Letters from the Desert

New Blog

2007-10-02T12:13:00.000-07:00

I'm focusing my energy on a new blog: Dr. Jim's Blog. You can find it at http://mceachernumc.blogspot.com

I'm B-a-a-a-c-k!

2007-09-03T06:52:00.000-07:00

I've taken a good bit of time off from blogging since coming back to the States. I've been spending this time getting reacquainted with my family, traveling, and starting at my new church.

Almost immediately after returning we spent 9 days at the beach. Pam (my wife) asked if I really wanted to see sand again. I told her that as long as there was water and no one was trying to kill me I was more than happy to go to the beach. Not long after that we visited family in the Western North Carolina mountains. It's great to see all the greenery after a year and a half of desert.

The new church is great. We have a wonderful staff that I have already grown to appreciate and love. August 26th was my first Sunday with 1,400 in worship. Even this weekend, with the long holiday, had good attendance. The people have been very welcoming and gracious.

It was on Labor Day last year that I flew from Kuwait to Iraq. It's hard to believe that a year has passed and that I will be partying with friends in a few hours rather than conducting "business as normal". As anyone over there can tell you; there are no holidays in a combat zone.

I don't know what I will do with this blog now, or if anyone is still checking it. I may shut it down and start a "Dr. Jim's blog" If you have any suggestions, make sure to let me know!

God bless you all. Thanks for reading and sharing this past year's adventure with me. Have a great Labor Day!

USA! USA! USA!

2007-07-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

Well, shoot, we got stuck overnight in Spain, how terrible!

But a $27 a night BOQ (Bachelor Officer Quarters) with indoor plumbing, a queen size bed, and all the amenities of home made it okay. We flew out the next day. The flight crew allowed me in the cockpit for the flight. C-5's are huge airframes, so it was fun to watch the crew work to get it off the ground and then around some thunderheads. I took a few pics and will post them when I can get on a computer that will allow me to do so.

Last night we arrived at Ft. Hood, and today we spent the entire day in briefings. Tomorrow will be a reset day, Monday will be reverse SRP (Soldier Readiness Processing) and if I'm lucky (very lucky) I'll fly home on Tuesday. After a two weeks on terminal leave I will come off Title 10 and be more "Citizen" than "Soldier".

Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. I can't wait to come the rest of the way home and see you all.

Jim

God Likes Me!

2007-07-12T04:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I was wandering around brigade, saying farewell to some friends and looking forward to leaving late at night the next day or following morning. Then someone asked, "Hey Chappie, do you want to go on the supercargo tonight?" Now for those of you who are unaware of what I am talking about, these were the options:

1. I could wait until the late night of the 12th or early morning of the 13th and fly to Kuwait in a Sherpa wearing full battle rattle. I could then spend anywhere from a day to a week or longer in 135 degree heat, sleeping in a tent waiting for a plane. Then I would be bused to an airport and fly to the east coast of the US. I would then change planes and head to Ft. Hood.

OR

2. I could go on a C-5 Galaxy (55 seats with three passengers). I would land and spend half a day in Rota Spain with my 2 other friends, then fly to the east coast in comfort to spend a half day there, then on to Texas. No battle rattle. No customs. No Kuwait.

So, hello from Rota, Spain! It is a beautiful 90 degrees (as opposed to the 120 it is supposed to be in the shade in Balad today). The sky is a beautiful mediterranean blue, and the grass is a verdant green. I have not seen this beautiful a sight in a long, long, time. We had a nice lunch at an outside cafe and will soon be heading over to the gym for a shower. Tonight we head for the US.

Best of all - WE'RE OUT OF IRAQ!

Bronze Star

2007-07-08T04:42:00.000-07:00

To all who shall see these presents, greeting: This is to certify that the President of the United States of America authorized by Executive Order, 24 August 1962 has awarded

The Bronze Star Medal

Major James B. Higgins, United States Army

For exceptionally meritorious service during operation Iraqi Freedom. His outstanding dedication to duty during combat operations in Iraq contributed to the overwhelming success of the command’s mission. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, and the United States Army.

From 30 August 2006 to 14 August 2007

Given by my hand in the City of Washington
This 15th day of June 2007

Raymond T. Odierno
Lieutenant General, USA
Commanding
PO 166-020, 15 June 2007

It has been awhile since I have posted due to my schedule, and trying to get to a computer that will allow me to post to my blog. The good news is that my delay has been in large part to wrapping things up here. This week I will leave for Kuwait, and, Lord willing, by this time next week I will be at Ft. Hood. The next stop after that is home!

I'll keep you apprised.

No More Boxes!

2007-06-18T00:23:00.000-07:00

Since November I have received over 2,000 boxes valued at over $100,000 to share with the Soldiers here. You have inundated us with beef jerky, twizzlers, shampoo, dvd's and a host of other items. On behalf of all the guys and gals here, THANK YOU!

However, my time here is short. We are told to cut off mail 30 days out, and I am near that magic number, Lord willing. So, my time now will be spent packing up, shipping things home, and preparing things for the Chaplain who will follow me. If you want to send more boxes, email me at jim.higgins@us.army.mil and I will give you the name and mailing address for a chaplain who can receive your items after 1 SEP.

On another note, the article that appears below entitled "Soldiers" has certainly made the rounds. I am receiving emails from all over the world about the piece. The Sergeant Major of the Army, Kenneth Preston has received it, as have GEN's Casey and Cody. Thanks for sharing it with your friends.

I will continuing posting to this blog as I am able during my time remaining here, and as I transition through Kuwait and the States. Thanks for taking the time over the past year to read it, and especially for your comments.

Food!

2007-06-07T07:11:00.000-07:00

One thing I have not spoken about on this blog is food.

Quick quiz. We eat in a:

1. DFAC (Dining Facility)
2. Mess Hall
3. Chow Hall
4. All of the Above

Actually, we eat at the DFAC, but we go to “chow”. Mess Hall is another era.
Do you remember eating in the cafeteria in high school or college? Imagine doing that 24/7 365 days a year, since 6 March 2006. And no, Domino’s doesn’t deliver to Iraq. I should weigh either 300 pounds or 100.

Tuesdays, however, are my favorite: Mongolian BBQ. We go through the line and put whatever we want on the plastic plate. I usually opt for shrimp, polish sausage, garlic, broccoli, garlic butter, spaghetti, and red pepper flakes. The KBR folks then throw it all on a grill and cook it. I figure it is not half bad because I make half of it.

Breakfast is my other favorite meal. But how can you mess up single serving cereal, radiated milk from a carton, a banana (when fresh fruit is available) coffee, and orange juice in a carton, all with Arabic writing?

My friends who know how much I like to cook must know how much this is driving me crazy. So, when I get home it’s pork tenderloin, pulled pork, baby back ribs, t-bones, chicken parmesan over angel hair pasta, grilled chicken quesadillas, lasagna, seafood linguine, spatchcock chicken, omelets, and whatever else I can find in Bon Apetit, Gourmet, and Southern Living.

I haven’t figured out what I’ll make for my second meal.

2007-06-01T05:10:00.000-07:00

Several months ago the force protection folks finally put T-walls in front of our building. T-walls are the handy dandy concrete barriers that keep mortar rounds and shrapnel from slicing through our walls. The walls, however, lack a certain aesthetic quality. So, my Chaplain Assistant put his rather formidable artistic skills to use and painted the Chaplain Crest on what we are calling the “UMT Rock”. I thought you might be interested in the symbolism of the crest.

1. The sun and the rays symbolize the provision and providence of God in nature;
2. The dove and olive branch is the traditional symbol of peace;
3. The open Bible represents the primacy of God’s Word.
4. The color blue represents the heavens and alludes to the spiritual nature and mission of the Chaplain Corps;
5. The rays, in addition to symbolizing the provision and providence of God in nature, also remind us of God’s universal Truth;
6. The surrounding palm branches at the top remind us of spiritual victory;
7. The Shepherd’s Crook indicates the pastoral nature of our ministry;
8. The date 1775 indicates the founding of our Corps – the oldest branch in the U.S. Army;
9. The Latin inscription “Pro Deo et Patria” is our motto, “For God and Country”.

Hopefully the new Unit Ministry Team will keep this wall in place and paint their own. If not, maybe they will simply paint their unit and names in place of our own. And perhaps that is appropriate as they build on our ministry and mission as we have built on those before us.

McEachern Memorial UMC

2007-05-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have posted, but I wanted to wait until an official announcement had been made at my new church about my arrival as their new Senior Pastor. That announcement was made this past Sunday at McEachern Memorial UMC in Powder Springs, GA; one of the Atlanta suburbs (so, yes, I am going to have to change my comment about where I live in my profile). McEachern is a 3,000 member church that has averaged 1,130 people in worship since the beginning of the year, according to their Lay Leader. I am very excited about this appointment, and hope to be there for many years.

The Army's crackdown on blogs and emails is making posting to my blog more difficult. I believe this is a huge error on the part of the Army. It is no secret that we are losing the Information War to Al-Jezeera. Blogs are a way that Soldiers can give a boots on the ground perspective of what is happening here. All too often it is a view that goes completely unnoticed in the mainstream media back home. An example is the piece on this blog entitled "Soldiers". It talks about my experience during the National Anthem here in Balad; you will not find that kind of story on CNN, MSNBC, or FOX. OK, enough preaching. Just know that I will be posting to my blog less frequently over the next few months I am here. That is a real shame because I had jumped up from 40-60 hits a day to some days over 500.

