Wow. That would be too close for comfort. Who is Marie I wondered as I
read? There is too muc of this going on over there. Often we selfishly
take for granted such things in light of our daily lives, May God protect
those that are there and finish a work there that was meant to birth a
peaceful and free people.
Brad
At 11/10/2003 on Monday, you wrote:
>Sunday, October 26, 2003
>
>Dear family and friends,
>
>I write this somewhat shaken, but very, VERY thankful to God. We received an
>email from Marie (in Iraq) this morning before we left for church. As you
>read the following excerpts, please remember to pray for her and all those
>putting their lives on the line over there.
>
>--------------- Original Message ---------------
>Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2003 9:59 PM
>Subject: Hi
>
>Hi! Sorry I haven't written, but there has been a lot going on over here.
>First of all, I am disappointed to say that I probably won't get to go on
>leave on the time scheduled; however, hopefully either at the very end of
>November or early December. Still, nothing is for sure- I'm just looking at
>how the schedules before me are changing, and its pretty likely the same
>will happen to me. But thank you for the food package by the way! I guess
>I still won't be getting my own food for a while!
>
>Anyway, it is now the month of Ramadan, so guess what. The attacks have
>gotten more frequent and much more serious. I had an extremely close call
>night before last. I was at another military camp, and happened to be at
>the medical station when we had a HUGE mortar attack. Mortars are like
>bombs, and way bigger than grenades! And it was literally raining mortars.
>I don't know how to describe what its like to be caught in the middle of
>something like that! There were so many injuries, and I got to be a medic
>assistant for the rest of the night. I got tasked out to write down all the
>injured people's names, units, etc, and what their injuries were. For
>example, one soldier had been hit in the face, another speared in the back
>with a huge piece of flying metal, and another one had so much shrapnel in
>her leg she couldn't even move it. It was a pretty gruesome experience, but
>I was able to stay calm, and was commended by the senior medic for my help.
>
>But I had an experience of my own that night, and if it wasn't for a
>miracle, I would be dead right now. I was walking towards another medics
>office, and one of those mortars landed- I kid you not- about 5 feet in
>front of me! In that split second that I realized what was happening and
>that in the next second I was going to be blasted to pieces, everything
>seemed to go in slow motion. I saw you guys, Peter and Robert, the
>Mannings, my friends Brandy and Justin, and I felt sad to be leaving
>everybody. But then, there was this strange silence. That mortar never
>exploded! It was inspected later and apparently, the firing pin had somehow
>malfunctioned. So if that is not a miracle directly from God, I don't know
>what is! Mortars were falling all over the place and exploding just fine
>all night, but the one that would have instantly killed me did not!
>
>On Monday morning I am singing at a memorial service for the third time;
>this time for a Captain Teal, who was killed by a roadside bomb the day of
>the mortar attack. I am curious in a morbid sort of way as to how many
>memorial services I will have participated in by the end of this deployment!
>
>Well, I'm sorry this is such a disturbing email, but its the truth! Please
>pray that we all survive this month. It is rumored that Al Qaida terrorists
>moving into the area are the culprits for all these breakouts of attacks.
>
>...Please write me soon! I love you all!
>
>~Marie
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>It is very sobering to realize the dangers Marie is facing daily. If only we
>could somehow whisk her away from there! And yet how thankful we are for the
>Lord's "precision protection" over her! And how calming to know that nothing
>ever happens to one of God's children without first passing through his
>loving hands.
>
>As a family we have been reading through the gospel of Luke lately. Jesus
>often told his followers that for God's children even death has lost its
>terror. He said, "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill
> the body and after that can do no more." -Luke 12:4. For his children, the
>worst thing that can happen is the best thing! On the other side of eternity
>I'm sure we'll be shaking our heads and saying, "Was THAT what I was so
>afraid of?"
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