Hey family!

I am so excited to finally share about the last five weeks of this journey. God has been moving in so many ways, and I’m still processing it all. Thank you for your patience with me as I’ve been a little slow to update… it’s been a full and stretching season!

We’ve been in Turkey since my last update, and honestly it’s been such a wild place to be. Something our mentors really encouraged us in was to keep moving instead of staying in one place too long. The heart behind that was just trusting that wherever we go, the Lord wants to move, and that He would bring life back to the Christian roots that are already here.

And it’s actually kind of crazy because this is literally Bible land. Like some of the first churches were here… the early church was here… we’ve been walking through places that Scripture talks about. And I keep having this thought of like… what happened??

It's giving, “Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die…” — Revelation 3:2.

I don’t even fully have words for it, but it’s been stirring something in me. It makes me want to pray that the Lord would wake things back up here, that He would breathe life into what’s already been planted. Because it’s not gone… it’s here… and I really believe He’s not done with it.

We first landed in Istanbul and stayed there for about six days. Honestly, it was a bit of a mixed experience for me. The city is absolutely beautiful, full of history and so much to see, but it was also overwhelming at times. Every shop and restaurant owner inviting you in as you walked by definitely kept things interesting lol.

One of the sweetest parts of our time there was a restaurant that some of my squadmates had visited before. We ended up going back four or five nights in a row and built a friendship with one of the waiters. We got the chance to share the gospel with him and even wrote him a letter before we left. It was such a reminder that God is always pursuing hearts and that He doesn’t want anyone to be lost.

I did get pretty sick for a couple of days while we were there, which wasn’t fun, but the Lord met me in that too. And despite less-than-ideal living conditions, eight girls in one room with bunk beds and a couple on the floor, it actually became a really sweet time of bonding and unity.

A few days in, we got split into new teams—two groups of four and one group of three—and I ended up on the team of three with Corin and Rachel! From there, we felt led to go to Çanakkale, where a family from Iran connected to our squad has been living.

Çanakkale was such a gift. It was peaceful and just felt like a place to breathe. We stayed from March 3rd to the 8th, and during that time we got to meet this sweet Iranian family. After spending time with them, our whole squad fasted and prayed together over their situation. It was such a powerful and tender moment. We’re still waiting to hear how everything is working out for them, and we continue to lift them up in prayer.

We also met a girl there who I connected with instantly. Rachel and I got to meet up with her again for coffee and shopping, and we shared our testimonies with each other. I’m holding onto hope that I’ll see her again someday. I would love to go back to Çanakkale!

After that, we spent time praying and seeking where to go next, and we felt led to go to Izmir, even though we didn’t fully know why. We arrived on March 8th and stayed in a home owned by a church for about five days.

While there, we explored, met people, and spent time doing ministry, but one of the highlights was taking a day trip to Ephesus. Walking through that ancient city while reading the book of Ephesians, and then reflecting on the church in Revelation, was unreal. It made Scripture feel so alive.

Another really special part of our time in Izmir was a friend we made there. He was Muslim and so kind, and you could just tell that his heart was genuinely seeking truth. It was really beautiful to get a glimpse into his life and culture, and honestly just how open and curious he was.

He kept wanting to spend time with us, which was so sweet. We got to explore the city together, have meaningful conversations, and even invite him to come to church with us a couple of times. Being able to share those moments with him felt really significant.

We encouraged him to keep seeking truth, and before we left, we were able to give him a Bible in Turkish. It was such a simple moment, but it felt really powerful. I’m just trusting that God is continuing to pursue his heart, even now.

Soon after, we found out that the church hosting us was about to begin 100 hours of nonstop worship and prayer, and suddenly it made sense why we had been led there. People came from all over the world, China, Egypt, South Africa, the U.S., and we got to be part of it. It was incredible to worship alongside believers from so many nations.

I’ve really felt God stretching me in worship this season. I even, a little nervously, volunteered to help lead during one of the sets. It was such a step of faith, but also so sweet to just say yes and trust Him.

We moved around a bit during our time in Izmir, different apartments and neighborhoods, but one moment that stood out was during the end of Ramadan, during the holiday of Eid. You could tangibly feel a shift in the spiritual atmosphere, and it led me into a deeper place of reflection.

Around that time, I realized I had been carrying expectations of how I thought I would see God move, especially through me. The Lord gently showed me the difference between expectation and hope, and it was such a needed heart check.

I’ve found myself actually wanting to be put in situations where He is all I have, where there’s no guaranteed housing, no set schedule, nothing to rely on but Him. There’s something in me that really desires that kind of dependence. But at the same time, I’ve been really aware of how much my flesh still craves comfort too. Even just simple things like having a place to shower every day or wash my face in the morning.

So I feel like I’ve been living in that tension, wanting radical dependence on God, but also feeling the pull of comfort and routine. And instead of trying to ignore that, the Lord has been meeting me right in the middle of it. He’s been teaching me what it looks like to hold both honestly before Him. To not pretend I don’t care about comfort, but also not let it lead me. To choose hope, not in what my circumstances look like, but in who He is, no matter where I am or what I have.

Then came one of the craziest and most impactful parts of this trip.

Our mentors joined us in a little place outside of Izmir and told us they felt God was calling us to read the entire Bible in one week.

And we did it.

We started on March 25th in Genesis and read all the way through to Revelation in seven days, about 72 hours total of reading. Our days were long, sometimes finishing late at night or even early morning, but it was incredible. I have never experienced Scripture like that before.

The Lord gave me such a fresh perspective, like His Word truly is His breath. It felt like every day I was breathing Him in. By the time we finished Revelation, I felt so full, refreshed, and in awe!

Honestly, I can’t recommend it enough. If you ever feel led, gather some people and try reading through the whole Bible together. It will change the way you see it.

And now, here we are, back in Istanbul as of April 1st, debriefing with our mentors. We head to Morocco on April 7th, which feels crazy to say!

As we step into this next season, I would really love prayer in a few specific ways:

• That we would continue to be sensitive to the Lord’s voice and quick to obey, even when things don’t make sense

• For boldness and love as we meet new people, that we would carry His heart well

• For unity within our team, especially as we continue to be stretched in new ways

• And for deeper trust in Him, especially in that tension between comfort and complete dependence

Also, if you think of it, I would love prayer for the people we’ve met here in Turkey, that the seeds planted would grow, and that the Lord would continue pursuing their hearts in ways only He can.

Thank you all so much for your love, support, and prayers. I truly feel carried by them, and I’m so grateful to have you with me on this journey. God has been so faithful in every moment, and I’m just in awe of His goodness. Everything we have, every step we take, every opportunity we get to see Him move—He is so worthy of it all. Truly, all glory and honor belong to Him.

Love you all!

~Jaylynn K