Our battalion got back on Tuesday, but Cami and the kids whisked me off to Lake Geneva for a couple days/nights together before coming home. Then, Thursday, I was absolutely overwhelmed with what awaited me. Cami didn't drive home, but to the edge of town, where the Patriot riders, Police & Fire department, Marengo Junior High, members and students of Zion Lutheran School were lined up for a parade. They put me and the kids on the back of a PT cruiser and drove through town to Zion's parking lot.
Here's the Northwest Herald article and some photos:
www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/10/31/news/local/doc490a91a9ce3ec156369668.txt
www.nwherald.com/multimedia/photos/20081030pastor/
Needless to say, I'm still reeling from the welcome home. I did tell everyone gathered, that they have set a pretty high bar for all future soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines or coastguardsmen that come back to Marengo. I couldn't help but remember all the veterans that served before me that had no reception, or even worse, were criticized or attacked for thier service. I thank every one of this nation's citizens that welcome home someone who has served, regardless of their opinions about the military or why the military is used.
Sitting in my own office today, typing this post, I thank God for all He has done to see us through this past year. I thank God for each of you also, who have been with me and my battalion with your care packages, letters, assistance to our families, and prayers. God bless you as much as He has blessed the 327th MP BN.
"Warrior Police...Making it Happen!"
In His Grip,
Pastor Ayers
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Here's a video of a flag raising ceremony conducted today in honor of the fallen heroes. The 327th MP Battalion will never forget!
"As we near the end of our deployment, its difficult to keep our minds clear, and our focus on completing the mission. Thoughts of our family, friends, and our own comfortable beds tend to distract even the most squared away soldier. Today, we're having an awards ceremony and I'm planning on using Galatians 6:9 for the invocation: "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up". This was the verse we adopted for our battalion as the theme for this deployment. I'm going to remind all these fine warriors that even though there were many opportunities to grow weary, getting so tired that they could have given up...they didn't. And today, they will be honored for their perseverance. Now we can all thank God for giving us the strength for seeing us through. Today, they will reap a harvest, they will receive an award for their honorable service. To all of you prayer warriors that have been so diligent in praying us through this deployment, please pray that our re-deployment goes smoothly, all "boxes get checked", and we move safely through all the hoops. Boots on ground in the good ole' USA is so very close...I'll post again when we hit ground. Peace be with you all!
CH (CPT) Ray Ayers
CH (CPT) Ray Ayers
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Thank You!
Dear Friend! We received your package today and your timing was perfect. We are getting ready to prepare for going home (redeployment) and the chaplain assistant and I are cleaning up our care package area. Since we will be leaving soon (yippee!) we're asking all of our faithful donors to discontinue any further shipments. We wouldn't want to miss anything that was lovingly prepared for us :-)
On that note, you and your Bible class are so kind to be thinking of us and encouraging us with your thoughfulness. You have touched lives here for Christ and I can now better understand how He "feeds" us so He can truly "feed" us. The soldiers always ask: "Who are all these people that send you all this stuff Chaplain?" I of course, take the opportunity to say: "These Lutherans are good people aren't they! All they're doing is sharing the love they have from Jesus". Works great when you can hand them some candy at the same time!
You will never grasp the impact you have had on these soldiers and the ministry into which God has called me. I can't imagine now, coming over here and living through what we've been through, without the love and support of God's people. I will cherish your words of encouragement and the way your care for us has seen us through. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Thanks again, and God bless you richly, for you have been a tremendous blessing to us.
In His Grip,
CH (CPT) Ray Ayers
327th MP BN, Chaplain
On that note, you and your Bible class are so kind to be thinking of us and encouraging us with your thoughfulness. You have touched lives here for Christ and I can now better understand how He "feeds" us so He can truly "feed" us. The soldiers always ask: "Who are all these people that send you all this stuff Chaplain?" I of course, take the opportunity to say: "These Lutherans are good people aren't they! All they're doing is sharing the love they have from Jesus". Works great when you can hand them some candy at the same time!
