Hello Everyone,

I hope you’re all having a great summer wherever you are.

Firstly apologies for the delay in this prayer letter.  I have been in Izmir now over 6 months and am very happy in the fact I know it’s where God wants me for this time in my life.  It may not come as a surprise to a many of you, but a decision has been made for next year, and I will be staying in Turkey for another year.  I hope in the next year to learn more Turkish so I can be at an adequate level to be more effective here.  I also hope to continue to serve in the youth work here.  Please pray for all of this and also for financial provision for next year, as I will be living by faith, but I am trusting in the Lord, for He equips what He calls us to do.

In the last few months I have known God’s daily presence as I walk looking to Him in all things and through hard times.  My Grandma passed away last month and at that time, miles away from family, I sincerely knew what it was to have God holding my hand every day.  Many thanks to all your prayers for my family & I during this time; we can rest in the hope that one day we will see her again, with our Lord Jesus Christ.

I have been learning the importance of just resting in the Lord’s presence and the simplicity and joy of this.  This Psalm written by the David, the King of Israel at the time, has deeply inspired this in me: Psalm 131: O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvellous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.

I recently enjoyed 3 weeks back in England, to be back with my family at this time.  It was so great to spend time with my family & friends and I felt very loved going back and it was a time of refreshment.  Turkish lessons finished at the end of July and I was really encouraged by how far I’d come from arriving in January and although frustrating and tiring at times I know God is helping me with the language.  When I was home a friend prayed for me and prophesied over me about an increase in the language, at the time I felt the Holy Spirit meet me and felt like my lips were on fire, it was amazing. Since coming back to Turkey I’ve really been in faith for this and have started to see some of the fruit of this.  Please pray for more of the fulfilment of this prophetic word.  Friendships with a couple of the Turkish girls my age at church have started to develop and have started to stay around their houses for the night, which is great fun and also really good for my Turkish to be immersed in the language. 

Thank you for your prayers regarding friends, the Lord is so good to me and has answered these prayers. Please continue to pray for these friendships, it can be hard with the language barrier.  I have been greatly encouraged by how much relationships have developed with a family I have met with their daughter to practice Turkish with for the last 6 months.  I now am warmly welcomed by the family and their friends and was recently invited to a small celebration of the daughter’s birthday.  Please pray for this family and their hearts would continue to be open to me and also through this I could shine God’s light.  In June I enjoyed going back to the resort I worked last year for the wedding of one of the girl’s I worked with at the hotel.  I felt loved going back and being with the people I worked with.  Please pray they will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

I ended the second term in July with presenting an hour long talk on the prophet Isaiah, which I really enjoyed doing and also all that I learnt in preparing for it.  It really challenged me in understanding of the Scriptures and took me out of my comfort zone in talks I would usually do.  I have greatly enjoyed the Bible lectures we receive every Saturday morning and have learnt a lot in them.  Please pray for the people that so faithfully serve us for energy and time and also blessings upon them.  Please also pray we all would have hearts and ears open to the Lord’s word and His teachings and be inspired to live this out every day. 

 Our Church has a family camp coming up shortly which we are all looking forward to.  There will be a few new believers getting baptised there too, so please pray for protection over these new believers and that they’d hold tight to Jesus especially at this time and following their baptisms.  Please also pray for all the organisation of the camp and for the speakers who are coming for the camp, energy and blessings upon them all.  Finally please pray that we’d all have ears open to the Lord’s word and hearts willing to respond to Him.

Finally I’d like to thank you all for faithfully supporting me in prayer and for all your encouragement to me, it means a lot. Please do continue to stay in touch and pray for me.

Many thanks

Much love in Christ,

Rachel.