OUTLOOK - An Outlook girl travelled more than 9,000 kilometers this summer to the Middle East where she shared in the food, language and culture of a nation that stole her heart.
Madalina Luedtke was part of a team that travelled to the Republic of Turkiye for months of outreach and ministry, including in regions hit hard by a devastating earthquake last winter.
Her experience began with attending a Discipleship Training School in Turner Valley, Alberta where she took an array of classes focusing on evangelism and street ministry, and learning how to begin faith conversations in places like department stores and libraries. “These were very interesting experiences,” Madalina said. “I remember being very nervous and there was a part of me wondering what I had gotten myself into, to be honest!”
But those experiences prepared her for an amazing summer of meeting and building connections with citizens in a country she described as “beautiful, and filled with wonderful people.”
The journey began with a flight to Amsterdam to attend a conference focussing on ways to share faith with Generation Z. “The worship times impacted me so much,” she remarked. “Being in a stadium filled with people who want to follow Christ and make him known to the nations was such a special experience.”
Then it was on to the Republic of Turkiye (formerly known as Turkey) which is predominantly Muslim. “Sharing our Christian faith and sharing God’s love might have seemed impossible,” Madalina said. “We had to be very careful in public spaces. But God had miracles in store.”
In cities like Izmir and Mersin, the team visited with people in coffee shops, markets and on the beautiful beaches that are well known in the country. Some Turkish people spoke English but other conversations required the use of phone apps. “Google translate was our friend,” Madalina said with a smile, “but it cannot be relied on. We trusted God to help us communicate.” In time, they began to understand a little bit of Turkish. “I tried the best I could and learned several words. It took some time but I was able to pick up a bit of conversation here and there.
Something that needed no translation was the food. “It was so yummy,” she said, noting particular enjoyment of donairs (meat stacked in the shape of an inverted cone and cooked on a rotisserie), iskender (sliced meat topped with hot tomato sauce served over pieces of pita bread covered in sheep’s milk, butter and yogurt), and dessert items like baklava and bomba. “It was really fun trying different food and I think that’s part of being in a different culture. When you go to a different country you need to step into all of it. We experienced cultural dance, food, language and the way they dress. Embracing all of it shows you care enough to know about it all.”
That included wearing a head scarf out in some places. “You want to make sure you are showing respect,” she remarked. “We dressed modestly, and for women that meant wearing head scarves. I never got the hang of putting them on properly, but we did our best to be respectful.”
A unique opportunity was given to Madalina in the city of Izmir where they were able to worship in a small church with Christians from Iran and Turkiye. Here Madalina was asked to preach a sermon one week. She said, “I couldn’t believe that this girl from the prairies of Saskatchewan in Canada would be asked to speak to a group of Middle Eastern Christians. Yet this is exactly the doors God opened to me. I was so humbled and so grateful for the opportunity. God can work through us all, anywhere and everywhere. I am proof of that.”
The team travelled to Tarsus, home of the Apostle Paul; and to Ephesus where they toured early churches. She said they could imagine the city at the time the church was established and they stopped to read the book of Ephesians (Paul’s letter to the people of Ephesus) as they stood outside the beautiful structure. “What a blessing to stand where Paul had stood and to take the time to let the words of Ephesians settle in our hearts and minds,” Madalina shared.
A significant aspect of the outreach was assisting in Hatay, an area devastated by the February earthquake. Buildings lying in ruin, others crumbling, and so many displaced families was hard for Madalina to see, but she embraced the chance to help. “We saw so much damage and rubble. There were tents everywhere and this is where people were living who had lost everything.”
Working with an organization called Operation Blessing, Madalina’s team was able to be hands-on in meeting the needs of many. They prepared meals, cleaned, organized kids’ ministry and games, helped rebuild and paint homes, taught English, played sports and got a chance to talk to many Turkish people. She saw expressions of deep thankfulness daily. “I got to see the joy on the parents’ faces as we gave them bread and soup. It may not have seemed like much but it meant their kids got to eat that day. Their gratitude overwhelmed me.”
She also helped organize games for the kids, played a lot of soccer, and taught some English classes. “The kids needed to know that they were valued and loved and by spending time with them we tried to show them that. We wanted them to know that they mattered,” she explained.
Seeing the gratitude in the children impacted her too. “A group of kids was playing with an old soccer ball. It was one we might have thrown away because it was so worn. But they were grateful to just have a soccer ball to play with. It didn’t matter about the condition.”
Before arriving in Turkiye Madalina didn’t know a lot about the country aside from some research in class prior to leaving Canada. She now has a love for the country and said so much was special including the fantastic food, stunning architecture and beautiful beaches. But what stands out most is the people she met, particularly those affected by difficult circumstances. “They’ve been through so much and we were able to show them they are valued. People all around the world need to know they matter and that someone cares about them. I made a lot of good connections with people and that’s what stands out to me. I was able to share God’s love with them.”
This isn’t the first time Madalina has been involved in outreach and it won’t be her last. She has previously done this type of work in Saskatoon, Mexico and Romania and is currently determining where she will go next. “I’ve always loved helping people and putting smiles on their faces whether it’s serving at soup kitchens, playing soccer with kids, or going out on the streets and giving someone a pair of mitts. I see the joy in that and so it is fulfilling for me to go out and help people.”
While many young people experience pressure to establish a career and earn money, Madalina is sensing a different call on her life. “I want to do this because I want to help people,” she remarked. “I love making a difference in another person’s life and I know that if I can do that, there is one less hurting person on the earth.”
