Turkey!

We arrived in Istanbul early Sunday morning and went straight to the hostel. The next day was filled with mosque visits, scavenger hunts, and getting to know our way in turkish culture. Then, we hopped on a bus and rode over to Edirne. We met our hosts and went home for our first meal in a turkish home. My host, D, was a college student studying physics :)

Over the next week we would visit different sites in Edirne. We went into several mosques; one during a call to prayer which was.... erie. We visited famous bridges and saw various historical sites of the former Ottoman Empire capital. But what mattered the most to each of us was the time we got to spend with the different hosts. We had dinner together each night. Some hosts would sight-see with us each day. We all went out together for M's birthday. We became friends.

The most precious time I had in Turkey was with my host, D, and her boyfriend, C. The Lord guided our conversation to be about the differences between Christianity and Islam. I was privileged to share with them that God has provided Jesus in our place, as our Saviour who saves us from judgement. I was able to share with D later about how God created us for relationship with Him and how He desires that with us.

In Edirne Islam is more tradition than anything else. D and C are very nominal Muslims, saying many times that all religions are the same. The work in Turkey is slow. There are only three families working to share the Good News of Christ in a region of 1.5 million people. We must pray for more laborers. We must ask God for a harvest from Turkey!

Berlin!! Part two...

Hey everyone!

My apologies-- an update is long overdue. In the last two weeks in Berlin we did our mini dts, some evangelism, and lots of intercession. The mini dts went really well--it was a small group of students each day but that was nice because we were able to connect with each of them. I taught last Thursday on the kingdom of God and missions (thank you for your prayers!) and the students responded really well. That afternoon we went out to a big public square to do some evangelism. Please pray for Jessie, a girl I spoke with who is really searching right now but unable to accept the miracles of Christ--pray her eyes would be opened and that she would be saved!

This past Sunday I shared a message with a small church plant; it was really a privilege to be able to speak to them and urge them on to seek the Lord. This week we have done a lot of intercession and reading of the Word in public places. We are also preparing to leave for Turkey--we leave on Saturday!

Please continue to pray for our team--for our time in Turkey; we will probably each be in a separate host home. Please pray for opportunities to share the Gospel and for receptive hearts.

Thank you all so much!

Much love, Megan

Berlin!

Hey everyone!

Our last week in Hamburg was great! It included times of prayer and evangelism in a famous red light district, returning to an elementary school for English lessons, and returning to a kids ministry in the mall. It was really nice being able to go to the same ministries a few times. Please pray for Hashad and his sisters Jasmin and Lisa. They are Muslim children who come to the ministry in the mall three times a week. When I asked Hashad about Jesus he just shook his head and said, "we are not that.". Also pray for a man named Asha who I met on the streets. He has been homeless for the last seven years but told us that he likes being homeless. He refuses to recognize that he has any need whatsoever. Please also pray for the ongoing ministries of YWAM and others in the city.

We arrived in Berlin on Sunday evening and the first thing we did was eat delicious doners (pronounced doe-nair) which are a Turkish dish similar to a pita with roasted meat :) they are so good! Other notable things we have done are: prayer walks throughout the city, culture orientation, and making preparations for a mini discipleship training school (dts) here next week. This is a huge prayer request for the team; we are doing all the teaching and everything for the mini dts. I will be teaching on the kingdom of God and missions. Please pray for me in this! We are praying for 20 students to come to this. It will be mon-fri next week (Jan 30-Feb 3).

Other things I am looking forward to are: my friend Kristina is coming tomorrow (Thursday!), the mini dts should be an amazing opportunity to have a role on deepening some youths' relationships with God, and after that I think we are doing some ministry with Muslims, AND then we are going to Turkey! These next few weeks will fly by I am sure. Thank you all SO much for your prayers, love, and support!

For His glory!

Megan

Here's a few pictures: we made waffles with the kids in the mall and i'm not allowed to put pictures of their faces on the internet...so that explains the first picture :)
the next two are at the berlin wall!

Hamburg!!

Hallo friends!!
We arrived safely in Hamburg on Thursday of last week. We hit the ground running with full days Friday and Saturday. We helped teach English to first and second graders, went to a Christian youth center and hung out with the kids there, helped a ministry that gives immigrant children a place to play and learn, saw the city of Hamburg, and went to a house church on Sunday :) on Saturday my friend, Tabea, who I met in Nepal but is from Germany, came and visited till sunday so that was really great to see her!

It has been really eye opening being here--the staff here tell us that Hamburg is less than 2% Christian. Parts of Europe are even worse than that, making many places qualify as unreached. The German people are great but are not super open to talking to eager Americans ;) I am excited though because this week we are going back several times to the places we've already been so we will hopefully see the same people again. This week will also include at least one trip to one of the red light districts here. Please pray for us as we go back to these ministries, that we would connect with people and that we would bring Life wherever we go. Also pray the God would increase the laborers in Europe.

Thank you all SO much for your prayers and support!!

Megan


The pictures are from my phone... Hopefully they are decent... It's a beautiful city!