I believe I stated sometime earlier that if anyone had ever said before I came here that it did not rain in Iraq I would have swore they were crazy. It really does rain here. The problem is, when it rains, it is an absolute mess. There are no storm sewers here, so the water has nowhere to go and the dirt/sand is of such a consistency that it takes forever to absorb the water. This makes for (as I said before), an absolute mess. Beyond that, today was a blessed day of worship. I did not preach today but I did lead our morning prayer. As I interceded to God for the requests made known and the requests on people's hearts that were not made known but known to God, I felt the Spirit move among us and felt an unusual liberty in my prayer. I love Sunday morning worship and I feel like the spirit of Advent/Christmas is really taking over for the Soldiers here. Remember to be in prayer for all of us as we serve. Pray for safety, pray for the salvation of lost souls, pray for a safe journey home for the units of the Wisconsin National Guard, and pray for the safe arrival and easy transition of duties for the units of the Texas National Guard.

I'm out.

Shame, shame, shame on me! I have not posted in a while. It is not because I don't want to, I just stay busy - fulfilled, but busy. Right now I am in the midst of planning the Christmas Eve service here, working on a portion of training for a Chaplain training day we are having this Friday, working on my active duty accession packet, all on top of my everyday duties. I was blessed to be in the rotation to preach in our Sunday morning service for the first Sunday of Advent and if the rotation stays true to form, I will be preaching on Sunday, 20 December, and then again on Thursday, Christmas Eve. So I am staying busy. This is where its at - and it beats the stuffing out of serving in the local church. That is not a knock on any church pastors out there. I know we all have different callings. Anyway, that's all I know for now. Stay upbeat.

Never did I imagine that I would ever see rain in the desert. As I write this it is pouring down rain in Baghdad. It is really wild to have your own visions of how a place is and then you get there. For example, little did I ever know that it was anything but scorching hot here, but then I get here and at this time of year it feels a lot like early fall in Virginia (but its not as pretty though). Now Kuwait is a different story. In Kuwait it is bearable at night but an oven during the day. But anyway, I failed to post yesterday but I was faithful to remember to do it today. Yesterday was a good Lord's day. I guest preached at the 7PM Contemporary service (my service is the general protestant at 10AM, but I was asked to fill the pulpit at the 7PM). It is a good time most of the time. There are some issues which require counseling of Soldiers, and I absolutely hate staff work but that is one of the things I do. I enjoy going out and visiting with my Soldiers and letting them know that someone cares. I am also looking forward to getting promoted to Captain soon and getting my packet together for active duty accession.

There is really not a whole lot to report on because there is really not a whole lot going on. I counsel, I attend staff meetings, I work the worship service and spearhead one of the Bible studies. But the big thing is, I am getting to do ministry and I am feeling fulfilled and further confirmed in my calling to serve. I was telling someone the other day, there was a time when no one wanted to take me seriously as a minister of the Gospel, but now I am being taken seriously, and it is a blessing.

All for now

A photo of the MNF-I Chaplain with our team here


Greetings all,
Today was a good day in the Lord but I was a little more drained than usual. I am always kind of "spent" once I finish preaching but when I get through and get some lunch and then have a short nap I am recharged again (each of us recharge in our own way I guess). But today was different - once I got through preaching at the Traditional Protestant service today one of my Soldiers was waiting for me to talk; and talk he did. We had a very long counseling session over a very hard subject (which I will not devulge because of absolute confidentiality). Anyway, the session went way past lunchtime and I was even more drained than usual. I usually try to take Sunday afternoon as 1/2 of my "down time" (the other half being Saturday afternoon), but I do not refuse a counseling appointment - if a Soldier needs me, I am there for them.

Anyway, ministry is going good right now. For the most part my Soldiers are in good spirits and they are doing well. I have to do some mandatory briefings tomorrow for some Soldiers going home so tomorrow is going to be a busy one. I have instituted a new Bible study on Wednesday nights and am looking at the possibility of starting a midday worship service on Sundays for the Soldiers who are working during the 1000 traditional service and do not want to go to the 1900 contemporary service.

