Elder and Sister Edwards

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.