At Ease.
Sometimes I wonder, what has become of this world.
I have seen so much, and felt so many things in such a short time. Tomorrow will mark the 5th week since I left Southern California for the sands of Iraq, and I must say, I miss my family and my friends terribly. I have met some good people, and grown closer to some really great people here. I don't sleep much here; the last 3 nights I was with a Marine security platoon, looking for insurgents in the middle of the desert off one of our supply roads. One of the Marines and I, would sit up at night with the night vision goggles and our M16 rifle's, just scanning the roads and the desert. A couple of times, we heard gunfire in the distance, and occasionally we would hear an explosion somewhere, but nothing near us. This would go on for two hours at a time, and then we'd wake the other two Marine's up, and they'd stand watch for two hours, while we slept. This is how it continued, two hours on, two hours off. We slept on top of the humvee, either on the hood or up at the top next to the gun turret, and just waited for morning to come. Occasionally I'd find myself staring at the sky, wondering if anyone back home ever looked up at the stars anymore. Then I'd put on the night vision goggles and look at the stars, and the sky would seem to come alive with brightness. Billions and billions of stars, everywhere that are invisible to the naked eye but brought out by the power of technology. During the day we didn't do much; talked about all the lovely things back home, their wives and my lack thereof, our families, the beach, In n' Out...you know, the finer things in life. We'd eat and then litter, and then throw rocks at our soda cans and water bottles as they rolled down the mountain.
Before I left, I took things for granted; my family, my friends, my freedom. It is not that way anymore, I value what I have so much. Strangely, even though I'm 10,000 miles away from home, I feel I've grown closer with my Mom and Dad. I can't explain how, but it's such a comforting feeling.
As much as I miss my loved ones, and as much as I can't wait for that plane to come that takes me home, this has been such a testimony builder for me. Faith has never come easy for me; I have been in and out, up and down, high and low. It's been a constant struggle throughout my life, particularly my teenage years. However, I know this, perhaps now more than at any previous time: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. Jesus is the Christ, and he lives on. The Book of Mormon is truly the word of God, and we have a Prophet on the Earth today who guides and counsels us. I am so thankful that through our Heavenly Father's grace and love, families can be together forever. The love and blessings we feel in this life can continue in the next, and by reading the scriptures, we can grow closer to God and develop a beautiful relationship with him. I really feel that I am protected out here, by some unknown guardian angel. I have counted atleast twice where no joke, I should have died. I have had other close calls, but those two times were when the danger was at the very highest. Both times, by a miracle for lack of a better word, I have come out unscathed. I know something divine is watching over me, and it is so comfortin to have that knowledge.
I am so thankful that the Lang family introduced me to this gospel, and I am so thankful that missionaries took the time to knock on my door, answer my questions, pray with me, and teach me about the restoration. I hate Iraq, but this deployment has been the spiritual kick in the butt that I needed.
It is a fact, that things may not always go as we would like them too...we will struggle, and sometimes we will inevitably fall. I remember a certain day; July 21, 2006. This was the hardest day of my life. That was the day I found out I was going to Iraq within 3 weeks, and also the day my cousin Lauren was killed in a car accident. The first was awful news, and the latter was devastating. It was a dark time, a time when heaven seemed so far away and the world just felt cold. I don't feel like going into it very much, but I feel I need to say this. We struggle. That's okay. We fall, that's fine. It is whether or not we get back up that matters. When we suffer, Christ suffers with us, when we hurt, God loves us much more than we can feel, and when we are ready, we are welcomed with open arms. Life isn't always beautiful, but it is a beautiful life.
One day, this war will end. America and her men and women of war will go home, and perhaps fight another day. But I sincerely hope not. I have lived a priviledged life, and I have lived a life of depravation. I have seen the best, and the worst man can do to one another. I have seen bombs explode in people's faces and I have seen people risk their lives to save their friends from tragedy. I have seen the effects of ignorance and hatred first hand.
I have no patience left for these things that only serve to divide us and hold us back. I have said it often, but I have seen enough! No more racism, sexism, classism, overall ignorance. We have nothing to lose but our chains by shedding these things. Why is it we create barriers for ourselves? Why is it, that the fastest growing portion of the homeless population are families? Furthermore, why do we even have homelessness? These are all symptoms of a deeper problem, a virus in society. In this world of competition the compassion is dissipating, and I wonder how can we stand such times?
