Elder and Sister Edwards

Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012 we traveled to a little Turkish village, Yozgat Province, with the Country Director from Istanbul, Turkey to close out two water projects.  Water projects are large projects and are one of the Church's Major Initiatives.  Smaller projects are called Area Initiatives and are usually carried out locally.  The Country Director is in charge of the larger projects, so we just tagged along to mainly see how a closing ceremony was done.

We were able to have a true Turkish village experience as we drove far from the city and into the mountains where the small villages are located. 

The village people are required to do as much labor as they can on these projects, so they will have an interest in what is being done for them.  It is more likely the facility will be maintained in years to come if they have shared in the labor.  They usually dig the trenches and lay the pipe, along with any other tasks they can accomplish.  After everything is completed, and both parties are satisfied, the project is closed and a ceremony held.

This plaque is presented to the the people with the Church's name on it,
and is to be hung on the facility showing the Church as a doner.
The Country Directors, the Canfields, are in the middle
 and the mayor is accepting the plaque.

 

Water projects usually have either an existing holding tank, or a new one is constructed if need be.  Miles of pipe are layed bringing water down the mountains from the springs to the holding tank, and then to the village.

 

 

 This is a picture of the holding tank of the first water project we visited.

The Church's doner plaque hangs above the door.

 

This is the second water project holding tank.

 

This stairway without handrails was scary walking up.
 The bottom 'stairs' were even more adventuresome.
Do you think they would pass OSHA?

Once in the building, there was a narrow walkway and drop offs on either side.
Do you ever wonder how you came to be in certain situations?

Back in the village, this is a picture of the villagers cooking jam.
No stove to clean up afterwards!

We couldn't guess why or how this cow manure
came to be on this rock wall.  Any guesses?

 

 

We were invited to the mayor's home for dinner on our way home.

This is a picture of the mayor and his wife on the left,

and another couple who were there.

 

 

A new experience for us, eating on the floor. The food was very delicious!

They were very gracious and wonderful hostesses.

 

 

This couch is the typical Turkish furniture.