Centurion Faith

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully." He said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
(Matthew 8:5-10)

Dog Days of August

OK, I know it's been over a month since the last edition of this newsletter. All I can say is, "Hey, I deserve a summer break too!" Actually Sgt. Neal and I have been running ourselves ragged since mid-July, and I just never got around to reflecting and writing on anything until now. Sorry about that, but that's also a part of Army life: hurry up and wait, and oh yeah, you're late!

August is actually a pretty big month over here, here's the quick and dirty version of the last 30 days: we had an interesting time at Boris, we revisited Zerok which is still rebuilding after the 4th of July attacks, and swung through the Brigade headquarters of Salerno. SFC Whisman was promoted to MSG, which was a great day. We have the Afghan national elections coming up which has kept everyone very busy, lots of patrols and sweeps. Finally there's this little thing called Ramadan coming up which is huge (think Lent, Easter, and Christmas all thrown together)! And oh yeah, how could I forget, the Sharana marathon that I signed up for. OMG! Where do I begin?!?

Boris - God is Laughing

I love God's sense of humor. That's just about all I can say about our trip to Boris, God was having fun that week. To start off with, we fly into Boris which is a hub of sorts for Margah, Malekshay, and Lilly. We are greeted with great enthusiasm, but with a huge sense of disappointment. What we discovered quickly was that the New England Patriots Cheerleaders were due any minute for a USO tour! We were that guy who shows up late to a surprise party, causing everyone to hide and jump out yelling "Surprise!" Only to follow it up with, "Oh, it's ONLY YOU!" Yeah, talk about a disappointment. I mean pom poms and short shorts just don't work for me and Sgt. Neal. People point and laugh every time!

Simply put, I don't think God was playing fair that day. I mean setting me up to compete with cheerleaders at a male-only FOB with guys who have been deployed for 6 months. I mean come on, I didn't stand a chance! On the other hand, it was kind of fun hanging out with the cheerleaders, especially watching the guys follow them around for a couple of hours. They flew in, took pictures with us, signed autographs, posed with the guys and some of their weapons, and even visited and test-fired the 50 cal in each of the towers. I had fun talking with a couple of them, and of course we got our picture taken. It was a fun little tour, and they were gone before we knew it. Funny thing was we had a larger than normal crowd for mass that evening. Couldn't have had anything to do with the signs we put up that read: "If you had lustful thoughts this afternoon YOU MUST GO TO CHURCH!" Nah, must have been coincidence...

But God wasn't quite finished with us yet. We got stranded at Boris for three days. It wasn't the longest time we've been stuck, but Boris is a hub FOB. They have several flights every day. And every day we were there, they had flights scheduled. We got bumped by maintenance issues, and changes in mission priority, both of which are understandable. The one that really left me looking up to heaven and saying "Ok, you win!" was when some passengers at a previous stop got on the wrong flight and then demanded that the pilot change their scheduled route. The fact that they got on the wrong bird doesn't surprise me, I've done that. The fact that they got them to change their whole route, that's amazing. I've tried bribing pilots with cigars, starbucks coffee, even Ho-Hos (Ho-Hos for God's sake!!!). I really need to find out what they used, but those pilots just aren't talking...

Zerok: Back to Normal... sort of...

It was nice getting back to Zerok, even though it's a cramped little base without reliable showers and a generator that keeps cutting out, I like it. The guys there have a good view of life, they take what they receive and make the best of it. "You want to send us to Afghanistan? Ok. You want us to live at a small base with no running water that gets constantly attacked? Ok. You want to pack 6 of us in each can (shipping container, think 20x10 box)? Ok. You want us to eat nothing but MREs? Ah, no no no no...." As I said, I love these guys, but don't even think about moving their cook! One of the hidden gems of Paktika province is the kitchen of Zerok. It's nothing fancy, about the same as you'd find at any other small combat outpost. And the food and supplies are also Army standard, but somehow SPC Flores and his crew work magic in there. It's another example of the resiliency of these 509th troopers, they take what they have and not only make it work, but make it better.

It's been about a month since the attack on the 4th of July which left Zerok pretty beaten up and the guys on edge. Since then they've beefed up their defenses and made some much needed improvements. The guys have also calmed down some, and are out doing patrols and mixing things up again. They don't jump when someone slams the freezer door or stomps his boots. They also are getting TV and internet back. These guys went 30 days without any TV or email, limited contact with the outside world. Try fasting from TV, newspapers, and internet for a month, it'll drive you nuts! I mean if nothing else, just imagine how many spam messages you'd miss out on! Just think of all those rich widows in Nigeria who need help smuggling out their fortunes...

