Coby's travels in Turkey!

 We sure missed Coby during Christmas time.  Right after Christmas Coby was able to travel to some different parts of Turkey.  He went to the home of one of the students he tutors in Istanbul and did some intensive tutoring with him. Afterwards he traveled to various cities and met up with a friend.

 This monastary was the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Patriachate until it was moved to Damascus in 1932.

 A castle where people sleep.

In Şanlıurfa.  This is one of my favorite pictures of Coby since he has been in Turkey!

 At Ankara Anıtkabir at a Memorial. 

 Coby was very sick during the month of December and January.  It is hard to be so far away and also know that he was living alone.  He received medical care, but the doctor only spoke Turkish and Russian and while Coby knows Turkish (is learning it)  he wasn't familiar with the medical terms in Turkish. The only thing we could do was to pray and put his name on the temple roll and call the branch president and see if someone could give him a blessing.   

After being so sick Coby decided to move in with some roommates and it was a win/win for them because they get to practice English with him.  

Kara and I are leaving to go visit Coby in Turkey in a little more than a month.  We have checked out some tour guide books from the library and are excited to see the sights, celebrate Coby's birthday and make memories!