Turkey
Mission Trips

Stretching between the two continents of Europe and Asia, Turkey is a melting pot of cultures and extremes. It has a gorgeous coastline bordering the Mediterranean Sea, historical ruins to rival those of Greece and Italy, delicious food, and friendly locals. Turkish people are some of the friendliest and most genuinely hospitable people in the world. In Turkey, you will experience incredible friendliness and generosity from the locals. Even though most of the population doesn't speak English, they will still want to talk to you and most likely offer you tea or food, and may sometimes even extend an offer to join them for dinner in their home. 

Turkey has faced its fair share of challenges, but its tenacious people continue to persevere despite natural disasters and political uncertainties that prevent the country from economic growth. On February 6, 2023, multiple 7.8- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes hit Turkey’s southeast region and claimed more than 55,000 lives, injuring over 100,000 and destroying nearly 200,000 buildings. It is estimated that 1.9 million people are living in temporary shelters and many more are displaced. The scale of this disaster is on a scale rarely seen in our lifetimes. Regardless, the people and the land press on.

Turkey’s diverse regions have different climates. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have cool, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The Black Sea's coast in the north receives the greatest amount of rainfall. While central Turkey is very flat, the eastern part of the country is mountainous and therefore can experience extreme temperatures both in the summer and the winter. 

Turkish is the official language of Turkey and belongs to the Turkic language family. Turkic languages are spoken throughout a vast territory, ranging all the way from eastern Europe to eastern Siberia and northern China.

Overall, Turkey is relatively safe for tourists and foreigners, especially when guided by local leaders. Your PPM staff will be with you every step of the way on your trip and hold your team's safety as the highest priority.

The Turkish economy, once considered an up-and-coming center, has experienced instability from an attempted coup in 2016, a currency recession in 2018, the global pandemic, and the devastating earthquake in February of 2023. Therefore, both poverty and unemployment have increased dramatically in recent years.The national currency is the Turkish lira. The exchange rate fluctuates but roughly sits near 1 US dollar to 20 Turkish lira.

Turkish cuisine is considered one of the most diverse in the world. It is flavorful, savory, and not overly spicy. It includes a mouth-watering combination of indulgent mezes, fresh vegetables, seasoned meat, and sweet, sticky pastries. It incorporates some of the tastiest foods in the Mediterranean, which is an excellent place to start when building world-class cuisine! Turks also love tea and it is synonymous with Turkish culture. Tea is typically served in the morning, after lunch, after dinner, and anytime in between! Turks are known for their hospitality and value spending time with their guests around a table with plenty of food and tea. Soccer is the most popular sport in the country and life comes to a halt when there is an important match.

Even though modern Turkey was founded in 1923, its history goes back thousands of years. From the world’s first known human settlement in roughly 6500 BC at Çatalhöyük, to the Hittites who were the first state run by a central authority in 1750 BC, to the Romans and the mighty Ottomans, important sites and ruins that belong to countless cultures are scattered throughout this remarkable country.

Modern Turkey is a predominantly Muslim nation. 99.8% of the population is Muslim and the remaining 0.2% consists of those of other faiths, including Christians and Jews. Christianity has a long history in Turkey and is known as Asia Minor throughout the Bible. The Apostle Paul was born in this area, where the followers of Jesus were called “Christians’ for the first time in history. You can also find one of the earliest and oldest surviving churches here, established by Saint Peter himself. 

Turkey is also home to the Seven Churches of the Revelation. The Apostle John is reputed to have taken the Virgin Mary to Ephesus in western Turkey where she spent the last days of her life in a small house, known as the House of the Virgin Mary. The house still survives today and has been recognized as a holy site for pilgrimage in the Catholic and Orthodox churches.