Reddit AMA

3/302013
Doing and AMA on Reddit, talking about teaching English and living in the Middle East

A lesson in Turkish

Turkish is what they call a gleutonus language.  What that means is that there are all sorts of attachments to words in order to make a sentence.  In English we have -ly or -tion that we can attach to a word, usually its just one suffix that is used but the Turkish language knows no bounds to how long they can make a word.  It is not uncommon at all to see six syllable words in childrens books.

I don't have time to read that first one give me War and Peace

                                     
To really give you a lesson in the ridiculous lengths that a Turkish word can go to, the longest word in Turkish is

 Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileştiriveremeyebileceklerimizdenmişsinizcesine.   




What that pants soiling length of a word means is "Like you would be from those we cannot easily make a maker of unsuccessful ones"

Here is how the break down happens.

Turkish	English
Muvaffak	Successful
Muvaffakiyet	Success
Muvaffakiyetsiz	Unsuccessful ('without success')
Muvaffakiyetsizleş(-mek)	(To) become unsuccessful
Muvaffakiyetsizleştir(-mek)	(To) make one unsuccessful
Muvaffakiyetsizleştirici	Maker of unsuccessful ones
Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileş(-mek)	(To) become a maker of unsuccessful ones
Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileştir(-mek)	(To) make one a maker of unsuccessful ones
Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileştiriver(-mek)	(To) easily/quickly make one a maker of unsuccessful ones
Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileştiriverebil(-mek)	(To) be able to make one easily/quickly a maker of unsuccessful ones
Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileştiriveremeyebil(-mek)	Not (to) be able to make one easily/quickly a maker of unsuccessful ones
Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileştiriveremeyebilecek	One who is not able to make one easily/quickly a maker of unsuccessful ones
Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileştiriveremeyebilecekler	Those who are not able to make one easily/quickly a maker of unsuccessful ones
Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileştiriveremeyebileceklerimiz	Those who we cannot make easily/quickly a maker unsuccessful ones
Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileştiriveremeyebileceklerimizden	From those we can not easily/quickly make a maker of unsuccessful ones
Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileştiriveremeyebileceklerimizdenmiş	(Would be) from those we can not easily/quickly make a maker of unsuccessful ones
Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileştiriveremeyebileceklerimizdenmişsiniz	You would be from those we can not easily/quickly make a maker of unsuccessful ones
Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileştiriveremeyebileceklerimizdenmişsinizcesine	Like you would be from those we can not easily/quickly make a maker of unsuccessful ones

                                                  Commence crapping your pants now!


See, pretty rediculous.   There have been plenty of times when I am saying a word and have to take a water break half way through.   So many ways to attach things to words that it really makes me wonder how Scrabble works here.

Let's see that danimarkalalistiramadiklarimizdanmisiniz
 on a triple word score...that adds up to 14,654 points

   

