thoughts on leaving.

it's almost june. which means i leave in just over two months to head back to the states. i am looking forward to seeing my family, meeting my new nephew, wesley, eating memphis bbq, eating mexican food, understanding the language 100% of the time, my job when i get there, joining back up with neighborhood church, seeing friends, catching up on people's lives...

but i am not looking forward to leaving. there is so much about this place i am going to miss. the safety i feel living here (compared with memphis). the food. the fresh fruits and veggies. the ease of public transportation. even though it could easily take 2 hours to get across the city, it's easy for the most part. the tea. the people and their hospitality. living by the water. my friends here. my coworkers. the sounds. smells. tastes. so much....

i've learned a lot since i moved here. so much about myself. so much about God. so much about how to serve and love people. i've learned how to be even more open and flexible. i have learned how to enjoy time alone. how to enjoy spending hours just talking to one person at a cay cafe. and to never plan to hang out/meet up with someone for less than 3 hours. how to politely refuse to give my number to turkish men. how to elbow and shame men when needed on public transit. how to listen. how to pray more specifically for the needs of people around me. how to continue eating when i reached my limit hours ago and a nice lady is filling up my plate for thirds or fourths. oh, the list goes on.

i have learned to be content with leaving. i know that in all things i am to trust that He will work things out. things haven't always been easy while i've been here and things haven't always gone as planned, but when i have trusted that He was in control and left it at that, i have always seen Him work out a peace in my heart that i cannot describe...

with all that being said, here's a few pics of a couple of the most exciting reasons to be returning in the fall. :)