A Long Journey Continues . . .

This evening's will be a short entry. Time on line is difficult to come by, and I am tired. I am certainly not alone in that - I think we all are out here, and the grey sky and routine drizzle contribute to the general gloom. Travel from here has been daily denied. Either the cieling is too low, or aircraft are in various states of disrepair. Whatever the story, we are short on space, short on time to make a complete handoff with the vacating unit (not that that will have any lasting impact on our combat effectiveness, the unit is well trained and prepared, I believe), and I think we are running a little thin of patience; though, for the most part, there remains an aire of expectancy. This is to be a benchmark year in the unfolding story of this country. The elections are set to take place in August, international attention is turning full-focus on this Afghanistan, and - I think, much of the population here considers this to be a 'do or die' period. An elderly local man with whom I shared a seat on a bus today said, 'if Afghanistan will succeed it will be the product of many years - but must begin to move right within three.'

Well - in other news, 5 soldiers in the squadron have asked to lead Bible studies on their respective Combat outposts! That is wonderful news for us - and I am hopeful that it will be the catalyst for many changed lives and wise combat decisions made. We will begin, I think - by the request of two of these leaders, with the book / Scripture study Wild at Heart.
I have exactly one minute left and better sign out before I get cut off.

grace and peace to you all.
matthew

Arrived in Kyrgyzstan

After a very long time in the air, and a stop over in Leipzig, we have arrived in Kyrgyzstan.  The conditions here are much like that back home in AK - maybe not quite so cold, but there is snow on the ground and a chill in the air.  My Chaplain Assitant (Matt Mitchell) and I are doing well - though leaving home was certainly difficult.  As it worked out, I was almost late for manifest (I was late for a jump manifest quite a few years ago - and had to low-crawl into the command post.  I don't think it is typical for Chaplain's to be made to low-crawl, even when they are late - one of the perks afforded clergy these days I guess.).  As it worked out, I was right on time, but with out any spare moments for lengthened goodbyes.  I think that worked out best - it was hard enough to get out of the van, put my ruck on and walk off - without dragging it out.  I am thankful to God to have a family that is hard to leave.  

Spent yesterday morning waiting, and waiting - with the rest of the Denali Squadron.  So much of what I do centers around the stressed marriages of these men.  Three of these guys, with whom I have been involved with ongoing counsel had good news to report.  All three had been on the verge of divorce and all three had made good progress in reconciliation in the days prior to departure.  I know that may sound likely, as emotions are high - but really it is sometimes the opposite which results.  Those last few days can be fraught with tension, arguments - as the guys are emotionally detaching from home, while their wives are trying desperately to hold on.  At any rate, these guys came, one by one, to report that either divorce was off the table for the time, or better - that they were leaving home with their relationship dramatically improved.

So - we celebrated that, prayed together and were able, for several, to get this thing started well.  

So, Matt and I, and 300 of our closest friends have finally got beyond the 'leaving home' wall and now can get focused on the mission, getting it done and getting home.  We are waiting for a flight out of here and on to the second stop over before arrival at our final destination for the year.  I am being careful about details and locations, though most of you know that we will be along the Pakistani border, our unit having been given the mission to secure that area, connect the populace there to their government - the GIROA (gov. of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan), develop infrastructure, and win the Information Operations battle in the region.  No small task - and really, will be the product of many years if it is to be done well.  

Thanks very much to all of you who sent phone cards - I have passed out several to soldiers just this morning - and they were grateful to receive them.   I will post some pictures as soon as I am connected to an internet provider with a little bit of speed.  

One last note before I close this out for the day.  Our Squadron Surgeon - a fine Christian man - Major David G.  Has begun to collect coats for the children in our province in earnest.  Afghanistan is the 4th most impoverished country in the world, our little corner of it is one of the poorest in the country - and so, David and I thought it would be time well spent (and allow many of you all to get involved personally) to collect coats, and perhaps later - shoes also - to distribute to children in our province.  (I will tell you the name of the Province after we have arrived.)  Well, you know I am something of a procrastinator - Dr. G is not.  He got started early, and his church youth group (a Methodist Church in Augusta, GA) has raised about 700 coats so far.  Sheesh!  I spoke with Joyce on the phone a day or so ago - and planned to invite Libby and Leigh to get the Chatt. Valley kids involved.  Would you all like to participate in this?  I sure think it would be a great way to communicate the love of Christ in this place - where overt means of evangelism are unlawful.  

It would mean collecting and dry cleaning the coats, and we will figure out the shipping as we go.  It may be that we can convince the Army to ship out of Delaware for free, or we may have to pay for it.  Not sure what the outcome of that will be right now.

For any more of you (not at Chatt. Valley) who would like to be involved in this, consider yourselves invited, encouraged, implored, begged.  We cannot collect too much I don't think.

In the meantime.  Prayer requests:

Soldiers and their marriages

Wives and children

A Soldier who's son is having a really hard time with this (his dad's 4th of 5th deployment - can't remember exactly).

There are others - but I will communicate more later.