I anticipate being home in early August, and my first Sunday at McEachern (www.mceachernumc.org) should be 26 Aug. Please consider this to be an invitation to attend the first Sunday at 1100.

Thanks for all you are doing to support our troops. My time here will be over soon - only 9 Sundays left. I can't wait to get back home and see you all again.

This Space Reserved

2007-05-15T04:02:00.002-07:00

Next Sunday, May 20th, the announcement will be made in a congregation of the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church that I will be their new Senior Pastor. This space is reserved for me to tell you about the church after that announcement is made.

This is what I can tell you: I, and my family, are very excited. I hope to stay at this church for a long time; I retire in 20-25 years. I wonder if they'll let me stay that long?

My family visited the church last Saturday and got a tour of the parsonage. Afterwards the Staff-Parish Relations Committee had a cookout and pool party to get to know the better half of the Higgins family a little better. Afterwards my wife said, "We are going to fit in there so well!" She loved the people she met, and they made her feel welcome.

So, in a few days I can tell you more about the church. And if you're not doing anything on the 26th of August, come worship with us! That will be (Lord willing) my first Sunday.

Soldiers

2007-05-14T01:05:00.000-07:00

I recently attended a showing of "Spiderman 3" here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorioum we use for movies as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom back in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way through the National Anthem the music stopped.

Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.

Here, the 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward.

The music started again. The Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. And again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect to happen? Even here I would imagine laughter as everyone sat down and expected the movie to start.

Here, you could have heard a pin drop. Every Soldier stood at attention. Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand Soldiers<

And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq. I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you here.

The Heat Is On

2007-05-08T23:14:00.000-07:00

Summer is arriving in Iraq. Yesterday afternoon we hit 104 degrees. The forecast for coming days is:

Today 107
Thursday 100
Friday 107
Saturday 96
Sunday 104

For those of you who like numbers, here are a few of the stats for my blog for the past week:

Page Loads: 1,589
Unique Visitors: 822
First Time Visitors: 613

I wonder how many of these people are from West Cobb County, GA? Hmmm. . .

My profile on the site now has 1,496 views which means I better change that picture!

Thanks for visiting. I'm leading our third Marriage Enrichment Workshop tomorrow morning. Pray for the Soldiers who will attend, that marriages might be strengthened.

I AM an American Soldier

2007-05-05T07:05:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of US Army

Several days ago we were waiting for a visiting dignitary when our PAO snapped this shot. The words on the T-barriers behind me are part of The Soldier's Creed. In full the creed reads,

I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough,

trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy

the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

Ch-Ch-Changes

2007-05-04T05:06:00.000-07:00

It is interesting to see the changes in Soldiers during the 14 months we have been mobilized and the 8+ months we have been deployed.

Some of the changes are physical. One Soldier was telling me that during the time we have been in Iraq he has gained 20 pounds - most of it in the last few months. Some Soldiers have gained much more. The food, while not good, is plentiful. Long, stressful days leave little time for exercise if you are not motivated and disciplined. Another Soldier told me about losing 60 pounds! Beleive me, I had noticed. She joined a weight control program and began running three days a week. She went home for leave last week and had not told her husband she had lost the weight. What a surprise! I ate lunch with a Soldier I had never met before yesterday, and he told me about losing 45 pounds here from eating well, exercise, and not being able to drink beer.

Other changes are noticeable through actions. Some folks are angry. They feel that their lives have been put on hold. Some Soldiers were called back from the Inactive Ready Reserve; they have already been here at least once and thought they were through with the military. Many of us are just weary from the grueling pace of many months away from home. Many folks are discovering for the first time what they are made of. Some of these Soldiers have never left their home towns and are proud of what they are doing. Many of our young men and women have never left their home state, much less the country. The sense of self-reliance is freeing for them.

The most gratifying for me, of course, are those who are changing spiritually. The growth in faith, stripped away from all the pretenses of the American culture, is amazing. Many of us have learned that we can live, even thrive, without many of the things we thought were so important back home. Here we have learned not to fear those who can kill the body, but to focus on eternal matters. Many of our Soldiers are making first time decisions to live for Christ; others are rededicating themselves to serving in the Kingdom. I am especially enjoying the six month long study of what it means to live life as a Christian man that I am leading with a group of guys here.

So, there are changes; some good, some bad. Pray for us as we seek to change in ways that are pleasing to God.

Welcome!

2007-04-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

(click to enlarge)

Photo Courtesy of US Army

I was playing a hunch this morning, so I checked the Stat Counter for this blog. The number of hits and new visitors has more than tripled in the last 10 days; especially since Sunday. And the hits all seem to be coming from the same area of Atlanta. Hmmm, who could they possibly be?

So, to all the folks who will be my new church family - welcome! I cannot even begin to express the excitement I feel about coming to serve the Lord with you. I have known of your ministry since I was in seminary from 1983-1986. It is with great gratitude to Christ and the bishop that I come to share in the incredible ministry you have built.

I know that we are really not supposed to have contact with one another until the official announcement on 20 May, but I also know that the word is out. So, feel free to email me at jim.higgins@us.army.mil Also please know that I have the greatest love and respect for Robin, and will not overstep my bounds or usurp his authority - he is still your pastor, and I know and honor that.

Until we meet face to face, please know that you are in my prayers daily.

God Bless,

Jim

Charlie Med

2007-04-29T22:15:00.000-07:00

If you are a regular reader of this blog you know that one of our missions here is Medevac. Our FSMT's (Forward Support Medevac and Taxi) are located throughout Iraq, which gives me a chance to travel and see folks who I consider true heroes. One of our Medevac companies is located here on Anaconda. A previous post talks about the study "Quest for Authentic Manhood" that I am leading there.

While I was visiting there a while ago one of the Soldiers asked if I could come out and serve communion. Because of the nature of their mission it is difficult for some of them to make it to chapel services at Freedom Chapel. I told her I would do her one better - that if she would round the folks up I would provide a worship service there each Sunday afternoon. So, for the past month, I have been going out to Charlie Company and leading a service and serving communion.

Photo courtesy of US Army

The tree in the background is a "Holiday Tree". It started as a Christmas Tree, then it was a New Year's Tree. In February it was a Valentine's Day Tree, then in March it was a St. Patrick's Day Tree (it's green, right?). I guess in April it was an Earth Day Tree and in May it will be a Mother's Day Tree. That's my Chaplain Assistant assisting me with communion.

Photo Courtesy of US Army

Pictured above is the Charlie Company Commander. He is a great guy and has become a good friend; one of those folks I plan on staying connected with after the deployment. He has been an active participant in our services going back to our six months at Ft. Hood and is also a part of our Manhood study. He's the kind of Commander I would go to war with anytime.

This service is quite intimate. We meet in the coffee shop they have set up. The worshipers sit on couches while I sit on a bar stool. We usually start the services whenever I feel the Spirit move, or whenever I finish my cup of coffee! It's just a nice, relaxed, worshipful atmosphere for all of us.

Going, Going, Gone!

2007-04-26T22:12:00.000-07:00

After quite a while on the market, we finally sold our home! I have some fond memories of cooking on my smoker, listening to some music from the two in-ground speakers, and listening to the birds at our five bird feeders in the back yard.

And although I spent less time there, I do remember a few thunderstorms I watched with candles blowing in the wind on the great rocking chair front porch.

My wife was a real trooper in getting a lot of stuff packed up, dealing with our realtor and friend, and attending the closing. The house sold to a young couple getting married in a few weeks. I hope they will make some great memories here.

In three months or so it will be on to the next chapter in our life! And yes, I do know where I will be living and what congregation I will be serving. I'll let you know more about it and post some pictures after the official announcement is made.

Travels and Travails

2007-04-18T23:50:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of US Army

I recently spent a week traveling around southern Iraq visiting Soldiers, as I do as regularly as my schedule allows. This time I was joned by a member of our Brigade's Public Affairs Office who is doing a piece on the "Traveling Unit Ministry Team".

The first part of our journey started in the typical way that all travel starts here - early in the morning with all kinds of changes. We arrived several hours before "wheels up" only to learn that our time had been changed to several hours later. We grumbled a bit, thinking about the extra sleep we could have had, and dreading the five hours we were now going to have to wait. Then the pilots came, and lo and behold, we were the only passengers! Suddenly things changed and we were leaving in 30 minutes. We added a stop to the journey, picked up two new passengers, and then found out that one of them had a son who had been killed back in the US in a motorcycle accident. Well, that certainly took precedence over what we were doing, so we returned to Balad in order to get him on his way home. We finally made it to Tallil eight hours after we showed in Balad - all this for what should have been a 90 minute flight!

We were to fly from Tallil to Al Kut the next day. But what is that old saying? "Man plans, God laughs." That night we had 60 mph winds with gusts to 70 mph. Visibility was reduced to zero as the dust swirled, and we spent an extra day in Tallil.

The next day we flew to Al Kut where we had the opportunity to meet with some of our medics and find out what they were experiencing. They took us to the makeshift hospital there, and we met the Polish docs who work there. The staff showed us some pictures and video of a skin graft they had done on a young Iraqi boy who had been badly burnt. Later in the day we caught a Medevac bird for Diwaniyah.

