January 11, 2005

January 11, 2005

I wanted to share a neat story that Adam wrote to us. We received a letter last week - written on November 15 - great snail mail! But it was great to read what Adam wrote. Since this was written in November, he was thinking about hunting season. I'll just quote what he wrote, "Hopefully, Dad, you have been able to go hunting at least a little bit. I'm hoping you have a good season this year. The closest thing I've been able to do as far as hunting goes, is to kill a mouse. and to watch wild dogs through my thermal scope. I took the mouse and tacked in on the wall of my hooch. I drew around its body and wrote my initials under it." We got a good laugh out of that - now posted for posterity, Adam's hunt is recorded on a wall in Iraq. Remember, this was written when he was still in Fallujah. He also said, "We can hear the call to prayer from where we are right now. It is such an eerie feeling. I really don't like it, but oh well." Just please keep praying that God would draw all our troops close in the midst of this Godless society.

I also wanted to share a little about Jesse. I had a good conversation with his Dad tonight. Sid came home yesterday - it was hard for him to leave Paula and Jesse, but he needed to get home. Jesse has been very verbal about his faith in the midst of his injury. Sid said that the hospital guys were wheeling Jesse into surgery and Jesse told them to stop that he wanted to pray with his family before they took him. Even in the midst of pain medicine and all, Jesse is depending on God. Sid says that when Jesse prays before he eats - it's such a long prayer that sometimes they thought he had drifted off to sleep. But no, he was just communing with God. Jesse has expressed his concern over the soul of the suicide bomber that hit their truck. What a great faith in the face of adversity! Jesse is claiming God in the midst of his trial. Keep praying for him in the coming days.

Jeremy has some upcoming appointments with specialists. Pray that those appointment go well. He seems to be gaining strength and control of his pain every day.

Please pray right now:
1. For the wounded - for protection from infection, for strength to endure procedures and hospitals, for God's presence to be real to them every day in the midst of their suffering.
2. For all our troops in Iraq - for protection - for the enemy to be clearly revealed - for alertness - for God's presence to be real to them every day in the midst of a foreign Godless society
3. For the families of the wounded - for patience to endure waiting - for peace regarding daily concerns at home - for understanding of the things medical people are communicating to them - for encouragement of some kind on a daily basis
4. For the minds of all the wounded and active military - that their minds would be protected and that God would give them only selective memory - that memories not helpful would be selectively deleted

We are so thankful for all of you. It is so comforting to know that people are praying.

In Christ's love and protection,
Jill