Kids Next Door

So there is always a lot going on here. Turkey lost in the Euro Cup which was quite sad. They made a hell of a run though that I do not think anyone saw coming, and seeing as they are a young team it should be interesting going forward to see how they do in the World Cup in two years.

So things have been going a bit better, in an up and down sort of sense. I am learning a ton being here, whether it is about myself, and my heart, my ability to love, any sort of long-term calling, all of this, or whether it is something as simple as discovering I am capable of eating things I never thought I would (Like Turkish ravioli covered in yogurt and garlic sauce). But whatever is going on I know this is exactly where I was meant to be and I am learning exactly what God needs to teach me at this moment for moving forward.
Things have been tough, as I have outlined here before. The whole numbers and statistics thing is still difficult. We have been meeting with a lot of resistance lately, and that has been tough as days seem less productive, like there is very little coming from it. I know this is not true, at the very least I know it is us being faithful and doing what we are called to, so that is encouraging. But it is still hard. This is such a different thing than Indy CC or PCB which I am used to. This is intense labor that may not always end the way we would like. So this has been a challenge.
There are a few bright lights in this. Two friends I have met thus far, who we will call Tony and Herman though those very probably are not their real names. But pray for them all the same. They are the two people I have met here who I feel I have really connected with. We continue to see them and hang out, and I know I have no problems loving them, as I feel very strongly for them. I also sense that there is something being worked in their hearts. Please continue to be praying for them that they would be opened to the fullness of the truth. Reflecting today I thought of them and realized that if the only reason I have been here, faced struggles and pains, all that- if the only reason I came was to plant or water those seeds that would be more than enough. I know my heart is not perfect in love by any stretch of the imagination. But I know that I love these men and enjoy them and want to continue building relationships and friendships with them.
We are heading down to the wire. Two weeks left. Crazy. We are at a point now where we are more focusing on continuing relationships than building new ones. This is odd for me as I have only really connected with a few people. But at the same time this is the part I am most excited about. I feel that this is where the love will come in full. That this is where my heart needs to be.
One last prayer request to all you out there who still check this, and that is that I would no longer be divided. My heart may be tricking me on certain grounds. I am cautious to say the least but growing less so every day. And of course as my heart drifts between here and there and anywhere else my mind is prone to fall off track as well. This has made for some stress I would much rather live without. But what matters most is that I simply put all my focus back to God. To pour all I have into Him and let Him take care of all the rest. I have written before about being a poor kid with only a few fish, wanting to do some good. And how the only thing worth doing is to give it to Jesus and let Him work a miracle. This is what I need to remember and do again every day as I open my eyes. I am bad at this. I might be foolish enough to think I can somehow, on my own, make several fish stretch out forever. I cannot do this. Jesus can. If I would remember this it would be much better, so prayer on that would be sweet.
I miss you all.
Until again.
Tory