You will never grasp the impact you have had on these soldiers and the ministry into which God has called me. I can't imagine now, coming over here and living through what we've been through, without the love and support of God's people. I will cherish your words of encouragement and the way your care for us has seen us through. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Thanks again, and God bless you richly, for you have been a tremendous blessing to us.
In His Grip,
CH (CPT) Ray Ayers
327th MP BN, Chaplain
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Army Now Leaning More On Chaplains
Chicago Tribune
August 12, 2008
Army Now Leaning More On Chaplains
In addition to spiritual guidance, pastors' duties include taking classes to recognize red flags of post traumatic stress disorder, suicidal behavior in soldiers
By Deborah Horan, Tribune reporter
Rev. Greg Moser keeps a stack of books on jihad in Asia next to a copy of the Bible in his office. He stores a "battle book" in a drawer at United in Faith Lutheran Church in northwest Chicago. And when Moser is not tending to his flock, the fit pastor with a buzz cut is learning to decode signs of mental stress on the battlefield.
Far from the role of Rev. John Mulcahy, the wisecracking chaplain portrayed on the TV series "M*A*S*H," chaplains sent to support troops in Iraq and Afghanistan today increasingly are being tapped to deal with the darker side of combat, including recognizing the signs of post traumatic stress disorder and potential suicide while they help train soldiers to mentally transition in and out of battle.
"We don't just veg out and say prayers all day," said Moser, 43, who enlisted to become a military chaplain eight years ago, long after he was ordained.
Chaplains always have been on war fronts to cater to soldiers' spiritual needs. Most soldiers never need a battlefield pastor beyond church services and an occasional sympathetic ear. But as the military tackles a rising suicide rate and increased instances of PTSD, it has turned to chaplains to help stem combat-related stress disorders.
To get ready for a stint in Afghanistan this fall, where Moser and five other chaplains will support the largest overseas deployment of Illinois National Guardsmen since World War II, the pastor was assigned to take military classes with names like Combat Operations and Stress Control, and Combat Medical Ministry.
He learned about cues -- quick anger, hypervigilance, changes in eating habits -- that might signal a soldier could be in mental distress. And he learned how to teach soldiers to mentally prep for war and then to leave the battlefield behind when it's time to come home.
"In the old days, it's what one old chaplain would have passed to another old chaplain," said Col. Daniel Krumrei, who served overseas in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War and now heads Illinois' Army chaplaincy.
"Nowadays a lot of it is more formalized, comes out of the behavioral sciences," he said. "The young guys are better trained than I was."
The military's suicide rate, which lingers just under 20 per 100,000, according to reports in Army and mainstream publications, is still below that of a similar demographic in the general population. The Department of Defense estimates that up to 20 percent of soldiers return with combat stress disorders -- a number disputed by some soldiers and chaplains as too high.
But a slight upswing in suicides -- an increase of fewer than a dozen a year, according to some reports -- and the realization that as many as 1 in 5 soldiers may have to cope with PTSD have forced the military to take the situation seriously. In 2004, it dispatched a team of behavioral scientists and psychologists to Iraq and Afghanistan to identify combat stresses specific to these wars and find ways to combat them. The result: a concept called "battle-mind readiness" designed to ease anxiety by teaching soldiers what to expect.
The military charged chaplains with the job of teaching the concept to soldiers.
"Chaplains are such an integral part of morale and quality of life issues, it was an easy fit," said 2nd Lt. Justin Antweiler, 34, a chaplain-in-training who oversees the Guard's reintegration program in Illinois.
"We're not teaching them to fight," Antweiler said. "We're teaching them to cope."
To do that, chaplains use stark and sometimes startling pictures from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The curriculum covers such topics as what you may smell (such as burnt flesh and hair) and what you may think (I'm wasting my life, for example).
Battle-mind teaching materials also offer some grim statistics: 94 percent of deployed soldiers, for instance, reported that they knew someone who had been killed or seriously wounded. On the other hand, almost 20 percent of soldiers reported having saved the life of a soldier or civilian. The point is to prepare soldiers for what to expect.
