "Maybe some couples should come out to church and develop a capacity in their soul to deal with some of those huge overwhelming issues like passing the salt." :)
P. Barry had compassion on me and found a place for me in the van back to Budapest. And there was a spot for Sarah in one of the cars. We arrived in Budapest and are staying with the Schirmers- P. Jim and Marta (who went on a couple day trip leaving us their beautiful appartment all to ourselves- what a sweet short relief from the team-house!!) God knows our personal needs!
Our faith is desperate these days, and God is so very real and prescious.
Oh one last very incredible miracle. Sarah has been sick in bed for over one month - with all day extreme morning sickness, she has not even been able to go to church except once. She has really been praying and believing for a miracle for this trip. SHE GOT HER MIRACLE! The night before we flew to Vienna she was feeling great and it has been the same for two days now as we've travelled all about Vienna and Budapest! Pray for the rest of the week.
WE LOVE YOU ALL, THANKS FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP! And thank you to all those who with their support made it possible for us to come to Budapest!
Friday, February 29, 2008
GOD GIVES REAL HOPE
It's always hard to lose someone. I'm sitting in John's old room here in the team house. It still has that hiker smell to it which was so fond of John :) Hope is such a wonderful thing. As long as there is hope we can conquer anything. We are planning and preparing for our Easter weekend celebrations which will be entitled "God gives Real Hope!" There will be concerts, services, and a sunrise breakfast. Pray with us for this time. And check out our new prayer blog at http://www.istanbulggprayer.blogspot.com/
Much love, In Him, Jediah
Saturday, February 23, 2008
JOHNNY THE V
JOHN'S FIRST DAY IN ISTANBUL, A BIT JET-LAGGED THERE, BUT ONE OF HIS DREAMS COME TRUE.
CAN YOU TELL WHO THIS IS?!
AFTER OUTREACH, EATING 'BALIK' AT A LOCAL TURKISH RESTAURANT
JOHN CALLED THE TEAM HOUSE
'THE INCUBATOR OF LOVE' - ICL for short
and he called his 7m2 bedroom
'his slice of heaven'!
JOHN CALLED THE TEAM HOUSE
'THE INCUBATOR OF LOVE' - ICL for short
and he called his 7m2 bedroom
'his slice of heaven'!
ON SUNDAYS WE OFTEN HAD NEW BELIEVERS OVER THE TEAM HOUSE FOR LUNCH. john and jediah doing dishes was always quite a sight for our Turkish guests!
JOHN ARRIVED IN TURKEY IN SEPTEMBER 07.
HE BROUGHT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO THE TEAM AND A PRAYER REVIVAL AT THE TEAM HOUSE.
FOR WEEKS HE QUOTED A MOVIE AND JOKED TOGETHER THAT HE'D 'MADE THE TEAM'
(southern accent please) AND THEN WOULD ASK JEDIAH "WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE THE DADDY TEAM?!"
He blessed the Istanbul church and team with leading the weekly outreaches, appointing and leading prayer meetings, filling in for P Josef's bible college classes, singing with our little group for services, being 'uncle john' to jozsika and becky, (he eventually became known as such by the rest of the team house!!) spending inumerable hours with potential disciples, cooking breakfast with jediah for our 7 pple team house meeting (a delicious omelet, which we found out later consisted of nothing short than 25 eggs), daily studying Turkish - with a frown on his face and with Amber's notes, playing silly spoon game and laughing our heads off, hooking us up on Super Food, talking with us for a while in the kitchen and sharing in our experiences and dilemnas together...
John is to us a hero, a true friend, a real man, an example, a brother of Faith and we are so thrilled that his GREATEST DREAM and LIFE GOAL has come true.
"And John saw Jesus"
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