Well, I'm finally moved into my permanent residence, and as you can see, I finally have some internet access. I must say though, that up until the time of writing this, the internet has been so extremely slow that I have been contemplating the thought of quite possibly canceling my subscription. Although, it is actually moving with some decent speed... so maybe it will work out after all? Hopefully it all works out, because this is my main avenue of communication. I gets hot here, around 110 or so, in the afternoon time and into the evening, but then it cools off to the point that my ears fingers and nose get cold! It might only be like 70 some outide, but brrr!
I've been working long hours, as Sarah said earlier, 12 hour shifts right through the night! I work at what is called an ECP - entry control point. This is where vehicles come in and out of the base. There is also an LSF - legion security force ECP located just in front of ours. This is where 2 Iraqi's work. It is pretty fun being able to talk to all of those guys. It's kind of weird, for many different reasons. First of all, I've never come in close contact with people of such a different culture before! The left hand is considered the 'dirty' hand, so you don't point, shake, or wave with this hand. The 'thumbs up' symbol is horribly offensive here, along with the 'OK' symbol. Another thing that makes it weird, is that in order to communicate, you have to speak all broken up. You pretty much drop all words of the English language except for the important verbs and adjectives. Then, to fill in the blanks, you use a whole crap load of hand gestures.
Well, Sarah sent me the camcorder, so I hope to take a small video tour of my living area so that everyone can see what it is that I live in. I have to say though, that for this being my first deployment, I am getting extremely spoiled at this base. It is a very nice place, with lots of food, and enough space so that you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the ECP area, and still be a few minutes drive away from the DFAC - dining facility or the GYM!
I hope to keep in touch a lot more! Especially if this internet keeps up! And thank you to everyone for all your prayers and continued support for my wife as she battles civilian life back home.
P.S. - The title of this post is the Arabic word for 'hello', and I spelled it how it should be pronounced phonetically.
24 September 2007
19 September 2007
2 a.m.
Last night, around 5:00pm, I was lying in bed with the latest sickness going around, a cold. I had a headache and my nose was stuffy. I was tired. It had been a week since I'd heard from Brandon, and he was heavy on my mind.
The phone rang.
I checked the number...it was HIM!
"Hello?" I said. A few seconds passed. There was a short delay between lines.
"Hi," he said.
Relief and warm fuzzies washed over me as we began our third conversation since he's been in Iraq. It was 2:00am over there.
He's been doing 12-hour overnight security shifts for the past couple weeks. He's not in his permanent location yet, but his address will remain the same when he DOES relocate.
He bought a TV from a guy over there who is leaving soon. Now, when he has the chance, he'll be able to watch movies and play games. There is a place there where he can purchase movies cheaply.
His health is good, and he's been spending some time working out at the gym. The food is apparently better than what he ate in Mississippi and Kuwait. Its really hot over there, like 120 degrees during the day, but its dry heat, so its tolerable (if you can call it that).
He bought a pellet gun and some pellets and has been shooting at rats. Hehe. He's learned, through observation, that the rats (size of his foot) are attracted to pop-tart crumbs so when he gets more pellets, he's going to bait the rats with crumbs and then get em! Haha. That is so like him to do that. It brought us a lot of laughs.
Although our conversations are limited as far as details of his mission and such, we are able to connect in other ways, talking about our thoughts, and dreams and you know, heart stuff.
We talked for over an hour and it was wonderful. He still can't think of anything he needs yet, but feel free to write him. When he relocates to his permanent location, he'll have internet access.
He'd like prayer for the ability and patience to deal with those who are leading his platoon. The bible instructs us to pray for those in authority. I ask that you do this also, pray that they will give wise instruction for the troops that is in the best interest of the soldiers and the mission.
-Sarah
The phone rang.
I checked the number...it was HIM!
"Hello?" I said. A few seconds passed. There was a short delay between lines.
"Hi," he said.
Relief and warm fuzzies washed over me as we began our third conversation since he's been in Iraq. It was 2:00am over there.
He's been doing 12-hour overnight security shifts for the past couple weeks. He's not in his permanent location yet, but his address will remain the same when he DOES relocate.
