Hello from Turkey! We are doing so well here and God is moving so much! I’m excited to share a bit more of what God is doing and the little moments that I get to live out on a day to day basis.

Our cute little church here in Çanakkale

Church is where we work, live, clean, and host. Here is a little run down of what we do in a week

Sunday we have a Sunday service and a time of fellowship. There is always tea involved. We usually have 30 or so people join us for service. Small but an intentional time.

We have English clubs on Wednesday. It’s for all people to come to. We’ve met so many new friends through this little club that has become quite a big club. This past week we had about 30 people come! 5 girls left with a copy of the New Testament! That’s so cool!

Thursdays we have our other team from Ayvacik come over. We have a time of teaching and then we practice for Easter. Our whole squad is in the Easter program but we are all doing different things. My team is doing a dance with the youth and singing six songs in Turkish. Turkish is hard but we have these songs on repeat during the day and we are hoping to get them down! Haha

Every other Friday we have youth/ young adult nights. We help cook a meal. Then we get to hang out and have a teaching with the youth. There are about 10 who come. They are all so sweet and we are glad to hang out with them!

The other days of the week we are either cleaning the church or doing Atl

Little adventures and things

Our house sits closer to the outside of town so everything here is about a 30 minute walking distance from us, besides a couple little grocery stores. We get a good walk in everyday which is really nice even if it’s still a bit chilly out. Our walks remind me of home. Walking with Perry or after a home cooked meal at Poppy’s house I’m thankful for our little walks here in town. There’s always a cat or two or three and there’s always someone sipping a cup of Turkish tea.

We once again live by some water. This has been one of the sweet things that I have had in almost every country, a body of water. It’s almost like it’s become somewhat of a comfort and it’s just so pretty!

Our Friday markets have become one of my favorite things here! Since Albania we’ve always had fresh produce but this market is full of all kinds of things! From cheese and bread to Brussel sprout and oranges you could get anything. Honestly I could just live there! Also those four foods have been our go too for anything. We love an orange, some cheese, some bread, and a roasted veggie!! Also you can’t forget the butter and eggs!!

While being here we’ve met so many people.

The first Sunday I met a girl named Daphane from Uganda! We got coffee and talked for quite a while. It was sweet to get to know her before she left for school in istanbul!

Kayla met a guy from Kazakhstan studying here in Turkey. We all went to coffee with him and his friend! Then they came to English club and we hope to hang out with them again.

A group of AIM alumni racers came into town this week and reached out to us! It was so special having them around, talking to them and being encouraged by them. They sadly left Sunday but it was sweet to see some familiar faces and meet some new likeminded people. It was needed more than I thought.

We’ve met a couple other people and we hope to hang out with them and their families while we are here!

The week we got here I asked God what he had for us during our time here in Çanakkale. As I prayed I felt like God really highlighted our team having a heart of worship. I then began to ask him what that looks like. I don’t play an instrument and I don’t really sing. He made it so evident, just learn. I asked Ressie Mae, who has just learned guitar if she could teach me some chords. I feel like I’ve picked up playing fairly quickly after just two weeks but it gets me excited. If anyone has any tips, pointers or anything let me know!

Ramadan is over halfway through. It’s been crazy fasting alongside of the people here and around the world for Ramadan. It hasn’t been easy. From sun up to sun day I’ve decided not to eat, except for on my sabbath. Fasting this long has increased my prayer life and intimacy with the Lord. It’s a full body hunger. A hunger for God and his word. It’s been a time of really feeding on the spirit and learning so much in the spirit.

I want to share a bit of what I’ve been learning during my time of fasting.

• “Do I love God most?” I feel like this has been a continual question that I’ve been asking myself. Do I love him more than food? Do I love him more than the feelings I feel when I’m tired or hungry or sad or even happy?

• When I love him most I will be able to love other people. My mission to love is based off of my devotion to him. If i love him most i can love others best.

• Remembering the faithfulness of the Lord in the past and pressing on in the present with expectancy that he is the same God and will continue to show up. To be so honest it’s been hard not being in past seasons with certain circumstances and experiences and holding onto that has almost hindered me from being present. I’ve been truly learning to be present in every moment. He is the same God even when things change.

• To be patient. Be patient and steadfast in prayer even when I don’t see results or the things I want to see.

• Reliance and sustainment. That I can rely on God to be my source of nutrients. That I can talk to him about anything and I don’t have to sugar coat it. He knows and is there and he wants to hear from me.

• Say and ask him things. Expect an answer from him. Seek stillness and listen to him.

• Discernment of the spiritual atmosphere. I have been feeling things in the atmosphere more and it’s been crazy. Then Erica had a little message about it and it brought so much clarity to what I was feeling. Here’s the link if you want a listen. We can walk in authority! https://youtu.be/zX_SBNyPi3c?si=A7tCO4B7IWwnf93b

• What it means to have a sound mind. A mind set on the Lord and how he meets us with his spirit of boldness 2 Timothy 1:7

That’s a lot but it’s all so sweet! This picture is a little art project with all the attributes of God I’m holding onto right now!

One thing that I have been praying over since Guatemala has been what after the race looks like. I know it sounds crazy to have been praying about that so early in my travels but God is so sweet and has been bringing clarity for this next season. Specifically in this fast I have felt so much confirmation in my next steps. I am excited to share that I will be LEADING A 9 MONTH TRIP IN AUGUST FOR AIM!! Yayyy!!! I am so so excited about this and am hoping to write more about it when I get some more information on it all. I will be raising support and will ask you to start praying now about supporting me in the future!! I am so thankful for what God is doing!

Prayers

• Pray for Muslims to encounter Jesus!

• Pray that they would receive dreams and visions or a man in white. Pray that we also would have dreams and visions

• There is a parent trip coming up and I am so excited to see my parents! Pray that they would travel safely and that it would be such a sweet time. They are also fundraising for the trip so if you feel led to give, please reach out to me.

• Pray for a continual unity in my team

• Pray for our Palm Sunday and Easter service. As we learn these songs in Turkish and as I share a Palm Sunday message. That the Holy Spirit would speak through us to the people who hear.

• Pray for those people we’ve already encountered or met. That they would see Jesus through us.

I know some of you are wondering where in the world is Çanakkale so here are a couple fun facts and history of the place.

• Çanakkale is located in northwestern Turkey on the coast of the Dardanelles Strait, which connects the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. Situated in both Europe (Gallipoli Peninsula) and Asia (Biga Peninsula), it is a major port city in the Marmara region.

• Troy is located here on Hisarlık Hill: they have an actual trojan horse replica here

• The Book of Acts 20:13–14 describes Paul travelling by land from Troas to Assos (modern-day Behramkale in the Ayvacık district of Çanakkale) to meet his companions.

• A major Roman port city in the region (near modern Dalyan) mentioned in the New Testament as a place Paul visited during his missionary journeys (Acts 16:8-11, 2 Corinthians 2:12, 2 Timothy 4:13).

• The seven churches are located around this area. Canakkale isn’t one of them but it was a significant hub for early Christianity in Asia Minor. We are so excited for an opportunity to visit all of the seven churches in the next couple of weeks! So exciting!

• Not all people practice Islam but 99% of Turkey is Muslim. The other 1% is either not religious or Christian.

I feel like my blogs always end up longer than I think they will be but thank you, as always for reading! I’m so grateful for you all! For your love and your prayers! We are all safe and I will continue to keep you updated!

With much love and in Christ,

Sydney

One last thing. If you are wanting to see more pictures i have a photo circle set up where i am uploading more pictures!

Here’s the link if you want to join!! :)

https://join.photocircleapp.com/1D2M8ZVGFN