IT IS WHAT IT IS

I would like to start out by saying that I appreciate all of the kind words and support that I have received over the past couple of months. Although this deployment has not been toughest physically for me, but it sure has been a lot tougher mentally, emotionally, and spiritually than my first deployment.

TRAVELS

Since I have been in Afghanistan, I have had the opportunity to travel to a few different locations and seen some beautiful sites (unfortunately I have very few pictures, but hope to get some from some of the soldiers). Since Thanksgiving weekend, I had moved to a location called Warrior and the soldiers of my unit did some great work for their fellow soldiers to be able to use there. Then I went on to a place called Moqur. I have then since moved back to Fenty, which is where I am based out of. I have also made stops at Sharana, Shank, and Bagram.

During my travels I have experienced different terrain and weather. When I left Fenty, the weather was in the mid 70’s during the day and didn’t below 50 at night, and the terrain was mostly flat with paved roads and sidewalks. When I arrived at Warrior (which is about 6500 feet altitude) the weather was already cold with the highs in the 60’s and the lows in the 30’s, which then start to drop lower every day (to include some nights, it was reported to have dropped below 0). The terrain there was rocks (big rocks) and dirt/sand (moon dust). As the weather got colder and the snow moved in, then the ground at Warrior begin to freeze. So we went from walking on rocks to walking in 6 inches – 2 feet of snow. As the snow melted, then it would simply freeze over night and some days remain frozen all day, so therefore you would be walking on ice – which I would say I have gotten pretty good at falling. Some parts of the road would melt during the day and would be puddles of water that you would have to navigate around.

Once I arrived at Moqur, snow was still on the ground and the first 2 nights there were the coldest that I have experienced without heat. The first night it got to 5 degrees (according to AccuWeather), but with the wind, I am sure it was much lower. This was the coldest I have ever been (and pretty much shivered all night long as I tried to sleep). Fortunately we were able to get some heaters and with the hard work of a few of the soldiers, they were installed and we were able to sleep in a semi-heated building the remainder of the time. As our time there continued on and as work begin to take place, the snow that was on the ground started to melt, which then the ground became a big water and mud puddle. Everywhere you walked you were walking in either mud or water or both.  The 18 days that I was there, we did not have showers or any type of plumbing to use the bathroom (except for the port-a-potties that arrived shortly before I left).

I know the above was a lot and may seem like a ramble, but I say this to set up the remainder of this month’s blog.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-13

⁴ Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful.

⁵ Let everyone know how gentle you are. The Lord is coming soon.
⁶ Don’t worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him.
⁷ Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood.
⁸ Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things.
⁹ Do what you have learned or received or heard from me. Follow my example.
The God who gives peace will be with you.
¹⁰ At last you are concerned about me again. That makes me very happy. We belong to the Lord. I know that you have been concerned. But you had no chance to show it.
¹¹ I’m not saying that because I need anything. I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me.
¹² I know what it’s like not to have what I need. I also know what it’s like to have more than I need. I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens. I am content whether I am well fed or hungry. I am content whether I have more than enough or not enough.
¹³ I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.

BARBED WIRE HALO

I have been reading Aaron Watson’s Barbed Wire Halo blog for the past few years. This last year Aaron and his wife Kim have gone through something that I would not want to imagine going through, but I know that God blessed them and provided them with the strength to make it through their situation. (I will not discuss another person’s situation on this blog, but if you would like to read his blog, you can do so by going to www.aaronwatson.com and clicking on the “Bared Wire Halo” blog logo or by clicking on this link http://barbedwirehalo.wordpress.com/).

BE CONTENT AND IN CONTROL

In the Philippians passage above God tells us that we are to be content and that He will give us the strength to make it through the tough times, like the Watsons. God continue to show the Watson’s His love and blessing through-out their situation and not once did He leave their sides. The Watson’s story reminds me that we are to be content with what God give us and take it and use it for His Glory. We are to tell His story in the life that He gives us on this earth.

I am glad that He has given me the opportunity to walk on the slate rock on the edge of mountain of Gowerdesh; the large rocks, sand/moon dust, snow and ice of Warrior; to the snow, water, and mud of Moqur; then back to the paved roads and sidewalks of Fenty. (I guess all that I am missing is a nice plot of grass). I have been reminded through Philippians and the Watson’s story that I am to be content with whatever God gives me to walk on, as well as any other situation that God puts in my life.

During this past month, I remembered a saying that I would use in during my Iraq deployment, which was “I would rather be alive and here, than dead and anywhere else”. This saying would catch some people off guard, but I look at it as God continuing to provide me with a chance to experience what He has in store for me.

As we are to now be content with what God gives us, just as verse 6 states – don’t worry about anything, tell God everything, pray and give thanks to Him – I firmly believe that we are only to concern ourselves with things that we can control. Be in control of what you can control -  and let no one control it for you -  but do not worry or get upset about the things you cannot control. Just be ready and prepared to deal with what happens as of the result from the things that you have no control over, as it affects your life and allow God to lead through those times, as He will give you the strength. This is something that I firmly believe that Job (past) experienced, as well as the Watson family (present), and God will lead you through any trials and tribulations that you may face (future).  

REST AND RELAXATION

As I conclude this month’s blog, I am looking forward to going home for couple of weeks to spend time with the family, and then will return back over here to finish out this deployment. I look forward to what God has in store for me and pray that he will continue to lead me to be content and only do things that he will be Glorified by. I look forward to writing the March blog, and will fill you in on some of the blessings that I hope to experience while I am at home (or in my travels to and from). Hint: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and a boat.