Elder and Sister Edwards

An old building in Beyparazi

We visited the town of Beyparazi September 5, 2012 to discuss a possible project with the mayor and his wife. (Beyparazi is part of the city of Ankara; a district.) Their plan is to help disabled women in their community to learn the skill of sewing and tole painting. A group of ten women will be trained for three months, and then a new group will follow. The municipality will help them find work upon completion of their training course; most likely they will be able to sell the products they make in a little shop in town. Trainers will be both paid employees and volunteers. These people are asking the church to supply two sewing machines, a serger and tables and chairs for the project.

This room is the future shop for training of disabled women.
It had just been painted.

The next step of the project, after having visited with them, is to receive a request letter from them, telling us what they would like us to supply. Seda, our translator will translate the letter into English and from there it is our job to submit the project to Moscow for approval. If and when it is approved, we order the materials, have them delivered, visit this place once again to make sure everything is going well and have a closing ceremony, which is the best part. We love to be with the recipients and share in their excitement and anticipation for the future.

We thought this would be the extent of our visit in Beypazari, but the mayor's wife, her secretary and the mayor's secretary took us on a tour of the town, to lunch, to two museums (one a living museum and the other a former Turkish bath house), shopping in quaint little shops and to the bazar where produce from their farms and other goods are sold, which lined the streets. How did Wayne hold up tagging along with five women? He did very well - not one complaint. Oh, we also enjoyed a tea party (with juice).

This is our tea party. See the smile on Wayne's face.
I think he was happy he wasn't footing the bill.
The mayor's wife is on the left; a very lovely lady,
so gracious and good to us all afternoon.

Our camera was clicking away the entire day. I think we took 150 pictures, which I wish I could include them all. I wish I were computer savvy enough to know how to wrap them all up in a file so you could see them. As for now, I will include a few of my favorites.

My favorite thing we saw was a loom in one of the shops where the shop owner was making fabric. He demonstrated running the loom for us and it reminded us of someone playing the organ with both hands and feet going all at the same time. I've always wanted a loom and this was so fun watching him!!