A Word of Encouragement

Hi all!

I know that some of you have been very worried about our going to Istanbul this summer with the three Christians being killed in eastern Turkey, political activists and summer elections, and a very recent bomb explosion in Ankara. I want to share a word of encouragement with you about these things. Since my first visit to Turkey three years ago I have been receiving monthly updates from an American woman I met there. She has been living in Turkey for many years now and in her most recent update she addresses the concerns of her own loved ones, writing, "Be assured that I am very safe in Antalya; the worlds of eastern and western Turkey are completely different. Antalya is a cosmopolitan, open, tourist hub, as most cities in western Turkey." Istanbul is very much like the city of Antalya and is quite a bit farther away geographically from eastern Turkey. I just wanted to share that with you.

Peace be with you,
Jessica

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Boğaziçi Universitesi: Türkçe Dil ve Kültür Programı

As my lovely comrade, Jessica, stated earlier--we are going to Turkey to study the Turkish language. We are specifically taking part in Boğaziçi's Turkish Language and Culture Program. It's an intensive 7 weeks of language study! I leave on the 16th of June and Chelsea and Jessica will most likely be leaving on the 17th. The duration of our program is June 20th-August 10th.

We will be living on campus in a dorm called Ucaksavar. We anticipate getting to meet many Turkish students as well as international students in the dorm, in the language program, and on campus. Exciting!

I have imported a few pictures from the Istanbul campus...isn't it just gorgeous?? The one on the top left is the Bosphorous strait and bridge where the university overlooks. The others are various buildings and halls on campus.

More to come, my dear ones...thank you for being a part of our lives!!

Turkish PHRASE of the DAY:
çok güzel! = very wonderful, awesome, beautiful, etc.!!

Barış (Peace),
Anneliese