"Hats off to the Army for saying, 'Let's find out how folks are doing,'" said Maj. Todd Yosick, who headed the battle-mind office in Washington for three years and helped design the program.
The biggest issues facing soldiers still involve family relations and employment or schooling, and not the residual effects of combat stress, said chaplain John Morris, a pastor with the Minnesota National Guard. He developed a program to help soldiers reintegrate into American life.
"It's culture shock," Morris said. "Over there, hey, you were a war hero. Here, people think you've wasted a year of your life. Your family learned to row the boat without you. School is boring, and you're on campus with people who might be the same age but aren't the same maturity level. This is the stuff that will make you crazy."
Some soldiers find it tougher than others to leave their battlefield experiences behind. The first challenge for chaplains is to help reduce that number by acclimating soldiers to conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan before they touch ground since follow-up research suggests soldiers who receive such training fare better when their tours end, Yosick said.
Then the challenge is to identify the returning soldiers who might be having trouble -- not an easy task in a military culture that lauds bravado and looks down on weakness, chaplains said. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that the scars of battle manifest differently in everyone. Many returning soldiers have trouble driving on suburban streets without jumping at the sound of a car backfiring or seeing a box on the side of the road, some chaplains said.
Sometimes a distressed soldier's buddies will alert a chaplain to a problem in time to avert tragedy. That was the case a while back when a soldier's buddy told Antweiler he thought his friend might be suicidal, for instance, and the chaplain-in-training was able to help the man deal with a lost sense of purpose outside of the war zone.
Other endings aren't so happy.
Near the books in Moser's office in Chicago is a photo of him presiding over the funeral of a soldier who took his own life. He keeps it there, surrounded by other pictures and books on Scripture. But he prefers to dwell on the positive. It's what drove him to his hybrid life's calling, part pastor, part soldier.
"I love being a chaplain," Moser said. "I love taking care of soldiers and their families."
August 12, 2008
Army Now Leaning More On Chaplains
In addition to spiritual guidance, pastors' duties include taking classes to recognize red flags of post traumatic stress disorder, suicidal behavior in soldiers
By Deborah Horan, Tribune reporter
Rev. Greg Moser keeps a stack of books on jihad in Asia next to a copy of the Bible in his office. He stores a "battle book" in a drawer at United in Faith Lutheran Church in northwest Chicago. And when Moser is not tending to his flock, the fit pastor with a buzz cut is learning to decode signs of mental stress on the battlefield.
Far from the role of Rev. John Mulcahy, the wisecracking chaplain portrayed on the TV series "M*A*S*H," chaplains sent to support troops in Iraq and Afghanistan today increasingly are being tapped to deal with the darker side of combat, including recognizing the signs of post traumatic stress disorder and potential suicide while they help train soldiers to mentally transition in and out of battle.
"We don't just veg out and say prayers all day," said Moser, 43, who enlisted to become a military chaplain eight years ago, long after he was ordained.
Chaplains always have been on war fronts to cater to soldiers' spiritual needs. Most soldiers never need a battlefield pastor beyond church services and an occasional sympathetic ear. But as the military tackles a rising suicide rate and increased instances of PTSD, it has turned to chaplains to help stem combat-related stress disorders.
To get ready for a stint in Afghanistan this fall, where Moser and five other chaplains will support the largest overseas deployment of Illinois National Guardsmen since World War II, the pastor was assigned to take military classes with names like Combat Operations and Stress Control, and Combat Medical Ministry.
He learned about cues -- quick anger, hypervigilance, changes in eating habits -- that might signal a soldier could be in mental distress. And he learned how to teach soldiers to mentally prep for war and then to leave the battlefield behind when it's time to come home.
"In the old days, it's what one old chaplain would have passed to another old chaplain," said Col. Daniel Krumrei, who served overseas in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War and now heads Illinois' Army chaplaincy.
"Nowadays a lot of it is more formalized, comes out of the behavioral sciences," he said. "The young guys are better trained than I was."