As soon as we landed and the blades stopped turning, I ran into the Soldier you see pictured above. She had emailed me several months before, and I had made a trip to Diwo to see her. She wanted to tell me that the issues we discussed had worked out well. It's rare to have someone report back how things turn out, especially when they live in a hard to get place. It made the trip worthwhile just to hear she was doing well.

Not long after this picture was taken the base was attacked. We spent a while hunkered down in a bunker, and the rest of the night listening to the sounds of rockets and mortars. They have been hit pretty hard lately, which is why we wanted to make sure to make it to Diwo.

We flew out of Diwo the next day on a Medevac mission. Again we were diverted and a short flight turned into three hours. The day after that we grabbed a Sherpa back to Balad and "normal" life.

I'm pretty sure these will be the kinds of things I will miss about this place.

Time

2007-04-07T03:16:00.000-07:00

I was sitting outside HHC Supply with SGT Bianca Figueroa this afternoon. We were waxing philosophic about time. Bianca is a Cuban apostate Catholic with all the attitude that implies. So, of course, I think she's great. There were a few observations we made about doing time here in Iraq.

1. The days are long but the weeks are short. It is not unusual for me to leave my hootch around 0530 or 0600. It is rare I make it back before 2100. The days are filled with meetings, seeing Soldiers, visiting offices and work places, and the myriad of other duties that go with being a Brigade Chaplain. So, the days are long. But, tomorrow is Sunday. And it just seems like yesterday was Sunday! Believe it or not, I have now been in-country for 32 weeks. The weeks fly past.

2. The second observation is that we feel we have lost a year. Bianca was talking with someone about going camping last summer. The other Soldier reminded her that we were at Ft. Hood all last summer preparing for deployment and that she had actually gone camping the summer of 2005. That is a familiar feeling. We think about last Easter and imagine ourselves at home, but we weren't. We have missed Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. When we get home you will constantly be correcting us when we say, "When we did thus and so last year".

The best news is that time is continuing to march forward. Everyone here knows that one of my favorite sayings is "one day closer to home". I say it every day, and it's good news!

Baghdad

2007-03-24T01:49:00.000-07:00

I spent the latter part of this week in Baghdad for the Multinational Corps-Iraq (MNC-I) Chaplains Conference. The senior Unit Ministry Teams from the theater all met to discuss the ministry that is taking place in Iraq. The second day of the conference started off with a National Prayer Breakfast in the rotunda of the Al Faw palace. The picture to the left is me shaking hands with Chaplain (Major General) Dave Hicks, the Army Chief of Chaplains. Lieutenant General Odierno, the MNC-I Commanding General was present, as was Major General Silverman, the 3rd MEDCOM Commanding General. We flew back to Anaconda yesterday after spending 3 days in Baghdad. As often as I travel around Iraq, it's always good to return to Anaconda, and "home".

San Antonio Story

2007-03-19T03:04:00.000-07:00

Sig Christenson is a reporter with the San Antonio Express-News visiting Anaconda. I have had several meals and several conversations with Sig. If you follow the link and go to the March 17th entry entitled, "Another Groundhog Day" you can read what he says about our time together.

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/military/

New Friends

2007-03-18T04:33:00.000-07:00

My normal schedule on Sundays includes getting up for breakfast and the 0830 Catholic Mass. As OIC (Officer-in-Charge) of Freedom Chapel I find it important to observe the different services (6 each Sunday). Plus, I like the singing and the Catholic Chaplain gives good homilies. After Mass I head to Green Beans coffee (think Starbucks in a trailer set in the middle of a desert combat zone) and hang out in the outdoor seating. Then it's back to the chapel around 0930 to check on things for my service at 1000. After my service it's back to Green Beans to wait until about noon when I go back to listen to the sermon at the Gospel Service. You never know who you will run into at Green Beans. Usually I find folks I know from the unit or the services and sit with them in the sun. Today I met some Bulgarians. The woman sitting next to me is a civilian filmmaker. She has a Masters of Theology and speaks English quite well. We had a good conversation, and she interpreted for her friend, who speaks very little English. The friend on the far side would want an interpretation whenever her friend would laugh, which was pretty much every sentence.

Last week while here I had the chance to meet a reporter from the San Antonio Express-News He took some notes, so if I ever find that he has printed anything from our exchange I'll put a link here. That's one thing about Anaconda; we meet folks from all over!

Operation: You've Got Mail Update

2007-03-15T01:04:00.000-07:00

Back in the middle of October I sent out an email to some friends inviting them to help support Soldiers by sending various items that I would distribute. Well, I certainly did not expect the response we received! To date we have received over 1,300 boxes.

To be honest, we had a glut of supplies, especially after Christmas when all the Soldiers were receiving boxes from all over the US. So, we looked for other ways we could do good with the boxes.

One of the ways was to give things to the Third Country Nationals that come to work in Iraq. TCN's work in the Post Exchange, Dining Facilities, Barber Shops, and just about everywhere imaginable. Most of these folks have signed on for several years and will not see their families at all while working here for what are by our standards very small wages. On several occasions we have been able to brighten their time here thanks to your generosity.

The picture above shows a Soldier loading a SUV. These boxes will be taken back to his unit where they will be broken down, then taken outside the wire to Iraqi schools for Civil Affair and Humanitarian Missions. This is a great way to show Iraqis the generosity of Americans! Wherever Coalition Soldiers have been in ministry like this to the local nationals there has been a decrease in violence, and an increase in HUMINT (human intelligence reports). So, you are not only boosting Soldiers morale, helping third country nationals and local nationals, but you are saving the lives of Soldiers and civilians because of these missions.

Thanks for what YOU are doing in the Global War on Terror!

Lent in Iraq

2007-03-07T02:45:00.000-08:00

The young Soldier made his way down the aisle. Reaching the front of the sanctuary he stopped, clasped his hands, and bowed his head for the imposition of the ashes. “Remember you are dust” I said as I made the mark of the cross on his forehead “and to dust you shall return.” He whispered “Amen”, turned, and made his way back to his seat, his weapon swaying in time with his step as the next penitent stepped forward.

There’s something particularly poignant about Ash Wednesday in a combat zone. “Remember your mortality, remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” we say. They remember. Every day as they leave for convoys and combat patrols. Each night as they fly. Every day as the mortars rain down and the rockets scream overhead, they remember. Ashes are a powerful symbol to men and women who have seen the remains of friends charred beyond recognition in IED attacks, or burned in aircraft that have been lost. These ashes are not some esoteric reminder of mortality; they are the present reality of too many friends and comrades.

“What you sow does not come to life unless it dies” Paul reminds us. So, during these forty days of Lent we seek to kill those things that do not belong in our lives. It’s harder here, trying to figure out what to give up for Lent. General Order #1 denies us alcohol, always a favorite abstention when this season rolls around. As a matter of fact there is not much to give up when you are already living a life of deprivation compared to life back home. But it is blessing as well as curse. It forces us to focus on the real things we need to give up. What is it that separates us from a closer walk with God? What grows in my life that needs to be plucked up, rooted out, and purged? No easy denial of some worldly pleasure here; those were taken away a long time ago. Instead, what is this season really calling me to give up?

Luckily, we live with the promise. That promise is that this is a season, and only a season. This season will pass and we will arrive at the glory of Easter and the Resurrection. We remember that we are dust, and to dust we shall return. But we also remember that the promise is that this perishable body will put on imperishability and this mortal body will put on immortality; that this body that is clothed in dishonor will be raised in glory.

That is our hope this Lent, as we serve thousands of miles from home.

Well, It IS a Combat Zone

2007-03-01T22:57:00.000-08:00

Well, last night was interesting.

I took two of our Soldiers over to the our PAX Terminal around 2130 (9:30 p.m. for those who don't know the 24-hour clock) so they could start heading home for their 15 day R&R. Soldiers can take a shuttle bus, but I try to be available to guys and girls who would rather go in my humvee; after all there is a lot of gear involved since we must travel with body armor, helmets, plus whatever we're taking home. I dropped them off, wished them well, and headed out to go back to the West Side and grab something from Burger King since I hadn't eaten yet. As I exited the parking area onto the loop road that would lead me back to my hootch I heard a loud whirring and chattering sound and thought, "Heavens to Betsy, something's wrong with the Humvee, I hope I can make it back to the other side." OK, maybe that wasn't exactly what I said, but the gist is the same. Then there was the explosion. "Heavens to Betsy, that was close!" I thought. Then I heard the whirring again, only louder. "Okay, louder means closer, that can't be good". Another "whump!" and I felt another concussion. I hunkered down over the steering wheel until I thought, "This is a soft sided humvee; hunkering down is not going to do much good!" Then the C-RAM (http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/mk-15.htm) goes off and I'm watching red tracers going downrange over my humvee. "Let's see, speed limit's 20? (It was a construction zone) FORGET THAT!" I floored it (as if you can floor a humvee that runs on JP-8 and does zero to sixty in ninety minutes) and got the heck out of there. There were about 8-9 impacts behind and around me and I felt each one. I drove through clouds of debris, prayed I was still on the road, and remembered my training to get out of the kill zone as quickly as possible; or as we put it "Drive it like you stole it!"

I did manage to stop by Burger King and got a whopper.

A few hours before the attack I had spoken with my bishop, Lindsey Davis, by phone and he had prayed with me. Coincidence? Anyway, I'm listening a little more closely to the bishop - he's got some good connections!

By the way - they killed the bad guys.