He bought a TV from a guy over there who is leaving soon. Now, when he has the chance, he'll be able to watch movies and play games. There is a place there where he can purchase movies cheaply.
His health is good, and he's been spending some time working out at the gym. The food is apparently better than what he ate in Mississippi and Kuwait. Its really hot over there, like 120 degrees during the day, but its dry heat, so its tolerable (if you can call it that).
He bought a pellet gun and some pellets and has been shooting at rats. Hehe. He's learned, through observation, that the rats (size of his foot) are attracted to pop-tart crumbs so when he gets more pellets, he's going to bait the rats with crumbs and then get em! Haha. That is so like him to do that. It brought us a lot of laughs.
Although our conversations are limited as far as details of his mission and such, we are able to connect in other ways, talking about our thoughts, and dreams and you know, heart stuff.
We talked for over an hour and it was wonderful. He still can't think of anything he needs yet, but feel free to write him. When he relocates to his permanent location, he'll have internet access.
He'd like prayer for the ability and patience to deal with those who are leading his platoon. The bible instructs us to pray for those in authority. I ask that you do this also, pray that they will give wise instruction for the troops that is in the best interest of the soldiers and the mission.
-Sarah
18 September 2007
Us
I haven't updated this in a little while, so I thought I'd share what I know. Brandon is in Iraq now, although not in his permanent location just yet. I talked to him early last week. He is unable to share details, for security purposes. When I asked, he couldn't think of anything he needed or wanted presently, but said he'd keep me posted. He thinks he will have internet access at some point, just not yet. I'm sure he would appreciate letters, though. His current address is posted on the right.
As for me, I'm doing well. Its raining today and I absolutely LOVE rain. God has blessed me incredibly and although this is the toughest thing I've ever gone through, by God's grace, I'm growing. Even on the really hard days, I never regret this decision. I have faced so many challenges over the past four and a half weeks since saying goodbye to Brandon, and with each one, I remember the face of my Bran and ask God for strength and push through.
I'm so proud of my husband. Bran, if you read this, know that I love you!
As for me, I'm doing well. Its raining today and I absolutely LOVE rain. God has blessed me incredibly and although this is the toughest thing I've ever gone through, by God's grace, I'm growing. Even on the really hard days, I never regret this decision. I have faced so many challenges over the past four and a half weeks since saying goodbye to Brandon, and with each one, I remember the face of my Bran and ask God for strength and push through.
I'm so proud of my husband. Bran, if you read this, know that I love you!
04 September 2007
News from Kuwait
I heard from Brandon yesterday! He's doing well. He's been spending the past two weeks attending a few classes, seeing the desert, enduring lots of sand and preparing to head into Iraq to begin their missions.
While on a "tour" of the desert, he noticed small holes here and there. Then, a lizard, about two and a half feet long, poked his head out, skittered across the desert and ducked into another hole. Crazy, huh? He also saw a camel rolling around in the sand, another one got spooked and started booking it across the sand. He saw a sand tornado, too. If you haven't checked it out yet, you should take a look at the sandstorm videos at the bottom of the blog. They're pretty wild...and common over there.
His access to phone and internet is pretty limited right now, so as I hear more, I will update the blog. Please, keep praying for the safety of Brandon and the other soldiers and that they would be able to focus on their missions ahead of them.
Sarah
While on a "tour" of the desert, he noticed small holes here and there. Then, a lizard, about two and a half feet long, poked his head out, skittered across the desert and ducked into another hole. Crazy, huh? He also saw a camel rolling around in the sand, another one got spooked and started booking it across the sand. He saw a sand tornado, too. If you haven't checked it out yet, you should take a look at the sandstorm videos at the bottom of the blog. They're pretty wild...and common over there.
His access to phone and internet is pretty limited right now, so as I hear more, I will update the blog. Please, keep praying for the safety of Brandon and the other soldiers and that they would be able to focus on their missions ahead of them.
Sarah
01 September 2007
Thus Far
I have no new news from Brandon, although if you check out his buddies' blogs (links at right), you can read about what some of the troops have been doing. I just wanted to show you all this picture of Brandon from last week on his way to Kuwait. Note what he's carrying with him...his laptop. Hehehe. Typical Bran.
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