Day 1, Thursday, Oct 31
The team is starting to collect and head for a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. Susie and Heather left Seattle the day before so they could fly all night, then spend most of the day on a layover in Istanbul. Jonathan, Justin, and Mark left at noon from North Carolina to stop at JFK and then overnight to Istanbul. Fred, Thad and Nate left Chicago in the evening for an overnight flight to Istanbul.
Day 2, Friday, Nov 1
Moving eastward overnight and moving later in the day we formed the team near the gate for the 6pm flight to Hatay, Turkey and the drive to our rented flat in Samandag, very near the port of Seleucia, not that far from Atakya (Antioch). Time to settle in and try for overcoming the lack of sleep and jet lag.
Day 3, Saturday, Nov 2
This is the day designated to get oriented and see some of the sights as this is a day off for the workers who bring supplies. We started off with a walking tour of the tunnel of Titus, which was constructed to route the water away from the city of Seleucia to keep silt from filling the harbor. We had fresh squeezed pomegranate along the way. Then we went to the chapel for a brunch. After brunch we went to the KAYA project where they are just developing tiny houses, more permanent housing, and hope to purchase some connecting land to make a camp. Then to a Saturday afternoon kids club. After kids club we went for “tea” at a tiny house owner, which included a side dish of none meat vegetable scoop eaten on lettuce plus tomato and spicy peppers. We were planning on going to youth group, but most were studying and that caused us to go to supper with the leaders. Interesting testimonies of lives changed for the Lord.
Day 4, Sunday, Nov 3
Meetings start later in the morning, so we went to St. Pierre Church. This dates from the 2nd century and is mostly a cave in the hillside but had been added to during the crusades. Along the way we were able to see modern Antioch, old Antioch, and the original Antioch that Paul and Barnabus has likely seen. The destruction we saw was the inverse as modern Antioch was built across the river in field, not according to earthquake codes and had more destruction than the original houses built on the rocky hillside. Then we joined the believers in Antioch, meeting some who serve in other ways in relief work. Their meeting ends with soup and bread (with tea). Then it was time for Sunday dinner at a well-respected restaurant with a delicious meal. Then to the 3 pm meeting in Seleucia, with the fellowship lasting nearly to sunset. Since we are near the sea we almost made it in time to see the sun setting over the Mediterranean. We walked on the beach until dark, then returned to our abode.
Day 5, Monday, Nov 4
Finally, a workday. Not an early start as the supplies had to be picked up and brought to the site. The site was located up a staired hillside. This makes this type of construction ideal as we can carry the pieces to the location up the stairs and under the tangerine trees. This was our first house and learned to put it together, finishing about noon. Lunch was served at the site. Then we drove to the next location, waited a while for the material to arrive, then to the work of putting everything together much faster as everyone knew what needed to be done this time. We were done before supper, showered, cooked our own supper, and had an enjoyable evening playing Farkle.
Day 6, Tuesday, May 5
Another family to bless with the building of a tiny house. The first one was tucked in between buildings, but had easy access from another street for the material. The project went quickly, with a break for tea and then lunch afterwards. Here are people living in tents and make-shift shelters for over 20 months, yet they are very generous. The afternoon was another house squeezed into an orchard (many, many orchards of orange trees in this area) and down from the street. After a large tea spread in the middle and more tea at the end we headed back to clean up. We had been invited out for supper, then to the chapel for a Bible study. These are relatively new believers and are learning that they can read and understand the Bible, as opposed to their background where only the religious can interpret their scriptures.
Day 7, Wednesday, May 6
Houses are going up quite fast as we all have the system down and are able to help wherever needed. The morning house was done early, so we waited for the noon meal to be delivered. After lunch we erected one and were done about 3:30. As an example, this lady had four children, was divorced from her husband (no support), her mother has cancer, and was living with her mother-in-law, having lost her house. This allowed us to return to our lodging, clean up, and walk to the downtown or market place to see the sights, one of our men got a haircut and shave for $7.00, ate some sweets and returned for a rousing game of Farkle. We headed back to the market place for supper, finding a place, after inquiring from the locals, serving lamb kabobs at their closing time. The experience is too much to describe.
Day 8, Thursday, May 7
This day we headed into Antakya (45 minute drive) to put up a house. It was a slow start and after a coffee break and a tea break, we still finished by noon. We stopped to enjoy another treat of local cuisine of chicken donar kebob (compressed meat roasted on a vertical shaft, then shaved off). Then we were able to load a pickup full of donated supplies from storage to KAYA. Only one load was possible before we had to prepare for leaving. After mis-communications we arrived at the airport at Hatay in plenty of time for the flight to Istanbul where we went our various ways to head to our destinations. The trip has been helpful for several disadvantaged, and we were able to do our part. We were able to experience another culture and see the Lord’s work in this area. The Lord provided beautiful weather for us to work in.
|
ReplyReply allForward |