So there I was… (the obligatory beginning of all Army stories)…with a short break for personal time and I decided to log onto WordPress and check things out. One thing I am embarassed to admit is that I check on the stats to see how many have viewed and what sites they came from. I guess it’s the competitive nature in me and the part of me that remembers how the last blog I did went over like a lead balloon. Anyway, I find that some lady at http://waitingforhim.wordpress.com referred this site from hers. Nice…so I click on it and am pleasantly, tearfully surprised to find it was Katy’s Top Secret blog that she was closely guarding the address from till it was perfect in her eyes. What a blessing.
Ask any Soldier and he’ll tell you it’s always the little things that make life in the field or deployments better – dry socks, warm water to shave with, and mail. Internet contact with family and friends is right up there with all of those. And to top it all off, several other longtime and new found friends posted comments on here recently. One comment was from Gay F., my Sunday School teacher from my teenage years. She’s one of the strongest women I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. Her first husband died unexpectedly yet her witness and leadership of her family continued unabated. Her husband now is a humble combat veteran and Gay is a strong supporter to those in uniform. One thing I am most grateful for is that Gay had us memorize scripture, one in particular – “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, Oh Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.” Those words have challenged, corrected, and encouraged me for two decades since she had me burn them in my heart. Thanks so much!
I’m praying my life will be a witness to those with whom I serve in Iraq and that new Gay’s and other Godly influences like her will have the freedom to rise up within Iraq and do for their teens like she and so many others have done for me. God instructs us to pray for our enemies. I pray that His Spirit will pour out on them and that young men and women will be deaf to the lies they hear against the Word and the hatred that the Enemy has sold them on. May this time be a testimony for Him and His greatness.
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Joep72,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments on my blog. I believe this is the biggest trial our family has yet been through. The only thing keeping me sane is knowing God is in control, not me. Kendle (my son) is a strong christian and I know his faith will support him. He is going up to MEPS this afternoon (in Portland, we live in Bend, OR) and we will meet him there tommorrow morning to meet with the guys who do the MOS (hope I have all those acronyms right!). He has already decided that if they do not have the job he wants available he will not sign and swear in at this time. I think he has a good sense of self worth and won’t just jump without thinking.
On another note I want to thank you for serving our country and being a good example to the men and women you serve with. I am not much of an evangelist but I firmly believe we teach by example. I will be following your adventures in the big sandbox and praying for you and your family.
God bless, knittin5
Hi Joe –
I don’t think we ever officially met, but I feel like I know you though my conversations with Katy. Please know that Peter and I will be praying for your safety, and the impact you might have on those who serve alongside you. We will share your blog address with our Bible study, so you’ll have some other folks from Christ the Rock lifting you up and cheering you on. God bless you in your work . . .
– Nancy Leschke