jkaz's blog

November 1, 2009
It’s Sunday night and the end of the first big ministry day. End to end, as usual. I started the day at the Armenian church for liturgy, a two minute walk from where we’re staying. Odd to think how I could actually go to both the Catholic Mass and the Armenian Liturgy here in the same time it takes to do one service back home. No travel time makes a huge difference.
The local Armenian church is where my friend Fr Drtad is now the pastor. Unfortunately he has the flu so there was a guest priest this morning (I did call Fr D this evening with get well wishes). It was great to see his church packed. Far more people than any of my past visits here before he was assigned here earlier this year. Maybe a third to two 50% more. He’s obviously doing something right.
As I mentioned in my posting yesterday, we had our first program this afternoon. We were well received by the 50-60 folks who came. The highlight was a sharing Savi gave on how she prayed a prayer after church while sitting in her car on the feast of Assumption a few years back. She asked the virgin Mary to be a mother to her because her own mother was so far away. When Savi got home she received a phone call from Sri Lanka that her own mother, who had not been ill, just passed away. It was so moving that the translator broke down in tears and we had to pause for a while so she could recover.
I invited people to come up for prayer right after the sharing. I don’t think a person left the hall. It’s so good to have a team when it comes time to pray with a group like this. Way easier to pray with 60 when you have a team of 6 rather than being alone.
Tomorrow we have a home gathering in the afternoon and then we’ll go visit a good Armenian friend who lives nearby in the evening for desert and fellowship. The friend, Garo, and his brother own a silver shop near the Grand Bazaar. They both rededicated their lives to the Lord in the last couple of years and have become very active at church and in a prayer group. Garo has translated Neal Lozano’s book Unbound into Turkish and has now sent it back to Fr Drtad for comments before doing the final edit. He plans to be done by summer. The copy he used was my original with my notes and questions. He treats it so reverently. I’m so looking forward to it being published so that we can teach them with the text.

Saturday, October 31, 2009 I’ve thought many times today about how blessed I am to have a wife and kids who are so wonderful. I’m so grateful they free me up and encourage me to go out and preach the Gospel in lands far from home. This year I was privileged to go to Liberia. I can now say that the Lord has given me opportunities to be His witness in 4 continents. Who would have ever thought? Certainly I never dreamed. And now, here I am once again in Turkey for about the 20th time in the last 11 years. I remember how scared I was on that first visit (and several trips thereafter). How I felt like more of a guide and navigator. It would be a one time life event, I told myself, to keep my friends Ralph and Randy out of harms way. After all, they really didn’t understand the dangers. On a personal level, it would be my chance to prove to myself that I really forgave the people of this land for forcing my family out of it’s ancient homeland. I remember saying the words “I forgive . . .” that summer day in New Rochelle when I gave my life to Him when I was 19. Now that act of release was going to be tested. So much has happened since then. So much has changed it’s hard to fathom. Is it really possible that so many pivotal life lessons could occur in such a short period of time? I hope and pray that Michelle and my girls have been the primary beneficiary of those changes. They certainly paid the biggest price by giving up time with me. After arriving late yesterday afternoon, I gathered the team. The 6 of us arrived on three different flights. Jack Rigor, who is from Montana, was the first in. This is his second trip with us. Michael and Savi Culbertson from South Carolina, who are making their first foreign outreach journey were on the same plane with me. Lloyd and Nancy Greenhaw, who have probably banked 100,000 miles each already this year with several visits to Africa and the South Pacific, are making their 10th visit with me to Turkey. There’s always a feeling of excited anticipation and joy when the group is all together for the first time. Last night was no exception. We made the short transfer to St Stephen’s Church in the area of Istanbul called Yeshikoy and were greeted by Fr Bruno, Dcn Hagop and several other friendly faces we’ve come to love. As usual, a delicious dinner was awaiting us. Not wanting to go to bed too early and still enjoying the arrival adrenaline rush, we stayed up until after 10 telling stories, catching up, and getting to know each other. The guesthouse we stay in is connected to the church and also has it’s own chapel. What a wonderful environment to be in when you’re on a missionary journey. Given that today is our only completely free day of 9 full days we’re here, we decided it would be a good day to visit the Hagia Sophia for those who had never been and then walked up to the Grand Bazaar for shopping. I’ve made many friends in and around this area and it’s tough to have to pass so many by. We got back at 6, just in time for Mass and dinner. Tonight we listened to Savi’s inspiring testimony and then had about an hour together in the chapel to pray and talk about our first program tomorrow. Fr Bruno always invites his parish and anyone else on his mailing list for a Sunday afternoon meeting with us. This time it will include a talk by Lloyd on St Mary, a personal sharing by a team member, a couple of songs and an opportunity for individuals to be prayed with. We’re expecting about 50 people and, as always, there will be believers from every denomination as well as secularized Christians and Moslems. If you’re reading this before going to church this morning, please remember to pray for the event. I’m never quite sure of the effectiveness of all we try and communicate, but the Lord always blesses people when we pray over then. May many experience a deep and personal contact with Jesus Christ the living God.

I think it was the most joy filled day of my life. A real taste of heaven.

For more wedding and family pictures, visit: http://kazklan.shutterfly.com/