The military's suicide rate, which lingers just under 20 per 100,000, according to reports in Army and mainstream publications, is still below that of a similar demographic in the general population. The Department of Defense estimates that up to 20 percent of soldiers return with combat stress disorders -- a number disputed by some soldiers and chaplains as too high.
But a slight upswing in suicides -- an increase of fewer than a dozen a year, according to some reports -- and the realization that as many as 1 in 5 soldiers may have to cope with PTSD have forced the military to take the situation seriously. In 2004, it dispatched a team of behavioral scientists and psychologists to Iraq and Afghanistan to identify combat stresses specific to these wars and find ways to combat them. The result: a concept called "battle-mind readiness" designed to ease anxiety by teaching soldiers what to expect.
The military charged chaplains with the job of teaching the concept to soldiers.
"Chaplains are such an integral part of morale and quality of life issues, it was an easy fit," said 2nd Lt. Justin Antweiler, 34, a chaplain-in-training who oversees the Guard's reintegration program in Illinois.
"We're not teaching them to fight," Antweiler said. "We're teaching them to cope."
To do that, chaplains use stark and sometimes startling pictures from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The curriculum covers such topics as what you may smell (such as burnt flesh and hair) and what you may think (I'm wasting my life, for example).
Battle-mind teaching materials also offer some grim statistics: 94 percent of deployed soldiers, for instance, reported that they knew someone who had been killed or seriously wounded. On the other hand, almost 20 percent of soldiers reported having saved the life of a soldier or civilian. The point is to prepare soldiers for what to expect.
"Hats off to the Army for saying, 'Let's find out how folks are doing,'" said Maj. Todd Yosick, who headed the battle-mind office in Washington for three years and helped design the program.
The biggest issues facing soldiers still involve family relations and employment or schooling, and not the residual effects of combat stress, said chaplain John Morris, a pastor with the Minnesota National Guard. He developed a program to help soldiers reintegrate into American life.
"It's culture shock," Morris said. "Over there, hey, you were a war hero. Here, people think you've wasted a year of your life. Your family learned to row the boat without you. School is boring, and you're on campus with people who might be the same age but aren't the same maturity level. This is the stuff that will make you crazy."
Some soldiers find it tougher than others to leave their battlefield experiences behind. The first challenge for chaplains is to help reduce that number by acclimating soldiers to conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan before they touch ground since follow-up research suggests soldiers who receive such training fare better when their tours end, Yosick said.
Then the challenge is to identify the returning soldiers who might be having trouble -- not an easy task in a military culture that lauds bravado and looks down on weakness, chaplains said. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that the scars of battle manifest differently in everyone. Many returning soldiers have trouble driving on suburban streets without jumping at the sound of a car backfiring or seeing a box on the side of the road, some chaplains said.
Sometimes a distressed soldier's buddies will alert a chaplain to a problem in time to avert tragedy. That was the case a while back when a soldier's buddy told Antweiler he thought his friend might be suicidal, for instance, and the chaplain-in-training was able to help the man deal with a lost sense of purpose outside of the war zone.
Other endings aren't so happy.
Near the books in Moser's office in Chicago is a photo of him presiding over the funeral of a soldier who took his own life. He keeps it there, surrounded by other pictures and books on Scripture. But he prefers to dwell on the positive. It's what drove him to his hybrid life's calling, part pastor, part soldier.
"I love being a chaplain," Moser said. "I love taking care of soldiers and their families."
"Circuit Installer" - Installing Chaplains in Iraq
Here's two different postings. The first one is an article from the Chicago Tribune re: Chaplains. The second is a couple photos and video from another installation I conducted over here. Pretty cool to see how God is making me a "circuit installer"
:-)
CH (MAJ) Daniel Jones is a National Guard LCMS Chaplain and was called by the Ministry to the Armed Forces (MAF is all the LCMS chaplain's endorser...the Army requires that we be endorsed by an approved ecclesiastical body before they accept us into the Chaplaincy). Since he didn't have a church at home, he's officially called into the Chaplaincy (as opposed to me, where my Call is still with Zion Lutheran and I'm sent as a missionary).
