Christmas Time

A few days before Christmas we took 97 care packages to the airstrip to be packed up and airdropped into some of the remote bases throughout the area.  I was amazed by how people back home sent us care packages!  Because I am at a large base, we have almost everything we need which gives us the great opportunity to be able to ship packages our to places that are not as fortunate.  I have already heard from one Soldier who was very happy to receive personal hygiene products because the area he is in does not have a PX to purchase it. 
  At first we were overwhelmed by moving all the boxes from our office to the van, but when we arrived, we were immediately helped by some of the locals who work with the riggers.  I always like working with them because some of them are really energetic, and ready to help however they can. 

I was told that the ruins on the furthest hill was built by Genghis Khan, and
the nearest one was built by Alexander the Great.   

A day or so after packing up the care packages, my assistant and I made the trip to a small base that does not have a permanent chaplain.  We were lucky enough to be able to jump on a Chinook on the morning of the 22^nd and almost froze to death as we made the ascent from our home base (at 4500 ft above sea level) to the small base (8000 ft above sea level).  We were met on the helicopter pad by our Soldiers and driven to their area of operation.  Just after we unloaded our gear we were challenged to a game of basketball on the outdoor court.  Still shivering, I took the opportunity to build others up by showing them how awful I am at basketball.  My assistant and I only lasted a few points before we realized that breathing at 8,000 ft is a lot different than 4,600. 

On Christmas day we held a service that filled the chapel.  We had a few contractors, 4-6 Polish Soldiers, and the rest were US servicemen and women. It is always so encouraging to me to see how eager people are to gather together and sing familiar songs, to take communion, and to hear the birth story of Christ again.  We had a couple of Soldiers volunteer their time to work with my assistant in singing and playing music, and two others who volunteered to read some of the Scriptures during the service.  I was also really glad to have some small candles that my parents sent over to us.  I always enjoy ending a Christmas service with candlelight.  It was such an honor to be able to provide this service for such a mixed group of nationalities, services, and jobs. 

We jumped back on a chopper and flew back home on the 26^th and have been swamped ever since.  I really like coming back from other bases because everyone wants to her about how things are at other areas.  It makes me laugh because they are almost saying, “what news of the outside world?” as they ask about living conditions, places to eat, and how the Soldiers they know are doing. 

Oh!  And I must brag on my Christmas tree sent to me by Lindsay, Ethan, and William.  I believe that Williams two feet, and Ethan's hands make up the trunk, and then the “ornaments” are a collaboration between the two of them.  Best tree I’ve ever had!

For those praying for us:

   Please remember all the Soldiers behind the scenes.  The Soldiers who delivered the tons and tons of Christmas mail, the workers in the dining facility who prepared and oversaw all the Christmas decorations, the dinner, and the cleanup, and so many more Soldiers that always work in places that many people do not see. 

   I also ask that you pray for our religious support teams as we work to meet people where they are, whether that be celebrating life, or mourning the loss of loved ones.

Christmas Time!

The Season of Advent (the time before Christmas for us Baptist Folks)

is something that I was unaware of until I started working at a Methodist Church during my seminary days.  As I sat through the Sundays prior to Christmas, it was clear that Advent is about anticipation of what God has done, is doing, and will do.  We didn’t have a wreath and that same Methodist Church sent us one to use during this season (thank you Buford Street UMC!).  I didn’t really think anyone would care about us having an advent wreath, but this week is the 4^th week in advent and I have heard a comment from Soldiers every week saying that it means a lot to them to be able to help out in the readings, and lighting of the wreath each week.  It’s a reminder of home, of hope, and of God. 

                This time of the year has also found us looking for Christmas decorations.  I was getting a little irritated at people running into my office asking for Christmas decorations.  They just assumed that I was secretly sitting on some decorations stock-pile and would not let anyone have it.  I was humbled when my assistant went to a storage container and found a good amount of Christmas decorations from the previous year…    We were able to give out trees, decorations and lots of stockings for everyone to have to hang on their doors and place in their offices. 

This time of year is difficult for all of us who are separated from our families.  Please pray that the right people walk in at the right time to help our Soldiers.  This happened to me yesterday, as my family celebrated Ethan’s second birthday party.  A good way to deal with it is to not dwell too long on how much you want to be there, but sometimes you cannot shake how much you miss your family.  I was walking outside and one of our Soldiers met me and we started talking.  I asked how he was doing and he said, “alright, but I am really missing my family because my sons’ first birthday party is going on right now.”  Thank you God!  I immediately shared that Ethan’s was happening as well and we began to talk about all that we love and miss about our sons.  This was a complete God-send to us both because instead of having to get bogged down in how much we want to be home, we were able to share about our joy and love and longing for our families.  And since we were both going through the exact same thing, we both completely understood.  I left that conversation feeling recharged and energized because I knew that this conversation was a gift to me, and to this other Soldier.  Thank you God! 

Time flies!

I cannot believe that it is already December!
          I ran out of time on my Internet access and will not purchase more until next week so I cannot post any pictures of the past couple weeks. 
 
          Energy and motivation is fairly high right now.  For me, I am always looking for the next neat thing I can learn.  Some of the Soldiers laugh at me because I still find the "army stuff" really cool.  When soldiers are about to leave out on a convoy, I am always asking them questions as the check all their gear, vehicles, and guns.  At first they thought I was just doing it to make sure they had checked all their equipment.  Now they know that I am fascinated by it and humor me by telling me what they are doing as they go through their checks.  One of the latest examples was when I was with the Riggers a couple weeks ago.  I had heard that they were going to air drop a forklift into a remote FOB (Forward Operating Base).  I cannot put a picture of it up now, but here is the Army Times write-up about it which has some good pictures of it:

 http://www.army.mil/article/69951/Heaviest_air_load_ever_dropped_in_Afghanistan/

And our Brigade Facebook page has some good pictures of the whole process:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=319044388112110&set=oa.10150426639748205&type=1&theater

            I cannot tell you how awesome it was to see the Soldiers strapping the forklift down.  I was giddy as they were explaining how it was all going to work.  One of the officers looked at me and said "chappie, this really isn't that big of a deal."  But I still could not get over it.  They were getting ready to drop a 4k forklift out of the back of a plane!  As I looked closer, my excitement only grew.  The size of the forklift compared to the small ropes that held it, the parachutes, and the platform together baffled me.  The drop went perfect, and everybody was happy.  

That next morning my devotional scripture was 1 Cor. 12:12.
 ¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

        Isn't it amazing how the word of God cuts us to the core, yet still fills us up at the same time!  I was smacked in the face with the different times that I assume that I am a hand , or a parachute when God has placed me in a situation to be something else.  Not a parachute, but perhaps a small knot.  A knot so small that you don't even see it compared to the size of the situation, but it is there, helping to hold things together.


For those praying for us:
         Please pray for the Soldiers who are struggling in their marriages, and are trying to find help.  I feel frustrated many times because people will put off coming to speak with me or another Chaplain until the absolute last second.  Why not go to us first, before you marriage gets so bad that it would take a miracle to save it!  And I also struggle sometimes because I want a button like the "easy" button on the Staples commercials that has "Jesus" on it.  So many of our problems could be helped out (if not completely avoided) if we would allow Christ into our lives. 
Where was I? 
       Ah yes, prayer for marriages!  We have already had a couple family emergencies back home which has required the Soldier to go back home.  This is not a pleasant process, and it is really difficult for the Soldiers here, who lose their battle buddy, for the Soldier going home because they feel like they are abandoning their Soldiers, and for the families back home who are having to deal with issues ranging from a death of a family member, to medical issues. 
      
     Thank you so much for your prayers!