First off I want to give a quick update from the game yesterday. We ended up losing 79-63 to Kayseri. We have clinched the #5 spot, now we just await to see who we will be playing. We will either face Kayseri or Tarsus in playoffs. Our record is now 12-9 so we are still above .500 which is great :)
It is hard to believe that we only have one regular season game left!! AMAZING how time flies.
Today was a great day in Adana! My sisters and I went to church and then did some shopping. After shopping, it was off to the gym to see Adana Spor play (Division 2 Men's team here). It was quite an exciting game and close game throughout. Adana came up in the short end unfortunately. The end of the game was quite dramatic as some fights broke out in the stands. Thankfully, there were a lot of police close by to alleviate the situation from exploding. There were even a few cans of pepper spray whipped out by the authorities and used...never have I seen that before.
To end the evening out, it was back to the apartment to eat dinner and get my sisters all packed up. I asked them to write a little bit before I wrote what I am typing now, so below the schedule you will find a little message from each of them.
This week will be a week full of practice as we prepare for the Turkish Cup. In case anyone was wondering, there are 8 teams that qualify to play in the Turkish Cup. The top 8 teams from the first half of the season play in the Turkish Cup and the top 8 teams from the second half of the season play in the playoffs. We have qualified for both, so we will be playing in both. The Turkish Cup is a single elimination format, whereas the Playoffs format is the best 2 out of 3 series advances on to the next round. We randomly picked to see who we would play for the Turkish Cup, whereas the Playoffs match up will be determined by the final standings of the season.
After our game on March 20th, I will be able to let you know who we will be matched up against in the PLAYOFFS!!
SCHEDULE from here on out:
March 12th - Turkish Cup game against GALATASARAY @ Gazientep
*Single elimination format. If we lose we are done, but if we win we advance to the next round.
March 20th - Last Regular Season Game against Feberbahce @ Istanbul
March 23rd - PLAYOFFS BEGIN - TBD who we play!
A little bit from MOLLY:
Well it is hard to believe that our time is officially winding down over in Turkey! Only a few more hours and we will be headed back to the states. It has been such a great time getting to meet Meg's teammates and fellow believers at the church she goes to and just be able to spend time with her. We went to church this morning then did some shopping and watched a men's team play. We then came home and had dinner and then Mor and I did some cleaning so we could leave her apartment spic and span : ). We could not have asked for better weather since we have been here. It has been in the high sixties most of the time. To say the least I have made so many memories over here that I will never forget. Hopefully this will be something Mor and I can do every year while Meg plays overseas Lord-willing. We have appreciated everyone's prayers for safe travel and hope to continue to be blessed as we embark on our trip home. Meg should be home in around a month so we look forward to that. I do not have to be back to work until Thursday night, so I should have plenty of time to catch up on sleep. Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
A little bit from MORIAH:
So, it's crazy that our visit with Meg has almost come to a close but it has been AWESOME!! I would have never thought a few years ago that I would have come to Turkey, but it has definitely been a unique experience. Molly and I both now have a different perspective on what Meg sees and does each and everyday. Meg has always done a pretty good job of trying to describe different things to us but honestly, words don't really do it justice until you get to see and experience the culture and people first-hand. We get back to the States tomorrow and then Molly goes back to work on Thursday and I go back to work on Wednesday :) Not looking forward to the long flight from Munich to the States but last time it went by pretty fast.. I hope you all have enjoyed my pictures that I have taken. I took a few more from yesterday's game, so here they are:
https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2382681&id=55710207&l=9b6eeac457
Back to MEGAN...
It is hard to believe our time is coming to a close. As I type this, I have about 3 hours left with my sisters in the apartment ha. They are both sleeping right now trying to take a little nap before they head out. They fly out of Adana at 3:30 a.m. (9:30 p.m. EST) to start their trip home. If all goes as planned, they should get back into the States around 3:30 p.m. EST into Philadelphia. I will keep you all posted as I hear from them.
I have had so much fun with them here the past 11 days. It seems like they just landed a day ago. My time with my sisters has flown by, but we did get to do a lot while they have been here. Thank you Lord for allowing them to come and experience a little bit of my everyday life here in Turkey. Although I feel like I could have showed them a lot more, I am so grateful that they were able to get a taste :)
P.S. I ask you to pray for a former colleague of my Mom. A teacher my Mom taught with at LCA has recently been diagnoses with lymphoma. Pray that the Lord would restore complete healing to her body!
God bless,
Megan
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[The Lord said,] My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.— Isaiah 51:5 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...God's promises stand through the ages. He has fulfilled them in many different ways. He has punished evil nations, he has redeemed Israel according to his promises, and he has sent Jesus as Savior and redeemer. But most importantly of all, Jesus stands at the edge of history waiting to return and bring full redemption for God's people and salvation for those everywhere who long for his return.
My Utmost For His Highest:
When you have no vision from God, no enthusiasm left in your life, and no one watching and encouraging you, it requires the grace of Almighty God to take the next step in your devotion to Him, in the reading and studying of His Word, in your family life, or in your duty to Him. It takes much more of the grace of God, and a much greater awareness of drawing upon Him, to take that next step, than it does to preach the gospel.
Every Christian must experience the essence of the incarnation by bringing the next step down into flesh-and-blood reality and by working it out with his hands. We lose interest and give up when we have no vision, no encouragement, and no improvement, but only experience our everyday life with its trivial tasks. The thing that really testifies for God and for the people of God in the long run is steady perseverance, even when the work cannot be seen by others. And the only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking to God. Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to discourage you. Never allow yourself to think that some tasks are beneath your dignity or too insignificant for you to do, and remind yourself of the example of Christ inJohn 13:1-17 .
Our Daily Bread:
Creation is the canvas on which God has painted His character.