10 Feb 2012

Troop Ministry Update

The cards and letters that you write to our troops as part of the ministry that Janet Kirk leads really do make a difference! Here is the start of a recent letter sent in response to the care packages:

I wanted to take a moment of your time to say THANK YOU to all of you
who sent such a wonder care package to our team here at Forward
Operating Base Lagman! I assure you that brought so many smiles to faces
who have been through a lot this year already. Mail seems to be the
highlight on the days that helicopters bring it out to us. A few of us
on my team are married with families but most are young and single so
they don't receive much mail from the states. When I announced a
community box most stopped what they were doing to get their hands on
some goodies :) 

  A little about us: We are elements of the 209th Military Intelligence
Company, 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Joint Base Lewis McChord,
WA. We arrived mid-December (just in time for Christmas) and will be
here for twelve months. We are running the combat mission in Zabul
Province of southwestern Afghanistan. Our camp is a smaller post out
here but it's not so bad. We don't have the bells and whistles of the
bigger bases but we get by. We have an awesome Chaplain here and he
comes to our work area each morning and we begin the day in prayer. We
have a tent that carries some essentials we can buy but we share the
base with a couple Romanian units so stocks do stay pretty depleted.
That is why we cherish the blessings you have given to us through your
thoughts, prayers and simply taking care of us.
    Personally, I am originally from Wisconsin (yes, a disappointed
Packer fan right now). I live in Tumwater, WA with my wife, a teenage
daughter, a six year old son, a Shitzu and a Boxer. I stay busy when I'm
home :) Most of us here have similar interests and often hunt and fish
together when we are home. There is great Salmon fishing from the
shorelines in late summer. I am going to miss that a lot this summer. 
    I do need to get running as I have meeting soon. Thank you all again
so much for everything! Please tell everyone thank you for their notes.
I was very impressed with the letters and pictures. You have a very
special organization and we are blessed to have Americans such as you
all back home. It truly gives us a sense of purpose and reason for being
here when things are not going well. There is nothing better than seeing
a Soldier smile even when he/she is in a place like this. Thank you for
making us smile today!!

Your friend,  

SCOTT