Saturday, October 10, 2005
Dear Veronica,
It is 2 a.m. I just finished counseling a soldier
and I have to do two services tomorrow. I wish this were an
unusual night, but I pull a considerable amount of late nights
counseling.
Just to give you an idea of where I am stationed, imagine
the land where Jonah lived. I am literally right around the
corner from the Tigris River. I am also not far from where
Noah lived and built the ark. I am also minutes from where
the dining facility bombing happened last year. Although there
has been rebuilding, you can tell troops never forget. I have
talked with countless soldiers and civilians who lost close
friends and colleagues that day.
A few times a week, we go on convoys to visit soldiers on
different bases. A soldier’s life is at risk every time
he or she leaves the base, which they do daily. They are shocked
to see a chaplain who is willing to risk his life when he doesn’t
have to. As a result, a number of soldiers have come to accept
Christ.
In the past two months the Protestant service has grown from
18 to over 50 people per Sunday, and the gospel service has
grown from 50 to a multi-cultural group of 165. We were packed
into the 200-seat chapel last Sunday and it was hot. People
are even starting to travel from other camps. The folks at
the movie theater have offered their facility that can seat
400. I anticipate outgrowing it within the next few months.
I really can’t begin to explain what is happening here.
People are running to the altars at the end of the service.
Some are being filled with the Holy Spirit. We call it “Operation
Transformation.” Every week, soldiers and civilians are
coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus in both services.
Over the last three gospel services we have seen Mormons,
Catholics and professing pagans attend regularly. Many of them
come to our weekly Bible study. After one of our recent Bible
studies, one of the Catholic brothers asked me about a personal
relationship with Christ. He wanted to know “how to feel
the way you feel in service.” He said he was “tired
of going to church week after week, but never experiencing
a touch from God.” He said, “After three weeks
of attending the service” he was “ready for all
God has to offer.”
Another
brother and I began praying with him that he would receive
a powerful touch from God. After 10 minutes, you could literally
see the hair standing on his arms. He began to shake uncontrollably
as tears of joy rolled down his face. He tried to speak, but
only sounds were coming from his mouth. Eventually he said, “I
haven’t cried in over five years and I’m not sure
I’m supposed to feel this way.” He said he was
feeling “electricity” going through his body. He
asked me what it was and I showed him Acts 2. Immediately,
he began uttering words that no one else in the room could
understand. He now attends every service, Bible study and choir
rehearsal.
There are testimonies of healing also. One brother came to
my office after service and said he had been suffering with
a shoulder pain for two days. We talked for about an hour,
and then I asked him if he was tired of the pain. After I prayed,
he said that his pain was gone. He testified to God’s
healing power during the next service.
Well
my love, it’s very late and I have a battalion run in
a few hours. Words can’t express how much I miss you
and Brianna. I look forward to holding you two in my arms very
soon. Tell Brianna how proud her daddy is about her starting
piano lessons and I can’t wait to hear her play. Give
her a big hug and kiss for me tonight when you tuck her into
bed. Please send everyone back home my love and tell them I
said “whoa” and thank you for all the encouraging
cards, emails and prayers.
With all my love,
John
