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My Letter to Future Goers

Posted on Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Hello!  This time I write you not from Turkey, but from...wait for it....Michigan!  Yep, my two years in Turkey is done and I find myself back home in America.  It's a bit surreal being back, I think mostly because my time in Turkey just flew by; hardly seems like.  And yet, so much happened over two years and I have returned a different person in many ways.  As I think back on my time there, there are a couple things that stick out to me, and I'd like to take this opportunity to share those with you.    

I went to Turkey with the hope of being able to share the Gospel with young men there.  Over two years I was able to do that, and it was a privilege and honor to do so.  But as I reflect on Turkey, the part that brings me the most joy in remembering is simply the opportunity I had to do life with guys, and specifically to be able to get close to a few guys and love on them, encourage them, and continually walk with them over a period of time.  For example, when I met one of my friends, he was new to our city and struggling with clinical depression.  To be able to just be a friend to him, to be there for him, encourage him, tell him that he is loved, not only by me, but by his Creator, that is the kind of thing that is especially meaningful to me.  Then there were other friends who I just enjoyed being around and was glad to have as friends.  Over the two years we were able to have a continual and developing conversation about Christ, and I was able to share Jesus often and in depth with them, and I am honored by that.  But I was also able to just share life with them, and all the laughs and experiences, both good and bad, that come along in doing that.  It's these friendships and memories that I am treasuring now.  These guys were a blessing to me, and I hope that I was able to be the same to them. 

 I like to think the reason God called me to Turkey was for something greater than myself, but I suppose I should say that, if nothing else, God sure did a lot in my own life these last two years.  Most of all, He demonstrated His love with a tangibleness that I had never before known.  I'm sure that will never stop, but what He has done in that regard recently in my life has been special, and I think I will always look back on my time in Turkey as when I really started to truly grasp in my innermost being that I am loved and known by the Creator of the universe.  There is a song by Misty Edwards that goes, "God is a lover, looking for a lover, so He fashioned me."  Before going to Turkey, I did believe that, but recently God has allowed me to really experience that, and as cliché as it is, I wouldn't trade that for anything.

 These last two years have taught me a lot about being obedient to Christ, both time of obedience and lack of obedience.  Much like I said above about knowing God's love, before I went I believed what I'm about to say, but over these two years it has become much more tangible:  When I said "Yes" to Jesus and what He called me to do, even when it was uncomfortable or didn't make sense, Jesus was faithful to me every time and not only provided me what I needed for that moment, but poured out His love on me. 

If you sense that God is calling to "Go" as well, don't hesitate.  I have found there is nothing better than being inside of God's will for me.   So say yes.  Go for it.   

 

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