Good News in Iraq

2007-02-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's right, I said good news in Iraq. The good news has to do with the new Iraq Oil Plan. you can read about it here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,254798,00.html

For those of you who have not read the Iraq Study Group Report, this is a big step towards Iraqi National Reconciliation. Recommendation #28 of the report states: "Oil revenue sharing. Oil revenue should accrue to the central government and be shared on the basis of population. No formula that gives control from future fields to the regions or gives control of oil fields to the regions is compatible with national reconciliation" (Report: II, B, 2, recommendation 28, pg 65).

Now, let me tell you briefly what I think of the overall report. Much to my surprise, I found the first half of the report, the assessment portion, to be right on. The report talks of many of the problems that I have seen here, and from 25 years of study of the region (man does that make me sound old!)

The "Way Forward" portion of the report, however, is not as realistic as I would like to see. Much of the talk of incorporating Syria, Iran, and neighboring Gulf States into a reconciliation posture is way too optimistic. Much of the section "The External Approach: Building an International Consensus" simply seems to ignore the fact that many countries, including European countries, have no interest in seeing a unified, reconciled, economically viable Iraq able to provide security inside its borders and protect its borders against foreign instigators. Perhaps I am too cynical, but the best we can expect from moderate Arab nations is benign neglect, and that is too much to hope from countries that enjoy having the U.S. busy in Iraq (Iran and North Korea in particular). The "Way Forward" portion would be fine if this were a perfect world where everyone would work toward reconciliation and a vital Iraq. I don't believe the Shia militias want to give up power or violence, and much of the talk of amnesty and De-baathification will remain just that: talk.

But still, it's nice to hear some good news today.

Home Sweet Home

2007-02-25T05:01:00.000-08:00

I realized that I have never shown you where I live. When I first arrived here last summer I lived in transient housing that looked like this:

After a while I was able to move into permanent housing. Our current housing consists of trailers that have three rooms apiece, about twelve feet by twelve feet each. The junior enlisted and junior officers have roommates of appropriate rank. Field grade officers, such as myself, have a room to themselves. Senior officers have two-room trailers with two officers to a trailer separated by a bathroom. The rest of us use communal shower trailers and latrines. A lot like being back in college; just not as nice! The trailers are separated into pods that look something like this:

We each continue to "improve the position". One of the groups that went before us added a very nice covered deck to the front of our trailer. I share this trailer with two other Soldiers; a Sergeant Major and a Major. I live in the middle room:

The concrete T-barriers and sandbags are to protect us from shrapnel from indirect fire like mortars and rockets. They are effective against small arms fire as well. The trailer walls? They are very thin! They have trouble blocking sunlight. Needless to say, we have to be very considerate of our neighbors - especially if we work opposite shifts. My poor neighbors hear the knocks I get on the door at night. They often comment, "Busy night last night, huh Chappie?" They are great neighbors whom I like and respect tremendously.

It's been a Busy Week

2007-02-23T21:27:00.000-08:00

We lost another helicopter this week. I was in the TOC (Tactical Operations Center) when one of our birds went "stale". A few minutes later it was reported as a possible Fallen Angel. Then it was definite - one of our helicopters had been shot down. This happened a month after we lost a bird with 12 Soldiers aboard, so there was a serious "pucker factor" involved. The good news in all of this is that the pilots and crew did a heroic job of landing the aircraft and the injuries were minor. It could have, and should have, been much worse. You can read about all the above in open sources, so I'm not violating OPSEC here.

Another night I got a call that one of our Soldiers had IM'd his wife that he was going to "put a bullet in his (sic) brain". Since the Chaplain is the subject matter expert for these types of things, I got the lucky task of being first on the scene. It's always fun walking into a 12 x 12 room to confront a suicidal Soldier who has an automatic weapon and close to three hundred rounds with him. All ended well and the Soldier is getting the help he needs.

Last night I got to my hootch around 2200 and thought, "great! I'll watch some TV and sleep late in the morning!" I should have known better. I had knocks on my door at 0045 and then again at 0200, then had to get up at 0600 to take my Chaplain Assistant to the PAX terminal so he can go on leave.

And you know what? I still love this place and the ministry here. Where else do you get to have this much fun?

Another Helicopter Lost

2007-02-21T23:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we lost another helicopter. The good news is that there were only slight injuries; a tribute to the heroic work of the pilots and crew to get the bird safely to the ground. Some day I'll be able to tell you what a miracle it was that anyone walked away from this crash, much less there only being minor injuries. I can't say much about it at this time, but you can view the open source story by clicking on this hyperlink:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,253264,00.html

The Quest for Authentic Manhood

2007-02-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

That's the name of a study that I'm leading here in Iraq. You wouldn't think Soldiers would want, or need, a study about being a real man, would you? Especially the guys I'm leading. These Soldiers are our Medevac guys; they fly into battle, pick up the wounded, then fly back out while providing aid. You need nerves of steel for this job.

One of the guys approached me a while back and said he was interested in having this study while we were here. I told him I'd be happy to help him with it, not knowing how much I would enjoy it. This study is the first of a three year program, although you don't have to complete all three years. "Quest" is a 24-week program that focuses on a man's core identity and helps us discern a vision of manhood for ourselves. The second year is a 16-week study titled, "Winning at Work and at Home". Its focus is on a man's chief responsibility. The third and final year is a 20-week program called "The Great Adventure" and guides men to break free from the bondage of boredom and embark on the adventure of their lives. I can't wait to lead these studies in the local church back home!

I'm two months into the study here and will be starting it at two other locations here in Iraq in the next month. Please pray for us as we seek to become the men God is calling us to be. If you want to learn more about these studies, and other resources, check out www.mensfraternity.com.

Black Hawk Down

2007-02-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

Most of you are aware that 3 weeks ago we lost a helicopter along with four of our Soldiers. In all 12 Soldiers died. I cannot comment publicly on the incident, but I can refer you to the recent cover article in Newsweek. To read about these heroes click below:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16843652/site/newsweek/

The day after the Memorial Service I headed home to Atlanta for 15 days of R&R. I returned to Balad last night and have been catching up on emails today. I will be blogging regularly from now until I return to the States at the end of my deployment.

God Bless,

Jim

I Love This Place

2007-01-18T01:15:00.000-08:00

I have now spent a little over a year on active duty. My first month was with the 81st RRC in Birmingham. After that it was on to Ft. Hood for six months with the 2/135 GSAB. Now I've been in-country for almost 5 months with the GSAB and as Brigade Chaplain for the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade.

The other week I had the strange thought that this is now my "normal" life, and my life back home is the exception. All the luxuries and amenities of life in the U.S. have been replaced by a simpler and somewhat more spartan existence. But like any adjustment after a while, I've stopped missing having a shower or toilet in the building where I live. I have grown to enjoy the camraderie of eating in a mess hall with 1,000+ other Soldiers.

It helps that I love the work I do. Here ministry is real, relevant, and immediate. If someone is taken to the hospital you go immediately, because otherwise you'll miss them as they are evacuated out of the area of operations. I regularly deal with people who are suicidal or have serious marital distress. I don't have to deal with the little old lady who is miffed because I didn't greet her in the hallway (never mind that my attention was fully focused on the 35 year-old woman telling me she had just been diagnosed with breast cancer). The little gripes and complaints of life back home are replaced by real life emergencies. I can see why it is so difficult for so many Soldiers to go back home where the priorities and concerns are so different.

It also helps that I love the Soldiers I work with. I have been with these Soldiers for 10 months, 24/7. We eat, work, play, fly, and live together. I have a Command that gives me free reign, and supports me and my ministry more that I have ever been supported before.

This is not to say that I do not miss my family and friends terribly. Nor is it to say that I don't miss life as it was back home. It's just to say that I have made the adjustment and that I am doing important work here. Maybe the most important of my life. And don't worry about me extending or going active duty. I'm looking forward to going back to the local church with a rejuvenated sense of calling.

It's just to say: I love this place.

Rainy Season in Iraq

2007-01-12T04:22:00.000-08:00

It's another miserable day in Balad. Remember when I talked about flooding and mud? Here's what the road behind my office looks like. Other areas on the FOB are much deeper. Most of our buildings are temporary, so when you go in you find all kinds of waste baskets catching the water falling from the ceiling. Still, we have it much better than many.

Soldiers find interesting ways to improvise. My humvee has plastic trash liners on the seats so we stay dry. In one building some enterprising soul has used plastic to channel water from a leak in the middle of the room off to the side where it drops harmlessly into a bucket, rather than onto communication electronics.

I'm ready for the dry dusty season to return!

Nothing in Particular

2007-01-07T22:24:00.000-08:00

It's a nasty day in Balad. The temperature is in the low forties and it is raining. When it rains here the water pools in the living and work areas and the ground quickly becomes a quagmire. The mud isn't the type you can hose off and be done with. It's the kind of clay mud that Georgia red clay can only aspire to be. Walk across the street and you may be six inches taller than when you started if you're not careful. Of course that means that you track the mud into offices, the chapel, your hootch; wherever you go. Imagine the fun of waking up in the middle of the night and slogging through that mess in your shower shoes to use the latrine. When I return home I may need to put a portajohn in the backyard just to feel at home!

