Church on May 1st

Sunday was quite the adventure.
I have not been able to go to church since i have been here and I was determined that this week i would go. Things kind of got crazy with the death and everything but Yudum was still supportive if I wanted to go. She was worried and had me call the branch president to make sure we still had church because it was May 1st. Apparently it is Labors day and here it is a bug thing. The Labor unions march/ parade down the street to Taksim square which is the main square of the city. There are hundreds of people and the police block off a bunch of roads near there. I guess in the past things have gotten really violent and to there were police everywhere all decked out in armor with fencing along the marching streets.
Yudum had gotten me a taxi to take me there. He would try one way and it would be blocked so he would try another and that would be blocked, he was getting really frustrated and started going up one way streets and all this crazy stuff i was so scarred i was going to die or he was going to hit someone! He stopped and was talking to some police cuz he couldnt get to the Hilton Hotel where i was going to be dropped off cuz everything was blocked and next thing i know two of the police men were about to get in a fight and others had to come between them to stop it. I was so afraid!! I was this little lost girl in this taxi wearing my sunday best and these crazy turkish police were about to get in a fight! all i want to do is go to church! Finally after much debating and going back and forth he was able to drive me past the guards up to the back of the hotel. Then this man brought me up the back and showed me where to go. The plan was to call the branch president when I got to the Hilton hotel since the branch met across from it somewhere. The only problem was that today there were people parading down the street between me and the where i needed to be. The people were carrying flags and shouting and whistling. The flags had different unions on them, hammers and sickles, people, and even (for my fellow meso american tour members) Che Guevara!!! that was a big shock. Someone later explained to me that the soviet communism has been forgotten in the younger generation and now the Marxist communism with the pure idea of equality is a big thing. So it was really cool to experience that even though it was so crazy!!! The branch met in a building that was literary on the street just a few floors up. so during the sacrament fast and testimony meeting we could hear cheers and yelling outside as more groups passed going to the square. One guy was talking about how the gospel is restored and how it is such a great thing and the outside there was a roar of cheers. it was so perfect and great and true!! haha
The branch was great. there were not many people there since it was extremely hard to get there and a bit dangerous. The people were so nice and welcoming! and over half the members are American and most speak English so church is in English!!! I can understand most of it!!! Oh and can i ask everyone to pray that Turkey and Istanbul will open up to the church and we can grow. THanks!!!
So one of the members was going to help me find my bus that i needed to take home. Yes thats right the public bus! by myself!
Well it was fun we talked and he was teaching me Turkish. He is American but has lived here for a few years. I didnt know but we had to walk uphill for over a mile and i was wearingmy pencil skirt and heels. my feet were killing by the end of it and i was excited to sit when the bus got there. Well that didnt happen...i forgot my akbil which is a smart ticked thing that you put money on and you can quickly get onto the metro and busses, so i had to wait and pay with coins which not only cost me a bit more but also cost me a seat and i had to stand the entire way which was about 50 min. My feet were seriously dying!! and today they still were sensitive to walk on. Later we went to dinner with a bunch of Yudums friends ( i learned that we will be on a yacht for a week exploring the Mediterranean sea in June!!) Zeynep was also at the giggly tired stage so she was alot of fun. :) It was a very interesting, adventurous, and good day all in all. I was glad it was over though.
Take care!

Akbil