The Sun is Rising in My Heart

  Last week, the week before a week long vacation was crazy. I think that is how it always is for everybody. The week before vacation almost wipes us out so much that our vacation time is spent in a coma. Well, thankfully, mine wasn't that bad. There were no physical problems, delays, or packing troubles. For me, the Holy Spirit decided it was time to check my heart and reveal to me more of what's lying in the corners, hiding from me. I've been through this before and will go through it again, maybe next week. Anywho, it goes a little like this...
  Team, leading a team, and getting what you asked for is a doozy. Months ago, I asked God to get me to a place where I have more room in my heart to reach out to people, more capacity to serve them especially when I feel like I can't anymore. I asked this knowing I would be leading a team of 8 to a foreign place and also knowing that I haven't led anything more than a small group. I asked this knowing what's come out of my heart in the past, knowing what I'm capable of.
  Quick side note, years ago, I went through a time where God showed me what I'm capable of in a not so awesome way, the way of sin. Mind you, I'm a good girl, I don't have big sins that I've overcome to tell you about. My parents were awesome so I don't have major hangups that God has had to heal for me to truly live. Yet, the matter of the heart, inside the heart, deep and dark places no one knows about except yourself and God is a totally different matter. 1 John 3:15 gives us an example of the heart. I thank Him for revealing these things and showing me what I'm capable of without actually committing these sins. I can tell you more about that another time. 
 Back to it, I get extremely frustrated when I don't know what I'm doing. Even more, when I feel a certain way and have no concrete reason for it, it makes me feel foolish. No likes to feel frustrated and foolish. I admit feeling foolish and frustrated often results in anger, unforgiveness, irritations and all of that often projectiles onto others (poor Craig). When that happens I often get more angry, frustrated, irritated, and yuck yuck yuck. Welp, I realized what was happening and I told Craig. We prayed and I confessed and received forgiveness. I gave forgiveness and prayed blessings. The next day, we listened to an awesome sermon called the Un-Offendable Heart. SHEESH! After that, guess what? We prayed and confessed and received forgiveness. We gave forgiveness and prayed blessings. It seems so easy to type this all up and I realized I'm failling at describing it to you. I only hope you have experienced matters of the heart because only then do you know. Anyway, Friday rolls around and we are having simple church. During worship, I felt God was saying, "Lisa, everyday is a new day with me. No matter what you've done, what contents of your heart has splattered onto the ground. Don't you know that every MOMENT is a new moment in me. This next moment is new!!!" Wow! There truly are no words to describe that! I shared that with our team. I just had to they were burning me. THEN, God told me, "Lisa, the sun is rising IN YOUR HEART." He didn't say through or on but IN, WITHIN. This is funny but my first response was "oh no, something in my throat is blocking it." Weird, huh? I shared this with the team and we prayed over me. I again felt God was saying,  "Something is coming, this is the beginning of what I am doing here, in your heart, in this team, in this town." We also felt that what wants to block it is fear. For me, it is fear of the unknown.
  Which I know, some of you might snicker and think good grief, she's scared, look at what she has done. Well, I have to say, I have fear. I also have had naivite and youth and strength of the Lord. I also think that those who have no fear have no courage either. I mean why do they need courage. Courage and bravery are what results in the face of fear. 
  We prayed against fear, fear of the unknown. We prayed the truth. God wants the sun to rise in my heart and pour out of me. He gave me that picture and He will make it happen. Nothing can stop Him! So now, we wait!! We wait for what's next. I'm waiting with anticipation and dream about what will that look like! I'm sure what will come next will be full of more cleaning out the heart but maybe it will be a little easier as the sun shines on dark places.

  "And, God, I welcome what's to come and welcome the sun rising, and welcome the new moments!!"  

  That was my week and this week is rest! Rest for the heart and soul. Time for the beach, Mediterranean Sea, movies, ice cream and time with my husband and team!

There are two things in this world that scare me. Nuclear wepons...and carnies!

So, every night during the month of Ramazan there is a carnevale that goes on here. For those people reading this from Pagosa, it is just about as awesome as the 4th of July carn that comes to town. Let me tell you guys somethin' if you haven't experienced a Turkish carnevale you are missing out in life.

First things first, the rides. The flagship ride was one called the frisbee which was a giant wheel that swung you back and forth and around. It took me all of twenty seconds to get sick on this ride.


There were also bumper cars. In case you are wondering, yes, it is a great idea to bring your infant on the bumper cars with your other child driving.



Also, there was a concert for the kids going on which consisted of creepy imatation Mickey and Minnie Mouse dancing around and singing songs. I don't have any pics of this but believe me it was a bit creepy.

On to the games. There were really only two carnevale games that you could play, one was a ring throw game and the other a shooting game, but instead of winning stuffed animals, posters, goldfish, or sick rabbits (if you are from Pagosa) you win packs of cigerettes...totally awesome fun for the whole family.



Get a ring around a pack and it's yours!!!



Look closely and you can see that this kid won some cigs for his dad...nice!


I, unfortunately, was not able to win Lisa a pack of cigarettes.

