Tragedy and Calling

It is unusual that I have the kind of free time I've had today. I hope it is also unusual to have a day end with such trauma; especially one that began so well.

This afternoon - a few hours after I updated the blog, a teenaged Afghan boy was near the FOB when he stepped on a land mine left over thirty years ago by Russian forces. At the conclusion of their failed effort at colonization, they littered the countryside with land mines - millions of them. It is estimated that there are more mines in Afghanistan, than there are Afghans - an absolutely atrocious act that will continue to impact these poor children for many, many more generations.

It certainly had no little effect today. This young man lost his foot, another was peppered with shrapnel in the face - nearly costing his sight, and still another received lesser shrapnel wounds. A couple of things are especially noteworthy about the event. Had this happened under a Godless Russian governance - these young men may still be lying in that field, or at best - struggling for life in a poorly equipped Afghan hospital. I cannot believe that the Taliban would do much better for these three boys. Our soldiers, on the other hand - treated these three with as great an expediency and concern as they would our own forces.

Again - I am so proud to be associated with these fine soldiers - who daily risk their lives for the sake of the folks of this country - many of whom do not realize how far removed we are from the Russian invaders of thirty years ago. We drive through villages daily - where it is entirely clear that we are not welcome. Our soldiers understand the experiences and the history that make that sentiment common; still - when there is a need, our men rise to the occasion. Understand that I am not trying to make these Warriors out to be larger than life - we have got our faults for sure. They are, many of them, deeply in need of a life-changing relationship with Christ - but there is something qualitatively different about our soldiers and those of most other nations. Perhaps it is the still pulsing blessing of our Lord, even now stirring a people once fired by the pursuit of God. However you would define it - it is clear (especially from this vantage) that - at the level of the street, our warriors are all together unique.

We celebrated tonight - in our Bible Study - how it was that God worked all of this together to save the lives of these boys today. Our last vehicle was entering the FOB when its passengers heard the blast. Assuming it was indirect fire, they turned to search out a possible point of origin from a likely location. Instead, they found a crying woman and the boys in the mine field. They retrieved them and quickly applied life saving tourniquets and brought the three (along with their father) to the FOB. Our medics took over from there - stabilizing the wounded boys and preparing them for transport via helicopter to a surgical center.

The weather was the next issue, and - at first, would not allow flight. That would have meant a very long convoy without air support, an undertaking that would have required several hours. Well, the weather broke just in time to allow the flight and the boys (with father) arrived in time to save the life of the one, and the sight of the other.

God was faithful - and He used our Soldiers today to bring hope and healing to three young Afghan boys. They are glad to have been used of God in this service - and I know that God is pleased with their selfless acts. There was nothing in it for them - except to serve, because they are called to do it. The thing is, the way they fulfilled their calling betrays hearts motivated by love.