European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 18, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday. August 18, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 9 Over Here we should All be children turkish orphans Ore happiest when Sankoro no shows up Akturk Hocuk elms by Dak dip Arrington Dok stuff write Ankara. Turkey legions of children Chase Nick Martin s four wheeled drive vehicle when he drives up the winding Road on the stat Kirk orphanage estate. And once the lanky air Force technical sergeant unfolds himself from his Bronco after a 10-mile trip his Small fans fiercely grab his arms and legs and Martin surrenders to noisy affection. Nick Abi meaning Uig brother Nick in turkish has returned. The lord said let the children come Martin said quoting the Bible As he allowed a shaggy haired moppet to take his air Force Cap and Don i crookedly on her own head. We should All be children. With that innocence that love children have. Sometimes you lose it As you grow  whether he s there to rough House with a giggly group of youngsters or to work on playground equipment. Martinis a Well loved fixture on the rambling orphanage grounds. One time they lied my Bronco to tree up Here he said chuckling slightly As the children tugged him vigorously Down a Hill toward their playground. Once there Martin picked them up one by one to swing them through the air As others pawed at his watch and otherwise clamoured for his notice. I love the kids. I feel refreshed when 1 come Back from being with them Martin said. You d think it would be the opposite emotionally draining. But it recharges me because the give so much  All the children become very Happy when he comes an orphanage social worker said of Martin. He loves our children. Loving is very important for  Martin 36, is chief of the Public management Branch in his current assignment to the 7217th a group at Ankara air station fluent in the turkish language Martin has spent nine years in Turkey including Tours inc Orlu. In Ciurlik a and Izmir. Single and childless Martin first became associated Wuh the federally run children s institution in february. As a coordinator of the orphanage sponsorship program run by the . Base Chapel at Ankara air station Martin is a Liaison Between the turkish institution and its american friends. It s a Volunteer position he takes seriously. In fact he took leave this year to work on a Chapel sponsored fund Raiser for the orphanage said in Force maj. Janet Mccormack the Ai Malion s protestant chaplain. That s the kind of real special Christian brother Nick is Mccormack said he has a tremendous gift for caring for people coupled with an ability to organise. Those talents make him a perfect person to be the  but he has stretched his involvement with the love starved children of Thealulu re orphanage beyond his official role. He visits the orphanage in his off duty time an average of four limes a month to play with the youngsters. Tech. Sri. Nick Martin Waves kno Dhye to his Young friends after u two hour Isle in Ataturk orphanage. Is Kim Zewge along with the Chapel s other orphanage program coordinator Martin also lakes a few children out regularly for weekend camping trips someone once told him thai he should t show the kids so much love. But Martin saw no need to do so. The whole Point is to show them love and get them to Trust Martin said. It s difficult for them to Trust. Don t Ever Tell them you re going to do something and not do  he estimated that up to 85 percent of the 268 Young residents at Ataturk orphanage have living relatives who have disappeared or have voluntarily placed the children in the nation s custody a cuff they Annm Caio Lor them. It s very difficult to understand How a Parent could abandon a child Martin said. But maybe they be done it Forth Besl of  Martin s questioning about the parents who have abandoned their children is one aspect of turkish culture that has taken time for him to accept in his exploration of the country. It is an exploration that stretches Back to his first Lour in Turkey when boredom with off duty Barracks life during his first assignment to Turkey drove him out into the local Community to experience the intriguing turkish culture. When 1 first came Here it was very difficult i did t know where to begin Martin said. Bui the turkish Coffee houses the Baths and their customs like play ing cards and drinking Tea All ally noon. Really interested  although turks respect for old people and Strong family bunds were allies Martin could easily relate to. Other aspects of turkish culture took More time to adapt to. For Crample the turkish tradition of touching friends of t he same be is uncomfortable at first for americans. I v As taken Aback at first when a male Friend put his Arm in mine. That did t thrill me too  Martin said. Another cultural difference with which Martin still must Cope is the expression of his christain beliefs. A Cross on a Chain occasionally peeks out from inside Martin s shirt reminding acquaintances of his religious beliefs. A turkish Law forbids proselyte ing or trying to convert others in one s religion and Martin limits his comments on religion in his dealings with the orphans. I Don i bring in up Martin said. If the ask me a question then i answer their question. 1 am sharing my Faith because i m doing what the lord is leading me to do and that s a  his chaplain at Ankara air station agreed. Both moslem and christians teach us it s important to care for people especially when they can t care for themselves Mccormack  i hat s w hat Nick  eventually Martin wants a farm of his own but lie said thai the lord has t sent me the right lady to marry. Until then he is considering adopting one of his favorite children from the orphanage."1 am praying about it Martin said