I have a bit of a head cold at the moment. The only symptom is blocked eustation tubes, and that's driving me crazy. It feels like I am under water all the time, and my right ear vibrates at certain frequencies. The most frustrating part is talking with Soldiers who are depressed and speaking quietly and I have to constantly ask them to repeat themselves. All I can do know is treat the symptoms and wait for the virus to work itself out.

My running is going well. I am currently in the eighth week of a 12 week half-marathon training schedule. I ran a 9 miler on Saturday that was too easy. I'm running 5 days a week or so and am doing speed work and tempo runs in addition to one long run a week and some recovery runs. After I finish this schedule my plan is to ramp back for a month or so and then start a full marathon schedule. It's been a little over 5 years since I have run a marathon, so I'm excited about having that mountain to climb again. You need some kind of project here to keep you sane and doing something other than the mission.

Finally, let me say "thank you" again to all the individuals, churches, work teams, and groups that supported Operation: You've Got Mail. We received well over 1,000 boxes valued over $50,000. Fortunately the stream has diminished and we are receiving 25-30 boxes a week instead of the peak of 225 that we had prior to Christmas.

I hope the first week of 2007 has been a good one for all of you, and that you are keeping your resolutions.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

2007-01-05T07:31:00.000-08:00

Well, planes and helicopters anyway.

In many of these posts I talk about C-23 Sherpas, C-12's, UH-60 Black Hawks, CH-47 Chinooks, C-130's and all the other fun and exciting modes of transportation I've flown on since arriving here. Here's a few pics for the visual among you.

This baby is a C-12, and my favorite ride. I flew this down to Baghdad and back. When we got stuck and extra night at another site the day before the execution this is what they sent the next day to bring us home. The Baghdad trip it was just my Chaplain Assistant, me, and the pilots. We had three others on the other trip. Actual seats; no web seats! It's usually reserved for General Officers, but like the old saying goes, "It's not what you know, it's who you know."

This is the UH-60 Black Hawk. This picture was taken a while back on a round robin trip including Tallil, Diwaniyah, and Al-Kut. If you remove the flag and the people you would see a red cross on a white background. This is one of our medevac birds. These guys are the true hero's out here.

This is a C-130. C-130 is Native American for "Big, ugly, loud, uncomfortable bird that must be avoided at all costs". My initial flight from Kuwait was in one of these, and several of my flights out of Tallil have been in one of these bad boys as well. You know it's going to be less than first class when they have to unload three or four pallets of gear so you can climb in and strap yourself to web seating.

This is a C-23 Sherpa. I did not take this picture; I captured it from the Internet. These things are so damn ugly that I was afraid I would break my camera if I took a picture of it. These are called "flying boxcars". Can you guess why? Still it's a better ride than the C-130.

Well, I've tried posting the picture of the CH-47 Chinook several times, but Blogger doesn't seem to like it. Maybe there are too many pics in this post. I'll post it tomorrow, because I'm late to hook up with a few friends on the way to chow!

Saddam's Execution

2006-12-30T21:10:00.000-08:00

I flew back from Al-Kut last night, just in time for a late night dinner with some friends at lovely Chez-Balad. Needless to say, the conversation turned to the topic of Saddam's execution. One of the folks at the table, our Battalion Surgeon, was Saddam's doctor on his last tour here. He expressed his anger at the execution.

When it became my time to chime in I said, "I have mixed emotions about his execution. I am not a proponent of the death penalty, but I can't think of a man more deserving of execution than Saddam." And that pretty much sums up where I am. I believe that life is a gift from God, and precious to God, and except in cases where life is in imminent danger, should not be taken. Add to that the fact that when we take the life of a wrongfully convicted person (and we do that more often than we would like to admit) we have no way of making meaningful restitution. I am against the death penalty as a matter of conscience, but I have to admit that I was happy to see Saddam walked to the gallows.

Realistically, I do not think there will be much of an effect on the situation here because of Saddam's death. Things have been pretty quiet, even as we have flown over Baghdad. There may be a spike in sectarian violence, or car bombings, but all in all, things will pretty much go on as they have been. This war, insurgency, occupation, or whatever you want to call it, became something completely different than Saddam a long time ago.

So, life and death go on here as usual. Tonight we'll ring out the old year, and ring in the new. The best part will be saying, "This is the year I go home!"

Freedom Chapel UMT's

2006-12-26T07:42:00.000-08:00

click to enlarge

These are the Unit Ministry Teams (UMT's) of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade. When I became the Brigade Chaplain these are the folks I became responsible for - pray for them.

These are some great folks. They work hard putting together worship services, Bible studies, activities to help Soldiers, DA civilians, third country nationals, and whoever else might cross their paths. We work together, eat together, train together, and worship and pray together. And yes, occassionally we fight with one another.

This picture was taken several weeks ago after one of our Brigade UMT meetings.

I'm proud of these Soldiers, and wanted to make sure you knew about them.

TV Star? NOT!

2006-12-22T21:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday afternoon I was sitting in a long staff meeting when CPL Mike Swintek, my Chaplain Assistant, came in the room and motioned for me to come out. "Sir, the PAO just called and needs you on the other side for a 1530 live shot back to Atlanta." I looked at my watch and saw that I had 25 minutes to make a 20 minute drive, get wired for sound, and start the shot. So, I jumped in my humvee, bruised a few traffic laws, and got to the PAO (Public Affairs Officer) just in time. In the hurry the earbud was set up incorrectly and I was hearing what I was saying 5-10 seconds after I said it.

After the interview I discovered that Pam and my friends back home already knew about it. Apparently, the PAO had tried to get in touch with me on Wednesday, but I had spent the day in Baghdad and most of Thursday visiting troops or in meetings. I am not sure what he would have done if I had been a no-show.

Anyway, it was fun talking to the folks I usually watch every morning when I'm in Atlanta at Fox 5. Click on the link below if you want to see me make a fool of myself.

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=1847468&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

VIP Visit

2006-12-13T23:19:00.000-08:00

We get a lot of VIP's through here. Some you hear about, some you don't. Here's a picture of one of our recent visits. I am always leery of posting things that might violate OPSEC, but this is not fresh news and has been reported in open sources. This visit took place at one of our MEDEVAC sites and security was tight, as you can imagine.

Many of you have asked me to identify people in pictures, along with a little bit about who they are. Please understand that I cannot do that. Remember that anything I post to this blog is available to anyone. So, if I tell you who someone is, where they are from, and what they do, the bad guys can target his or her family, if they choose. It's just one of those things we do not disclose.

Northside United Methodist Church has published "Advent in Iraq" to their website. You can read it at www.northsideumc.org. Thanks to Dr. Gil Watson and all the staff and members of Northside UMC for their support of our Soldiers.

The Latest Scoop

2006-12-12T22:06:00.000-08:00

The big news for this week is our power outage. It seems that some contractors were doing some digging when they severed three or four main feeder lines. As a result, our living area was without power for a little over three days. Now, it gets chilly here at night (in the 30's) and quite dark. After two nights of sleeping in a very cold and very dark trailer I moved to my office and slept on a cot. My office runs on generated power rather than Prime power, so I had lights and heat. I managed to find a shower here and there, though usually a cold one. The good news is that the power has been restored and I will be sleeping in my own bed tonight.

Operation: You've Got Mail continues to wax rather than wane. In the last 6 days I have received 175 boxes bringing the grand total to 711 boxes. One of our Soldiers has taken it upon herself to send handwritten thank you's to everyone who is sending boxes. I'm not sure how long she will last; I fully expect to go over 1,000 boxes by Christmas. The total weight is nearing four tons, and the value exceeds $34,000. All of our Soldiers are appreciative of the gifts, but what they constantly remark on is the support of the people back home. Our eight Vietnam vets are particularly appreciative.

Last week I finished our New Testament Disciple Bible Study. This week I began a six month study with the guys from our Medevac Company. The new study is entitled "The Quest for Authentic Manhood". You can learn more about it at www.mensfraternity.com. I'll be offering it to some other guys as soon as they finish remodeling my building. More about that later. I'm sure Pam will appreciate her husband coming home as an authentic man.

I hope you are all finding meaning in this Advent season as we journey to Bethlehem. I pray this will be the best Christmas for you ever.

What Causes War?

2006-12-08T02:06:00.000-08:00

Over the past year I have heard time and again, "the main cause of war has always been religion". Now, being a professional religionist, I have resented that statement. The thing is, it is bandied about without question; we simply accept it as de facto truth.

So, I started by thinking about the recent major conflicts in which the US has been involved.

OIF. Most people would agree that the roots of Iraqi Freedom go back to the Gulf War - regardless of what you think the administration's justification was. You may say that the "real" reason is oil, or pride, or WMD, or failure to abide by dozens of UN resolutions. But, they go back to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, a sovereign nation with treaties with the US and other coalition forces.

Vietnam. It took 15 years, from 1950-1965 for the US to become incrementally involved in the conflict in Vietnam. We started off assisting the French, and before we knew it we had advisors, then Special Forces, then the 1964 Tonkin Gulf resolution. What do you call that? War by accident?

Korea. North Korea invaded South Korea in June, 1950.

WWII. Hitler breaks several treaties including Versailles, St. Germain, and the Munich Agreement. Oh yeah, don't forget the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese.

WWI. A tangle of alliances, sparked by the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and Austria-Hungary's ultimatum that Serbia bring the assassins to justice, effectively nullifying their sovereignty.

Civil War. If you're north of the Mason-Dixon line it's about slavery; south and it's about States rights.