And to make things even more exciting, there was ANOTHER chaplain here who participated in the Installation Service---imagine that, 3 LCMS Chaplains in one place! His name is CH (1LT) Craig Muhlbach from Indiana.
Makin' memories!
:-)
CH (MAJ) Daniel Jones is a National Guard LCMS Chaplain and was called by the Ministry to the Armed Forces (MAF is all the LCMS chaplain's endorser...the Army requires that we be endorsed by an approved ecclesiastical body before they accept us into the Chaplaincy). Since he didn't have a church at home, he's officially called into the Chaplaincy (as opposed to me, where my Call is still with Zion Lutheran and I'm sent as a missionary).
And to make things even more exciting, there was ANOTHER chaplain here who participated in the Installation Service---imagine that, 3 LCMS Chaplains in one place! His name is CH (1LT) Craig Muhlbach from Indiana.
Makin' memories!
Monday, August 4, 2008
God Experiences
There are few things that remind us of who we are. Whenever we experience them, we know they were sent by God. Whether it be a tragedy, an unexpected blessing, or just a day when you recognize that it is good to be alive; you just relish in the fact that you are a child of God.
I had one of those days this past week. When temperatures couldn't be hotter (well, actually they could--and probaby will--be), when things just weren't going as planned (that is, according to MY plan), and when I sensed that things were just "out-of-sorts", I had one of those "things" come into my life that remind me who I am.
Friday, August 1st was my daughter Anneliese's 11th birthday. Counter to my normal behavior, I planned ahead. I had a picture of me put on a puzzle and mailed it (disassembled of course) in a box to arrive before her birthday. The package arrived ahead of her birthday and I planned to call her on Thursday afternoon (her time) to wish her a happy early birthday. Usually, it is hit or miss that I can even get through. This time, the connection was great and Anneliese picked up on the second ring.
I asked her if she could open the package while I was on the phone. Camille had other plans for her gift opening (to take place during her party on the following day), but I wasn't able to call on her actual birthday. So, I was persistent and got them all to agree to at least open my package while I was on the phone. They put me on speaker phone and Anneliese commenced the festivities.
From thousands of miles away, I got to listen to my family see the puzzle pieces and start sorting them out.
Cami: "I'll do the edge."
Anneliese: "I'll work on the words."
Nate: "I want to do the scorpion!"
Pretty soon, Camille cried out: "I see a cross!" One of the kids cried out: "It's daddy!" I got to listen to it all, even the mini-argument about who got to place the last piece. It was then finished. They got to see a picture of their dad, standing in Iraq, on a puzzle that said: "Happy Birthday, Anneliese
Love, Dad
Iraq AUG 2008"
That was it. That was my "thing". I couldn't have been more blessed by God that day. He loves me so much, even in the little things. He allowed me to hear the joy in the voices of my loved ones. Soon (hopefully) we will be able to hug while we celebrate birthdays. Until that day comes, I thank God for who I am--His beloved, placed in this world to be a husband, father, pastor and chaplain. All roles that I could never fulfill without His help.
What is your "thing" this week? I pray you have one too.
Chaplain Ayers
I had one of those days this past week. When temperatures couldn't be hotter (well, actually they could--and probaby will--be), when things just weren't going as planned (that is, according to MY plan), and when I sensed that things were just "out-of-sorts", I had one of those "things" come into my life that remind me who I am.
Friday, August 1st was my daughter Anneliese's 11th birthday. Counter to my normal behavior, I planned ahead. I had a picture of me put on a puzzle and mailed it (disassembled of course) in a box to arrive before her birthday. The package arrived ahead of her birthday and I planned to call her on Thursday afternoon (her time) to wish her a happy early birthday. Usually, it is hit or miss that I can even get through. This time, the connection was great and Anneliese picked up on the second ring.
