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! 

This is the day

              What a great Lords day!  Today was my first opportunity to preach at our 1000 service.  The scripture today was John 16:33.  We also looked at job 42:1-6 and 2 Corinthians 11:24-33.  For me, it seems that all these verses point to how our temporary suffering and pain can lead us into closer relationships with God.  Job was able to say “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.”  This change in his understanding of God came only after the most difficult times in his life.  And Paul proudly states, “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”  And this statement only comes after a list of what seems at first glimpse to be that of someone who is cursed by God, not blessed.  Anyhow, Both of those cases point to Jesus’ words that trouble will come, but take heart, fear not, be ye not afraid, don’t fret, don’t stress, don’t worry, He has overcome the world!  That’s a good point to dwell on when we are in strange and tough places in life. 

After the service I was given the great honor of being able to Baptize A Soldier that God has called to follow him.  I had met with this Soldier numerous times before, and she one day told me, “Its time I quit running from God.”  We talked a little more, and Baptism into a new life and into a new relationship with God was what she wanted.  Praise the Lord!  We build a baptismal, got the fire department to come over and give us some water (most of the other water we have here is not suitable for drinking), and had baptized away.  I love how the water is just pouring off of a person who is newly baptized.  It’s like the grace of God is just rolling off of them and saturating the ground underneath them.  Its’ so abundant that they cant absorb it all.  Its too much for just one person to hold.  It cant help but spill out, over, and all around us.    Amen! 

For those praying for us:  I would ask that you pray for those soldiers who are struggling with depression and difficult life circumstances.  It is hard enough to be deployed, but to be so far away from family when crisis hits must be incredibly difficult.  Also, Lindsay, Ethan, William, and Keith began their drive to North Carolina today.  I ask that you pray for their safety.   

Rigging

          
There are a few different battalions that I serve.   One of those battalions are called the Riggers.  These are Soldiers who pack up supplies to be dropped out of planes to Soldiers in remote areas.  I was given a warm welcome when I met them, but because of my travels I have not been able to get to know them very well yet.  On Monday they invited me out to come work with them and so today my assistant and I walked out in the morning and began helping. 
          
Our first task was to help them get all the Parachutes out of the boxes.  After disposing of all the cardboard, plastic, and trash, we then began to learn how to tie up some of the barrels that were going to be dropped.  My days of working in the hay fields paid off well when it came to some of the knots that are used to hold everything together.   
             

In regards to prayers: We have a couple Soldiers who are struggling with too much on their plates.  Struggles here, at home, and the threat around us makes it very easy to use up all our strength and not take care of ourselves.  This affects everyone from the leaders at the top, all the way down to our younger enlisted.  I would also ask that you pray for me.  I am preaching my first deployed sermon on Sunday and am looking forward to what God is going to do. 
Blessings! 

My Plans

The past week has been a long, but good one.  Our plans were to visit as many bases as possible, but only got to two because of travel difficulties.  We were stuck at one base for two nights, and at another for two more nights.  This was pretty frustrating because I was focused on getting to as many bases as possible so that I could see my troops.  Instead, however, the last base we were at only had two of my Soldiers on it.  As the window for travel to other bases closed, I felt more frustrated because I was not getting “God’s work” done.

 

Brass rounds turned into luminaries

It was Saturday night and I was walking around the base in a frustrated mood. It just so happened that I ran into a 1 LT who had a guitar with him. I asked him how long he had been playing and he said, “ever since our youth group band started.” I found out that he was in the praise band for the local chapel and he asked if I would be staying for the chapel service on Sunday. The plan was for us to be long gone by Sunday, but I was beginning to realize that we would probably be there. “Yes, we might be around,” I told him. He was very excited at the news and then informed me that they don’t have a Chaplain that speaks English (since it is a Polish base). I followed him back to the chapel and observed the praise team practicing for the service in the morning. They were all so happy to see a Chaplain, and were overjoyed when they found out that it was not just one, but two chaplains that were going to be present with them for worship. (I don’t know if I explained this or not, but another chaplain that has been in the country for a while traveled with us to show my Assistant and I around before we make the trip ourselves). I immediately felt God remind me of proverbs 16:9 “in his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”
After the practice was done, the LT and my assistant had a jam session of worship music which fed my thirsty soul. Its funny how true worship awakens us to how thirsty for God we really are. We went to bed and were woken up by the Polish singers and organ player practicing for the mass at 2300. I am very supportive of practicing before we go into a service, but who does it at 11pm on Saturday night?
We woke up on Sunday morning and started getting ready for the service. As we looked through the Lords Supper supplies, we noticed a box of “Grabbin Grape” Hi-C by the communion cups. We knew that this one box would not be enough, so we watered it down a little bit, and then the Polish priest let us use some of his wine. Communion and worshipping God with Soldiers in a war zone is an amazing gift. It’s a reminder to me of just how present God is no matter where we are and what our circumstances may be.

Base Hopping.

As I completed my Chaplains basic training, I was told to expect to spend a large portion of my time in pax terminals waiting for flights to and from my destinations.  They were right.  Yesterday we spent 6 hours waiting for a flight that never came.  When we heard that the flight was cancelled, we went back to the billetting office and signed back in for the third time.  Its to the point now that they just laugh at us and say "you just thought you were leaving."  Yesterday we did end up getting on a chopper, but were turned around mid-air due to bad weather.  BUT, the great thing about being a Chaplain is that this only gives me more chance to minister to the people where we are at.  And when we are stuck in a flight terminal, that just gives me a chance to work on bible studies and sermons.  Currently I am at a location that only has a handful of my Soldiers, so we were able to meet them all and get to know them better.  Also, we have been able to meet the chaplain at this location and work on religious coverage plans. 
All that being said, our hopes are that we are able to jump on a bird tonight and move on to our next location so that we can meet more of our Soldiers and continue jumping form base to base.   

Please pray for the Soldiers in the mail rooms because there is litterally tons and tons of mail that will pass through thier offices over the holiday season.  They are working very hard to prepare, but just imagine how difficult it must be to work that job! 
Also, prayers for myself, another chaplain traveling with us, and my assistant would be greatly appreciated.