I don't have much else, I just needed to say these things. I miss everyone terribly and love them more, hopefully I hear from some of ya'll soon/
"It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly;who errs and comes short again and again who knows the great devotions; who spends himself in worthy cause;who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt
I have seen so much, and felt so many things in such a short time. Tomorrow will mark the 5th week since I left Southern California for the sands of Iraq, and I must say, I miss my family and my friends terribly. I have met some good people, and grown closer to some really great people here. I don't sleep much here; the last 3 nights I was with a Marine security platoon, looking for insurgents in the middle of the desert off one of our supply roads. One of the Marines and I, would sit up at night with the night vision goggles and our M16 rifle's, just scanning the roads and the desert. A couple of times, we heard gunfire in the distance, and occasionally we would hear an explosion somewhere, but nothing near us. This would go on for two hours at a time, and then we'd wake the other two Marine's up, and they'd stand watch for two hours, while we slept. This is how it continued, two hours on, two hours off. We slept on top of the humvee, either on the hood or up at the top next to the gun turret, and just waited for morning to come. Occasionally I'd find myself staring at the sky, wondering if anyone back home ever looked up at the stars anymore. Then I'd put on the night vision goggles and look at the stars, and the sky would seem to come alive with brightness. Billions and billions of stars, everywhere that are invisible to the naked eye but brought out by the power of technology. During the day we didn't do much; talked about all the lovely things back home, their wives and my lack thereof, our families, the beach, In n' Out...you know, the finer things in life. We'd eat and then litter, and then throw rocks at our soda cans and water bottles as they rolled down the mountain.
Before I left, I took things for granted; my family, my friends, my freedom. It is not that way anymore, I value what I have so much. Strangely, even though I'm 10,000 miles away from home, I feel I've grown closer with my Mom and Dad. I can't explain how, but it's such a comforting feeling.
As much as I miss my loved ones, and as much as I can't wait for that plane to come that takes me home, this has been such a testimony builder for me. Faith has never come easy for me; I have been in and out, up and down, high and low. It's been a constant struggle throughout my life, particularly my teenage years. However, I know this, perhaps now more than at any previous time: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. Jesus is the Christ, and he lives on. The Book of Mormon is truly the word of God, and we have a Prophet on the Earth today who guides and counsels us. I am so thankful that through our Heavenly Father's grace and love, families can be together forever. The love and blessings we feel in this life can continue in the next, and by reading the scriptures, we can grow closer to God and develop a beautiful relationship with him. I really feel that I am protected out here, by some unknown guardian angel. I have counted atleast twice where no joke, I should have died. I have had other close calls, but those two times were when the danger was at the very highest. Both times, by a miracle for lack of a better word, I have come out unscathed. I know something divine is watching over me, and it is so comfortin to have that knowledge.
I am so thankful that the Lang family introduced me to this gospel, and I am so thankful that missionaries took the time to knock on my door, answer my questions, pray with me, and teach me about the restoration. I hate Iraq, but this deployment has been the spiritual kick in the butt that I needed.
It is a fact, that things may not always go as we would like them too...we will struggle, and sometimes we will inevitably fall. I remember a certain day; July 21, 2006. This was the hardest day of my life. That was the day I found out I was going to Iraq within 3 weeks, and also the day my cousin Lauren was killed in a car accident. The first was awful news, and the latter was devastating. It was a dark time, a time when heaven seemed so far away and the world just felt cold. I don't feel like going into it very much, but I feel I need to say this. We struggle. That's okay. We fall, that's fine. It is whether or not we get back up that matters. When we suffer, Christ suffers with us, when we hurt, God loves us much more than we can feel, and when we are ready, we are welcomed with open arms. Life isn't always beautiful, but it is a beautiful life.
One day, this war will end. America and her men and women of war will go home, and perhaps fight another day. But I sincerely hope not. I have lived a priviledged life, and I have lived a life of depravation. I have seen the best, and the worst man can do to one another. I have seen bombs explode in people's faces and I have seen people risk their lives to save their friends from tragedy. I have seen the effects of ignorance and hatred first hand.
I have no patience left for these things that only serve to divide us and hold us back. I have said it often, but I have seen enough! No more racism, sexism, classism, overall ignorance. We have nothing to lose but our chains by shedding these things. Why is it we create barriers for ourselves? Why is it, that the fastest growing portion of the homeless population are families? Furthermore, why do we even have homelessness? These are all symptoms of a deeper problem, a virus in society. In this world of competition the compassion is dissipating, and I wonder how can we stand such times?
I don't have much else, I just needed to say these things. I miss everyone terribly and love them more, hopefully I hear from some of ya'll soon/
"It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly;who errs and comes short again and again who knows the great devotions; who spends himself in worthy cause;who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt