Living Gospel

Hanging out up north again today.  Very glad to be back out on the road!  Also - very much missing my Chaplain Assistant, tending to family for a bit.  Flew in this morning on what is known as a PAW flight (Presidential Air-Ways).  These are civilian pilots (sometimes Russian) flying French made rotary-wing aircraft; at least, I believe they are French made.  Not at all a bad flight really - fairly roomy and smooth ride; and the large windows are nice.  Below, were miles of mountains, streams (though none looked likely to contain a trout population), bright green fields, tall-thin hardwoods serve as boundaries between them.  High-walled mud Qalats are everywhere; some house large fields - where nothing yet grows, others serve as something like family compounds.  I imagine that, in many cases, several extended families share a Qalat - they seem to be subdivided for that purpose.   

The fields are mostly located at the base of the mountains - where the intermittent streams meet wider waters of the valley expanse.  Beyond that, the rocky, sparsely-treed mountains rise abruptly, and the streams are lost from view within their folds.  Trails web the lower hills within the valleys - children traverse them, presumably between Qalats, or on their way back from the mountains with firewood.  Women walk the fields in single file, balancing oversized baskets on their heads, or pots - usually with only one hand raised for support.  The pots are typically brightly colored - but no match for the women's dresses.  When we travel the roads, we are reminded not to watch the locals, especially the women . . . not that there is much risk, all eyes tend to be fixed directly ahead - scanning for potential IED sites, command wires, etc.  So - flight provides the best means of satisfying curiosity. 

I am back on a COP (combat out-post) where our medics have daily provided support to the local populace.  I mentioned in an earlier post, that - last week, these men did everything in their power to save a severely burned young girl.  She finally died, about 10 hours after our soldiers had received her and begun treatment.  It has been a very difficult few days for these men - who are very much heroes in my eyes.  

Still, our Living God works all things together for good.  Word of the compassion and care these men displayed has spread for miles, and a steady flow of visitors come to meet the senior medic, to offer their gratitude - and teary-eyed hugs.  They have heard how these men stayed by her side all night, how they fought desperately for her life, how sincerely they cried with her father - and how tenderly they helped prepare her for burial.  Truly - the Name of our Lord was glorified because of their example - and many who are ignorant of our Christian ethic wondered at the spirit that motivated such love.  Thanks be to God - who has received this child into His eternal Kingdom, and who makes men "well pleased to impart not only the Gospel of God, but also their own lives." 

 

It has been a while since my last update –

Been doing a lot of waiting for flights lately – but also taking that opportunity to work improvements on the Chapel in preparation to receive the TF Warrior Ministry team – the two of whom will be a welcome addition in the spiritual support of Team Paktya.  There are so many agencies at work in this AO – that, instead of Task Force Denali – our Commander has come to refer to this many armed organization as above indicated – Team Paktya. 

You all would be amazed at the depth and diversity of support this organization provides to the Afghan people in the province.  For instance, at last night’s Bible Study I met a soldier who was assigned to this team specifically to teach improved ‘Bee Keeping’ techniques to locals!  This soldier, a sergeant in the Army National Guard, is a University Professor in the civilian world.  Just goes to prove again, that – if you are looking to meet interesting folks – a hitch in the service is the way to go (and hey, free shoes!).

So – I have been waiting to get out to one of our more remote COPS (sitting in the PAX terminal as I write), where our soldiers have routinely shared their medical skills and resources with the local population.  (By the way, the three boys wounded in the mine blast are all doing very well – though, of course – the one lost a good portion of his leg.  Still, he is very much alive – and I am sure, thankful for the care he has received.)  They have shared in the grief of that community too – most recently mourning the loss of a young girl burned in an accident at home (and to whom they provided the highest level care of which they were capable).  What still impresses me is that, though the kinetic fight has not gone away – and by all expectations the level of violence will only heighten through the spring and summer; yet our soldiers are very good about tuning their responses to the circumstance.  When compassion is the order – they have not come short; and when aggressive action is required – they are inferior to no one.  There is a degree of frustration over the kinetic constraints (the sometimes too restrictive rules of engagement) – but as yet, that has not embittered our Warriors past ability to empathize with a war weary population.  It is our mutual obligation (yours and mine) to pray that this spirit continues even as the fatigue of deployment intensifies.  If we fail in that regard, if our attitudes become poisoned and we begin to treat the people of this province with disdain, then we might as well give this mission up for lost.  We are nowhere near that place I think – but as the frustrations mount, I am sure that will be a threat against which we will have to exert ourcombined efforts of will and prayer. 

Several of you have emailed asking how you might help with assistance to the population or soldiers here – so let me take a couple minutes to provide some feedback.  In my contact with locals (especially children) I am repeatedly solicited for pens, pencils, notebooks, crayons, etc.  I was initially instructed that the Afghans would prefer coloring books without words – but so many have proudly presented their English lesson books to me, that I suspect they would be delighted to receive a coloring book with ‘easy’ English as well (guess that means that the “Paradise Lost” coloring edition is a no go).  Memo books for older students would also be a big hit out here, and really – school supplies of any variety.  Now, here’s the thing, we are not authorized to make any mass deliveries of school supplies, or anything else – as aid efforts like that fall under the authority of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams and the Non-Governmental Organizations.  With the exception of Dr. G’s coats, all of our distribution efforts will be very small in scale – and with the intent of building relationships in more remote and potentially volatile villages – so, no need to empty the ‘back to school’ aisle at Wal Mart.

As for our soldiers – we have a great many more comforts than I would have expected.  Still – any small gifts are appreciated and serve to remind us that folks back home remember their sacrifice.  I would say that, if there is a book that has particular meaning to you – you might send a copy, especially good Christian biographies.  I have found that nothing is quite so spiritually revitalizing as the stories of our faith heroes.  I pass out books with regularity – and the returns are usually worth it.  Good movies are also in short supply– and guys will spend a lot of their down time watching films.  You know the quality of most of the stuff available – it is nice to be able to provide a decent alternative.

 

I want to tell you how much I appreciate the feedback on the blog!  Thank you for your many kind and encouraging words – they have served as inspiration for me to continue relating the story of our journey in this region.  It is nice to know too, who all is following – to whom I am writing.

Finally, I am full of praise to our Lord for the grace and strength He daily provides to our families!  We had a rather close call back in Anchorage this week – and God proved again that He is both faithful and good; that what our mutual enemy intends for our destruction – our Living God will use for our deliverance!  Though I will not convey specifics in this instance – it is enough to say that we have great cause for rejoicing in Him today - for His care in a very particular circumstance, and the expectation of redeeming and finishing love!

May the grace and the peace of our Kinsman Redeemer be with you all today.

matthew

 

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.

I have had a great morning today - and just thought I would share a little about it with you all.  Travelled with one of our Commanders, along with a platoon under his direction, to a very remote Village - situated at the base of a magnificent mountain.  Though the folks kept their distance initially (as I am sure I would, if a platoon of heavily armed men came rolling up to the edge of my town), still - it was not too long before a band of curious children gathered at around us.  

Of course, that was my cue - 'cause there's nothing much that I enjoy more than getting a good game of something started.  I was, as you might imagine, very disappointed to find that no one had brought along a frisbee.  Seems to me, that a good frisbee ought to be a part of your mission essential packing list.  In the future that little failure will not happen again.  It was not, however, a catastrophic failure.  The town did not even possess a soccer ball - but when has a lack of equipment ever stopped children from finding a way to play.  One soldier commented to me a few days ago that, "these kids around here never play - they just carry sticks all day."  I did not say so at the time (wasn't worth the debate), but that could not be further from the reality.  The truth is, these children are extremely creative in their play.  One boy came out with a wire and stick car that he had built - with a steering column that was at least 3 feet long - connected to a steering wheel, that actually worked to turn the front axel, so that he could run around steering his toy all over the place.

Well, thank the Lord - we had a super interpreter along (actually now we are instructed to refer to them as Host Nation Linguists) - and he helped me to teach these kids to play "link-arm tag," which was a favorite at Chattanooga Valley Nazarene - and "train tag," which just turned into a brawl - and finally an Afghan version of "Duck, Duck , Goose."  Of course, they most enjoyed teaching me their games - all of which were combative in nature.  The favorite was a game where I ran from the whole pack, all of whom were bent on the one objective of catching and kicking me.  Sounds a little like a Mujaheddin training camp doesn't it? :-)  The truth is though, it was extremely good natured - and we had a blast.  

There are not too many opportunities to interact with locals in that way it seems.  So, I think it was a productive day on many levels.  Seems to me that, if we are to be very successful in the forging of long term relationships, we would be wise to begin with kindness toward the children of this Province.  It is just true of almost all parents, that we are endeared to those who appreciate our kids - certainly that is true here as well.

