Turning 25 in Turkey

Date: June 10, 2021

Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Host: ATL (Ask The Lord) 

I walked out of the Air BnB room I shared with Lynneal to find Jenn and Abbey just returning from a local bakery, holding fresh juice and pastries for the beginning of my birthday celebration. I enjoyed the special treats, along with eggs cooked by Antoinette, on the patio while I had quiet time with G*d.  

My team gathered for our daily meeting. After a joyful rendition of “Happy Birthday” and many kind wishes from my 5 teammates, we proceeded with our usual agenda, which included check-ins, feedback, and pr@yer for the day’s plans. It’s a vital time of bonding, encouraging, holding accountable, and calling each other to look and walk more like J*sus. Love is spoken through both kindness and hard truth. Though challenging at times, it’s one of the most life-giving parts of the WR for me. 

With the schedule for the day in place, we headed out. Living up to the typical American stereotype, our first stop was a hipsterish coffee shop where Abbey bought me a raspberry white chocolate shake. A teacher from Germany stopped in to purchase coffee and took the time to talk with us for a bit. After hearing part of his story, learning the Turkish word for foreigner: “yabanci” (which, funny enough, is the same word used for “wild berry”), and parting ways, we rode a ferry from the European coast of Istanbul to the Asian side. It was pretty cool to spend the day on two different continents! 

Upon arriving in Asia, Jenn bought a sunflower (my favorite flower) for me, and Abbey did an impromptu photoshoot with it. While meandering along the water’s edge to see the Maiden Tower lighthouse, we met, chatted, and pr@yed with a few locals. After lunch, we walked to a neighborhood where we spent the evening with Antoinette’s friends from the States who now live and work in Turkey.

As we ate homemade pizza, we talked and enjoyed each other’s company. They taught us more of Turkish culture and customs, demonstrating how to make tea in the traditional two-layered teapot and drink it from the cylinder-shaped cups.

After dinner, we played four-square and colored with their three children. When they heard I was missing my own siblings, they agreed to be my adopted siblings. Now, I have 9 siblings in America and 3 in Turkey!

The evening ended with a delicious delivery of fresh baklava served with candles, a gift from my teammates, and “Happy Birthday” sung in Turkish. 

What a sweet day of meeting new friends and enjoying the beauty and flavors of Istanbul! It was hard being so far away from family and friends back home, but I am beyond grateful for my team, new friends, their kindness, and the incredible opportunity to celebrate turning 25 in Turkey! 

P.S. With the passing of another year, in typical Victoria fashion, I have many deep musings and personal revelations rumbling around in my mind too. Stay tuned for the soul-baring part 2 of my birthday blog! 😉