Saturday, 12 January 2008

  • "General:  Anbar ready for handover"

    Three months ago, I posted an article about Ramadi being the rare success story in Iraq.  Now, they've announced that the entire province of Anbar will be handed over in a few months.  Praise God.


    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080110/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_handover

    -- "Iraq's western province of Anbar, hotbed of the Sunni Arab insurgency for the first four years of the war, will be returned to Iraqi control in March."

    -- "Marine Maj. Gen. Walter E. Gaskin, commander of the roughly 35,000 Marine and Army forces in Anbar, said levels of violence have dropped so significantly — coupled with the growth and development of Iraqi security forces in the province — that Anbar is ready to be handed back to the Iraqis."

    -- " 'Anbar province, once considered a stronghold of al-Qaida, has been reclaimed for the Iraqi people.' "

Wednesday, 19 December 2007

Monday, 19 November 2007

  • Show and Tell

    Do you remember that little girl at my house, when you all came over, who sat by herself in the hallway, reading a book?

    She asked me if I could come with her to school for People Show and Tell tomorrow.  Apparently, everyone brings in someone once a year to accompany them during the school day and instead of her dad or mom... she chose me!!

    I'll let you all know about how it turns out.  =)

    Too cute.

Sunday, 28 October 2007

  • NICE

    Guess what I found in the news?

    Ramadi War Zone Now Rare Bright Spot

    "Last year, US Marine Corps intelligence officials declared Anbar lost. 'The social and political situation has deteriorated to a point' where U.S. and Iraqi troops 'are no longer capable of militarily defeating the insurgency...' "

    " 'These guys were ruthless,' said ... the American commander responsible for Ramadi. 'They would come in and cut young men's heads off and drag their bodies through the streets.' "

    NOW.....

    "Attacks ... have decreased from about 30 a day in January to fewer than one a day now... Last year, during the holy month of Ramadan, there were 442 incidents in the area; this year, there were four..."


    Praise God.  I thank God our actions were not in vain and that instead, we were used in a mighty way though it is only now that we can see the fruits of all the sacrifice.  In an earthly sense, it's like Pastor Mike said:

    Before the crown, there is the cross.

Saturday, 27 October 2007

  • Hmm

    Why is it that when B -- a "newcomer" herself -- brought her friend/employee to church last night, hardly anyone came up to our visitor to say hi and engage in conversation?  It's called the "Fellowship Hall" for a reason.

    Which begs the (rhetorical) question: is a mere "Hello" greet-and-leave gesture enough as Gospel-loving believers?

Thursday, 13 September 2007

  • HOME!

    THIS is the hell not shown on the news.  The backwater places far away from the cameras and reporters in Baghdad.  Ramadi, Rutbah, Fallujah, Al Qaim, Zaidan, Karmah, Khaladiyah, Saqlawiyah, Rawah, and the list goes on....









    "Did you kill anyone?" ............... "Did you get shot at?"

    Ha!

Thursday, 23 August 2007

  • I'm Coming HOME!

    Only ONE FREAKING WEEK left of this awful place.

     


    Please excuse my squinty eyes.  The sun is pretty bright over here....

    Only one more week!!  Can't wait.... see you all soon!

Sunday, 05 August 2007

  • Asian Cup Craze

    Do you remember the crazy celebrations, cheering, and dancing that swept across Korea, LA, New York, DC, and tons of other places?

    Then you'll understand half of what went on here in Iraq last Sunday, July 29th.

    I say half because yes, when the Iraqi soccer team won, the entire country erupted in cheering and dancing.  The pride that swelled up in me, giving me goosebumps back in 2002 was swelling inside millions of people across Iraq.  But there was something deeper in their pride.

    It wasn't just the soldiers who were able to publicly celebrate...  EVERYONE came out.  Men and women; adults and children; everyone poured into the streets, crying, cheering, praising, and dancing.  They ran around with their faces and bodies painted with the national colors.  Thousands of others jumped and danced, waving the Iraqi flag... without fear.

    No one cared.  Everyone just came out, dancing wildly all day....

    And when it finally got dark, the street cafes and tea shops opened their doors.  The hookahs were brought out and everyone drank tea through the night.

    It was pure joy... it was true "jubilee".  I can't even come close to describing it except to compare it to the World Cup craze back in 2002.  Except this time, in 2007, it was Iraq -- a country where soccer teams would get their feet beaten to a pulp and flayed until there was no flesh left... just because they lost a match.  A country that was finally able to send a team with freedom and pride, not oppression and fear.

    It was as if the soccer team was a part of everyone here.  The moment they won, the entire country came together.  Not a single fear of insurgents and IEDs.  Not a bit of hatred for Shiites or Sunnis.  If you say these Iraqis can't live with each other, you should have been here on the Iraqi streets last Sunday.  We have a while to go, but I've seen it with my own eyes:

    Peace IS possible.

Wednesday, 18 July 2007

Sunday, 13 May 2007

  • Just A Brief Set Of Pictures

     

    Off to Habbaniyah:


     

    Up in our turrets:

     

    And of course, came back at night:

     

    Thanks for all the prayers and support.

    Till next time, folks!