So long Turkey

So, the Blog hasn't really work for us.   I’d like to say it was because we were too busy, didn’t have anything to write, or didn’t want people to know what events were going on in our lives—none of which were really true.  When looking at the last entry of the blog, we were preparing to go back home.  What an awesome trip we had.   We were able to introduce Carter to our family and friends, spend time in California with Paula’s parents, and celebrate my parent’s 40^th wedding anniversary.    After 29 days in the States, I remember boarding the plane with Carter and simply feeling mad.   I was mad to leave my family and friends, mad to go back to a job I didn’t like, and mad to go back to a country where the food was just horrendous.  One year in, I was DONE with Turkey life.   As with all things, you get over it and move on—after all, we chose this life, right?

We packed our household goods and shipped our car early, leaving us in the hotel on base for 47 days.   As I anxiously countdown the final days until we leave, it surprises me how much I have learned and grown from our tour in Turkey.   Though I am more than ready to move on to our next adventure, nothing can replace the experiences we have had right here in this Muslim nation. 

Carter
One night at the Stebbins’ house, we were all asked to guess what our spouse would say would be his/her favorite thing about our time in Turkey.   Paula’s, of course, was “Giving birth to Carter.”   How did I not choose this?  Why did I say “Having Yeliz for a nanny?”   Of course Yeliz made our lives and marriage wonderful.   But, having our 1^st son born in Turkey was just phenomenal.    Though we didn’t speak the same language as the nurse staff at Acibadem Hospital when Carter was born, they all shared the love Paula and I immediately felt when we met Carter.    This blonde haired baby became the talk of the hospital, having nurses and staff from other floors come and check him out.     Traveling throughout Turkey, Carter soon became known as the “Lemon Man”.   We soon learned Turkish people absolutely LOVE kids.  I cannot remember a restaurant we ate at, airport we traveled from, or hotel we stayed in where the locals did not hesitate to pick Carter up and simply kiss his hand and cheeks and offer him some sort of Turkish present.   What a change from the U.S. where people are irritated when they dine with kids at restaurants or annoyed with that family of 4 going through security at the airport.   I wish Carter could remember his life in Turkey- if a child ever needed to feel special, Turkey is the place to be. 

Yeliz
Ok, so now I can say Yeliz is my 2^nd favorite part of our Turkey experience. What an awesome woman.  Yeliz became Carter’s nanny when he turned 6 weeks old.   For a year and a half, she cooked for him, taught him Turkish words, did his laundry, played with him , held him, cut his nails (of which Paula and I have only done once), changed his diapers, took him to the market, and so much more.  Sure, I say she improved our marriage because she did the cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc for us too.   With time away from these chores, we could truly spend our time with Carter every night after work.  To sum it up, we were spoiled.   But, these acts of service were not the things that prepared us to accept Yeliz as simply Carter’s nanny, but a member of our family.  Here we are- 29/30 year old Americans-supporting her family of 4 on a monthly take-home paycheck of $500.    We have visited her family many times at her home in Adana.  Each time we drive home through the pot-hole streets, avoiding men steering donkey drawn carriages and kids trying to sell tissues on the side of the road to make money, I look at Paula and say “Remember this.”  There we sit in this no-frills black Ford Escape outside her home and people look at us as if we are the newest celebrity making our debut in Hollywood.  How fortunate are we to have this car, our education, our home---all of which Yeliz and her family will likely never have.  

Air Force
When we lived in Biloxi, Paula happened to work on an Air Force base.  We spent very little time there, enjoying most of our weekends in New Orleans, Florida, or livin’ the southern Vegas strip.  Then, we moved to Turkey- surrounded by barbed wire on a Turkish military base.   Everything became military- TV, housing, work, friends, grocery store, weekend events, our words speaking that crazy jargon, restaurants- everything.  I hated it and started to resent our decision to move to Turkey.   In time, I started to understand the military life (somewhat) and realized I am married to a soldier.    Sure, Paula’s “just a dentist”, but it took our experience in Turkey for me to understand that this is a big deal.   Our friends on base became our family.   If we weren’t traveling with them, we were spending our weekends at each other’s homes.  Then our friends started to deploy.   Some of the most memorable days in Turkey were spent going to the airport terminal and celebrating with our friends when their husband/wife returned home.   I could not be more proud of our military friends and Paula.  They exemplify the true American hero and allow us to freely live in the greatest nation in the world.   Period.    

Financial Peace
In October 2010, our friend Jordan Clark introduced us to Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace.   We started cutting up credit cards and establishing a budget, with the ultimate goal of leaving Turkey in 2012 debt free (besides our rental home in Illinois).   For nearly 2 years, every incoming and outgoing dollar to our name had a purpose.    Financial Peace not only gave us the guidance to get us on the right track regarding our monthly budget, but to fully understand the necessity of additional giving.  Paula has committed to supporting our friends Lindsay and Michael King with the establishment of their Youth for Christ mission, an organization serving Air Force teens across the world.  Following my mission trip to Uruguay, I have had the opportunity to sponsor a student studying at the Bible Institute in Montevideo, Uruguay.  We are blessed to see how these organizations are progressing each month and look forward to years of giving with them. 

On July 25^th, 10 days before our departure from Turkey, we sent in our final payment to National Education Student Loans.  Dave Ramsey- we are Debt Free!   

Valley of the Shaddow of Death

Carter's Baptism in the Jordan

Israel
Wow.  How can I talk briefly about Israel?  Carter had just turned 1 and we were en-route to the Promised Land with 23 other Americans.  Growing up in the church, I always believed in the Bible and its teachings.  This trip, however, allowed the Bible to fully come alive.   We travelled in the footsteps of Jesus for 9 days- starting in Bethlehem and ending with our baptism in the Jordan River.   One particular image that will stick with me forever is seeing the Valley of the Shadow of Death as written in Psalm 23.  The valley is hidden along the southern border of Jerusalem and depicts exactly what the Bible references in the Old Testament.    As Christians, we tend to recite this Psalm at virtually every funeral- putting a sorrowful thought in my mind about the verse.   When I saw the Valley, I was able to understand the hope that God has prepared for us- for He is present, guarding, and leading us in our daily lives.   This was just one of the life-changing experiences we had on this trip that answered many questions about our faith and re-focused our commitment to Christ. 

Moving on

As I write this in our last week in Turkey, I think of all we missed these past 2 years.   Many times, it was easier not to call back home as it just made us upset.  Seems every weekend, we were missing a birthday party, a friend’s birth, a wedding, a boat ride, or a Sunday breakfast with the family.  Despite all these things we missed, would I do it again?   I'll say this: In 2 years, living in Turkey truly provided Paula and me the foundation we needed to raise our own family- financially, culturally, and spiritually.   We have attained by 30 what many strive to achieve their entire life- contentment. 

Thank you to our friends and family back home for supporting us.   And thank you to the Balskus, Bristows, Clarks, Kellihers, Kings, Marrons, Paltes, Stebbins, Weisses, and Yeliz for loving Carter and being our Turkish family.    It was an unforgettable 2 years and glad to have shared it with you.  Until we meet again…..Love, the Stepps