We have been in turkey about 10 days which is crazy! I have absolutely loved my time here and I’m glad we get to have a bit of a base camp here for a while.

Walking in the interruptible- one of my favorite things to do!

• The first full day of being in Istanbul was our sabbath. Alicia and I headed to the water to read our bibles. This man and his wife come up to us to ask us a question about the ferry. A quick question turned into a sweet conversation. We were able to ask them questions about their pilgrimage, to share the love of Jesus and share what we were doing on our own little journeys. This conversation stirred up more excitement for our time in Turkey!

• One day walking to our house we were stopped by a man who started talking to us about Islam. He was so willing to share with us his beliefs and we were able to ask him questions and share with him more of what Jesus and a relationship looks like. Our conversation really made me realize how much more I want to know about the Bible and Jesus. How much more I can learn

• We went to the blue mosque one day and decided to sit with a couple Muslims and some tourists from Spain. After listening to more on what Muslims believe we got into a deeper conversation with these sweet Spain people and decided to get their contact info. The next day we were able to meet up with them for coffee and decided to also have them over for dinner. It was such a good time of asking questions, answering questions and really getting to know them. To also have a home to host and be hospitable. My heart loves doing that kind of thing and I miss hosting things at home. They are a sweet group of people and we are praying that our cultivated enviornment of worship touched their hearts. Thank you God for such a sweet opportunity to share love and to share the gospel!

All these moments and more are all just little seeds of Gods love. The more I learn about Gods love the more I realize that it’s not about me or what I can do. All I can do is lean into Gods love and allow it overflow from me to those around me. All these moments are sweet acts of Gods love.

Dreams and visions

Like I mentioned in my previous post my team has been praying about receiving dreams and visions. We have also been asking God to give dreams and visions to the people here in turkey!

The first night of being in turkey I had my first dream that I knew came from the Lord.

I decided to go to bed while some people went out to get a late night meal. That night my team experienced some spiritual warfare all while I slept. God brought unity and a heart of prayer even as I slept. He brought unity in what I saw and that’s just so cool. I will share a couple points from my dream. If you want to hear more about my dream please reach out! It’s such a cool testimony of God and I hope to have more in the future.

• To not be overcome by fears but to stand firm in the truth knowing it will set us free.

• To preach the gospel not just to other but to myself every single day.

• What fruit am I consuming? Am I eating of this world or am I taking time to dig deep into the word of God?

• Gods word is going to be our firm foundation. It’s going to be our corner stone. It’s going to be our rock and it’s going to allow that good fruit to produce. That’s what’s going to last.

• People aren’t going to able to say Jesus is lord but at the end of the day are you able to say that He is Lord?

• Don’t let the enemy attack community. Stand firm in what you believe to be true about one another. Ask questions and don’t assume.

  These are just a couple of points and our team has been working through each of these as we are here in turkey. We have been learning a lot about God and about each other. We are so ready for more because we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.

Mosques

So many mosques and so much beauty but it’s like a sad kind of beauty. The first couple of days I was overwhelmed with a sort of sorrow for these people. They go to worship and pray multiple times a day but they don’t have a relationship with Jesus. It was really cool to go into mosques and to learn more about what Muslims believe. To leave each place prayerful over these people and thankful for the love of Jesus in my own life.

I just have to say I love the food, the tea and the hospitality here! We had an early galentines Turkish breakfast and it was so good and so fresh. My kinda meal, ya know! Also tea everywhere. People are always inviting you into their shop to try something. Probably in hopes you buy something but it’s still sweet to spark up a conversation and have a cup of tea and a piece of Turkish delight. I want to live in that generosity and hospitality.

Ramadan February 19- March 19

From sunrise to sundown, Muslims fast from food, drink, smoking, and sexual relations. They do this to exercise self restraint so they can focus their attention and worship on Allah. It truly shows their longing for acceptance. As followers of Jesus we have so much hope in our secured acceptance when we fast. The power of fasting in Isaiah 58 calls us to have a battle cry against the spiritual realm. Ramadan is a period of increased spiritual openness, which means it's a crucial time when we can pray for God to reveal Himself. This Ramadan my squad has decided to fast together to intercede for over 1.8 billion followers of Islam so they will hunger and thirst no more and find their worth and value in their Creator. We have decided to give something up that’s necessary to the body and say God you’re the only one I want to feed on. We know that in our weakness Gods strength is going to be revealed. We also know that it’s going to be hard but God is going to increase our faith. If you want to join us that would be so cool. On our Instagram page, which is called @b_squad_wr there will be daily prayer points and stories. We would love you to join us but please bring it before the lord before you decide. We are so excited for what God is doing!

While being in Istanbul we were all squad. We all lived together in our cute little apartment. After having a morning of worship we would brake off to do ATL in our teams. It was sweet to live with 13 of my best friends in one house even if our first house smelled like cats and our second house had one bathroom. We made the most of our time. From dancing in the kitchen, to late night talks and sweet treat runs in all of it we grew closer as a team and as friends. Some of my favorite moments with this squad are our spontaneous worship sessions. When Nathaniel or Jackson pick up the guitar and the whole room erupts in a worship session led by Frida. You enter the throne room of heaven. God is so worthy of all of our praise and in moments like this you feel your heart praising him. You see him rightly. That is my favorite thing! To start our day off like this and then walk out the door covered in the love of Jesus. You’re ready to be lead closer to him in any conversation and encounter you have. So sweet! Thank you Jesus!

