Six Months Away From Home

My apologies for my email silence over the last two weeks.  Things have been picking up as the warmer weather approaches.  We continue to have consistent mortar attacks but fortunately they have not resulted in any human casualties.  We have a defense system called Counter - Rocket, Artillery and Mortar gun or C-RAMs that are stationed near the outside walls.  As I understand it they are linked in to the radar system and when an incoming rocket, mortar or other artillery shell is picked up it identifies the object and sends 75 20mm highly explosive rounds a second at the target blowing them out of the sky before they can do any damage.  The C-RAMs have a purported 80% efficacy against rockets.  Our system was not functional when I first arrived here but it is working now.  About ten minutes ago I heard the ‘incoming’ alarm and then heard the very distinctive sound of the C-RAM letting loose.  It must have been the C-RAM closest to the hospital because it shook the walls of the break room for about 5 seconds.  I am guessing that the target was destroyed because shortly after we go the ‘all clear’.   I am sure there is a YouTube video out there of what this sounds like but if you hear it once you’ll never forget it.  I for one am grateful for technology like this. 

It is easy to remember that you are at war when almost daily you see the casualties of the fight or hear things like the C-RAMs that let you know that the enemy is always out there waiting for you to let down your guard.  I see many potential analogies to our spiritual lives and the war that we are fighting every day against the darkness and evil of this world.  Unfortunately Satan is a much stealthier opponent than is the Taliban.  He has millennia of experience and specializes in distraction so that nearly all of his targets forget that there is even a war taking place.  He distracts our attention with worldly attainment and success leading us slowly but consistently away from the real purpose of our mortality.  God has given us things like the C-RAMs, weapons with which to ward off the fiery darts of the adversary but unlike the C-RAM God’s tools are 100% effective when appropriately used.  Our C-RAMs are mounted on huge watch towers that overlook the concrete barriers that form the perimeter wall.  Centuries are posted on the watch towers to warn of enemy movement.  We had an incredible opportunity to hear from the watchmen God has given us last week in General Conference.  I hope that we all realize what an incredible gift it is to have living prophets who warn of the enemy’s movements and what we need to do to stay safe.  The scriptures contain the words of the watchmen of the past and their words apply to us as much now as when they were originally spoken.  As we heed the words of the prophets both ancient and modern we will feel the spirit in our lives guiding us on our individual missions to build the kingdom of God and prepare the world for the return of Jesus Christ.  Most importantly the spirit allows you to see through the fog and Siren’s song of Satan so that you can steer your course through the obstacles he will throw up in your way.

I don’t have a lot of time right now but wanted to get this email out even if it is short.  I want to end with something someone said in church last week that I have been thinking a lot about.  It is this, “We need to minimize the gap between what we believe and what we do.”  This is not a time for fence sitting or being lukewarm (Revelations 3:16).  We are at war our spiritual lives are threatened every day and we would do well to remember as we awake each day that all is not well in Zion. Start each day by putting on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).  Never do anything that would cause you to lose the sword of the spirit as it is the only weapon you have to actively fight against Satan’s power.  I have great hope for the future because I know in whom I have trusted.  Have a great week one and all.  

Real C-RAM

The previous Bishop of our ward (or church congregation), Bishop Troy Mitchell, sent Brett a pecan pie from a famously good restaurant in Galveston, TX. Brett said it was the most amazing pecan pie he's ever had and he ate almost 1/2 of it himself!!! Thannks, Bishop!!!!