|
Return to Messages from Pastor Steve |
|
| Hi everybody! It's the 27th of April, and it's actually very beautiful here in Iraq. We've had several days with highs in the 80's and a mix of sun and clouds. It's still dusty all the time (you can see it constantly in the air like smog) and we're still in a war zone, so I wouldn't recommend booking your next vacation here, but otherwise it's quite nice.
We've already had several IED (Improvised Explosive Device, i.e., roadside bombs) attacks on vehicles near the camp and several mortar attacks on the camp itself. Praise God, we have avoided injury so far. It's frightening, though, to hear these big booms and know that they are not fireworks meant to entertain; they are weapons meant to kill you. We deal with the threat by grumbling about having to take cover, trying to go about our business as if nothing happened, or laughing about what bad shots the insurgents are. But we know that sooner or later, one of those mortar rounds is going to land on top of someone. In spite of the danger (and in some cases, motivated by the danger), we're doing great things over here. Our job is as much like the police as anything. We try to keep bad guys off the street and help the rest of the people go about their business. Our police station just happens to be in a very bad neighborhood. But we are making an impact. My soldiers recently played a part in capturing some terrorist/criminals who had kidnapped children for ransom. Life may not be safe over here, but the soldiers and marines I know are working hard to make it safer. God be good to you! |