We had a visit from the MNF-I Command Chaplain this week. I believe it was providential because I was able to speak to him regarding my going on active duty as a result of this tour and he spoke with me at length one on one about it and told me what I needed to do (as he has worked as the accessions officer). He even went so far as to let me know that he will do my Senior Chaplain interview for my new packet and will write a report that will get me on active duty. He even went so far as to tell me that whatever experience I was endorsed with becomes null and void compared to the deployment experience when it comes to active duty accession. Perhaps God put me in this place for that very purpose. He definately didn't open the doors He has opened arbitrarily, He has a reason and a purpose.

So, a good week and a good report. I am doing good with my running and will be taking a PT test soon (pray with me that I pass), and in December the folks at the Chief's office do the regular review of the Chaplain 1LTs to make sure we have all we need to be promoted to Captain. All we need is a DA Photo (which I have), completion of our officer basic course (which I have), and a current PT test (which I will have).

Pray that ministry will continue to be fruitful, pray that Soldiers will come to know Christ, pray for our safety, and pray for our speedy return to the country we serve.

Greetings from Iraq. It has been a while since I posted. Sorry if anyone was waiting on regular updates. I will try to post an update each Sunday. Anyway, life is getting settled here. For all of you who pay more attention to the biased media than doing your own research, Iraq is not as bad a place as America thinks. Yes, it is not America, but it is really not that bad. I am blessed to be working with a very good unit. I was nervous about how a National Guard unit from Connecticut would receive a Reserve Chaplain from Virginia but all of that nervousness went out the window when I got here and everyone accepted me as one of their own and as a part of the team. I am having the best time visiting with my Soldiers and learning about the different jobs that they do. For the sake of security I cannot go into detail about the specific mission or what we are doing, but take my word for it, it is very interesting. Also, I am involved in the 1000 (10:00 AM for those who don't know military time) General Protestant Worship service here. We do not have a big group that come to the service but that's okay. I believe it was either Spurgeon or Moody that said, "If you don't preach to a few, it won't be long until you have no one to preach to." I do not have a lot of pictures yet because I am still unsure of what I can and can't take pictures of. I am sure I will get some pictures of worship service and hopefully I can get some pictures of some palaces, etc. But I have taken a few of some small things. The thing I want above all is that everyone will pray for me and my unit, that we will continue to have a safe and successful mission and that the time will fly so we will be able to come home. I miss home and family, but I am enjoying myself and the ministry that I am seeing here - it is definately an experience I will never forget.

Well, everything is done here at Camp Shelby. On Friday I went through SRC, which is the final clearing to make sure I am still medically green, make sure I have met all the training goals that I need to meet, and that all of my finance and legal things are still in order. Now its just a matter of waiting to fly to the desert. For security reasons I cannot tell what day I will fly - I have heard a few different dates but as I said I cannot tell them on here. But nonetheless, I am as ready to go as I will be. The good thing is, once I get there I will no longer be treated as if I am still in Basic Training and I will finally get the chance to be in charge of something instead of just a follower. I am a little nervous about going but I know I have the backing of many, many prayers. I pray that soon I will get a camera and can post some pictures once I get to Iraq. Blessings.

Greetings all...
Thought I would drop a note from hot, rainy, swampland Camp Shelby. The place is less than substandard but it makes it easier when you get to know people and get started doing some things. On Wednesday I went through Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) to make sure I was still green medically to go. I was. Also had to get an Anthrax booster, the dreaded Smallpox vaccine, and the yearly Flu mist. I am not sick (thank God) from the shots but some others around me are. I got tasked to do a suicide awareness briefing last night for two training platoons. There is an interactive DVD that we use for the suicide brief but due to some technical issues we could'nt make it work so I had to do the briefing "from the hip," which is easy to do because I have seen it and done it so many times. I do not have to do any of the firearms training so during those times the chaplains here have their own training they put me through. We did some fun training this morning teaching us how to get out of an overturned vehicle. Tomorrow there will be about four platoons to go to the firing range so I need to go out there to provide a field service or maybe even a few field services. For those who read this and do not know, the Army regulates that Soldiers have to have a chance to worship at least once a week if they so choose. When they are training that makes it a little complicated but it can be done - also, it is good training for me as well. I don't know what will be on tap this week but I'm sure it will be fun. I pray that soon I will be able to finally go and do the job I have been trained to do. The quicker I go, the quicker I can get done and come home - until the next adventure.

