Susan

Susan is a friend of mine from TGC. She is an R.N. and works as a surgical nurse at Harris Hospital. Besides being one of the most adventurous people I know, she has so many talents I can't list them all. She is sweet and funny and fits in with any group. It was a special trip for her...her husband is half Turkish/half Iraqui and she was able to witness the culture he grew up in. We hope she brings her husband next year!

Kathy & Olivia

Kathy is a Kindergarten teacher in San Antonio and a super person. She is on a hard journey in life, having felt tremendous loss years ago that lingers to this day. She is so beautiful, a smile that lights up the planet and a sense of humor and easy laugh that make you feel instantly comfortable with her. I REALLY want her to join us again next year.

Olivia is Kathy's daughter and is a sophomore at University of Houston majoring in Chemistry. Brilliant mind, beautiful like her mother, headstrong, and hilarious- Olivia doesn't just live, she IS overflowing with life! Willing to try anything, and comfortable around anyone- I can't wait to see how successful she will become!

Irma & Yolanda

Irma was on the trip last year, this year she brought her friend "Yolie" with her. Irma is a "nanny" and has been with the same family for 16 years. She is from El Salvador- one of the most genuine, kind, and sweet people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Yolanda is a homemaker and is very quiet. I hope she comes with us again next year so I can get to know her better.

Archie & Suzie

Archie (Dr.Argentina Roscoe Wortham)is a Ph.D. and teaches at the community college in San Antonio. He acted as "security" as well as being just one of us. Always keeping us on time and moving, he was there to help the women on and off the bus, up and down hills, and generally protect us from aggressive salesmen. He also asked all the right questions and received all the right answers. Pretty handy guy to have around.

Suzie is an artist and highly creative. She designs and sews all her own clothing, as well as creating all of the beadwork. I doubt there is anything she can't do. She is from India and has the most beautiful accent (and speaks her mind quite freely).

Both were on the trip last year as well....

Handsome Band-Aid Nose

Handsome Band-Aid Nose had a very long name which I cannot remember. He has his Masters Degree in Business and was the nicest man. Another person who could answer any question, he was by far the most cultured of the cultural attaches who guided us. Apparrently he was injured while playing soccer (futbol) and required surgery to repair his very handsome nose.

Barry Manilow

This guy had the most amazing hair...and he KNEW he was goodlooking. We couldn't pull out a camera without seeing him prepare for the "photo-shoot". With a degree in Engineering from the University in Istanbul we wondered why he was not working in that field. He was long-winded, but seemed to know his stuff. I heard the longest version of the story of Job in the history of mankind...

But isn't he cute?

Pidgeon Wally

Our guide for Kapadokya was renamed by us as Pidgeon Wally because she could not say "Pidgeon Valley". She was the cutest thing we had ever seen (or heard). Each sentence included "Ah Huh" and "Clearly stated" and "Technique" (which was pronounced by her as "teck-neek-cue"). There were no questions asked which she could not answer, including all questions regarding Christian settlements here. An amazing woman!

Let Me Introduce Some Of Our Guides...

We had many guides over the course of our stay in Turkey, Cultural Attaches' from each region were sent to explain the sights for us. They were so knowledgeable and friendly, we almost felt bad about assigning names to them.....

Goreme, Kapadokya, and Pidgeon Valley

I will fill in the blog after we get to Urfa. The two young girls I am standing with in one picture are named Mushru and Zaynab. My hair was done the same way as Mushru and she thought that was great! Kapadokya is also known as the Land of the Fairy Chimmneys, where the earliest Christians (the Gnostics) hid to escape persecution from Rome. Pidgeon Valley (the guide kept calling it Pidgeon Wally so we named her that) is a place where tombs were cut into the rock in the valley walls. It was breathtaking.Goreme was where we ate lunch in a cave...huge caverns carved into the rock with a great hall. We were served traditional food while a man entertained us with singing and a superior talent on the Ud. Our guides were singing along with him and enjoying it very much. This was the last meal I enjoyed in Turkey- notice the meat and rice pictured? I think this is what killed all good bacteria in my intestines. More soon...stomach bad....

The Mosque & Dinner With Host Family

We went to a cafe overlooking Konya and had tea and ice cream, then back to the hotel to change for dinner. We stopped at a mosque and saw an 800 year old handcarved wooden box the Imam prays from. It took 40 years for 1 man to carve it.
Then to dinner and visit with the host family in a lovely restaurant, afterward the family invited us to their home for Turkish coffee and tea. The men sat outside while us women went in and learned how to make coffee. One of the daughters is a senior in the local university and will graduate with a degree in Turkish Literature. She read a poem for us and I recognized it as the song Alexis did for 2 years in the Turkish Olympiads. I said the name (Sezze Gemmene)and what it was about and they were all so excited that I knew it. I sang a little portion that I could remember. We finally left their home at midnight.

