Dawg Days of Summer

Boy am I missing my family! The Summer is in full swing now and the temperature is still steadily rising. As I'm attached to an active duty unit (595th Transportation Terminal Group), Summer has been the time when many of the Soldiers are leaving and their replacements are arriving. It's been great getting to know them and I wish them nothing but the best at their next duty station.

With the new batch coming in I'm enjoying the fruit of my labor over the past several months. The "coffee house" ministry is a big hit with the newcomers and has spread to other commands in the building. The newcomers are being told the Chaplain section has the "best coffee in the building" and the traffic continues to grow.

The Bible studies are also established and there's a faith commitment among many of the new officers. I have 7 different Bible studies/Communion services scheduled each week at various locations across southern Kuwait and 2 world religions workshops going on at present. The counseling opportunities have increased with Soldiers becoming more comfortable and feeling that I'm approachable. I'm once again flying solo as my Chaplain Assistant was only with me for a little over a month.

One of my quiet times during this deployment was a simple one from the "Our Daily Bread" devotional for June 21st (Father's Day). It was rather convicting and has been in the back of my mind ever since. Now that my tour is coming to an end, it's moving to the forefront of my mind. Essentially, the devotion pointed out that "If we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family left behind would feel the loss for the rest of their lives. Why then do we invest so much in our work and so little in our children's lives?"

Ouch. Could someone get the dagger out of my heart?

I know I'll have to make some changes when I get back. I want to be a better daddy. My boys (and wife) deserve better! I just hope I have the discipline to make them more of a priority (and not just have it be lip service).

The Wandering Chaplain
Psalm 127:3

Coffee for the Troops

My little coffee corner continues to grow and grow. Word is getting out and Soldiers are building in a stop by the Chaplain section to grab a cup of (g.i.) joe. This provides an opportunity for small talk about how things are going. Often the Soldier will share some of the stresses their dealing with back home or with the mission. Sometimes we'll pray or schedule a time for them to stop back by to talk. They'll pick up some religious literature and head on their way.
When I first started, a box of K-cups (coffee), regular and flavored, would last a week. I recently put out a box of Southern Pecan and it didn't last two days! The demand is quickly surpassing the supply.
SO.... if you'd like to support the ministry here, consider sending a box of K-Cups. You can purchase K-cups at some traditional stores and various websites, but not all of them can ship to an APO address (must use USPS instead of UPS/FedEx). Keurig (www.keurig.com) donated the coffee maker and the initial 200 K-cups. I've ordered from them since then so I know they can ship to Kuwait. If you'd like to send a box, please mail to the following:

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

Any kind is fine. Most go with the regular blends and/or Southern Pecan. Thanks for the consideration!

4th of July

"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” – Erma Bombeck (with special thanks to Mary Tom Bass)

Greetings from Kuwait where it's always sunny! What a treat to be celebrating the 4th of July with the Troops. Since I can't be with my own family, I can't think of a better group to be with. Though many of us don't get the day off here, there are some barbecues and stuff planned for this evening. I havn't heard of any fireworks, but we'll see. The new Terminator movie is showing so that gives us something to look forward to.

It's been a tough week (more so than usual) with the death of one of my Soldiers. The young man leaves behind 2 little girls under the age of 2, one of which was born while he was here. My heart aches for them.

I'm so proud of his unit at the same time. They're a small detachment of only 20 or so Soldiers. The entire batallion is only about 100 strong. Fortunately, this small band of brothers and sisters have not had any experience with losing one of their own. This led to a challenge pulling of the memorial ceremony. There was a leadership vacuum at this time resulting in an increased reliance on me. This at a time when I'm once again without a Chaplain Assistant. Nevertheless God is faithful and the ceremony was honoring to their fallen comrade. It provided the unit a time to grieve. It was very cathartic for all involved and provided a sense of closure. Closure doesn't mean we forget, we never will, but it is an important step in turning the corner and moving on.

As you celebrate this Independence Day, enjoy the time with family and friends. Thank God for this country and say a special prayer for the guardians of our freedom.

The Wandering Chaplain