What A Good Day

Today was a good day. I got the kids up and ready for school and as I was rushing to do that I was told I was going because I had to carry some stuff in for Benny the Jet. Well I got ready real quick and off we went first to the boat to cross the sea and then in the car to school. The driver, Lewis, is hilarious. (Lewis because he reminds me of Humpty Dumpty from a tv movie version of Alice and Wonderland from the early 90s. And Lewis Carol wrote Alice and Wonderland so…I know it’s a stretch but every time I see him I think of that. Or maybe the short burglar from ‘Home Alone”. Never Mind.) He is the one who picked me up from the airport when I first arrived in Turkey. He missed me though so we sat in the same airport at different parts for an hour. But that is beside the point. He was confused as to why I was there because no one told him I was coming. Then when he figured out why I was there he ranted in broken English about my patron being ridiculous. I was dropped off with the kids walked them in dropped off the stuff and then Lewis found me and we walked to the car together.

Lewis speaks the best English out of the group so we went to a café for breakfast and “chatted.” He calls me his English teacher. We also have a joke. In we say “no problem,” or in Turkish “Problem yoke,” when things actually could be a problem or could be stressful. Its funny because I did that before I went to Turkey but my phrase was “It’s fine.” Any way, we had Turkish Tea and Burrick, which is kind of like macaroni and cheese but much better. They use feta and noodle sheets all squished together. It kind of looks like a brain. The top is crispy like a pastry. It’s good anyway. So we dined by the sea in the cool morning air under giant 200 year old trees. Then after trying to wait on the ferry that took to long we drove back to the house. You see a sea divides Istanbul. The Ferries are quicker because the city only has two bridges. Jacksonville is smaller and has seven. Got home got ready and left. Walked to the Ferry station because that is where some café’s are. Stopped in at one and had some lunch. While there I met a Turk studying to be a geophysicist. He spoke ok English and he gave me free Chi. It was great. I was the first foreign person he had ever seen in the particular part of Istanbul where I live.

After lunch I went home and waited on the kids. It didn’t take to long and there they were. First we had a snack and while we were eating one of Caitlin’s friends, The Brit, came to “give Emre some shoes.” She also has arranged a play date for her boy and mine. So awesome! Oh the cleverness of her! They left and it was time for art. First we drew pictures of ourselves on post-its. (I don’t know it was Princess Peach’s idea.) We painted our feet and then walked on paper. They thought it was hilarious. The Princess Peach had a math lesson and Benny and I played. First we played with Hotwheels and then I watched him play Wii Tennis. He got really into it. It was fun to watch. Dinner was late but fun. I had everyone tell funny stories from their day. Nobodies story was really funny but I laughed a lot any way. My Patron’s was not funny at all but she would pause where she expected a laugh so I would laugh because of how absurd it was. It was great. Then after dinner kids were in bed and I taught my Patron how to watch tv on the internet. She hugged me and kissed my cheek. She was very excited and said she would have to quit work. I am afraid I am failing. The God that I want her to quit work for and the god she wants to quit work for are not quite the same. Progress anyway?

Then I went to the kitchen and had a snack. I also brought done some shoes and my Turkish dictionary so that I could explain they were for Benny but not until next year. I used the dictionary and got my point across and their was much rejoicing between Mother Hen, Java , and I. Then I had my snack. Peter Pan peanut butter with nutella on fresh bread. I am gonna be as big as a house when I leave this place but oh well. Mother Hen yelled at me for standing up when I ate and made me sit. You see, she explained, when you eat standing it goes to your ankles and you can’t get nourishment. While when you sit and eat it gets to your stomach and you are nourished. Of course I had no idea what she was saying so really it was a hilarious game of charades with pointing and a bunch of Turkish I didn’t quite catch. Then I went through my pictures on my computer with Mother Hen. Showed her my family. We also looked at Caitlin’s arrival at home pictures. Mother Hen really likes Caitlin’s parents and kept telling me how wonderful they where and how much she loved them.

(As a side note this is the third time I have got up to teach my Patron about watching tv online. This past time I showed her that she could enlarge the screen. “Oh F**k” she exclaimed with a look of Christmas morning joy on her face. It’s the simple things really. “God bless democracy” also came out of her mouth. You see good democracy allows for tv on the internet? I am her new best friend for the next five minutes.)

After creeping on Caitlin, her family, and her home in St. Augustine. Mother Hen went to bed and here I am typing. Oh I also got a letter today from a friend at church, Rebekah, and I was so pumped!!! Still am in fact. Oh and they are going on the boat for the weekend and they might leave me at the house!!! I am not holding my breath but I am still excited! It would be a four-day weekend.

Pray for the continued advancement of the gospel in this place. Pray that God’s presence will be felt here. He must show himself strong.