i never knew I would make so many visits to the mosque in one week

(the central mosque in selçuk)

…The truth is, you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will grant your request because you use my name. John 16:23 (New Living Translation)

This last week has been a little bit of a transition into learning more about the design aspect of Photography. Stephen Bryde, from the YWAM Townsville Base on the northeast coast of Australia, has come to run us through some of the basics of some of the software we may be using in producing a publication. It has been eye-opening to learn about all the different aspects that go into making a good publication.

While our school has been here in Selçuk, we’ve been blessed to have contact with some of the community and provincial leaders in the area. This week we’ve found out that we will have the opportunity to put on a photography exhibition in the city center next Friday afternoon. After praying for more direction, we have felt that we should focus on the many different people and activities around Selçuk, showing the beauty that can be found in each area as they come together to form the greater body of the community as a whole.

The National Newspaper came in this week to do an article about our school and our exhibit in Selcuk. It’s written in Turkish, but you can see it here:

http://www.efestenhaberler.com/index.asp?gorev=haberdetay&id=3353


God put it on my heart to be in a group focused on taking pictures of the Mosques in the area, as well as the people who are involved with the various activities around the Mosque. This may seem interesting, considering the focus of our exhibit is to portray the beauty of the different aspects of the community. And surely, I will agree that it is not beautiful that these people are lost in a commitment to a religion that is taking them nowhere closer to the God they are seeking. This has challenged me in the photos I am taking. I have seen that I am not just supposed to be taking pictures of the people at the Mosque and saying they’re beautiful for the sake of beauty. I have found however that there are certain things about the faith of these people that could have value if they were used in the right direction.

Here’s a small list:
They are seeking.
They are committed.
They are friendly.
They are loving.
They are reverent.
They are welcoming.
They are hospitable.

(muslim prayer beads)

And surely there are also things among them that aren’t perfect, but this could also be said of us as followers of Christ. What I seek to say is that by seeing the good things among them before they even know the God who loves them, how much more could these good qualities be redeemed if they were to come into relationship with the God who loved them before they even existed?

This is something I pray to show with the pictures I have been taking – to show the qualities that are beautiful, but also to show how these beautiful qualities have still yet to be fully redeemed.

(mustafa, one of the local imams)

(inside the mosque where mustafa prays. it was built in the 14th century, and is in the process of restoration.)

(ali)

A lot of times, due to the language barrier with many of the people, it is hard to know how to portray to them a relationship with a God that loves them. We met one man this week by the name of Ali. Christina, one of the girls also taking pictures at the mosque, had seen Ali the previous weekend at the market in a nearby village. He knew very little English, but after the afternoon prayer, we gathered that he wanted to take us out for tea. So, Christina, Ellie and myself all went with Ali for tea, a few games of crazy eight’s, and then a few games of a Turkish card game we somehow learned to play. Ali told us he was in Selçuk to go to the hospital, because of problems he had been having with is stomach, as we also noticed by his touching his stomach throughout our time with him. So, before he left for the hospital, we were able to pray for him. We weren’t even sure if he understood we were asking to pray for him, but we prayed a short prayer. Not elaborate. Not long. Just a small prayer, being sure to mention the name of Jesus multiple times to he knew who we were praying to. I am believing that God can use this to work healing in his body, not because of some fancy prayer I was able to pray, but because of the authority that resides in the mention of Jesus’ name. Your prayers for Ali would also be much appreciated.

(before reading the koran, everyone must wash their feet, hands, and face.)

(afternoon prayer time - the mosque was a little full this day)

(sunset reflection at the washing area)

As a school, we have just received the cost for the next quarter of tuition for this trip. In January, we will begin our travels through Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Ethiopia. We will begin the next quarter in Cairo, Egypt on January 3rd. When we arrive, we are responsible for paying $3,330, which will pay for the expenses of food, lodging, and other travel expenses and course fees through March 27th. I try to bring such matters up as little as possible, but I feel I should be clear in communicating that I am still in need of financial assistance at this point. I have been blessed to have already received a portion of this money, but I am still in need of help for the remainder of these funds. I request that you take this to God in prayer, and if you feel he has put it on your heart to contribute towards this, please feel free to contact me for further information.

Thank you all for your continued support in my travels thus far. It has most certainly been an amazing blessing to be learning how I can be using the skill of photography and communication in a way that honors God. I am excited to see what God will do with the places we've yet to go, and the people we've yet to meet. I look forward to keeping you updated on all the ways that God will continue to work.

...And I hope you're enjoying the snow (for those of you who have access to it).