This week

This has not been the best week. We have already had 2 memorial services and will likely have another coming up, to honor those who lost their lives in the tragic attacks of last weekend. Remembrance Day (English Commonwealth's [Great Britain, Canada, Australia] equivalent of Veteran's Day) will take on added significance in light of its close proximity to these recent events. As a chaplain I have been asked to give prayers and remarks in these services. The Australain Artillery unit (they mentor the Afgahn National Army Artillery School) has adopted me as their chaplain. They have had 3 memorial services since I have been here, and I pray that there will be no more. This is my first deployment, so experiencing the emotions that go along with these events has been a new experience for me. The Aussies are a very experienced unit, and have been good mentors for me. Right after we got the bad news last week, the Australian Sergeant Major advised me to go ahead with the weekly watercolor class I was to teach that night. I followed his advice and it was good to do something that got my mind off the day's events and brought a little peace (the soothing music was very helpful). Three soldiers came and painted, so I was glad we went ahead with it.

This evening we ate with the Afghans. We had gushte gusfan (lamb) that had just been slaughtered today. It was very tender, and we ate it with some shredded cabbage, mini-limes, and non (bread). It was interesting to see inside the Afghan military dining facility. Some of the cooking pots are so large, you could literally take a bath in them! The civilian contractor who mentors their dining facility operations said that they serve about 13,000 meals a day!

Afghanistan does not have daylight savings time, so it has been getting dark here around 5:30pm for a while. The weather here has been beautiful of late--cool, clear skies. I am well-fed and get to work out at the gym regularly; I have no complaints. I just miss my family!