Ministry in a Closed Country

My time in Turkey was full and sweet. While it did come with some challenges it was a time of ministry in a smaller city with a sweet community. Me along with my new team not only got to minister to each other but we had the opportunity to pour into the family we were partnered with. 

After the ordeal of getting to our city (I’m not naming the city to keep those we partnered with safe) I was excited to see what we would be doing and how we would serve this community. In the Christian community Turkey is considered a closed country meaning it is illegal to evangelize or even appear to be “converting” someone to Christianity since it is almost entirely a Muslim country. Turkey has deported many missionaries in the past and continue to prosecute local Christians for trying to spread the truth and love of Christ with those around them. Knowing all of this put both an urgency in me but also a sense of caution. I wanted the people in this community to come to know the Lord and I wanted to serve those we were partnered with well but, I also wanted to protect the ministry there. I didn’t want to put them at risk because of my urgency. 

My team and I loved our hosts. They were so nice and welcoming and I loved working with them and getting to know them. We did so many things for this ministry. We painted, yard work, child care, cleaning, house visits, and so much more. 

(This is me covered in paint while we were painting an apartment)

One moment during our time in Turkey I will always remember is one day my teammate Renee and I offered to do some child care and it ended with us getting to pour into a local woman who needed some encouragement. Our host invited her over to check up on her and she gave us the opportunity to speak truth to her and to pray for her. It was a night that did not go as planned but it was beautiful and I will never forget it. 

My time in Turkey was fraught with spiritual warfare like I have never experienced. Because the spiritual atmosphere was so heavy I was constantly feeling this weight on my shoulders. I felt like I had to be perfect or it wasn’t good enough. Like I was letting God down and that he was disappointed in me. This was also coupled with the feeling of utter loneliness and emptiness. 

(I usually take pictures of my feet when I see pretty tiles or somewhere significant but in this season I was feeling  alone and I remember when I took this photo I was trying to find something that made me smile. So, when I found these beautiful tiles and it was like a wink from the Lord and a little reminder that the Lord sees me)

Overall, my time in Turkey was a lot. There were some amazing moments and some not so amazing moments. The Lord showed up for us in Turkey and I know he was working there before we were there and he is continuing to work there after we left. He is changing hearts and minds in that country and I will forever pray for our ministry hosts. They are amazing and it was an honor to get to know them and their families. 

(This is a bonus photo. The know in our shower popped off and it took us over an hour to get it back on while water was shooting out of it. this photo was taken after we finally got the knob back on and the water stopped.)