Ramadan started yesterday (July 20) - and will go until August 18.  I've always wondered what Ramadan was, and after living in Turkey for a month and a half, I have learned more about it.   

Each lunar year, Muslims fast during the entire month of Ramadan, from the rising of the sun until it sets in the evening.  After the sun sets, they can break their fast and eat until the sun rises again at dawn.  "Eat and drink," the Qur'an directs, "until you can tell a white thread from a black one in the light of the coming dawn. Then resume the fast till nightfall."

I am reading the book, Abraham Divided, by Daniel C. Peterson, which is an LDS perspective on the Middle East.  If you want to know what Turkey is all about, this is a great book!  To quote from his book, Mr.  Peterson says,  "It will be recalled that it was during the month of Ramadan that the Qur'an was revaled to Muhammad.  The fast during this month is, at least in part, a commemoration of that most central of all Islamic events.

"Ramadan must also be thought of in connection with earlier Jewish and Christian fasting practices.  Althought the majority of Muslims observe the fast of Ramadan, some are more serious than others. 
"'In some cities, people fast during the day and then party all night - thus reducing industrial and office productivity to almost nil during the month. Driving along the banks of the Nile during Ramadan, I have observed hundreds of Muslims waiting on their picnic blankets, knives and forks in hand, peering eagerly at the western horizon for the setting of the sun.'"

We have noticed there has not been as much traffic today and yesterday.  The mosque next door was very busy yesterday with people washing before prayer time, and then praying.



Men sitting and washing at the fountains (water faucetts) before praying.

A quote from the book, "It is necessary to wash oneself until one if ritually
clean before prayer, and every mosque will have a fountain for this purpose."

These pictures was taken from our apt. window.

Kneeling on a 'prayer rug', these men (no women; they can attend, but are not obligated)
begin to pray while the imam's prayer can be heard over the mosque's speakers.





The mosque minaret (tower) is lit up Friday nights.  This picture does not
do it justice, but the lighted minaret is beautiful shining in the dark.



"Muslims pray toward Mecca (the city where Muhammad was born).  The direction of their prayer will vary depending upon where they are and the direction of Mecca.  For example, if they are south of Mecca, they will pray to the north; Indonesian Muslims pray roughly toward the west."

Our interpreter, Seda, told us that after the month of Ramadan is ended, there are three days of celebrating which is called Bayram.  On the first day, children and grandchildren visit the grandparents or the elderly people in the family.  These elderly people have fixed many dishes of food for their visitors.  On the second day, the elderly family members visit their children and grandchildren, and enjoy feasting in their homes.  One the third day, everyone gets together and many desserts and candies are made and enjoyed - lots of sugar!  The children may even go door to door and receive treats.  

Friday, July 6 and Saturday, July 7, 0212

Friday, July 6, 2012, we flew to Istanbul, Turkey to attend a Missionary Zone Conference - my first one ever! - and to be interviewed by our new mission president- President Michael Wilstead, from St. George, Utah. (He knew Alton Wade.  Pres. Wilstead was in the Stake Presidency there and Alton was the Stake Patriarch.)

We arrived there around noon Friday and had until 6:00 p.m. to do some sight-seeing. We took a taxi to a huge mosque which was suggested we see. When we got there a man came up to us and offered to take us on a 'free' tour. After a quick tour, we found ourselves in his carpet shop, being served drinks, and viewing all of his carpets. Wayne and I sat there wondering how we got ourselves into that situation! After we pled the poor missionary plight, we were quickly released.

Our Country Director's wife, Anita Canfield is a fabulous cook, and made dinner for us that evening. There we met the new mission president and his wife, and Elder Neuenswander and his wife.  I kept wondering what I was doing sitting at the same table with these people.

The next morning we attended a missionary Zone Conference, and in the afternoon we witnessed a baptism. The four missionaries serving there came into Turkey in February (five months ago), and it was remarkable how they could speak the language.

Of all the great and wonderful things we saw in Istanbul, the faces of the missionaries, and the look on the face of the brother who was baptized was the grandest of all. I told the missionaries that they were used to seeing each other every day and didn't realize how their countenances radiated the gospel. (Alma 5:14)

Zone Conference: 
L to R front row:  Mission Pres. Wilstead, Sister Wilstead, Sis. and Elder Nuenswander
Back row: us, four missionaires in Instanbul and two assistances of the Mission President
serving in Burgary, and Sister and Elder Canfield.