Revolutionary War. "Americans" saw themselves as worthy of full democratic rights as Englishmen; Britain saw us as a colony to be used and exploited.

Crusades. This is the big one people point to, in utter ignorance. Remember the Saracens? They were invading from Turkey to Egypt, including parts of the Byzantine Empire. Western Europe was threatened, and responded. The Western feudal structure responded to the Saracens invasion; regardless of religion this would have transpired.

As I have tried to explain to my Soldiers, authorities regularly use the patina of religion to cover their own seeking after power and gain. It is easier to use patriotism and religion to convince young men and women to die than what is usually at the heart of conflict: economics.

In his essay "War and Religion: Is Religion to Blame?" MAJ John P. Conway writes, "The clear distinction and premise of this essay is that, while religion may motivate, and in fact may become the essential ingredient for the sustainment of war, it is seldom the cause. "

So what is the answer to the question "What Causes War?" It is as varied and deep as human motivation. But, usually, it is about power and money. And unscrupulous leaders will try to make it about something more meaningful.

Don't fall for it.

Update

2006-11-28T07:02:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay, okay! So it's been a while! Sorry, things have just been pretty hectic here.

Let's see, Thanksgiving. In most ways Thanksgiving was a day like any other here. I went over to the Eastside to give a 0800 brief to Soldiers departing for R & R leave and redeploying Soldiers. After that I met with one of our UMT's (Unit Ministry Teams) in order to mentor them (part of my job as Brigade Chaplain). Doc Kelly asked if I wanted to go to chow, so we headed for the DFAC. I wasn't really prepared for what was there. There were ice sculptures, butter sculptures, colored rice mosaics on the floor, and the KBR employees were dressed as Pilgrims and Indians. Joe and I ate turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, and all the trimmings. We talked about Thanksgivings past and what we would be doing if we were home. It made it feel very much like a holiday. After that it was back to work and business as usual.

Operation You've Got Mail is going great! Thanks to all you who have sent boxes to the troops. Since October 18th I have received 364 boxes weighing over 3,000 pounds and valued at $17,500. You can see some of the boxes in the picture above. The S-4 had a conex brought in to hold all the boxes I haven't gotten out yet. The Soldiers are overwhelmed by your generosity. Give them time to get "thank you" cards out. And if you don't hear from them please know that they appreciate all your support. These folks are working ungodly hours without a day off. For most of them it's work, eat, shower, and sleep.

It looks, at this point, like I will be doing double duty as Battalion Chaplain and Brigade Chaplain for the duration of the deployment. We are currently 500 Chaplains short in the Army alone. There just aren't enough of us to fill all the slots. I would much rather be able to focus on one job; I just can't be effective trying to minister to the largest battalion in the brigade and act as Brigade Chaplain as well. Luckily I have nothing else to do here but work!

I'll try to do a little better about updating the blog. Thanks to all of you, again, for your support!

God Bless,

Jim

Recent Travels

2006-11-15T03:16:00.000-08:00

(click on image to enlarge)

I have spent the last five days traveling a bit around Iraq visiting some of our units on other FOB's (Forward Operating Bases). My Chaplain Assistant and I, along with 3 other officers of our battalion, left Friday night aboard a CH-47 Chinook headed for Tallil. Mike is former Infantry, reclassed as a 56M. We are a team, and his job on this mission was to provide security and help me with ministry duties. He's been in Iraq before, and knows his job well. For those of you unfamiliar with Tallil, it is the home of the ancient and famous Ziggarut. In biblical times it was known as Ur, the birthplace of Abraham.

(click on image to enlarge)

Several days after we arrived we made a round robin tour of Diwaniyah and Al Kut. Diwaniyah had something quite pleasant to behold: trees! The LT pictured with me is one of our Battle Captains and a pilot; one of the three other officers I mentioned above.

(click on image to enlarge)

One of the highlights of the trip was being able to fly the American flag pictured below in the MEDEVAC helicopter we used to get around. Soon the flag, certificate, and picture will be in a schoolroom in Colorado.

(click on image to enlarge)

Another plus on the trip was the fact that the Tallil FOB is home to a large contingent of Italian Soldiers and Airmen who have their own restaurant. So, each evening we were able to enjoy something other than mess hall food, and Cuban cigars.

(click on image to enlarge)

The trip was not without a great deal of work and a few nervous moments. One of those moments occurred on Monday when two of our Soldiers we were visiting were struck by lightning. The good news is that they are doing well and were released from the hospital before we left Tallil. They will be under observation and on light duty for several days, but they should make complete recoveries. After that it was a C-130 flight home to Balad.

Combat Veterans

2006-11-09T06:15:00.000-08:00

(Click to enlarge)

Last week we held our "Patch Ceremony". For those of you unfamiliar with the ways of the Army, Soldiers wear a "Shoulder Sleeve Identifier" on their left shoulder. This patch is their current unit of assignment. Certain Soldiers wear a patch on their right shoulder as well. The official name of this patch is the "Shoulder Sleeve Identifier, Former Wartime Unit". Now, this is quite a mouthful, so Soldiers simply call it a "Combat Patch". The patch is coveted, because it identifies a Soldier as having been deployed in a combat zone. It means that he or she has "been there, done that". Many Soldiers, particularly in the past, have gone entire careers without ever being awarded a combat patch.

The above picture was taken of our Staff following the ceremony. In the background are the two helicopters we fly, the UH-60 Black Hawk and the CH-47 Chinook.

On Holiday

2006-11-05T04:15:00.000-08:00

One of our generous souls included a bunch of Travel & Leisure magazines in a care package they sent. With my warped sense of humor I told my Chaplain Assistant to take a picture of me holding one of the issues. "Hey, look at me, here I am on an 18-month taxpayer funded vacation!"

Actually, these magazines will come in very helpful. Some of our Soldiers are meeting spouses outside of the US during their mid-tour leave. These mags will be a good resource as they make their plans.

Did you know that Soldiers can go anywhere in the world on leave at the government's expense? Most of the guys and gals are heading home, but some are meeting up in Germany or Greece or elsewhere. I was speaking with one of our officers yesterday who told me she was going SCUBA diving in New Zealand. Good for her! Believe me, these folks deserve it.

Me, I'm going home; but not for quite a while yet.

Obligatory Destruction Pictures

2006-11-02T04:28:00.000-08:00

"This would look great right outside the Chaplain's Office!

We could paint it, and fix it up, and rig up some lights, yeah, cool!"

"It's not the first time I've been called one."

Warm Shower!

2006-10-31T23:28:00.000-08:00

I had a warm shower yesterday! It was the first one in recent memory. What a great feeling. We have it so much better here than many of the other soldiers. At least we have shower trailers and running water, and occasionally, even a warm shower!

The worst part of taking cold showers the past few weeks was that I had a respiratory infection. They're pretty common over here. Every day we breathe in the exhaust from innumerable generators that provide our power, exhaust from the vehicles we drive, the aircraft that take off 24/7 just a few hundred meters from our working areas and living quarters, the dump that burns the refuse of 20,000-30,000 folks (also 24/7) not to mention the dust and sand that remains suspended in the air at all times. Add to that the viruses that are passed around in such close quarters and it is a veritable soup of contagion.

On Sunday, before our Brigade Staff meeting, I was talking with our Brigade Surgeon. The Commander had asked him to write a "white paper" on what all is in the air we breathe. It is not a pretty sight, including heavy metals. It is no wonder so many Soldiers return home with respiratory ailments. So, for two weeks of feeling lousy, climbing into a cold shower was not much fun. But yesterday I got a hot shower!

Today it was cold again.

But, I live in hope!

Take care. And enjoy those showers back home.

Operation: You've Got Mail!

2006-10-30T03:38:00.000-08:00

What a great response since I sent out the email two weeks ago! So far we have received 38 boxes with many more in transit. That's a total so far of nearly 500 pounds of items valued at over $2,000. The Soldiers love getting the stuff - it is a real morale boost to know that we have the support of the folks back home.

If you would like to send something, here are a few ideas along with my mailing address:

1. Anti-perspirant (not deodorant)
2. Tootsie rolls
3. Twizzlers
4. Trail mix (individual bags)
5. DVD's (used are fine)
6. Travel or sample sized toiletries
7. Foot powder
8. Beef Jerky (yuck, but they love it!)
9. Gummi Bears
10. Starburst or Spree
11. Kleenex (pocket sized packs)
12. Magazines (Newsweek, Time, etc.)
13. Freezer Pops
14. Crackers and Peanut Butter or Cheese
15. Tea
16. Coffee
17. Granola Bars
18. Individual Packages of Cookies (no homemade)
19. Gum
20. Baby Wipes
21. Jelly Beans
22. Ziplock Bags
23. Disposable razors
24 Shaving cream

CH (MAJ) Jim Higgins
HHC, 2-135 GSAB
APO AE 09391

Fall Leaves

2006-10-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

You probably don't know Cari Pirello. You may, but most folks reading this blog do not. I don't even know Cari Pirello. That's what makes her so special.

Cari is in my brother-in-law's Sunday School Class. Joe has been forwarding some of my emails to his class and Cari and I have struck up an electric correspondence. One of the things that I have told her is how much I miss autumn. Fall is my favorite season, and one of the things I grieve most right now is missing the changing season back home in Atlanta. Cari knows this, so she grabbed some leaves, put them in a ziplock bag, shoved it in an envelope, and mailed it to Iraq.

