I'm Ba-aaaaack!

Hello all. I am in Kabul and all is well. I will be out and about and would love to see or talk to you. KAF and TK this week. Let me know if you are in that area. My Afghan cell is 070-734-7915. Call me. Even if we haven't met. I can tell you from experience it feels good to see people from church while you are here. Well, it was an exciting time right when I got here. I actually was delayed from coming into Kabul due to last weeks shootings downtown. I live on the airport in a triple secure area, so I am somewhat removed from that stuff. We get an occasional rocket attack, but they are never close. Please remember that you are in the thoughts and prayers of so many, including myself. Keep up the good work and remember that while you may not always see the fruits of your labor, your steps are ordered of the Lord! I wanted to share with you a word of encouragement real quick. My team and I hired a man a few months ago for our flight operations section (John). He is very experienced and I was glad to have him. From the first day on the job he started hitting home runs with all kinds of needed refinements. Anyway, once I got back to Kabul I felt kinda down. Not sure why. I increased my prayer and reading time and just attempted to power through it, but my first few days just seemed dumpy. I had lunch with John today and found out the most important thing...that we both know the Lord! Immediately we began to speak like brothers. Not only did we hit if off professionally and personally, but now we had Christ in common. Very cool, I love when this happens. I won't go into how we immediately began to minister to each other, but I will say how the Lord spoke to my heart through this meeting. Look for God. Look for God in everything. Everything we do. Everything we see. Every relationship; good and bad. Look for God in your painful times; great joy can come from hard times. God allows our trials and bad times to refine us, which helps us to know Him more. God is with you. He is directing your paths. He can be seen in all things. You just need to look for him. Read Psalm 23. The world we live in is the "shadow of death". Afghanistan feels like "actual death" much of the time, but God is still with us. Fear no evil, for he is with you. Look for Him...every moment of every day. Allow the knowledge of His precence to give you peace! Peace. PS. Seriously....go read the 23rd Psalm.

Pastor Matt Back to Afghanistan

OK I have to admit; it's been 12 weeks since I have blogged and I feel a little guilty about something. I don't feel guilty because I haven't blogged, but today I am heading back to Afghanistan and am just now thinking of how all the while I was home and enjoying my family, and the good ole' US of A, you guys have been there nugging it out. In the heat! I hope all of you have been well.

I know that each of you would have wanted me to enjoy the family time, I definitely did. Just as I will want you to enjoy your families when you rotate back home.

Well, let me just start of with a reminder. A reminder of what this "Crossroads Afghanistan" is all about.

While your there it is definitely hard to think of Ft. Rucker, but rest assured there are many eager and anxious pilots and soldiers right behind you. They are uncertain of the "when and where" for their turn to the giant sand box, and their thoughts are on you guys...the tip of the spear. You are the ones on the front lines of this now ten year old war. My thoughts and prayers are with you, and it is my great honor to join you on the field of battle.

I said all that to say that this blog is designed to keep us all connected. Those that are overthere, and those that are waiting in anticipation of going; as you read, whether stateside or from overseas, know that many are using this blog as a connection to a piece of their time while at Mother Rucker.

Let me encourage you to respond, comment, or join in. I will be blogging from my foxhole in Kabul. From time to time I will get out to the FOB's and would love to see you. Let me know where you are. Even if it's someone you know only attended Crossroads once, or not even once, welcome them to read the blog.

The most important thing is that we know each other are out there. I know many of you don't get to go all over, but just like it's comforting to know if your flight school buddy is somewhere overthere with you, it is even more comforting to know that your brother or sister in Christ is somewhere out there too.

Talk to you soon!

God Bless You,
Matt