To Iraq … And
Back
To See the original in
Adobe PDF format click here
Monday, November 3rd, 2008
Dear Fiends and Family,
A couple more months of deployment have come and gone. I have now
been here in Iraq for four and a half months and away from my
family for five months. Although it is hard being separated, the
Lord is blessing my family and I in so many ways. Here is a
summary of a few ways that my family is being blessed at home:
James my oldest received a new set of drums for his birthday in
July. He plays on the church praise team and also with a group of
homeschoolers in the Chattanooga area. He is also learning the
skill of making knives from one of the elders at our church
– Hmmm, Elder and knife maker, what are the odds? I am
thankful for men like Wes who have stepped up to invest into my
son while I am gone.
Daniel, my ten year old son, shot his first dear a couple weeks
ago. It was a large buck and caused my son to get a large head. A
local farmer named Mack helped my boys set up a tree stand and is
teaching them to hunt. Hopefully by the end of the season, both
boys will have a deer, or multiple deer.
Daniel, Sarah Beth, and Joshua are all involved in Upward
basketball. My wife and I were able to help start this program at
First Baptist Church in Dayton before I joined the Army, and now
it is good to see our kids really benefiting from it as well.
John Mark, my youngest boy, caught his first fish this summer. It
was a large mouth bass that weighed in around two pounds. Not bad
for a first fish. Maybe he will be a natural fisherman when he
gets older.
Anna Maria, my youngest daughter, just turned two the other day.
I called and sang “Happy Birthday” to her, and when I
finished, she actually sang it back to me … kind of. What is
amazing though is that she is talking like crazy and she is
growing up so much while I am gone. I hope she still remembers me
when I return home next year!
Finally, my beautiful wife LaDonna, is blessed most of all. There
is nothing quite like being separated from someone you love so
much to help you know how much you love and miss that person.
LaDonna and I celebrated 18 years of marriage this summer. She
isn’t blessed because she is married to me, she is blessed
of God. In the midst of this deployment, she is raising six
children, leading worship at our church, helping with the
children’s ministry, going hunting and fishing with our sons,
homeschooling four of the children … and might I add that
she changed the wax ring on a leaky toilet the other day! There
is no challenge that she has not been able to rise and meet. She
is indeed a Blessed Woman.
I love my family at home and I miss them greatly, but I want to
introduce you to some of my new family. Week by week, God is
growing my “Spiritual Family” as I see young men giving
their lives to God through the power of Jesus Christ, and then
following Him in baptism.
.
This is Nathan Saye. He was baptized on September 21st after
surrendering his life to Christ while sitting next to a Blackhawk
helicopter. He is 19 years old.
.
This is Christopher Williford. This young man came to my office
to talk about a broken heart, and left with a new heart after
finding healing through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. He is on
“fire” for the truth of God’s word and sharing it
with all of his friends. We baptized him on September 28th.
This is Michael Hall. He surrendered his life to the Lord one
Sunday afternoon shortly after I finished preaching a service in
the hangar where he works. He has gone to church for many years,
but finally decided to jump in all the way and we baptized him on
September 28th.
This is Derek Bailey. He gave his life to Christ many years ago
and has now decided to follow up with baptism. He is a regular at
our flight line services and comes to Bible studies as well. He
was baptized on September 28th.
.
This is Joseph Levings. While in the privacy of his own room, he
cried out to God and found friendship with Him. He has since
become one of our radical “high fivers” who goes around
encouraging others with hand slaps up high. He attends our flight
line services and Bible studies as well. We baptized him on
September 28th.
.
This is John Eldridge. He gave his life to Christ one evening
while standing outside his room. He had grown up in the church
but had never understood the message. Now the “Good
News” of Jesus Christ has penetrated the depths of his heart
and caused him to start a new life in faith in Jesus Christ. He
now is an active part of our flight line services and attends the
Bible studies as well. We baptized him on September 28th.
.
This is Charles Sapp. I was not able to baptize him due to being
called out on an emergency, but my good friend Chaplain Tim
Gresham stepped in to help. Charles gave his life to Christ one
evening in the hangar shortly after a service. He is a prior
Marine (as is Chaplain Gresham) and is one tough soldier. We
baptized him on October 9th.
.
This is Owen Pontley. He has been a Christian for many years but
has never followed up with baptism. He is a member of the
“High Five” gang and is a big encouragement to all of
the men on the flight line. We baptized him last Sunday, November
2nd.
The young man with me here is Private Cameron Smith, my new
Chaplain Assistant. He is 19 years old, coming to us from his
home state of Texas. He has quickly made an impression on myself
and all the rest of the troops with his upbeat spirit and his
good natured attitude. We are standing in front of what is
normally a parking lot, but we now call it Lake Comanche.
Thanks so much for all of you who email, write, send care
packages, and most of all pray. YOU are making a difference in
the lives of both my own family at home and my Army family here.
Keep it up.
The Holidays are coming (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years).
Here are some ideas of things that you could send for Soldiers:
.
Christmas and Holiday decorations.
.
Any kind of chocolate! It is the hardest commodity to come by
here.
.
Stockings and stocking stuffers.
.
Phone cards to call home.
.
Any other small gift that could be given to a Soldier.
Holidays are the hardest times of the year for Soldiers.
Thanks for making a difference in their lives and for praying for
them.
CH (CPT) Mark Olson
Unit 6061, HHC, 3-4 AVN BN
Camp Taji, Iraq
APO AE 09378
For God and Country
Chaplain Mark Olson