Good stuff happening!

    I know its been a while, and there is no excuse.  Unfortunately, this is not going to be part of the "saga", rather just a quick update on what is happening.  But then....maybe this IS part of the saga.
    Life here is more or less the same.  Patrols, eat, sleep...repeat.  We have been able to get to know a few of the people in our AO (Area of Operation), most of them teenager boys.  Some of them are beginning to speak a bit of English, so it is fun to talk to them.  Personally, I'm not able to have as much contact as I would like, as I sit in a gunners turret the whole time, but I am still able to interact with a few of them.  While there are still bad people around, the locals seem to be responding to postive pressure (and a few contract dollars) by cleaning up the area and making it safer.  For  them, and for us.
    Inside the wire, I have had the priviledge of facilitating two small groups that have the potential to be life changing.  The first one is about sanctification, righteousness, and just plain getting rid of the stuff in our lives that shouldn't be there.  Each one of the three of us have been in the "hot seat", dealing with the stuff that the Holy Spirit indicates needs to go.  It is not a comfortable place to be, but it is so freeing.  The second group is more recent, but also deals with freedom - FINANCIAL.  About six of us started going thru Dave Ramseys Financial Peace University.  Helen and I went thru the series several years ago, but as I sat thru the first session, I was convicted.  I know this stuff, and God has blessed us beyond measure, but I am not using it to its potential.  So, here I am - back in the hot-seat, repenting for not being a faithful servant and good steward.  Although, Dave is a Christian, and uses scripture as a basis for a lot of his teaching, he is NOT a bible-thumper, which would turn off most of the guys here.  Being over here with quite a few financial benefits, this is a great opportunity for all of us, and our families, to get established in healthy financial habits.  I am hoping that I will be able to present it to all of the guys in my patrol set, as it is such a vital part of life, and most of us DON'T HAVE A CLUE!!!

    That's it for now, but I hope to get back to the "other" stuff soon.