Ramadan in Turkey

Ramadan is is full swing here in Turkey. First thing I notice is how different it is here compared to Jordan. In Jordan, every restaurant was closed during the day for the month. It was illegal to eat or drink on the streets (even if you didn't get fined by the police, I think the dirty looks and comments from peers would be bad enough). Here, being a secular government, life and work goes on as usual. I would say that more people keep the fast than don't, but as one person told me "I don't do Ramadan in the summer", which I can completely understand. To go without water in 100+ heat sounds almost demonic to me. Our poor friend Ali, who is our language tutor, rides his bike to our house in the heat and can't drink a cool glass of water when he gets here. We have offered to have classes at his house but he declines saying "It's more enjoyable here, my mother isn't around always watching" Oh to be a teenager.
The thing I am always surprised by is how blatant some people are with not keeping the fast. I see people just munching on some food and drinking sodas right on the sidewalk, or in buses. Its crazy.
Fasting or not, Ramadan (its actually called Ramazan in Turkey, no idea why) is a special month of purifying yourself with God. Please keep the Turks in your prayers this month, the our Father would reveal Himself to those who seek.

closet

Gettin' our Picnic on

So as we are here in Turkey, a few cultural observations I have made.
1. Turks have a much higher tolerance for heat than I do.
2. They love them some picnics

Picnics are the thing to do here during the summer. Whether its grabbing a snack on a blanket in the park or spending the day out in the woods, the Turks are serious about picnics. Its so popular that I have met many people who speak zero English but somehow know the word picnic.
Lisa and I were invited by a friend of ours to go to his parents village and spend the days out in the woods having a picnic. What a great time we had! It didn't really matter that we don't speak much Turkish or that they didn't speak much English we all spoke the international language of the picnic. That is enjoy some food, relax and enjoy the fresh air.


Oh yeah, Turkish couples love to take cheesy pictures of themselves.

Living out of a Suitcase

Well, it has been a super long time since we have updated. I'm not even going to worry about filling in what has been going on since last update. Instead let's look forward in the life ahead of us.


In exactly two weeks we will be going from




to...



and in the mean time we are gathering all of our worldly possession and paring them down to that which can fit into...


You would think this would be a stressful task, but as we have done this a few times in our lives Lisa and I are getting kind of good at it. Lisa's hierarchy of importance goes as follows: 1. Clothes 2. Pictures and frames 3. Zumba videos. Mine list is 1. xbox 360 2. underwear.

As we go through all of our stuff and past memories come back and its hard not to get nostalgic and want to take everything. I'm sure we look a bit like Steve Martin in "The Jerk"

Adoption

This blog is a follow up to our newsletter. If you do not receive, let us know and we can put you on the list. I mentioned in the newsletter that Craig and I want to adopt and that I'd share more. Here goes...
Our friends, Andy and Rachel, had a desire to adopt in 2004 or earlier. After much prayer and discussion, they started the process to adopt a little boy from South Korea. Unfortunately, I don't know all the details of the beginning process. We enter in the story when a boy has been born and chosen for Andy and Rachel. The process had have a been about a year as we all prayed for this little boy to come home. As they waited, our little YWAM community of 60, prayed, fasted, and gave financial support with so much generosity not to mention emotional support to this family. I was completely in awe of that goodness. I felt is was up to me to take it upon myself to remind everyone to pray for this little boy. As the weeks went on, the news came that is was time to go to New York to get this child because someone was bringing him over. Andy and Rach asked Craig to go, film the meeting, and keep hep their nerves down. Watching the video was one of the most amazing things, I've ever seen. It was short and sweet but God moved in my heart and I knew from then on we were to adopt a child into our family. I believe it is one of the greatest ways to show love and such a beautiful picture of how God has adopted us into His family. It's amazing, also, because I don't worry about the when and how of this process for us. It doesn't matter to me that it could be one of great sacrifice. I'm honored that God has called Craig and I do be apart of it.
It's hard to type out such deep feelings and assurance on a blog. Here is a picture of the family shortly after they got their little guy.