Not hard, right? Not very time consuming. Not at all expensive. But like the commercial says, priceless.

And that's the rub. Too often we go through life waiting, and wanting, to do something significant, something big. We wait until we can get a bunch of things together, or we have time, or the urge strikes. And the end result is we do nothing.

While we wait, the Cari Pirello's of the world stick some dead leaves in a bag and mail them 7,000 miles across the world to a combat zone to someone they never met.

Can you guess which package I'll remember 20 years from now?

How's the Weather?

2006-10-25T08:17:00.000-07:00

(Click on image to enlarge)

I'm a weather freak.

There, I've admitted it. I am a freakin' weather freak! Always have been, always will be.

I remember sitting on the front porch of our home on Cumberland Road with my son Christian watching an incredible storm when our house was hit by lightning. I loved it. I remember snow storms in Central Illinois during college when Kirk and I would drive through rural Illinois looking for folks who needed help because they were stuck or had slid off the road. I loved it. I remember waking in the middle of the night in Homewood, Illinois and hearing the hush that had fallen over the world after the first snow of the season, the only sound the crunch of the tires from the lone car going down Jonathan Lane. I loved it.

Give me a cup of coffee, a front porch, and a nor'easter blowing in. Or, give me a comfortable couch, The Weather Channel, and a hurricane getting ready to make landfall. Lightning, thunder, rain, wind, these are a few of my favorite things.

Do you have any idea how boring the weather in a desert is?

Hot, sunny, windy. To be followed by hot, dark, and windy (we call that "night") to be followed by hot, sunny, windy. Lather, rinse, repeat. Ad nauseam.

But today, today we had rain! And a double rainbow! A little variety in our life. It will help keep me going another week.

God Bless,

Jim

Disciple Bible Study in Iraq

2006-10-20T01:46:00.000-07:00

(click on photo to enlarge)

In one of my early posts I expressed a desire to offer several different study opportunities for our Soldiers, and the need I had for groups to sponsor these studies. The response was overwhelming! Two weeks ago we began the 8-week study Inivitation to the New Testament, part of the Disciple Bible Study Series. Pictured above are some of the intrepid souls who are making this journey. Thanks to Milledgeville First United Methodist Church in Milledgeville, Georgia for sponsoring our study.

I have long had a love affair with this part of the world. I have been lucky enough to travel in the Mideast on a number of occasions, but I never thought I would make it to Iraq. So much of biblical import has happened here from The Garden of Eden, to Abraham's sojourns, to Jonah, and Ezekiel and the Tower of Babel. It is a real treat to be able to study Scripture here with like minded brothers and sisters.

Living here, learning about the culture, interacting with the people, all while studying the scriptures is making an impact on these Soldiers. Yesterday one of them was remarking on how little has changed in the culture since biblical times. The upshot of the conversation was that it illustrated for the Soldier how radical Jesus' message of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation really was! That's an important insight for a Believer to have.

Thanks for providing these kinds of studies, and thanks for praying for our soldiers.

If you would like to do something a little more tangible, shoot me an email and I'll send you a list of some things our Soldiers need and want.

God Bless,

Jim

Black Jack Alley

2006-10-12T03:42:00.000-07:00

Several of you have asked me to post more pictures. Unfortunately, my digital camera batteries are dead and AA batteries are hard to find here. I'll keep trying; I may need to raid my toothbrush for them.

This is a picture of Black Jack Alley (don't forget that you can click on any picture in this blog to view it in its original size).This is where my office is, as well as the offices for our other staff officers and our Company Command Posts. The large t-barriers are blast barriers to keep shrapnel and exploding ordinance from entering our working areas. Of course if it comes through the roof, well, that will just make for a little more interesting day.

This is a picture of my humble abode, The Ranch. Notice anything missing? Yup, blast barriers. I guess they figure the Chaplain has other means of protection. But relax, the back is protected with t-barriers, and that is where my offices are located.

The hummer parked next to it is my ride. One of the advantages to being a Chaplain is having a vehicle dedicated solely to me and my work. It makes it easy to get around, and makes me very popular with the folks who want to get to the PX, or chow, or over to the other side of the base where the living is easy (the grass is always greener on the other side of the post, right?) It enables me to get soldiers to Combat Stress or other places when they need more specialized care than I can give them. This way I can also head out to visit our guys and gals at the FARP, flight line, MEDEVAC, hospital, and all our other work sites.

I'll post more pictures once I get the batteries. And yes, I will include myself in some of them, as requested.

Have a great day (for those of you just waking up on the East Coast)

Jim

Anaconda/Army Ten-Miler

2006-10-08T03:53:00.000-07:00

This morning I ran in the Anaconda 10-miler, a shadow race of the Army 10-miler which will be held later today in Washington, DC.

I was surprised by the number of runners here at LSA Anaconda; during the announcements, with many folks still registering, the number of runners was 700. Also surprising, was how poorly the race was organized. The route was convoluted at best; but that is to be expected in trying to get 10 miles in on an airbase in Iraq without getting too near the wire. The problem was that there were not many people giving directions to the runners at the various turns and roundabouts. I did not see a single mile marker, although one person told me they saw a sign at the 5 mile mark. Normally there are larger signs, some way to draw attention to them, and someone calling out the elapsed time from the official clock. In addition, they ran out of water and t-shirts. Let's see, running out of water on a ten mile run in the desert where safety is the number one issue - not good! But, I will give the organizers kudos for holding the race in the first place, and say that they had a lot of people registering this morning. It makes it harder to plan logistics if you don't have a good handle on how many people will be running.

I was happy with my time. My goal was simply to make it an easy training run and get the t-shirt, and that is exactly what I did. I ran the whole way without stopping, felt great during the run, and feel good now.

For me this was a significant day because it was the first race I have run, of any length, since my heart surgery in May, 2004. I'm not sure I even ran for eleven months after the surgery, which was unheard of pre-surgery when I was running 5-6 days per week. Many people I have met who have had open-heart surgery have said that they didn't feel human for 10-12 months after the surgery. I know that was true for me. In retrospect, 2004-2005 was probably one of the most difficult of my life. I am sure that also made it extremely difficult for my wife and three children. So, this race, in many ways, was a sign that those days are long in the past. Now I can start training for another half-marathon, and then for my eighth full marathon!

After the race and a quick shower I headed up to Freedom Chapel for my service. I'm happy to say that the crowds are growing and the music improving. We have some great soldiers and contractors volunteering in the band and in the congregation each Sunday. This Thursday I'll be starting Disciple Bible Study's 8-week course "Invitation to the New Testament". Thanks to First United Methodist in Milledgeville, GA for sponsoring the study.

Hope you all have a great week,

Jim

The Greatest Generation

2006-10-07T00:57:00.000-07:00

I have always been impressed with the GI Generation.

These are folks that went off to war in a completely different era that we did. We do 365 days; they were in it "for the duration". They went to war in troop ships that took weeks to get the the combat zone; we fly in chartered civilian planes (some of us first class!). They waited for weeks for mail, sometimes months; we have email, webcams, telephone calls, and we complain when our packages take longer than 10 days to get to us. They went years without seeing loved ones or new babies; we get 15 days R&R and emergency leave, if needed. We have body armor, live in trailers, watch DVD's, listen to ipods, and play video games; they went into the German forests in winter wearing summer uniforms.

When the war was over and they saved the world, they went home and built the world we know.

I get emails from a friend from that generation named Betty. Betty's fiance was gone for four years. She worked for two of those years at Love Field. When I emailed her about my respect for her generation she replied,

"Not a very long note this time around....but just want to say in regard to your comments that I certainly don't think you have it easier than vets of WWII did...you have a completely different set of horrific things to deal with over there....I don't think any of the vets would want to trade with our servicemen and women of today..and most of us, I'm sure, do not like the idea that you're all exposed to so much danger from the radical factions that are at work in this world today. No easy answers."

That kind of attitude is what makes them still the Greatest Generation.

So, thanks to the Bettys, and all others in her generation, who have paved the way for those who follow behind.

God Bless,

Jim

Keeping Fit; Staying Sane

2006-10-03T03:33:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked me if I am able to run over here. I am glad to report to you that I am.

I run mostly at night, which makes for very interesting runs! There is really only one road I can run on, and it goes down to a "T" intersection right near the wire. Now the fact that this is a road that snipers have targeted before makes me a little nervous from time to time. The only recourse, however, is to stay inside, never venture out, and live in fear. I'm not about to do that. So, I run down to the wire, then back to our area, then back to the wire, etc. It's about 1.5 miles one way, so I can do 3, 6, 9 miles or more, in 1.5 mile increments.

Did I mention that it gets very dark for about the last half a mile before I hit the wire? The good thing about that is that it makes me harder to see, except for the reflective belt I am required to wear. I figure if thebad guys can't see me, they can't shoot me, unless of course they are using night vision optics. The problem with it being dark, however, is that it is difficult for me to see. That became a painful problem a few weeks ago. Have you ever seen, or heard of, a bollard? Bollards are placed in driveways, or wide sidewalks that you don't want vehicles driving on. Our bollards are permanent, four-feet high, and made of poured concrete. I am very careful when I run at night to avoid them. They can ruin your whole day, not to mention any chance of future procreation.

Did I mention that it is very dark in the desert at night?