Well, don't have a lot of time - but wanted to post a couple of photos (I almost never have that capability and, while I do, had better take advantage of it) - relay some of the events of the day.

grace and peace to you all.

Matt (my very able assistant) and I are in one of the more beautiful parts of the Province today.  Spent yesterday walking through the mountains in search of historic point-of-origin sites for enemy indirect fires.  Though we did not find much, the views were well worth the walk.  

It is a shame (if that is a strong enough sentiment) that hundreds of years of warring have kept this part of the world so impoverished.

Well - to let you all know - our Warriors are still dealing with the death of our brother.  We held a memorial service a few days ago - and several of those closest to PFC D- spoke to his spirit, his generosity.  Truly, this Soldier epitomized what it is to be a Warrior - one who really was motivated by a heart of service.  Our Public Affairs folks are in the process of packaging a video copy of the memorial, letters from soldiers and commanders, coins and patches left on the Memorial Stand after the ceremony - and those items will be shipped to his parents and one-year old girl.  Our prayer now - is for resilience, increased vigilance, and God's restorative grace in the lives of D's family - both here and back home.

Just a random thought - the longer we are here (and we are nearing a month now), the easier it is to become complacent.  I mean that militarily - but especially spiritually.  Seems like the more familiar and comfortable I become with my surroundings, the greater the temptation to fall back on natural gifts (albeit in short supply), routine, etc.  When the environment is new, somewhat frightening, difficult - it is with much greater ease that I pursue relationship with, and strength from God.  Even now, though the threat has certainly not decreased (if anything, the closer to the summer we come - the greater the danger) - still, familiarity is working to breed complacency.  I can tell a real difference in my life and in the authority with which I live and proclaim Christ - when I have gotten to a place where I am 'too busy' to draw near to Him.  

The last couple of days have been like that.  I have, however - the great blessing from God of a wife who calls me routinely back to center - even when she does not do it with intentionality.  And, I have a God who is more deeply interested in relationship with me - and the quality of that relationship - even than I.  Usually, I am called back to pursuit of Christ - renewed intensity in prayer and His Word, when my own resources once again prove too shallow.

How mysterious, I sometimes think it is, that God has ordained to make Himself discernible, only to those who - with diligence - seek Him!  I would then, that God would keep me in places of dependency.  I am glad for desert places, where my thirst for You - O, Lord - may be quickened.  Draw me to mountain paths, where I must look to my Righteous Guide for every step.  Above all Lord, do not let me rest long in ease - where I may give up both drinking long and depending much on You - lest I become passionless and purposeless - and content in that despairing condition.

March 10, 2009

We have had a very difficult week here.  Lost our first soldier on Sunday to an IED.  Two others, who are not in our unit, but within our task force (and certainly our brothers), were injured.  One of the two was burned pretty severely.  I will say that I am amazed with the compassion and resolve with which our sodliers and leaders have faced this tragedy.  You all would be impressed too with the restraint of our warriors.  They caught the man whom we believe to have detonated the bomb, but he gave no resistance and our men did not harm him - only detained him and turned him over to the Afghan authorities.  They will perform a full investigation, and afterwards the man will be convicted and sentenced - if found guilty. You can imagine, I am sure, what great restraint is required, after losing a close friend, to soldier with wisdom and not from pure emotion.  Our soldiers are in every sense professionals.  Very lethal, very ready and willing to engage the enemy - yet very wise in the exercise of that lethality.  I am daily impressed by these young men - you all would be also.
I am also thankful for the commanders that we have out here.  I have said before, both publicly and privately, that this unit has been blessed with outstanding leadership, and there is no more pressing moment for us to be committed to prayer on their behalf.  And not for the commanders only - but for the Platoon Sergeants and Squad leaders who have to employ soldiers by name - and sometimes at the cost of their lives.  Very difficult decisions to make - and it takes men of courage to make them.  I pray for them too, that God will give them spirits of power, love and wisdom (whether or not they acknowledge Christ as Lord).  
Ofcourse, we will not forget our fallen brother.  The soldiers say that he was a 'gentle giant' - loved by everyone.  He would typically wake about a half hour before everyone else in his squad to make the coffee and watch cartoons.  Not your stereo-typical steely-eyed killer huh?  Yet, he was a very capable warrior, prepared for battle, a willing participant in the emancipation of this troubled place.  May the Living God grant him mercy and grace - peace to his dear family - and embolden us by his sacrifice.

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