More waiting...

In case there are any reading this that think they might enjoy Camp Shelby, MS, please put that thought out of your minds. I got in here on Thursday night. There is nothing here. Also, I am not allowed my POV (Personally Owned Vehicle), so I am in withdrawal. I do not know how long I will have to be here. I do know that there are a few shots I need to get that I did not get at Fort Jackson, and I need to get issued my gear. There may be a lot of training I do not have to do because I did it at Fort Jackson, but there may be some I may have to do. I am praying that I will be here no more than two weeks. It is hard because I know I will have to do a lot of waiting and any of you that have known me for more than two minutes know that I hate waiting. My cell phone service here is abyssmal as well. I wish this would hurry up so I can get to my unit and finally get to do my job. Anyway, just an update.

Still at Jackson

Greetings all, I am still here at Fort Jackson, SC. I am beginning my last week of refresher training and, quite frankly, am praying that I am enroute to Iraq at the end of this week or the beginning of next week. The Chaplain school will be "cutting me loose" on Thursday. I am hoping to have the paperwork giving me clearance to get on the plane soon. I have gotten to the point where I am ready to get this done. I have enjoyed the time spent with chaplains who have been there already because they are the best source of learning for anyone who has never been. Also, I am looking forward to getting with my unit. Be sure to keep me in your prayers and I will post more messages when there is more to tell. Be blessed.

Still at it

Been a while since my last post - sorry, just haven't had a lot of time. I just spent two weeks at a camp on the backside of Fort Jackson going through some refresher training on some common task skills (except for firearms), getting medically cleared for duty (done in two days), and getting legal and finance stuff done. Yesterday I transferred to Fort Jackson to the Chaplain school for three weeks of some advanced courses and maybe some field time with the Chaplain Assistant AIT (Advanced Individual Training) students. All is going well. Payday was yesterday (nice), and I am just working toward getting across the ocean to bring God to Soldiers and Soldiers to God. Not really a whole lot to report because it is just routine but I wanted to make a post because it has been a while. Be blessed.

