Turkish hospitality is amazing! It is one of the things I love most about living in this country and am very thankful for! Being welcomed into a home is good for the soul and I hope to learn and adopt the gift of hospitality from my Turkish friends.
Last weekend we went to a city called Mersin for an American football match. Five of us went together. We stayed at my language helper’s cousin’s house. Her name is Demet, and she is one of the sweetest, most generous people I have ever met! She greeted us with exuberance and took all 5 of us in as if we were her family. We each had a warm bed to sleep in, towels for showering, tea, coffee, a huge Turkish breakfast (olives, cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, bread and pancakes, catering to us Americans). She made us the Mersin specialty, Tantune, (diced chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, hummus in a thin wrap – delicious!) one night for dinner. We were spoiled!
I was so encouraged and amazed by her family’s hospitality. It is something so special to be able to love strangers like they did. They are followers of Jesus and His Spirit was extremely evident in their home! Thank you God for the blessing of meeting them and being welcomed by them! I pray I can follow that as an example; welcoming people in Your Name and loving them – anyone who crosses my path! - as if they were family.
* Above is a picture of us with Demet and her family.