Staff Retreat

Once a year, my company goes to a retreat center. It is 4 days of playing games, watching movies, eating good food, eating yummy snacks, drinking coffee, playing games, eating yummy snacks, and repeat. I don't come home well rested but I do come back full to the brim. I'm stuffed with food and fellowship. Craig and I are both people people and hanging out energizes us and we feel the love. As much as I love good speakers and corporate prayer time it's nice to just hang out. Here are some pics!!



nerds

tearin it up

4 rambunctious cuties

brittney and anthem

cara and noah

I'm reading The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje and I have not seen the movie. This book is lovely to me because it describes the vast, exposed beauty of the desert, speaks of Arab culture which I miss very very much, there is a quote that I relate to within my heart. "Born in one place and choosing to live elsewhere. Fighting to get back to or get away from our homelands all our lives." I think it's beautiful.

One of my favorite sites!

The Pioneer Woman

Hello Friends,
You may know or not know that I'm obsessed with the Pioneer Woman. I love her; her blog, her ranch, her cooking, and most of all her sense of humor. I smile at many many things. A good hearty laugh is another thing. The Pioneer Woman has made me laugh a good hearty laugh consistently for several months now. She obsesses with many things too, which is like me; food, husbands, our dogs, to mention a few. That's the latest with me and has nothing to do with what this blog was originally intended for but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.



Here is a pic of her cookbook and the pics above are of her recipes that I've tried.
She also inspired me to join this website and I've posted one recipe. Try it sometime and say yum or bleh.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/salads/salad-fusion/

What is God Up To?

It's been a month since we arrived in Orlando, and if I do say so myself we have adjusted with ease. We are working with the School of Missions and have various other responsibilities that help this base run.
Upon returning, we wondered what God was going to do. We very clearly heard last May that we should work for several months and then join up with Y. I wondered why we should do this because we live by support of our friends and families (people who believe in us, our calling, and that God has a plan for this world). There was not one person who questioned us and God provided for us in Greenville in so many ways we felt truly blessed. Needless to say, I'm excited for this season and so far God hasn't disappointed. There is a Turkish Cultural Center that some friends told us about. We are taking Turkish language lessons for $35 a head, including books. WOW! What a leg up! We are enjoying that gift. On top of that, we have several people who have shown interest in joining us on this unknown, following God's voice, adventure to move to Antalya and start a ministry. I admit I had doubts we'd find anyone ever. Again, wow!
Now, I know, that we don't always see God at work. That sometimes it feels like our prayers hit the ceiling and there is no evidence of a greater being but I'll remember times like this, the proof of Him in my own life, and be able to continue believing that there is a God and He is Good and is up to something.

P.S. We have a new and beautiful nephew, Stephen Monroe born Jan. 24th.
I have a terrible cold and swallow garlic to boost my immune system.
Craig still sleeps by me despite the smell. Good old boy!!!

Back to It

Hey Everyone! We are back in Orlando, FL, back in YWAM!! Whoo! WHoo!! We spent six and half months in Greenville and two weeks in Pagosa. Now we are here until God leads else where. Most of you know that we are hoping He will. Not because we want to leave our friends here but because the calling God has put on our hearts has only gotten stronger and stronger. We are now taking steps to towards that goal! Whooweee! Exciting. Meanwhile, we are working with the School of Missions and plugging into the base. I have seen God fulfill promises. I heard him speak to me and then move on those words and yet I still doubt. Sometimes I think I'm crazy. I'm afraid that He won't speak and we just look silly and lazy. Well, I say that thought is crazy. God does speak, He has, does, and will!
Anywho, we are here in Orlando now but I wanted to post some pictures of our time celebrating Christmas in CO. Here you go!!!

Do Blondes Have More Fun?

Go to people.com click on styles, then makeover, upload a pic and have fun trying new looks. It's so fun and looks real. Ha! Which one do you like best? Personally I prefer the last one. :)

How about bob cut?
Or Ariel?

Sporting spikey and short


The best one yet!

