Target Rich Environment

Hello Roadies in Afghanistan.  How's your week going?  I have been to Kandahar 
twice in the last two weeks, so I have been pretty busy.  I start IP refresher 
training in the Mi-17 next week, so this week I am back in flight student mode 
with the studying, EP's, limits, chapt 8, and the ATM, Afghan APG and AIP, 95-1, 
whew!  But the way I look at it is, I am going to be teaching 
Afghans to do something that our country basically invented.  Think about that.  
Yeah Igor made the first helo, but we created its uses.  So I take a lot of pride 
in showing them literally how it's done.  We (the US) set the standards for the 
world as it relates to helicopter operations.  
Plus I really like talking with my Afghan friends.  I have met so many 
that are very nice and very humble.  I try to look on them the best that I can 
with God's eyes.  I ask God, "Let me see them as you see them Lord"?  I know He loves them 
very much.  He wants them to know of His son.  It's a very interesting thing for 
me as a servant of Christ to be here in such a target rich environment.  God has 
great plans for this people. 

Let me tell you a story about the "Target Rich Environment".  My unit is full of 
'kinda gruff' retired warrants who are good guys, great pilots, but all very 
strong personalities.  
I come in much younger as the Lead Pilot and you can say some feathers were 
ruffled, but we are all professional and it's not really a big deal.  
So I have the task of leading the 35 men into a cohesive team.  Well just 
getting started, I just wanted to get to know each person a little bit on a 
personal level.  While taking the time to meet the guys over the course of several days I 
had allowed myself to get a bit wrapped up in some of the day to day challenges 
and just really felt like a I was away from God.  I had not read my bible in 
almost two days, which was eating at me, and hadn't talk to Jacob or Ethan (my 
boys) and just had a couple rough days in a row.  That's Afghanistan right!?!  
Then the first of four things happened that were totally awesome.  I ran into an 
old friend of mines son.  He is our ALSE guy.  I go in to meet the ALSE guy and 
get my flight gear and it starts.  I think I brought up church just to feel him 
out, and when I did he just unloaded on me.  His hurts, his uncertainties, his 
fears.  I mean it was outta nowhere.  He is a good man with real troubles, and I 
believe with everything in my heart God ordained our meeting.  All the way back 
to the friendship I made with his father a couple of years before....to me here now...allowing God's 
prescense to be felt in that ALSE shop really touched both of us.  That story 
is not over.....more to follow. 

The second thing happened while I was at a Brit coffee house at KAF.  I went off 
to read my bible at a coffee shop.  One of the older pilots who is very new in 
country and seems to be kinda still feeling his way around.  Anyway, Dennis 
walked up to me while I was reading and said "Watcha Reading"!  I replied I am 
reading my bible.  These are the first words he and I had ever spoke to one 
another.  He immediately sat down and started pouring out about his reliationship with Christ.  Of course I am just pumped to be talking about the 
Lord.  I am pumped because I feel so good talking about God.  So we each listen 
to each other for over an hour.  It blessed me and trust he was blessed.  So I 
am walking tall.  Not only did I get to talk about God, but gain a brother at 
the same time.  I am thinking, "Thank YOU Lord"!  Later, I began to feel a 
burden for my new friends stipulation and began to pray for him. 

I have two more stories about awesome things like this that happened to me this 
week.  I will share the next two with you tomorrow and let you know how my heart 
feels about all that going on around me. 

On to you.....You....the Roadies in Afghanistan.  WE AT CROSSROADS LOVE YOU AND 
PRAY FOR YOU!  WE DO! NOT JUST SAYING THAT!  GOD HAS BURDENED THE HEART OF THE 
CHURCH FOR SOLDIERS SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN.  Please know that you can call me 
anytime 0795743168.  Its an Afghan cell.  I know you may not know me personally 
but anytime you get people like us together its like we are old friends, so 
don't worry.  If you want to make my day...call me on my Afghan cell.  

Anyway, I will take Thursday night to tell you the remaining "Target Rich 
Environment" stories and how the Lord pushed on my the seemingly most basic 
principle, but boy did I need to hear it.  He love us so much!  I pray that you 
feel loved by our God....tonight, in the precious name of Jesus, Amen. 

Roadie Warfighters Rock! 

That should be a cool shirt.....   Roadie Warfighters