DAY ONE
We pulled into the city and our first view of Istanbul was the glittering Bosphorus Strait. Unreal. First stop was the Hagia Sophia - SO BEAUTIFUL. The mosaics were gorgeous (especially the gilded ones). I really liked that as a museum, they preserved both the Christian and Muslim eras of the Hagia Sophia's history. Next, we went to the Istanbul Archeological Museum. There were some really cool displays and our tour guide for the whole Turkey trip got us into a really limited access room called "ROOM 28"that had ancient Hebrew artifacts. I thought Dr. Seely was going to cry out of excitement. That night, we got to watch Alyssa Greenwood open her mission call in front of the Hagia Sophia - Argentina! You can imagine how I was feeling. So excited.
(ALSO side note... There are going to be a ton of pictures... I took over 1200 this week...Some of the photos may be out of order, but there are tons of them - I did the best I could!)
DAY TWO
Started off the day going to the Hippodrome. Then we went to the Blue Mosque which was awesome because I remember going when I was super little with my parents and sister Maddy. Again, gorgeous building. The domes! The art! The calligraphy! The photos I got to take! Next we headed to the cistern - a giant underground water storage area with awesome lighting showing the columns and an upside down statue of Medusa's head! Then we went to the Topkapi palace which was very elaborate and ornate - almost had a European vibe going. I was SO TIRED though so it was hard to be as excited as I should have been. But I saw supposed hairs from Muhammed's beard and a casual bowl o' emeralds! The Grand Bazaar was next and then a gorgeous ferry boat ride along the Bosphorus. We finished up with a performance by the Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul. I got dizzy just watching them... BUT it was a really neat cultural experience.
It was a llllooonnnngggg bus day - super cool though. We drove to Gallipoli (WWI site - incredibly tragic) and visited one of the ANZAC cemeteries where President Woods gave us a really good lesson about life after death. I feel so lucky to know that death isn't the end - that's why I'm so excited to serve a mission! To help people understand that comforting truth! Anyway - there were tons of really beautiful headstones. Some highlights:
"God stands within the shadow and watches o'er His own."
"They never fail who die in a great cause"
"To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die"
Also the plaque of Ataturk's dedicatory comment is really moving - read it off of the photo.
Next was Troy! It was pretty poorly excavated, but cool nonetheless.
"The greatest battle ever fought is within the silent chambers of our own soul."
Our first stop was Assos. Perhaps the most beautiful place I have ever been. We hiked up to the Acropolis through quaint, ramshackle streets to a view that truly was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. President Woods gave a great lesson on Paul and his specific qualities that made him such a good missionary. (Most of the places we visited either had to do with Paul's travels or where John the Beloved wrote the Book of Revelation, so I really felt like the focus on Paul's missionary work was Heavenly Father's way of preparing me to get my mission call.... WHICH IS IN THE MAIL.... Any day now!!!)
Then we headed to Pergamon - cool temple of Artemis funded by Alexander the Great and a really big amphitheater on a steep hill. We saw the view that Paul would have seen as he sailed into Asia Minor. Amazing. That night we stayed in the most incredible resort right on the shore of the Aegean Sea. A bunch of us stayed out and talked on the beach for a really long time - I've loved really getting to know these people.
Started off the day with the news that my mission call had been assigned. I expected to feel an even bigger rush of anxiety, but instead I just felt comfort, peace, and assurance. Now all it is is a waiting game. I have been called and I will answer that call.
So.
Fitting that the first stop of the day was ancient Ephesus - the city where Paul struggled with paganism as the Ephesians kept worshipping the goddess Diana (Artemis) and was tried in that massive amphitheater. Trials of a missionary. I remembered when I came to that same amphitheater with Mom, Dad, and Maddy when we were little. I remembered reading Acts 19 with my dad. I had a chance to go off by myself and reread those verses. I reflected on my relationship with my dad and how that has had such a big influence on my desire to serve a mission.
Next, we went to the church of St. John the Baptist where we got a great view where a massive ancient temple of Artemis once stood - one of the wonders of the ancient world.
Then off to Priene - another mountainous ancient city where Alexander may have stayed.
We went to Sardis and it was gorgeous! Climbed up to a great view point and there was a shepherd who let us hold a baby lamb! So cute! On the way back to the bus, I bought a super cool hand crocheted and beaded necklace that I got from a sweet old lady on the side of the road for 3 lira! That's a buck 50. Big time score.
We spent the rest of the day in the Bursa Bazaar. Kind of repetitious. But I got to spend some quality time with Taylor Smith, Jake Slater, and my darling roommate Eliza.
We went to the Grand Mosque in Bursa and then had a lllloonnnggg bus ride to Iznik. In Iznik, we visiting the Iznik Hagia Sophia and then got free time to wander around in the city for a bit. Iznik is famous for its time - the Dome of the Rock itself is decorated with Iznik tile. Really really beautiful. We saw the ancient Iznik city gate and then went to the lake shore for lunch and lecture on the Nicean creed as we sat on the foundations of Constantine's palace. As we sat, I felt my first earthquake! I thought the heat had just gotten to me and I was losing my sanity! Crazy.
Then we flew back to Jerusalem. It was so weird pulling into the center and feeling like I was coming home. I think its a good thing!
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