As we begin our second month it has become important to find those moments away - to create some space or time that reconnects you to home - to family - to the civilian world.

With the Iowa/Iowa State game coming up this weekend I find soldiers using it as a lifeline to our other reality (that which has nothing to do with saluting or having a uniform looking right)  As you can see by the attached picture - some go to extremes to make sure their allegiance is made known!! We are trying to get the game shown here with some success and some failures so please pray our efforts become fruitful.

While a month (or as my XO states the end of our second consecutive Annual Training) is a long time when we are facing 2 more months before we go overseas it can seem like time has begun to stand still and morale is drained.  I have come to the conclusion that 'they' make pre-mob station so bad that you actually look forward to going to Afghanistan!

My 'official' counseling have been averaging 15 a week and can get draining as I hear about some sad situations - see marriages failing - watch people lose sight of why we are here and I begin to feel helpless to do anything.  As I tell my soldiers I have requisitioned a magic wand but because I can't find a NSN number (National Stock number used to order supplies) the supply SGT can get it!

When I get frustrated at my inability to solve these soldiers problems I remember that it's not my place to save them that's God's job! And to remember also He has stated that what's impossible for man is possible for God. Then the other day as I was feeling particularly ineffective I had the opportunity to pray with two different soldiers that came in for various reasons and I was reminded that He continues to use me.  The Sunday night chapel services I've been holding have been going well and we've started a Thursday night bible study looking at the book of Joshua. In fact a new crew came to one of my chapel's and filmed the whole thing which some of you might have seen on the news so at this point I am so over my 15mins!! http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Military-Women-Serve-Side-by-Side-with-Men-101435419.html

SPC Ohloff and I also have begun to do prayer walks - where we walk around the blocks that surround our AO (area of operation) praying for situations, for soldiers and for each other. We feel too the prayers that you all continue to lift up. 

I must say the soldiers appreciate the care packages as my office has become the place that care packages go to get eaten!!

God bless!