Afghanistan Revisited

Wow! I just flew in from Afghanistan and boy are my arms tired (ta dum dum)! I know it sounds weird, but it's good to be back in Kuwait (where it's always sunny... today's high was only 109). The rest of my trip in Afghanistan was very rewarding. My chaplain assistant and I wound up taking 7 flights in 7 days as we FOB hopped around the country to Bagram, Kabul, Kandahar and Jalalabad. We only failed to make it to Salerno. This was a very rewarding and exhausting trip usually with about 3-4 hours sleep on a cot (but at least we had a cot!)
I had the chance to visit with numerous Soldiers. Some were part of my unit; some were not. Though I always enjoy that part of the mission, it does not come natural to me as an introvert. I've been told that extraverts feed off social interaction, while introverts are drained by it. That's certainly true in my case, but I wouldn't trade the time with the Soldiers.
I've already told you about Bagram. Our Kabul team was actually located at one of the area camps so once we got off the plane (instead of taking a helicopter directly to the camp), we now had to arrange ground transportation to the camp (this we did not plan on and somehow someone failed to inform us!) We were fortunate to hitch a ride with a security detachment though the streets of Kabul. Our return trip to the airport was with a regular convoy. It was impressive to see the professionalism of the convoy commander and the preparation taken before going "outside the wire." This is certainly an increased level of apprehension at this location.
The NCOIC of our Kabul team reminded me of The Rock in both appearance and charisma. He was very outgoing, definite extravert, and seemed to talk my ears off for 3 hours straight! It's humbling and amazing to me how quickly my Soldiers open up to "their Chaplain." These guys are regularly pulling a 70 hour work week. Maybe that's why they're so happy to see me? Chappy comes and they get some down time!
Next stop Kandahar. Instead of getting a good night's rest, there was a flight heading out that night to Kandahar so we hopped on it. Arriving at 2:00 am without first making contact probably wasnt the best idea. Instead of waking our team up, we navigated our way to the transient tents. If you're ever there, just follow your nose. Kandahar apparently has a lagoon for its sewage and this night the wind was blowing the wrong direction. Nasty! It reminded me of the pig farms by the church I pastored in Spring Hope. Or of the smell of the paper companies in Mobile.
While here, I was able to confirm a rumor that the Taliban had placed bounties on the religious leaders in the area to include Chaplains. Several Imams who had been working with the Chaplains on humanitarian missions had been murdered. One of the chapels here is named after a chaplain assistant who had been killed by an IED. I met his chaplain back in Kuwait. The bounties were advertised in the local papers and some were as high as $50,000. Next time someone tells me I'm good for nothing, I'll tell 'em I'm worth 50 G's baby!!! (can you tell I'm tired with such a sick sense of humor?)
From Kandahar we traveled back to Bagram before heading to Jalalabad. The C-130 load masters briefed us on the possible need for barf bags citing they usually take fire entering Jalalabad and the evasive maneuvres can be pretty "moving". I sat next to the bucket just in case. Sure enough the evasive maneuvres came, but fortunately no one barfed. I never heard if we actually received fire or not, but either way thank God we weren't hit.
Our team in J-bad actually had a representative meet us on the runway. They were especially happy to see us because we were the "first visitors they've had" since arriving in country. To be sure there were other hundreds of other people at this base, but we were the first from their unit to visit them. As part of the Commander's personal staff, they greatly appreciated my visit and made me feel very welcome. I got a mini-tour of the base and had a chance to meet the base Chaplains and talk extensively to my Soldiers. These guys are also pulling the long hours.
While in Afghanistan I received some sour news I wont go into here, but I was really ticked off. Had me steaming! Fortunately, when I started interacting with the Soldiers I completely forgot about my "problems." Isn't is amazing how small our world gets when we focus on our problems, but how small our problems get when we focus on others? I know I had requested prayer support from some of you during this time. I can tell you that God answered your prayers. I could almost literally feel the burden being lifted and my spirits renewed. Thanks.

CH (CPT) Paul Tolbert
595th Trans Term Grp
APO, AE 09366