Istanbul
So, I got the opportunity to visit Istanbul a few weeks ago. Istanbul has been a place I have wanted to visit for so long. It was such an incredible trip filled with so much beautiful architecture, great food, awesome shopping, some of the kindest people I had ever met and had so much fun with my team. But in the midst of all the beauty, I saw the brokenness that lives not only in Istanbul, but all of Turkey.
Turkey is in the Middle East and is a Muslim country. We could not just freely go about talking about Jesus and our faith. We had to be very careful in all that we said and ended up taking off our cross necklaces and covering any tattoos about Jesus. This was the first time I had ever been to a place where I had to discern by the Holy Spirit when to say the name of Jesus. My heart broke multiple times for this place.
The first time my heart broke was when we got the opportunity to be in a mosque during a prayer call and watched so many people flood in and begin their ritual of prayer. While sitting in the back of the mosque, watching these men and women pray to a false God.
My heart broke a second time when I watched them leave the mosque and they looked so sad and drained. No one was walking out of their time off prayer filled with joy and being satisfied, but rather looked as though they had just checked a box and were empty.
My heart broke a third time when two little boys came up to me asking for money. They had cracked and purple lips, they looked exhausted and sad, and they looked so hungry. So my team got some food for them and off they went. To this day I still think and pray about those two little boys.
I want to invite you to pray for Turkey and that the people of Turkey get the opportunity to hear the truth of Jesus. Pray for missionaries to go and preach the gospel there. Pray for the church that is there, that the Lord would strengthen them and that they would continue to be bold in their faith. I pray I one day get the opportunity to return to Turkey and show them the love of Jesus.
Jesus, I know you see the people of Turkey and love them. May they come to meet you and see the love you have waiting for them.
? Love, Gabi
Here are some pics from the incredible trip
