And now, the end is near, and so I face the final curtain.
I have been in Turkey for two years now. This has been an experience I could neither compare to anything else I have ever experienced, nor amply describe to anyone who has never been here. Even those who have come before (and those who will come after) will have a different experience to draw from. My experience is unique in location and time.
I can tell you of all the things I look forward to in returning to the states in a few weeks…mostly those first world luxuries that everyone in the U.S. take for granted. But I will miss many things here. Primarily, I will miss the people I work with, both Turkish and American. My colleagues have truly been my family here. I have appreciated every second of support and encouragement they have all offered.
It is no secret that my first year here was a nail-biter. I came here already burned out and struggled with finding my way right out of the gate. It is also no secret that the recovery road was long. Everyone who was here then is gone now, and you would be hard-pressed to find anyone here now who would believe it was that bad. Thank the Lord for healing my mind.
Although I am no longer as emotional as I used to be, I still care very deeply for my coworkers, the military medical mission, and I am very passionate about my contribution. My hope for the future is that I will not get complacent while in the U.S. and that I will continue to build on what my experience here in Turkey has taught me. When my husband and I were talking about going overseas, we both said, “anywhere but Turkey!” But God knew what He was doing to bring me here, and I wouldn’t change having this assignment for anything!