Adoption, TGC, Religions

Yesterday at church had me so pumped up at the end of it.
First off, worshipping God with other believers did something to my soul. During the time I thought about people who don't know church and how incredibly weird and scary we are to them but if they only knew who God is and what He did, they'd join in too.
Anywho, the sermon was about the prophet Jonah and first few verses of his book. God said go to Nineveh and preach. Jonah didn't want to go, not of fear or bad timing but b/c he didn't want those people to receive God's mercy. He wanted them to go to hell. Then our pastor confessed he at times is prejudice against other people groups, religions, etc. That He often is a Jonah. God convicted him last week and he really did a number on his heart, getting that junk out. He pointed out on stage that Christians often despise Muslims because of terrorist fears but it's not right and that God loves all religions and peoples. Jesus died for them all. Wow!
After that, we worshipped again and in moving with the Holy Spirit we repented individually for our sin and we then prayed for God to reveal himself to the Hindus down the road. Wowzers!!
Lastly, they interviewed two women who under God's calling have opened an Adoption Fundraising Center, where they interview their applicants, chose one, and raise the funds needed for the adoption. Cool, huh! Our paster then asked if you was adopted, have adopted, or want to in the future to come to the front and receive prayer. Craig wasn't with me but did that stop me? No, I went up by myself. Again, WOW!!!
Man, I'm still SO pumped up!!!!!!!!!

A Blessings Blog

Hey Friends,
Lately, I've been so grateful and in awe of the God I serve. He always always always provides for us and this season in Greenville is no different.

We felt for the months of July through December we should pursue jobs in the city of Greenville to help our supporters provide for our move to Turkey. With such gratefulness, God brought Firestone and Glam Clothing Co. to us and we were hired.




The grand opening of Glam was August 1. Here I am with the Glam staff.








Craig in his Firestone uniform.















Wow, now we are employed but how to get where we need to be. Praise God, he provided a Ford Explorer for us and Craig drives that to Firestone. I, which I LOVE doing is, ride my brother's bike to Glam. It's a 15 min ride and I really enjoy the activity it gives. God knows me inside and out and knew that would bring me great joy! Another provision it has not rained on me, not once is several months. Go God!


Another gift of God that we never take for granted, our families. The Stubbs and the Branches are the best. I love spending time with them and believe I have the BEST family in the world.


The Branch Clan in June!












The newest Branch addition, Payton Jane.





















My brother, Paul, and I in Pisgah national forest where the family went camping for a a few days.





















Goofing around with Rose's birthday presents.

I love songs!!!

Often when I come across a new song and I like it. I listen to it over and over and over again until it's memorized and Craig can't stand it anymore. :) Nothing moves me like music. Normally, there's something about them that speaks to me or makes me think of people I love or will love. I have been making a list of songs that I plan on singing to my future children (Lord willing).





Here's a few;
Chiquitita by Abba (for my girls)
Waitin on a Sunny Day by Bruce (for my girls)
Family Man by AP (for my boys)
Godspeed (Sweet dreams) by Dixie Chicks (for my boys)
Annie's Song by John Denver (for my Craigel)
If I Had Me Million by Pat Green (to me from Craig)

Forgiveness

The past couple of weeks God has been teaching me a lesson of forgiving and asking for forgiveness. What was reiterated to me was the power of forgiveness. Whether you are religious or not, you have to admit the power of letting a grudge and bitterness go and forgiving the offender. It's wild and maybe painful, the release you feel and what you can accomplish with that. And to be forgiven is something so...there are no words. I know many of you think, 'well, what does Lisa know of being forgiven. She's so sweet." In the words of Andrew Peterson, "so you think i'm not a dirty rotten scoundrel through and through, well, lady, I've got news for you" and that news God reminded me of at church through Isaiah 53 (1, 3-6, 11)
Who believes what we've heard and seen? Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this?
He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, is was our pain he carried-our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him-our sins. He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way and God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong on him.
Our of that terrible travail of soul, he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.
Sometimes I really feel there is a blackness in my soul that's really pretty horrible and hurts others. Thank God, he put that blackness on Jesus and Jesus took it knowing he would be glad. I'm free!!