The first word means "Goodbye"...the other means "See you later." Both seemed appropriate today, and I couldn’t quite tell which one I felt most comfortable saying…and I did say them both. As I write this I am packed and ready to go except for the few morning items that once used, will take their place in the suitcase with everything else.
We finished our time in Antalya worshiping with the Turkish church one last time, making one last trip to Paşa Bey for "lunch", and enjoying one last home visit before packing up and preparing to leave. We had an opportunity to say a few last words to the congregation when we were called up during the service to say goodbye. I could have talked for a half hour easily, but I simply said that we were profoundly grateful for the time we shared with them...and that though I came out to teach them, I was pretty sure that I learned much more from them than they learned from me...and that we would take them back to America in our hearts. Then I asked if we could send greetings from Antalya Evangelical church back to our churches, and they responded with a rousing "Yes!" Then I took a picture. After Hans preached on Jesus’ prediction about his death and the call to follow him, we sang "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" – in Turkish, of course – but we knew exactly what we were saying…and meaning as we did. There was something extra-connecting in the singing of that song with brothers and sisters in Antalya, for we are all followers of Jesus. We are all in this battle for the kingdom of God together. That much was clear in the short time we spent with them.
The Congregation on the last Sunday we were there.
Faithfully…and joyfully anticipating our return home.
Charlie
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