My husband, Todd, and I had the privilege of touring your country at the end of this March with a Christian tour company accompanied in part by other pastors and Bible teachers from across America.  We had a wonderful tour guide who taught us much about the people, politics, religion, culture, geography, and history of Turkey.  In a gracious and winsome way, he really endeared your people to our hearts.  He discussed the country’s “freedom of religion”, and yet it was quite understood that we could deeply offend others if we openly discussed Christ as we know and believe Him to be from the Bible.

On one of our travel days, he dedicated his lecture to Islam and its tenets.  He really assisted us to better understand the etiology of the intense animosity of Muslims toward Christian doctrines.  After his talk, I commented in the bus that “a Christian would give his/her life for a Muslim; however, I doubted the same would be reciprocated from a Muslim to a Christian”.  Your precious loved ones illustrated this point undeniably just three weeks after we left Turkey.

He listened respectfully.  I felt burdened to demonstrate how this is a supernatural empowering of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life to love his/her enemies enough to “. . .do good to them that hate you”  (you serve and shepherd in a country that is hostile to the Gospel); “and pray for them which despitefully use you” (you are praying for these men who murdered your loved ones) “and persecute you” Matthew 5:44 ( your earthly persecution with the loss of your husbands, fathers,  and fiancé is deep and unfathomable).  Only a God of whose entire essence is love could invoke these acts of sacrificial charity from His believing creatures. It is utterly beyond human self-enablement.

When we heard of your loss, my husband and I both wept.  Our children are particularly sensitive to your children because they are also in a ministry family.  We love our American people- believing and non-believing- just as you do the Turkish citizens.  Our church family also has had your letter read to them. They are faithful to prayer.  It has stirred our hearts collectively to renewed evangelization of our own city.  There is no greater hope to offer a sin-sick mankind than the healing remedy of the Lord Jesus Christ – He is the “well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

We too will pray that the blood of their deaths will water the seeds of salvation in many lost souls in your country.  We are praying your children can forgive these men, and deeply root Matthew 5:44 into the soil of their lives.  We are praying you hear the Lord clearly say your name as He did to Mary at the empty tomb when she was over-whelmed with grief and despair (John 20:11-16).  If there is anything we as a family or congregation can do to help outside of continued prayer, please contact us.

Harvesting through sorrow,

Kristie Wood

Your fellow co-laborer for Jesus Christ

I thoroughly enjoyed being on the grounds of ancient Ephesus.  (more…)

We rolled on to the streets at 8:45 am, and as we travelled to our next archaeological sites, we listened to lectures on Greek & Turkish relationships (working through the highly controversial topics about the Armenian tragedy, the Kurds, and tension in Cyprus.)

In our excursions, we saw the following places: (more…)

I’m rebuked.  With excellent historical detail, our Turkish tour guide lectured on all seven councils.  All of them took place in Turkey.

And this lecture was only a spin-off over a question of why St. Nicholas was persecuted.

A couple of the guys in our group, professors from Knox Seminary and Asbury College, added more vibrant color to the topic.  Needless to say, we have been having zesty theological discussions.

Last night, we stayed at the seaside Antayla Oteli.  Lovely accomodations.  Palm-lined Antayla is the #1 tourist city situated on the ‘Turquoise Coast’ of the Mediterranean.  And I can see why.  I tried to imagine the ancient harbor of Attalio here. (more…)

I’m happy today that we didn’t get picked up by the Trafik jandarma.  We are making progress in our pilgrimage.

Today, we rode through the Tauras Mountains.  Rugged.  Rocky.  Crags.  Small alpine meadows.  I had no idea the terrain that Paul walked through.  I could spend weeks hiking along the ridges of these mountains. (more…)

Ünal is an archaelogist and director of Yalvaç Museum.

Five years ago, he wrote the book, Pisidian Antioch:  St. Paul, Sanctuary of Men, Yalvaç Museum.

The book is expensive.  Men were forking out 45 Turkish Lira for the volume at the archaeological dig.  After spending some time tonight at a four-tiered Turkish mall, I found the book, the only copy on the shelf, in a tiny English section of a bookstore for 28 Turkish Lira.

After spending so much time, I feel it is appropriate to now quote Ünal.  Listen to his perspective: (more…)

The call to morning prayers woke us early this morning . . . around 5 am.  The muezzin’s Sabah in loudspeakers broadcast filled our room.  It ıs quite a jolting reminder that I am not in Idaho. (more…)

Todd was gleefully hoping that I would get a full appreciation for the squatty potties; however I eluded his expectation by finding a Western toilet.  (Ha,ha)  He also forgot that I always come prepared with my own toilet paper having been raised a good outdoors woman.  I think that I am closer to recovering from jet lag as well.  If you are praying, thank you so, so, much.  The keyboard here is different due to the Turkish language so typing is slightly more challenging.  To our children, we really miss you and love you immensely.  A big thanks to all of our families who are caring for you.  Kids I told Dad he could not climb Mt. Ararat and he is being good.  You are great kids: keep up the good work. 

_________

Well, it has been a good day.  Beautiful weather. 

As I stood up on top of the tell for Lystra, it was just before I heard the call to Muslim prayer.  Interesting.

It is 5:45 on this lovely Tuesday morning – still 9:45 pm Monday night back in Idaho.  Kristie is still resting in bed, but I am wired and ready for action. (more…)