Hi, everybody. It's Tuesday, 11 April, and I'm back in Mississippi, stuck in a holding pattern. They say in the Army that it's sometimes easier to move an entire division of troops than to move one individual soldier. I'm finding out the truth behind that saying. The amount of red tape and beauracracy is astounding as I try to get back together with my unit, and I can't leave until the system is satisfied. I understand the necessity, but it gets frustrating when one person tells me that I will leave today, one person says next week, and a third person says the end of the month.

Anyway, I'm almost certain to celebrate Easter here at Camp Shelby, where there are fewer than 20 troops left from Minnesota (mostly held back for medical reasons, and many of whom will be gone by the end of the week). Not what I had in mind, but as we say in the Army, "Semper Gumby -- forever flexible".

On the positive side, I got into the town of Hattiesburg for worship on Palm Sunday in a real, civilian Lutheran church. It made me horribly homesick, but it was a good, blessed homesickness. Actually, the congregation was LCMS, but they invited me to commune with them and even treated me to lunch afterward at the local barbeque buffet. It wasn't Minnesota Lutheran potluck, but it was still good.

I continue to think of you as we get closer to Holy Week. I think about my soldiers, too, who are on the ground in Iraq and waiting for their chaplain. My prayers go to God for all of you.

God be good to you!
CH Steve Timm

P.S. Pastor Steve left for Kuwait Thursday morning, April 12.