Anyway, we had a good time at Zerok but were also happy to keep moving on. The night of our flight home we tried to hop on the birds riding space available (meaning we didn't have a seat reserved, the chopper would take us if they had room). The crew chief took one look at us and shook his head no. Then talked briefly to the pilot while looking down at my chest (where I wear the cross instead of my rank). Then waved us forward and opened the door for us to climb in. He must have been Catholic and raised by the nuns. I can see him now filling a blackboard with the sentence "I will never leave Fr. to fend for himself on the battlefield. I will never leave Fr. to fend for himself on the battlefield. I will never..." Thank God for good old Catholic guilt!

Another rocker for MSG Whisman!

SFC Whisman no more! Bill got his third rocker a couple of weeks ago, bringing him to Master Sergeant. It's quite an achievement, but he's one of the great guys that works hard and deserves it. He's the reenlistment guy, so he's got a big job. He joked around that his slogan this year should be: "The economy sucks, Stay Army!" Still, he made his goal well ahead of schedule and then helped the rest of the Brigade meet it's goal.

What I love most about Bill is that he's basically a chaplain in disguise. He loves Christ, is very active in his faith, and isn't afraid to share it. He even prays with his soldiers! That's something usually reserved to the chaplain alone... And I've got to hand it to Bill, when he was promoted and had the opportunity to address the entire company he gave all the credit and glory to God, saying that I'm just following the path He laid out for me. Usually soldiers say something like "If you work hard like me you too can make MSG." or "It is what it is..." Bill thanked God and encouraged us to hold fast to our faith. Oh if only all my soldiers were like MSG Whisman.

Elections and Ramadan

Elections are something we take for granted. Usually I'm glad to get it behind me so I don't have to listen to all the political ads and talking heads. But when you think about it, every election really is somewhat miraculous. It's the day before the national elections in Afghanistan, and we've been in bunkers for hours, or putting on armor so I can walk to the port-a-john across the street. We've had incoming fire all day, and we're expecting tomorrow to be worse. The Taliban are determined to upset this election, to keep people away from the polls by threats and attacks. It makes one long for a marathon of election ads and political commentary!

Ramadan is also set to begin the day after the elections. It's a month-long celebration at the heart of Islam. It's a time of penance, prayer, and fasting followed by three days of feasting and celebration. Ramadan is one of those very visible holy seasons, you can usually tell something is different. It makes me wonder about some of the holy seasons in Christianity. If someone were to come by my house during Lent or Advent, could they tell it was a holy season? Does my life reflect the holy seasons, or is it just another day? Hmmmm....

Run Fat Boy Run!

As a part of my pre-deployment pep-talks I challenged people to see this year as a time when they can grow, improve, and expand their minds, bodies, and spirits. I told people that I would read this many books in my free time, that I would spend this much time in prayer every day, and that I would run a marathon while we were over there. And so I challenged them to set similar goals to see them through.

Now I'm over here, and I've read my books, I've prayed every day, and now wondering what I was thinking with that marathon idea! 26.2 miles during the middle of summer while at 7200 feet. Yeah, let's adjust fire on that one!

Well, long story short, I did run a half-marathon at Sharana. 13.1 miles. Surprisingly I ran it in 1:53, 15th out of just over 100 runners. I was hoping for a faster time but not bad considering it's hard for me to train when we travel almost everyday. And yes, I'm already getting myself in the mindset to run a full marathon when we get back. There's the Midnight Marathon in Anchorage on 21 June. We're going to try to get a whole bunch of paratroopers to race in it when we get back... We'll have to see how many we get...

The marathon started at 0500 with a great safety brief at the chapel by SSG Forrester. Then we were off, following a four-wheeler to the perimeter road to start our laps. They had water spaced out at good intervals, and some fans/supporters at certain spots along the way. Most of the spectators were just people that happened to be waiting for a flight out, or getting ready for work, or on their way to chow or a shower. But some actually got up early to cheer us on or volunteered to help distribute water (some guys signed up to run and then chickened out but felt guilty about it, and so had to show their support somehow. I won't name any names, like CH Myers, PFC Collins, or SGT Neal. Huh, did I just hear a bus roll by?)