I'm standing by Elder Seymour.  He has red hair, so I instantly took to him.  He also led the music for the Zone Conference and performed it perfectly, carrying out of beat!  I knew he knew what he was doing.  Afterwards, I asked him if he had taken piano lessons, and he modestly admitted he had.  I said, "Don't you just love music!"  And he modestly admitted that he did.  I asked him if he played any other instruments, and he modestly admitted that he did.  After I pursued and dragged it out of him, he said percussion is his major at the U of U, (he is from Kaysville, Utah) and he played (before he left on his mission) in the marching band, the jazz band, and two other very accomplished musical "whatever it was he said."  He played a beautiful musical arrangement of one of the hymns at the baptism. 
- He is a missionary, he loves music, and he has red hair.  Perfect! -

The branch building was a two-story building, and this "baptismal font" was up on the

second floor, out on the patio, a blow-up pool.  I wish the camera could have captured

the look on their faces.  Like Wayne said, "The look on his face was worth the whole trip."

I took this picture while on the bus leaving Istanbul to go to the airport.. 
This would have been a little more glamorous way to have had the baptism,
but not any more effective.

 

This is the entrance onto the grounds.

July 4, 2012

We attended a reception of the U.S. Ambassador for Turkey at his residence.  Our Branch President is a Colonel in the Air Force and got us tickets. 

This is the line formed to meet the Ambassador and shake his hand. 
We stood in line and got to shake his hand.

The back yard.  There were approximately 2,000 people in attendance.

This is a roped off area so the Ambassador could walk down
the path to the platform to deliver his message.

On the left (in front) is the U.S. Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone and
on the right is a representataive of the government of Turkey.

U. S. Marine Guard presenting the colors. 
It was wonderful to see the American flag!

Delivering their speeches.

Yesterday, Saturday, June 30, 2012, we closed a humanitarian project at a training center for people who have suffered spinal cord injury and are now in wheel chairs.  This organization operates solely on donations.

Yildirim Yilmazogu, general director of the association, was riding in a airplane several years ago and the plane was caught in turbulence.  He was thrust forward and later noticed pain in his neck.  He eventually had surgery, and from the surgery was left paralyzed and in a wheel chair.  He is now helping others who suffer from spinal cord injury to deal with their challenges and become self-reliant.

The Spinal Cord Injury Association is a non-profit organization to help rehabilitate, teach skills, and train patients to enter the work force.  These people learn sewing skills on different sewing machines provided by the church.  They sew slippers and T-shirts from start to finish.  The church has also provided a computer so they can create designs to print on T shirts. 

The facilities include a main building which houses the main office and sewing room, and a dormitory where these people and their families can come and live up to three months while they are being taught these skills and go through rehabilitation.

The assciation moved into the main building two years ago, and the dormitory is less than a year old. 

It was a wonderful experience for us to visit and see how the sewing machines and computer were working for them.   The high light for us was to have met more wonderful people who "lift up the hands of those which hang down and strengthen the feeble knees."  (Hebrews 12:12)  We found their goals to be very in-line with the churches goals - mainly to help these people become self-reliant. 

Below are pictures showing our visit there:

Director, Yildirim Yilmazogu in the sewing room.  The sewing machines were provided by the Church.

Elder Edwards, Seda (interpreter) and Yildirim.

The sewing instructor demonstrates how slippers are sewn.  It takes about one minute to sew a slipper.

These slippers are sewn for hotels.

T shirts sewn and designed at the facility. (T shirt back)

Computer room where the designs for the T shirts are created.  The Church provided the computer and other equipment.

L - R:  Patient, Seda, Yildirim, Elder Edwards, Sister Edwards, patient, sewing instructor.

Front of T shirt.

On the front of the main building is a plaque with all the doners names. 
For the LDS Church, it was put on as LSD.  They are changing it!

Pictures of Dormitory

Wash room where patients do their own washing.

Kitchen where the patients do their own cooking.

Future physical therapy room.  The dormitory is only a few months old.