The School

We were met at the school with a huge lunch and many curious students. This is a private school and the students are tested for entrance. After all presentations were made (with each of us struggling to stay awake) we left for the hotel to change and prepare for dinner with our sponsor families.

Day 2...Of To Konya

Off to the airport at 5:30 am. after about an hours' sleep. I stopped to have my picture taken with the phone guy...cute isn't he, love those Shrek ears. We checked in for our flight and raced onto the plane. This flight was short and we landed in Konya an hour later and were met with cold wind and light rain. After taking our bags to the hotel we left by tour van for Melvana Muzesi where the Whirling Dervishes were trained, then off for a bit of shopping before we headed to the school for our presentation.

The First Night...

Susan and I took advantage of our free time by walking the streets of Istanbul until the rest of the group returned to the hotel. I showed her the nearby Mosque and the original aquaduct for the city (which is still capable of delivering fresh clean water). She was glad that I had been here before so I could be her amateur guide. I had actually stayed in this section of the city last year and was comfortable with ny navigational skills (hey, all you need to know is the name of your hotel and someone will guide you back.)

Then we had dinner at the hotel and sat outside with dessert and a glass of wine. My friend Achmet tended to our every whim and need, and the hotel staff kept a watchful eye on us. I love this city!

I Made It To Istanbul

And what a great trip it was. When I arrived in Amsterdam there was no time between flights to sightsee so I left through customs, getting my passport stamped, and walked outside. I made it back to the gate just in time to board and even got a short nap on the flight in to Istanbul.

Ishmael was waiting, holding a sign that read "Lory Nelson" and drove like a madman to the hotel Sogut (so goot), it's beautiful! I am in the lobby right now, having tea (che') and listening to the Imam call everyone to prayers.

The rest of the group was far, far away enjoying the city and will be back soon so we can all go to dinner together. I will try to post pictures tonight...it's 5pm here and 9 am at home. Looking forward to eating until I am sick.....

Damn Travel Agent #%&*$#!@!

Arrived at the airport, dutifully early in case there were problems, and went to check in. I was told that my ticket had been voided by the travel agent. Standing there, staring blankly into the face of one of the sweetest ticket agents one could hope for, I finally shut my mouth and comprehended the magnitude of "the situation". I had no ticket, no reservations, no flight....

Then a miracle happened. They found my name and the flight my travel agent had changed me to (without informing me). Alicia said, "You were scheduled on a flight that left at 8:15 this morning.", and I said, "%#$@&&%^#$@!!!!!!!"(to myself, of course). After taking the shuttle to 3 different terminals, repeating my story to at least 15 agents and seeing them share my pain, and making numerous calls to my Turkish friends (who were boarding their own flights from Houston)I knew I was not leaving today. Even through the concern of not making it out of DFW, I felt very much ok about it- everyone was so helpful and kind, willing to do whatever was necessary to get me going. I was completely impressed with the kind spirits at Northwest, United, and Lufthansa. Also Mr Sari, Mr. Coban, and Mr. Okumusa who spent the entire day helping me. It's times like these that I feel the goodness of human nature (mushy as that may sound, I was VERY touched by kindness today).

Then, as I was putting my bags in my car to return home, the wind picked up, blowing my skirt up to my neck....thanks....at least the old man on the bench felt like his wait was productive.... :-)

It all turned out ok, I will leave tomorrow. I am sure they will treat me especially well when I arrive (because it was the fault of the Turkish agents). I will be the Queen Of Turkey- they even said if my new flight keeps me there a few extra days they will hire a guide, pay for my hotel, and best of all ALL MY FOOD!!!!!!!!

Pray for me. I want to eat Baklava, Dolma, and Goezleme....I am sooooo hungry!

Countdown To Istanbul

I leave on Saturday for Istanbul. Another 2 weeks of gloriously historic beauty. Do I sound excited? I live for travel, and what is more me than where history and religion meet? This is the place! I will be blogging from Turkey and posting pictures. Think you can keep up? Stay tuned for the next adventure.....arrgghhhh, have to go pack...where's my passport? I need a new toothbrush! Socks. No clean socks. Pack the camera- who cares if you smell...it's Turkey for goodness sake- you won't be alone....
No, I care, must smell sweet and squeaky clean... :-)

Gifts From God Himself

Alexis Hannah & Perry Ford
My life is so consumed with them, and that is the greatest feeling on Earth. They are children to be proud of; smart, funny, talented, kind, and children of Faith. I have often said they saved my life- but it is true also that they GAVE me life. There are no words to express how deeply I love them. God knows. And they know.

Need I Say More?

In an age where we are accepting and embracing cultural diversity, it seems to me we should be doing the same with regard to faith. How hard is it to understand that we don't NEED to believe the same way to get to Heaven.