The first two laps weren't too bad, but the third one really did me in. Sharana is built on the side of a hill, so half the time we're running up hill. I was doing fine until we had to run uphill past the burn pits. (We burn all the garbage, and the pits burn all day and night.) Running uphill and breathing in smoke sucks, there's really no way around it. It sucks. I knew I was in trouble when the water guy half-way up the hill pulled out his ACE card when I stopped for water (The ACE card is the suicide prevention tool that the Army uses!) But after a brief walk I crested the hill, and then it was just a downhill jog to the finish line. After collecting my T-shirt and grabbing a Gatorade I headed to the showers. I didn't even bother taking off my clothes, I just walked right in and stood under the cold water. Surprisingly I wasn't the only one who did this, and neither of us got too many weird looks, at least not until we walked back to our hut soaking wet!

Holy Days and Obligations

Just a week ago we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, a holy day of obligation for Catholics. The next day was the marathon, which was theologically convenient since they go together so well.

The Doctrine of the Assumption states that Mary needed to be a suitable vessel for the Son of God, and so she was born and lived without sin. Since the wages of sin is death (1 Cor. 15, 56), it follows that Mary should not have to endure the pain of death. Instead she was assumed body and soul into heaven, the first to enjoy the benefits of Jesus' death and resurrection. For Catholics, Mary is the first disciple, one who always remained open to God's will. We strive to imitate her open and trusting spirit.

How does this tie in with the marathon? Simple... A marathon runner strives to keep pace and follow the runner in front of him. It's a mental game I learned early on which helps me on long-distance runs, I run better and faster if I pace the guy in front of me and strive to pass him at some point. That way I'm not running 13 miles, I'm running just enough to get ahead of that guy who's 100 feet in front of me. I follow the pace and rhythm he sets, slowly working my way up to pass him, and then set my sights on the next guy. Mary is simply the lead runner, she sets the pace and rhythm for the Christian life of faith. Where she has gone we hope to follow.

A similar analogy:. I've spent a decent amount of time on different farms, mostly dairy. I've learned that when you need to move a herd of cattle all you have to do is get the 1st cow to go where you want. The rest of the herd will follow. (Yes, I realize that I've just called Mary a cow... and I'll be doing pushups for half of eternity when I see her in heaven!) But again, knowing that Mary has entered heaven places a goal out there for the rest of us. She's run the race of life well, blazed the path before us, and crossed the finish line successfully. Now she urges us on, cheering us on to victory and eternal life. At least that's how I understand the Assumption. I haven't been struck by lightning yet (even after I called Mary a cow!), so hopefully I haven't fallen too far into heresy!

The other holy day of obligation that I'm preparing to celebrate is the day I fly away for R&R leave. I constantly urge some of my workaholic friends to take their leave, it's important for heart and soul to take a break from this place and the pace we keep over here. I'm close enough to leave that I can almost count the hours! In fact one of the last things I need to do before hopping that flight is email this out! So by the time you're reading this I'll be lying on a beach sipping something with an umbrella sticking out the top. Actually, I'll probably be sitting in a hot tent in Kuwait waiting for my name to be called to board that plane. Joy oh joy!

PICS PAGE!

At Tillman: On the climb up to OP 1 we met one of the donkeys they use to ferry supplies to the top. He wasn't too friendly...

At Tillman: Sgt Neal displaying the flag on the G-man porch.

At Tillman: The tiny dot on top is OP 1. 1000 ft vertical climb! "Where's the shuttle!?!"

At Kushamond: "Hey, those water jugs get heavy!"

At Borris: The cheerleaders signing artillery ordinance.

At Kushamond: A patch of green amidst the dust and dirt.

At Kushamond: "Hey, those weights aren't going to lift themselves..."

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Once again, the final page of this newsletter is dedicated to all those that have sent stuff forward to us to be distributed to the troops. As usual, I'm humbled by the generosity of others, and inspired to greater service and generosity in my own ministry. It is, after all, the way of God, and the heart of stewardship. We've received abundant gifts from God the Father, and so we pass on a portion in thanksgiving and continue the work of grace and blessing. The troops love the care packages we push forward, and are always thankful for the surprises we put inside. It also helps to grease the skids so to get needed help when we're stuck or in need of some help. (Yes, even the best paratrooper can be bribed with cigars or coffee or chocolate!) So thank you, thank you, thank you for all your support and the any blessings and prayers you send our way. It's not so much the great stuff we receive, but the fact that someone back home took the time to gather it, package it, and pay to send it off. Thanks, and please keep us in prayer, for we need those more than anything else!

Centurion Faith!