The time has come

Well, tomorrow I begin the journey that began in December, 2005 when I got my acceptance letter to seminary. I think and reflect on the long road it took to get to this point. From having to go through the MEPS as a 31 year old alongside a group of young people who were just then enlisting in the Armed Forces (I stuck out like a sore thumb), then there was a year's wait to finally get a medical waiver, then there was the sweating out the prospect of being able to get a re-entry waiver. God was gracious and I got both waivers and became a chaplain candidate. Then on to the chaplain school at Fort Jackson - that was the time of my life and even through the school I felt my calling being confirmed. I had a rough time at first with the PT but with work and prayer I finally made it (I will probably never forget the day I finally passed my PT test). Then came graduation from the school. That was a great day. I went on to do some times of training called practicums where I could have some on the job training in the work of the chaplain. I did 36 days at Ft Jackson, 33 days at Ft Knox, and 36 days at Ft Bragg. Although I enjoyed each time and made some wonderful friends and learned a lot, it was at Fort Jackson that I had the absolute best practicum experience. It was there that I got the chance to actually be the chaplain for the 369th AG Battalion (with some supervision of course). I further felt the call confirmed as I got the chance to counsel Soldiers, visit with them in their various duties, and participate in worship with them. As a matter of fact, I served my practicum at Jackson and completed three seminary courses at the same time so I could be sure to graduate from seminary by May of 2009; I couldn't see anything but being a chaplain. At Fort Knox and Fort Bragg I really only got to "shadow" other chaplains and watch them perform their duties and ask questions. The best part of that was working at the sick call clinic at Fort Knox observing and learning from one of the best pastoral counselors I have since had the honor of meeting. Also at Knox I had the chance to participate in a mock disaster exercise to hone the skills needed for helping people cope in disaster situations. Finally, while at Fort Knox I got the chance to preach two field services to basic training soldiers. I believe that when soldiers are in training or when they are faced with deployment or combat the fields are a little whiter for ministry. At Fort Bragg I had some really unique opportunities such as observing a jump from a Blackhawk, watching the planning and execution of a Strong Bonds retreat, going on a visit with some soldiers from the 82nd Airborne to the Fayetteville Veteran's Hospital for Thanksgiving, having the chance to serve soldiers Thanksgiving dinner, and working with a battalion of the 82nd for a week. I cherished those opportunities and pray that they help me in the mission I now face. I thought it would be forever before I actually became a real chaplain. I prayed for and applied for active duty, but got approved for reserve duty. Maybe I need more experience before I can go active duty. I will certainly get that experience during the next year. I pray that this tour will lead to active duty. If not, at the very least, it should lead to a year's tour as a rear detachment chaplain at a post somewhere here in the U.S. where we can actually be "stationed." We will just have to see where the Lord leads at that time. I am anxious to go and do my duty for God and country. I am worried about my wife and child but if they were okay during the three months I spent in the chaplain school and during the different times I was gone on practicums, I have faith that they will be okay now. I have left my wife everything she needs while I am gone and in this age of instant communication you can be halfway across the world from each other and seem like you are in the same room. All of that being said, I am still anxious because I know how hard it is to leave home - and this time it is not 36 days or 90 days. But at least my family will be here where they have family, friends, and church near them; if we had been selected for active duty, chances are good that we would have been stationed somewhere and then I would have had to go and they would have been stuck possibly not knowing anyone. Another good thing is that we will not be hurting financially and my family will have the medical benefits enjoyed by active duty families. I have written way too much here. But just like when I am counseling someone, the first thing I stress to them is that just talking about whatever is bothering them will release that stress and help them to feel better, I also need a release to make me feel better. I am not re-thinking my decision to volunteer for this tour - I am just tense about leaving home. A chaplain friend of mine recently said that the beginning of the journey is always the hardest part. I believe that. And I also know that once that first step is taken the rest of the steps can be taken. To whoever reads the, sorry for the long post. I wanted to get that off of my chest. I don't know when I will be able to write again, but rest assured that I will. I will also post some pictures when I get a camera that is compatible with my laptop.

The Journey begins

I will be leaving this Sunday (2 August) to begin the journey to Iraq. I will have to spend a few days in South Carolina to do the usual medical checks and make sure I haven't forgotten what I learned (I have only been out of the Chaplain school a little over a year). From there I will go on to a mobilization station for a while and then on across the ocean. The only part of this that really bothers me is being away from my family. I have never been away from my family longer than 3 months; but all was well during that time and I have faith that all will be well this time.

Finally...

Today that elusive oath of office was emailed to me. Tomorrow I am going to Blacksburg (the closest officer I could find) and take that oath of office and finally officially be a chaplain. I then should expect orders maybe within the next week and a half to two weeks.

Still waiting, but a little light.

Well, I am still waiting for my oath of office. No matter how impatient I get and no matter what questions I ask, there is no way to speed up the process. I did however, get the chance to talk to the chaplain in the unit that I will be replacing in Iraq. He laid out how the tour will be and it seens to be a pretty good tour. Soon I will get my oath of office and once that's done I can finally get my orders. Everything else is done. I am approved for the tour and expected in the unit. Just have to get this last round of paperwork wrapped up. I need to get a camera that is compatible with my laptop's operating system so I can post some cool pictures once I get to Iraq.

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

Well fans, I was approved for the chaplaincy in March - it is now July and I do not have an appointment letter and oath of office. The Secretary of Defense did sign the list with my name on it the other week but I still do not have my oath. I am supposed to be the religious support for the 192nd MP Battalion heading to Iraq soon, but until I am sworn in as a chaplain, I can't go anywhere. I am not thrilled with the idea of leaving my family behind - my little one will be 4 on 20 July, but I am anxious to finally get the chance to do the job I have been through 7 years of school and 6 months of chaplain training (both institutional and on the job) to do.

A New Blog

Hello:
This is the opening of a new blog. I will be going to Iraq soon and decided I wanted to create a blog.