Prayer over Paktia

Arrived in Paktia sometime last week - and very glad to find that the FOB whereon our HQ is located has not been rocketed in a couple of years. Especially in this part of the country, that is highly unusual. As it turns out, the FOB was built around a graveyard which is purported to contain the graves of many Mujaheddin heroes, and, out of respect for those burial places - which in the Islam practiced by most Afghans (a blend of Sufism from Persia and more traditional Islam) become something like shrines, the locals will not do anything to unsettle them, nor have they tolerated any Taliban actions that would likewise disturb the graveyard.
So - my proposal is that we build monuments and shrines to all Afghan war heroes, both past and present, where any Coalition Forces are located! I guess I'm not altogether serious about that - and I doubt that the graveyard played any significant role in the selection of the location for this FOB - but there is little doubt that something of the sovereignty of God was at work in it.

That is certainly not the story for all the rest of our Combat Outposts here. Already we have received some indirect fire elsewhere, and IEDs' emplaced in the paths of our convoys. So far none of them have been effective - and it is our earnest prayer that none will be. To that end, it is our intent to meet together daily for prayer over Paktia. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, "The eyes of the Lord search throughout the whole earth - to show Himself in strong support of those whose hearts are loyal to Him." We are certainly in need of the strong support of the Lord in this place - no skill in combat or diplomacy will make up for the lack of it. So, for those of us who recognize that here, our first mission is Loyalty to the Lord Jesus, seeking His direction and His strong support.

I remember well the Garrison Commander at Victory Base Camp in Iraq - COL Carlton Reid, one of the finest leaders in the Army, and to that many more than I will attest. He was convinced that God had brought Him to Iraq firstly to pray. COL Reid was in charge of the day to day operations, and the Force Protection of over 30,000 Coalition Forces and Civilians living and working on VBC - but God's first call to Him was a call to prayer. I will never forget the clarity with which COL Reid lived and led us during that year in Iraq. I am indebted to his example and treasure his friendship. Paul wrote that we ought to use him, and others of devoted faith as examples for godly living, and - while I have many such examples to emulate, I am especially thankful this morning for that of COL Reid; in whose office several of us met daily to offer thanks to our Living God, to tune our hearts to Him, and seek His divine direction for ourselves, our soldiers and leaders, the Iraqi people, and our enemies.
So - with that experience in mind, and with the constant need of the strong support of God in this province, we are inviting everyone on this FOB of a similar mind, to likewise begin our days with the Lord - aligning our hearts with Him. I am so very thankful too for the constancy of prayer support of friends and family - and know too, that we pray for you all with regularity as well.

In other news, DR. G is well along with plans to distribute coats, and potentially shoes to the children of Paktia. The Provincial Reconstruction Team also suggests that a highly treasured gift around here is a coloring book (without words) and a packet of crayons. Therefore, I am inviting all of you to send coloring books and crayons - which will not only be a joy to a child here, but will aid in the building of vital relations - which may speed the end of the Taliban's already too lengthy influence.

On that note, you would be pleased to hear that the VAST majority here are completely opposed to the Taliban's style of governance and religion - it has just been, for many, to dangerous to voice opposition. They are brutal and ruthless, they are funded by and, in many cases, citizens of other countries. They enlist poverty stricken Afghans, and young Afghan men with the promise of "Mujaheddin glory" - to conduct their terrorist acts. They hire soldiers from the former Russian states to train and lead small bands of fighters. It is clearly not an Afghan driven terrorism. It remains to convince the populace that their government is strong enough to protect them from the Taliban, to provide work enough that Taliban money is not so enticing, and to build enough infrastructure to connect the people to their governmental centers. Of course, that may be the work of years - but it is not in the least a hopeless work.

Thank you for following this effort - for praying for its success. May the grace and the peace of our Living God, the One who gives freedom to the captives - be yours friends.
matthew