May the grace and the peace of Christ be with you all. 

matthew 

Leaving Home

Tomorrow is my last day with Jamie and the kids.  The kids are asleep.  Bedtime was predictably difficult, though not so much as I had perhaps imagined.  Hannah and I recommitted to write faithfully and send presents!  She is an absolute treasure to our family - given to extremes of temperament - when she is happy, she is almost assualtingly so; and when she is angry, there is no almost about it.  Last Sunday, Hannah and I had our last 'date' before I leave.  I figured that she would want to get dressed up, and, with me in my uniform, enjoy a nice 'sit down and order from the menu' restaurant; where the waitress would comment on Hannah's stunning ensemble.  Hannah decided, after very little deliberation, that Chuck E. Cheese was more in keeping with her disposition.  

After running through about 50 tokens (which sounds like a lot - but goes pretty quick, if you haven't had the pleasure), over our shared chicken sandwich and apple desert pizza Hannah articulated her contentment - saying, "Dad, I feel like God made me for Chuck E Cheese, just like He made you for the Army."

So, success achieved . . . I guess.  She is all energy, but with a bent toward compassion and tenderness, and I can't imagine life without her.  

Bram and I went tubing at Hillberg Ski Lodge at Elmendorf Air Force Base last Friday.  We had a great time - and some great talks while riding the tow rope up the mountain.  If you know him, I do not have to tell you the depth of emotion that he possesses.  Though I am sometimes overcome at the thought of leaving him for another year, I am so grateful to God for such a son.  

It is an amazing trust that God has given to parents, to love and to raise His children.  Not that I have any lofty ideas about the purity of either of them (they had dispelled all such foolish notions by the age of 2!); and not that I credit myself with any particular depth of insight into fatherhood - only that, writing this at less than 30 hours until departure - my sentimentality level is somewhat higher than normal - and likewise my appreciation for God's gifts.  Anyway, all that to say, I have been blessed by God to be burdened, challenged, entrusted with Bram and Hannah.

Jamie is the rock of our family.  Anyone who knows us well knows that is gospel truth.  She routinely calls me back to azimuth.  I lose faith in myself with some degree of frequency; she never does.  She remembers why we are here, Who called us to this in the first place.  She simply will not succumb to anyone else's expectations of her, as an Army wife, as a Chaplain's wife, or any other defining role.  Jamie, more than anyone I know, knows who she is, Who's she is, and vigilantly lives in the light of that knowledge.  I absolutely cannot imagine life with any other partner.  She is God's gift to me, to Bram, to Hannah.  

I am thankful too, for my parents, who raised three boys, of whom I was the least difficult (some sources say).  I am also the best looking, though I suppose that may be open to debate.

My mother is a model of grace, and has one of the most intimate of relationships with Christ.  I find it difficult to express just how proud I am of her, and how much I have learned of God's mercy and love through her.  She never fails to call me to trust and faith in Jesus.

My father too, is an always faithful encourager and supporter.  Anytime I have news to share, be it celebratory or otherwise, Dad is the first one I call.  He believes me to be a better man than I am; and consequently, I want to be a better man than I am.

My brothers are both great husbands and fathers, servants of both God and Country and I am awfully proud of both of them.  Clif is a Marine Staff Sergeant, currently assigned to the Marine's Mountain Warfare School, and he is all heart - always.  He has a great wife, Kimberly - who loves him committedly, and a beautiful little girl, Audrey (aka Pumpkin).  Colby is a Teaching Pastor and Worship Leader in Eerie, PA.  He's by far the most gifted of the three of us - and he too is blessed with an incredible wife, Kristen, and two boys - who I am sure will serve as payback someday.  I wish that we were able to spend more time together.

Our Church Family, back home in Flintstone, GA is to us, the Body of Christ.  I mean for that designation to include all that it was intended.  They are support, encouragement, rebuke, prophetic word; they mourn and rejoice with us.  We are indebted to that family - and love them responsively.  

The children's group at Chattanooga Valley Nazarene (our home church) recently sent me a box with letters, cards, phone cards to pass out to the soldiers, and a blanket that I will cherish.  Thank you guys very much!!  It is very Alaskan (with Moose all over it) - and, as each fringe was tied - my Soldiers and I were prayed over.  Those folks constantly amaze us with their kindness and affection.

Well, so - in about 30 hours I will walk down the snowy street and board a flight to Afghanistan.  Its actually a little big for me to take in right now.  I really do have a sense of peace about it all.  Either I am in a state of willful denial, or the Lord is serving as our comfort.  I am mostly sure it is the latter.  We have really maintained a focus on the positive.  Jamie has planned some really great activities over these last few days (like the painting of a family mural depicting this new chapter in our lives - and our avowal that God is the Author, and will be the Finisher of it).  We have talked about our plans for staying connected this year.  We have voiced our love for one another - and reaffirmed our faith that God's design is the development of our character - He is forming all of us (not just the Chaplain) in this adversity.

His plans toward us our good, and we are committed to receive each day as a gift, designed by a loving Father.  Will we only take the pleasant experiences and reject this less desirable gift?  Or do we judge Him a safe resting place, worthy of trust, when the paths He bids us walk are difficult and uncertain.  Finally, we must conclude that He is the only certainty.  I have learned that lesson at the feet of many teachers - Libby and Samantha Gilley are two of them.  

Well, I will conclude my ramblings for the night.  May the grace, and the peace, and the certainty of God's love be yours.

matthew