TURKEY!

Right- well, turns out I had no time to blog in Turkey. It was nuts! But so so much fun! We got back last night around 3 AM and had sacrament meeting today to make up for it. Visiting our sacrement meeting happened to be 2 general authorities- Elder Porter and Elder Carlson from the 1st and 2nd quorum of the 70. It was an amazing meeting! Elder Carlson gave us advice for making decisions in our lives and how much we need to sacrifice and love throughout the journey. The Lord directs us if we let him. Elder Porter gave an incredible talk on prayer and how to recognize and distinguish the spirit. I need to be better in my personal prayer- i've been realizing that lately. But something that I thought was so interesting that he advised; He told us to disreguard the 'rules' of prayer in personal prayer. He advised us to speak with Heavenly Father like you would speak with a man face to face. Pray like a child prays- allowing all thoughts and concerns to release. It hit me that formality when I am speaking to my father isn't as important as being honest with him. It is something I need to apply in my prayers.

As for Turkey- it really was amazing!! We should go there one time family! We kinda traced some cities of where Paul and John were known to have preached, and it was incredible. Yesterday, we finished off with the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque (look pictures up on google cause it is NUTS!). It was so stinkin incredible! Favorite place throughout the whole trip though was for sure Assos. It is this port town on the coast of Turkey that is set up high on this mountain overlooking the Sea and Patmos is right next to it I think- but just the whole experience there was so amazing. We got up pretty early to head up to this little town. We had to hike through the little cobblestone streets of this village passing shops (closed cause it was too early for normal tourist hours) up to the top of this peak with all of the ruins of a roman style ruins of a temple and walls, etc... It was so pretty, perfect weather (COLD! Man I miss the cold. Can't wait to come home to winter if it ever comes! Heard it's been smoldering back home. Bummer dude!) no other tour groups, no vendors, just so serene and beautiful. We had a little devotional, which was amazing- but the giant centipedes were attacking me the whole time. I may or may not have interrupted our hymn jumping a mile because one was crawling by my hand... oops. They were vicious though! Not really- just gross. And everywhere.

Anywho- I will update more. Everyone and their dog is using the internet right now, so bandwidth blows and uploading pictures is not happening. And let's not kid ourselves- pictures tell way better stories than words. And less boring. So i'll wait to let pictures paint the beautiful picture of Turkey!

But love ya family! Hope everything is going well! I miss you all- I wish you could be having this experience with me. It's crazy to call this my actual life. I am very very lucky and blessed to be here. Katie and Kurt, Annie and Steve, Russ and Lauren: How is everything going?? Lauren! How is fetus? When do you find out if Emma Louma is getting her BABY SEESTA!? haha. Ann- didn't get anything from Turkey. I suck. Sorry- turns out I really really hate shopping. Who knew?? Kate- you ready for the Patch family zoo to reside in your home? Prepare well! hahah. Mom and Dad- sounds like Timp went really well! bahahaha. Take pictures of the fall leaves for me will ya! I miss it. Russ- how is school going? Kinda getting into it better? Hope so! Just don't worry- business people are lame anyways! haa. Just playing.

K- till I get the gumption to take on Turkey blogging... love ya!

PS- Mackenzie Peay's blog. She writes lots and posts pictures of us and I think I gave you the wrong link. It's mackenzieannpeay.blogspot.com
Is that right? Let me know if that's right.