From Pastor Chris in Afghanistan
Pam’s “Pastor Chris” is currently serving in Afghanistan. Here is an update from him!
Hello Everyone from Afghanistan.
At long last I can begin writing from time to time. We have had some trouble getting civilian internet here, so it has taken longer than expected.
We are getting into the swing of things. We have been in FOB Sharana (FOB=Forward Operating Base) about four weeks. We have a fairly lively ministry here. I am the Senior Chaplain here. We also have three other Chaplains here, two Army and one Air Force Priest. I preach twice on Sundays at the two protestant services. One is similar to our contemporary service. It is slowly growing and I expect it to keep doing do as people hear about it. We have a pretty good band made up of people from the various units here. The other is a Gospel Service. This service has a largely African American flavor and I am enjoying doing it very much. We also have a Catholic service and Mass every day when the priest is here (He travels too!). Also, we have some Bible studies done by several people and I do one when I am here. Add in briefings and counseling and the days are full.
Sharana is about 7500 feet. It sits on high ground right at the conjunction of four valleys. One can see why the place was chosen for what is essentially a fort. In fact, one way to understand the conflict here is to think about the old American west. You have many different groups (like tribes). Some are peaceful, some are not. Each has its own ways and own goals. Some are right in the middle of the fight. Others are watching to see who wins. We are very much like the soldiers back then who were trying to bring order to a very wild place. We have built FOBs large and small which are just like the Forts of old all over the country to help do that.
Sharana is very comfortable compared to other spots I have been in so far. Right now about 90 in the day low sixties at night. It is in a high desert (much like West Texas) which is very dry. I am fairly sure I am allergic to the country because of all the dust as I have not stopped having a runny nose or sneezing since I arrived. Winters are very cold I am told. Probably like Minnesota. We are 9 1/2 hours ahead of CST. Not sure why the half hour, but there it is.
For those who are interested, there is an article on www.theatlantic.com (Atlantic Monthly Magazine) which talks about building roads in Afghanistan. Gives an excellent picture of what we are doing here. It is called “Asphalt Dreams,” and can be found at http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200806/world-in-numbers.
My Chaplain Assistant and I also will be traveling a fair amount. We have been on two trips and will take another soon. The preferred method is air because the ground is very dangerous. Summer is the time when the enemy is very busy out there. So, helicopter rides and small planes are and will be the order of the day. Even then, it can be somewhat thrilling as we were fired on while landing the other day. Apparently the Taliban put a large bounty on airplanes being shot down. These were small arms with almost no chance of hitting us, but it gets your attention. Pray for us as we go. Part of our job is to go see troops out there who in the middle of things. We pray for safety of course, but mostly that the Lord would use us powerfully as we minister to our guys and gals.
I am attaching some photos. One is me on behind our HQ building on a nice deck someone built. The other is my Chaplain Assistant and me getting ready to travel on a helicopter. Another is a view south (across the sewer ponds-phew!). I’ll send some more pics as I can.
I will be writing again soon. May God Bless you and keep you!
Chris
Posted: June 29th, 2008 under Home.
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