You guessed it. Two weeks ago I plowed right into one. I didn't see it just a minute before I hit it; I didn't see it until after I had hit it. Full steam ahead. Chest first (at least I know my running form was good). Smack dab in the middle of the chest. The good news is that Doc Kelly noticed my discomfort one night when we were watching a movie. He palpated, squeezed, and kneaded (actually I think he was just missing Patty a little too much!) The good news is that he thinks it's a deep contusion, no broken ribs. So, heat, ibuprofen, and no more collisions are the doctor's orders.

I am currently following one of Hal Higdon's running schedules. I had the opportunity to run with Hal in Atlanta a few years ago when he was running 7 marathons in 7 months, to raise $700,000 for charity for his 70th birthday. What a running stud. I'm shooting for a sub 42 minute 10K. After that I'll work on a half-marathon, then probably a full again. It is a great stress reliever.

This Sunday morning there is a 10 mile race here on Anaconda. A few of our younger soldiers are running, so I'll probably run it with them as a training run. Mainly I'll run it for the t-shirt. That way, when I'm back racing in Atlanta, I can wear a race shirt from Iraq. That should be a conversation starter!

All is well here. It's a balmy 100 degrees at 1:45 p.m. We are beginning to see some clouds for the first time since we've been here, a sure harbinger that the rainy season can't be too far away. I stay plenty busy with our soldiers; 16 hour days are the norm. The running provides a nice relief, and a nice release.

Take care, and God Bless,

Jim

I'm in Love With My Car (Humvee?)

2006-09-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

With apologies to Queen:

The machine of a dream
Such a clean machine
With the pistons a pumpin
And the hub caps all gleam

When I'm holdin your wheel
All I hear is your gear
When my hands on your grease gun
Oh it's like a disease son

I'm in love with my car
Gotta feel for my automobile
Get a grip on my boy racer rollbar
Such a thrill when your radials squeal

Told my girl I'll have to forget her
Rather buy me a new carburetor
So she made tracks sayin'
This is the end now

Cars dont talk back
They're just four wheeled friends now
When I'm holdin your wheel
All I hear is your gear
When I'm cruisin in overdrive
Dont have to listen to no run of the mill talk jive

I'm in love with my car
Gotta feel for my automobile
I'm in love with my car
String back gloves in my automolove

Transfer of Authority

2006-09-28T00:25:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday marked a special transition for our battalion; the TOA, or Transfer of Authority. This ceremony officially signifies the change of responsibility for the general support aviation battalion mission from the 7-101st to the 2-135.

The heart of the ceremony is the Casing of the Colors for the departing unit, and the Uncasing of the Colors by the incoming unit. This completed our RIP/TOA (Replacement in Place/Transfer of Authority).

Pictured here is our Battalion Commander, LTC Chris Petty, and Command Sergeant Major, Douglas Imfeld, uncasing the colors.

Why the title "Letters from the Desert"?

2006-09-25T05:08:00.000-07:00

I think the obvious answer to this question is:, "Uh, well, because I'm living in the middle of a desert!" If you check out the links in the sidebar you will discover that pretty quickly. First, if you check out "Balad Weather" you will see that here at the end of September we are enjoying the fall-like temperatures of 105-110 degrees for a high. But it's a dry heat. If you check out the link entitled "About LSA Anaconda" you will find a wealth of information about the location and history of Anaconda, officially known (by the Air Force at least) as Balad AFB. So, for many, that is the obvious answer as to the title of this blog.

A lesser known reason comes from one of my favorite spiritual writers, Carlo Carretto. Carretto was born in Italy in 1910, studied to become a teacher, and ended up working in the hierarchy of Catholic Action. At the age of forty-four (interestingly enough, my current age) he left Catholic Action and entered a monastery in the Sahara. His first book was entitled, you guessed it, Letters from the Desert. Personally, my favorite book of Br. Carlos is I, Francis. In it Carretto speaks in the first person as if he is Francis of Assisi.

So, here I am after forty-four years of life living in the desert. The Army has done what The United Methodist Church could never do; made me adhere to vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. This is the true origin of the the title, Letters-from-the-Desert. Like all good preachers I have to have layers of meaning to the things I write and say.

Oh, and the hyphens are there because someone else has the Letters from the Desert blog name without them. And you thought there was some specific meaning to those as well!

God Bless,

Jim

Soldier Wounded

2006-09-24T01:30:00.000-07:00

I wish today's update was a little lighter than it is.

I was walking back from my hootch this afternoon after lunch when the sirens started. So, being the bright boy I am, I continued to walk to our Area of Operations. After a while the loudspeakers announced that we were still under Red Alert and should seek shelter. So, I continued to walk to our area (I had purposely left my humvee back at the office and walked to lunch with one of our Staff Officers).

When I arrived at the TOC (Tactical Operations Center) I was told that we had a casualty. I immediately jumped in my humvee and headed to the hospital. I cannot, and will not, divulge any information about the soldier. I can tell you this; he is fine, and will be fine. I arrived at the emergency room about the same time he did and stayed with him while they cleaned, flushed and packed his wound. He will spend the night in the hospital and be released Sunday or Monday. My Chaplain Assistant went back to the soldier's hootch to pick up some clothes for him. We also made arrangements for a satellite phone so he could call his parents and let them know he was okay.

Seeing all the other patients, including a 16 year-old Iraqi boy (same age as my oldest son) with a head wound brought the war even closer to me. It is easy to get complacent here. We have showers and latrines, access to computers and email, halfway decent food, and plenty of recreational activities should we ever get time to avail ourselves of them. The message here is simple: we are at war. Young men and women are dying. If you are not already, lift up a prayer for these guys and gals, and for the innocent civilians that are killed and wounded.

I'm proud to be here with folks like this soldier, who barely flinched when being treated and kept his military bearing in extraordinary circumstances. It is a honor to be able to serve soldiers like him

God Bless,

Jim

12 September 2006

2006-09-22T08:06:00.000-07:00

12 September 2006

Well, It's been a while since my "weekly" update, but I have good reasons (not excuses, reasons). We flew out of Kuwait on Labor Day. I will never complain about flying coach again! For those of you who have never had the pleasure of flying in the back of a C-130 into a combat zone let me describe it to you. I was wearing full body armor and kevlar helmet. Now that may not sound like much, but the body armor weighs about 40 pounds and keeps your body in unnatural positions. You sit in "seats" made of nylon straps in rows facing one another. Now, I don't know about you, but my rear end is larger than the 12 inches allotted for each person. You sit in rows the length of the fuselage facing one another. You are so close to the person across from you that your knees form a zipper with your knee between your partners knee. I've danced cheek to cheek, but I've never sat "cheek-to-cheek" with someone who played semipro football on my left and someone who has foresworn bathing on my right - until this flight. But hey, it's only an hour or two on a plane that is not air-conditioned where pallets of duffle bags are loaded after you take your seat.So, we arrived at Anaconda in the middle of the night where we schlepped our two duffle bags, carry on, tactical gear, and weapons (with a few "tuff boxes" thrown in for good measure) to our temporary billets. We spent the first four nights in a tent village before moving into our permanent housing. I am now housed in my trailer, have my laptop reimaged and have an account on the LAN, and am moved into my office. I'll share this office with my counterpart until he leaves. The good thing is that I outrank him.I flew down to Baghdad yesterday on a Black Hawk to do a recon for some Duty Day with God events I will be leading while I am here. It was amazing to be there on the fifth anniversary of 9/11. I also want to lead some events to Talil so we can visit Ur, the birthplace of Abraham. I am also partnering with a few congregations in North Georgia to provide Disciple Bible Study's Introductions to the Old and New Testament. Thanks to Snellville UMC for agreeing to sponsor us on the Old Testament. I also hope to find a congregation to sponsor a study of the book "Where God Was Born". I'll be visiting our sponsoring congregations when I return to talk about the ministry here.I know many of you are interested in things like my daily schedule, what the attitude is here, wanting to know about bombings and shootings (yes, everyday, and yes we have already had one memorial service and one wounded in action). Email me any questions you have and I will answer them a little at a time through this forum.I've attached a few pictures so you can see what life here is like. Stay in touch, and please keep us in your prayers.God Bless,Jim

27 August 2006

2006-09-22T06:37:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am in lovely Kuwait. We left Ft. Hood about 830 pm on Friday. After brief stops in the Northeast and Germany we landed around midnight in Kuwait City, where it was a balmy 97 degrees. One of the most memorable things of the trip was our layover in Bangor, Maine. Even though it was the wee hours of the morning, several dozen greeters were present in the terminal to shake our hands, hug us, and thank the soldiers for serving. Most of the greeters were WWI or Vietnam vets and their wives. One woman was 92 years old and told us she made about 75% of the arriving flights. I slept most of the way across the Atlantic, thanks to Doc Kelly giving me an Ambien. The fact that field grade officers were upgraded to first class didn't hurt too much either. Six hours after arriving in Kuwait we were in Camp Buerhing, the sun had risen, and the temp was doing the same. I attended services this morning and ran into several soldiers I have known throughout the years; it truly is a small Army. I hope to be through here in a couple of days and on my way to Balad, although it may take a week or more. Right now I'm looking forward to a shower and collapsing on a cot in my tent. All-in-all, it is good to be here and to have my year under way. And on the even brighter side, a cold front has pushed its way through and we're hoping to see temps under 120 degrees today! I will let you all know when I arrive in Iraq. God Bless, Jim