Thursday, February 05, 2004

Within the cozy confides of my tent, sitting comfortably in a cushioned chair (obviously drug over from one of the near by palaces), while the sound of the falling hail beats against the canvass top, with Captain Educator strumming out soothing background music, I begin to capture the essence of my experience in another journal entry. 

I just returned from chow at the dining facility, where we were hoping to hangout until the rain stopped, but with Mother Nature calling we decided to take our chances. The speed of our return to the tents was dependent on the volume of rain falling, our ability to dash through the mud, and how bad we had to go.

The rainy season is upon us with its cloudbursts, large puddles of water everywhere, and cooler temperatures, too bad it can’t come during the summer when any kind of rain would be greatly appreciated.

Our days are now slowing down as new replacements have arrived and the majority of us prepare for the journey home to another type of reality. I have totally become accustomed to living in an area where background noises consist of frequent bursts of automatic weapon fire and loud explosions.

Except for the bare essentials, my gear is packed and ready to go, as we enter the last phase of this deployment. With all the formalities and procedures, the equipment clean up and turn in, and returning home briefings, it will take us about a month and a half before we actually step through the doors of our homes. But, if all goes well we will probably be there around the second week of March.

I am sure you can imagine how difficult it is going to be logistically to return this many troops at once. Just catching a flight out is going to be an interesting endeavor, with so many bodies to move. I can just imagine the long lines everywhere we go, as thousands begin their trek home.

Today there has been an unusual amount of gunfire and several large explosions have been heard around the area, just now several loud booms reverberating through my tent.

(The rustling of a mouse caught in the garbage sack has just interrupted my typing.)

I do a lot of walking these days as I make my way back and forth between the tent, the office, the dining facility, the showers, and the PX. At least I am getting in some exercise, with my arm too, now that I am back in a salute area, typical of any regular military base. 

The events of the last couple of days have taken me to an all-new spiritual high, especially as I contemplate the nature of the events and the sequence or timing of their occurrence. I have been deeply moved and touched by the continual stream of divinely inspired experiences, another testament of who is really in charge of my life over here.

I can’t go into all the details of what has been transpiring, but I can discuss the culminating event, which has given me great cause to celebrate the nature of my existence.

A couple of days ago I received messages that my wife and my battalion commander were trying to get in touch with me. After speaking with both of them, I was instructed to call one of President Bush’s main speechwriters on the White House staff. You can imagine by excitement and surprise to receive such instructions.

As instructed I phoned immediately to inquire about the nature of their interest. “The President is giving a speech during the Pray Breakfast on Thursday and would like to discuss certain details about Chief Wiggles and the toys�, was his response. He was trying to get in touch with me to confirm certain details about the success of the Chief Wiggles “Sharing Joys with Toys� for the Iraqi children and to obtain my permission to use a quote from my Blog.

“Of course, that would be great�, I responded, with humility and all sincerity.

In that the President’s speech was broadcast this morning, I am sure that many of you have already noticed the mention. I understand that both Fox News and C-Span2 aired or will air the speech.

I feel honored to receive this kind of recognition from my Commander and Chief. It is a privilege to be the subject of his interest and all of you who have helped make this happen should feel proud of your participation.  In all humility I am so surprised by how far we have gone with this. None of this would have happened without the help of all the great people who have contributed their time, energy, money, and of course toys.

I know you can’t fully comprehend the magnitude of this for me, but God is definitely in charge of my life and can move mountains when necessary. With God anything is possible and I continue to be part of an on going miracle.

Up until now I have endeavored to refrain from saying much about my personal religious preference, but since it is my journal I am going to take the liberty at this point, by quoting a scripture that came to mind as I was going through this experience.

This scripture is in the Book of Mormon, in the book of Mosiah, chapter 29, verse 20, and I quote, “But behold, he did deliver them because they did humble themselves before him: and because they cried mightily unto him he did deliver them out of bondage: and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him.�

As I was walking back along the dirt road to my tent I had cause to rejoice inside as I looked up into the heavens marveling at what had just happened. WOW. My faith strengthened, my testimony firm, I am better prepared to receive the next life-lesson as I travel down this road of my personal existence.

My heart is full of thanks and gratitude.

I love all of you

Chief Wiggles

I very loud boom crackled through the evening air, with gun fire following.