August 4, 2004

August 4, 2004

We are so thankful for all of your prayers. Now is the time that we really just have to take one day at a time and not worry about tomorrow. We know that NO ONE can take better care of Adam and all of our boys than God. The days are slipping by fast as we wait for the flight to Kuwait. Adam is at Camp Pendelton in San Diego right now. His group are waiting for 6 more to join them. Those 6 are coming from Camp Le June in North Carolina. They are supposed to fly from the Carolinas to Camp Pendelton on Monday, the 9th. We don't know what the hurricane will do to those plans. Whenever they get to California, the whole group will leave sometime thereafter. Because of the security alert, those plans are not public. We think that is a very wise move. We don't need to know when, we just want them all safe.

Just a quick update on Adam's job. He is a machine gunner. He carries a 25 pound machine gun with him. When they are riding, he is either at the front or the back of a convoy for convoy protection. We are so thankful that the Marine Corp just outfitted the battalion with those new "metal" plates for their flack jackets. The boys are concerned about the extra weight - the inserts weigh another 25 pounds. Pray for strength and endurance for them. It is extremely hot - 136 by some reports. We and the Marines are thankful that they don't have to wear their chemical protections suits this time around. If you want to see some pictures of the Marines leaving Peoria, go to PJStar.com and click on the photo gallery. You will see a picture of a group of Marines. You can see Adam in the group - he is holding 2 M16s and standing sideways. A great looking guy - right! Also, the photographer took Rod and my picture as we were watching the guys go. That was one of the hardest moments of our lives, but we are just trusting God to take care of them and bring us back the same men we sent over there. Adam gave me permission to share his most important prayer request with all of you. He is most concerned that he not have to injure any children. Please pray that God would protect him for that. Adam's birthday is September 17 and he will be 22. This is the second year that he will be gone for his birthday. I want to really shower him with cards. I'll get his address to you ASAP. If you want to send a card to our address, I'll pack them all up and send them as a group. Our address is Rod and Jill Schertz, 1583 Wiedman Road, Metamora, Illinois 61548. Please feel free to share this card shower with those you know. Even if they don't know him, the cards will mean a million to him. I'll keep you all updated as we get more information. Please email me back if you would rather not get these updates. I know that you get a lot of mail.

We are so thankful for all of your thoughts and prayers.
I'll close with a quote from General Tommy Franks - this helped me to think about Iraqi Freedom II in a whole new way. He said " If we don't fight terrorism outside of our country, we will be fighting terrorism in our own country." God bless the USA and all our troups, whereever they are.
In Christ's love,
Jill