What I’ve been learning

• what am I willing to give up?- at the beginning of our mini debrief in Greece God asked me this question. Am I willing to give up comfort, people, myself for Gods sake? This has been a reoccurring question but to sit down and ask myself that was hard. It’s hard to give up things and people you love. For the sake of the gospel what am I willing to give up? When I give I know that God will fill more of himself into that part I give. That is why I am so excited to fast this Ramadan. As I give up food and fix my gaze on Jesus I can ask “what do you have for me God?”

• Going off of that, what is Gods love worth? He deserves it all because his love is all. He deserves my raised hands in worship. He deserves my dance and my song. His love is so precious and I want to give him my all. This also meant going up to someone i felt like i should talk to and just talking to them. Asking questions and not just going as an obligation. Following the inklings of the Holy Spirit and acting in obedience even when it’s awkward or they don’t want to talk. Truly just being faithful in the little. I believe the little acts of faithfulness prepare us for the big acts. We get to be obedient to a loving father! How cool is that and it’s also so fun!

• In Greece we found a lot of stillness. I found myself digging deep into books about Islamic culture and reading the Bible. God would wake me up every morning in Corinth and I would just sit with him, bundled up on our sweet balcony. I am almost %50 of the way through the Bible which is so cool! God is so faithful even when I don’t want to read or even when it’s early in the morning and I’m tired. It is truly so sweet to trust in Jesus and to know him more and more.

Next steps

Today was our travel day and we made it to our ministry partner in Canakkale, Turkey. This is the first ministry we have been apart of and working alongside in almost two months. I am thankful to be here and I’m excited to see what we will be doing! To have more of a consistent schedule and get to know the people here will be nice!

Prayer

• Pray for the people here. That God would encounter them in dreams and visions and that they would know who Jesus.

• Pray for our ministry. That we would get involved smoothly and serve well.

• Pray for unity within our team. I still have the same team as my Greece team which is so fun! I am so excited to get to know them more and just live life with them!

That’s all for now! Thank you for joining me once again for a bit of a story dump!

With much love,

Sydney

You can ignore this part of the blog. I don’t know why this part is popping up but it’s not my writing. The world race blog page has been updated and so there are still some kinks and I’m unable to delete it. Thank you for understanding. Love yall

As I reflect on my recent mission trip, I find myself pondering the simple yet profound act of folding the United Nations flag. This moment, seemingly small, became a significant part of my faith journey, reminding me of the interconnectedness of our global community and the importance of unity in our shared mission of love and service.

During our time in the field, I experienced an incredible encounter with God. Each fold of that flag was not just a gesture; it became a symbol of the hopes and dreams we carry for our world. As I meticulously creased the fabric, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders—a reminder that every small act of kindness contributes to a larger tapestry of spiritual growth and understanding.

In this moment of reverence, I was reminded of how vital it is to embrace our differences while working together towards a common purpose. The flag, representing nations across the globe, echoed the very essence of our mission trip: to serve, to love, and to uplift one another in faith. It was a gentle nudge from God, urging us to take our experiences and let them shape us into agents of change.

Reflecting on that day, I realize that folding the flag was more than just an act of preparation; it was a spiritual exercise, a tangible way of acknowledging our commitment to peace and cooperation. It stirred within me a deep sense of hope—a belief that, together, we can overcome challenges and foster a world that reflects the love of Christ.

As I continue on this journey, I carry with me the lessons learned from those moments of folding, a reminder that every encounter, every shared smile, and every act of service counts. Each day is an opportunity for spiritual growth, a chance to take the love we’ve experienced and spread it far and wide. Truly, our mission is not just about what we do but about who we become in the process.

As I sit down to reflect on my recent mission trip, I'm filled with a sense of awe and gratitude for the incredible journey I’ve embarked upon. This trip was more than just a series of events; it was a profound encounter with God that has left an indelible mark on my heart.

Each moment spent in service was an opportunity for spiritual growth—both for those I sought to help and for myself. I witnessed the transformative power of faith firsthand. Whether it was sharing meals, lending a hand, or simply offering a listening ear, I realized that these simple acts were woven into the fabric of our shared humanity.

The people I met along the way opened my eyes to new perspectives, each story a testament to resilience and hope. It reminded me that our faith journeys are not meant to be solitary. We are called to walk alongside one another, sharing burdens and blessings alike. In those moments of connection, I felt God's presence so near, filling me with a warmth that words can hardly describe.

This mission trip was a beautiful reminder that every encounter we have is a divine appointment. The lessons I learned will echo in my heart long after I return home. I leave with a renewed sense of purpose, eager to carry this flame of hope into my everyday life, and to continue growing in faith.

As I reflect on this journey, I am reminded that the path of spiritual growth is often paved with such experiences. Each encounter, each challenge, and each moment of grace invites us deeper into relationship with God and with each other. I look forward to sharing the stories and lessons learned, knowing that our collective experiences can inspire and uplift those around us.

May we all continue to seek those divine encounters in our everyday lives, embracing the beautiful messiness of our faith journeys.