Saturday,
October 27th:
After we
woke up and got dressed, Sarah and I headed off for Costa Rica coffee. It was
about a 30 minute walk ... The sun was shining and there was a light breeze.
Perfect weather! We ordered our coffees, then settled in for some free wifi.
Sarah pulled together an itinerary for Istanbul while I read a couple essays on
math. Pop music from my middle school days intensified the sensation that we
had just been transported to another planet ... Or at least another country.
Close to
1p, we ordered Papa John’s pizza at the adjoining restaurant and finished our
research over lunch. We finally emerged three and a half hours later. After a
brisk-paced walk home, Sarah and I took naps in preparation for our long
evening.
At 5p I
was able to Skype with the family. After a pancake dinner, Sarah and I went
over to Trey and Sara's (the other American family teaching in Erbil.) We met
their two sons, Samuel (3) and Ezekiel (2). We walked home, got our bags ready,
then Samer picked us up at 10p. We went to Majidi Mall for coffee and then
Samer graciously took us to the airport around midnight. Sarah and I went
through three security checkpoints and two passport controls, then found a seat
outside our gate to wait for a couple hours before boarding. At passport
control, Sarah had to turn in her
residency card which was a little concerning since she should be able to renew
it for a six month visa after we return. Trusting that all goes well and there
is indeed, "no problem, no problem" as the security officials suggest.
Sunday,
October 28th:
At the Erbil airport,
the photo journaling began. I decided to take pictures that would
help document what we’d done and not just what we’d seen. (The photo journal is on Facebook, so be sure to check it out since I can't post all the photos here.) Sarah and I watched
Pride and Prejudice while waiting for flight. We boarded our plane by 3:30. I slept a little before
we arrived in Ankara. We got our visas at Ankara and headed through passport
control for a 3 hour layover. We changed money, then hung out in a coffee
lounge until the check-in counter opened. After getting our boarding passes and
heading through security, a bus took us to our plane. It was certainly much
colder in Ankara than Duhok or Erbil!
An hour flight later, we arrived in Istanbul. We had
a bit of a luggage fiasco since we should have gone to the international side
to claim our bags. Finally got it sorted out, then caught a bus to Taksim. From
there, we switched to a taxi that took us across the bridge and through the
winding streets to the Hotel Ambassador. We enjoyed a Turkish bath/massage,
then went to dinner at Sultanahmet fish restaurant. I had a really yummy
seafood casserole. Their red chili sauce was amazing (lots of garlic!) We
walked from the restaurant to our hotel (a 15/20 minute walk) announcing our
arrival to everyone as we wheeled our bags over the cobblestone streets. We got
checked in and settled in our cozy, clean room. It has been encouraging to
think that our Heavenly Father has gone before us on this trip. Whoever we
meet, whatever we encounter has been ordained by Him.
Monday,
October 29th:
I read an encouraging devotion by Spurgeon this morning.
Going through the Lord’s Prayer, Spurgeon describes my spiritual goals and
lessons I’ve been learning over the past three years. After a recognition of
our adoption and a desire for the Lord’s will to be done throughout the world,
there “follows the heartfelt expression of dependence upon
God—“Give us this day our daily bread.” Being further illuminated by the
Spirit, he discovers that he is not only dependent, but sinful, hence he entreats
for mercy, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors:” and being
pardoned, having the righteousness of Christ imputed, and knowing his
acceptance with God, he humbly supplicates for holy perseverance,
“Lead us not into temptation.” … As the result of all this, there follows
a triumphant ascription of praise, “Thine is the kingdom, the
power, and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen.” We rejoice that our King
reigns in providence and shall reign in grace, from the river even to the ends
of the earth, and of his dominion there shall be no end.” Last year, my goal
was to walk in the strength of the Lord on a daily basis, recognizing my
dependence on Him. From there, He taught me about my shame, that my failure to
depend on God stems from trying to cover my shortcomings. It has been freeing
to know that shame isn’t an indicator of what I’m doing wrong, but a warning to
confess sin and hide in the righteousness of Christ. Now, I desire to praise
Him and delight in Him. It was encouraging to see that the progression of my
spiritual lessons has been ordained by God and marked out in His Word.
Sarah and I ate breakfast on the terrace, then walked to
Starbucks for a morning pick-me-up. From there, we walked to the other side of
the peninsula. On the way we enjoyed winding through European-looking
buildings, walking by the waterfront and passing by the fall leaves. We found
ourselves outside the New Mosque and climbed the stairs to look at the
courtyard. Spent a few moments admiring the tiles and imagining what it
would've looked like back in the 1500s when it was built. As we emerged on the
other side, we found ourselves outside the Spice Market or Egyptian Bazaar.
Spent a couple hours weaving our way through the maze of spices, scarves,
pottery, and souvenirs.
This was our favorite vendor.
Sarah and I stopped for a bagel, then began looking for an exit.
We came out at the bottom of a hill, which we ascended to the Sulymaniye Mosque.
Sat down in the mosque's courtyard, enjoyed the trees, and even saw a jet fly overhead. There was a quiet
café just outside the mosque where we ordered apple tea and read up on the history
of the university nearby.
Apple tea
After descending the hill, we walked to the cisterns. It was
fascinating to think that they were built such a long time ago without any of
the technology that we have today and have survived through so many
generations.
After the
cisterns, we went to the Blue Mosque. We wandered around the outside, then attended
a free session on the history of the mosque. The presentation was well done and
included facts about the mosque, the call to prayer, and various Islamic
traditions.
A couple
facts:
* The architect
of the mosque studied under Great Sinan (the architect of the Sulymaniye
mosque.) Another of Great Sinan’s students built the Taj Mahal.
* The call
to prayer alternates between the mosques facing each other.
* The
capstone (which is the piece holding the entire dome together) has the
inscription “It is God who holds the heaven and earth together.”
* Every
Muslim memorizes this section of the Qu’ran in Arabic, “In the name of God,
Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of
the Worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment. You do
we worship, and Your aid do we seek. Show us the straight way. The way of those
on whom You have bestowed Your grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and
who do not go astray.” May they indeed come to know the Way, the Truth and the
Life.
After the
presentation, we ate at a nearby café where I had a seafood salad. We walked
along a street similar to the D.C. Mall. It parallels the Blue Mosque and
houses the German fountain and Egyptian obelisks. As dusk fell, it started to sprinkle.
Sarah and I decided to head back to our hotel to rest and upload pictures.