I asked her if she could open the package while I was on the phone. Camille had other plans for her gift opening (to take place during her party on the following day), but I wasn't able to call on her actual birthday. So, I was persistent and got them all to agree to at least open my package while I was on the phone. They put me on speaker phone and Anneliese commenced the festivities.
From thousands of miles away, I got to listen to my family see the puzzle pieces and start sorting them out.
Cami: "I'll do the edge."
Anneliese: "I'll work on the words."
Nate: "I want to do the scorpion!"
Pretty soon, Camille cried out: "I see a cross!" One of the kids cried out: "It's daddy!" I got to listen to it all, even the mini-argument about who got to place the last piece. It was then finished. They got to see a picture of their dad, standing in Iraq, on a puzzle that said: "Happy Birthday, Anneliese
Love, Dad
Iraq AUG 2008"
That was it. That was my "thing". I couldn't have been more blessed by God that day. He loves me so much, even in the little things. He allowed me to hear the joy in the voices of my loved ones. Soon (hopefully) we will be able to hug while we celebrate birthdays. Until that day comes, I thank God for who I am--His beloved, placed in this world to be a husband, father, pastor and chaplain. All roles that I could never fulfill without His help.
What is your "thing" this week? I pray you have one too.
Chaplain Ayers
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Fight the good fight
A thought from one of my heroes, Ronald Reagan, as the 327th enters the 8th month of being deployed. I think this is a fitting sentiment as I, and many of the warriors to whom I minister, grow weary being away from our loved ones. Thank you everyone for your continuous support, prayers and encouragement. May these words also give you a boost as you "fight the good fight" wherever you are!
In His Grip,
Chaplain Ray Ayers
“Fellow citizens, fellow conservatives, our time has come again. This is our moment. Let us unite, shoulder to shoulder, behind one mighty banner for freedom. And let us go forward from here not with some faint hope that our cause is not yet lost; let us go forward confident that the American people share our values, and that together we will be victorious. And in those moments when we grow tired, when our struggle seems hard, remember what Eric Liddell, Scotland’s Olympic champion runner, said in Chariots of Fire: ‘So where does the power come from to see the race to its end? From within. God made me for a purpose, and I will run for His pleasure.’ If we trust in Him, keep His word, and live our lives for His pleasure, He’ll give us the power we need—power to fight the good fight, to finish the race and to keep the faith... God bless you and God bless America.” —Ronald Reagan
In His Grip,
Chaplain Ray Ayers
“Fellow citizens, fellow conservatives, our time has come again. This is our moment. Let us unite, shoulder to shoulder, behind one mighty banner for freedom. And let us go forward from here not with some faint hope that our cause is not yet lost; let us go forward confident that the American people share our values, and that together we will be victorious. And in those moments when we grow tired, when our struggle seems hard, remember what Eric Liddell, Scotland’s Olympic champion runner, said in Chariots of Fire: ‘So where does the power come from to see the race to its end? From within. God made me for a purpose, and I will run for His pleasure.’ If we trust in Him, keep His word, and live our lives for His pleasure, He’ll give us the power we need—power to fight the good fight, to finish the race and to keep the faith... God bless you and God bless America.” —Ronald Reagan
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Back from R&R - Unit Moving!
Hello Everyone,
I have made it back to the 327th MP Battalion after 15 incredible days of R&R with Camille in Germany and France. I thank God for orchestrating all the details, I couldn't have scripted it any better. Hopefully, I'll be able to share the trip on my blog at a later date. But for now, I've returned to some big changes.
Our mission has changed and as they said on M.A.S.H. "we're bugging out!" Therefore, please stop using the previous address that I gave. If there are items that have already been sent, I'm sorry, there's not much we can do exept pray that they make it before we leave or they get forwarded. If you have something new to send, please use the following address (and if you can, wait a couple weeks before you send anything):
327th MP BN
LOC#6001
APO AE 09378
Thank you all for your prayers, your overwhelming support, and for all that you are doing in your own vocations. I am truly blessed to call you my family and friends.
In Him,
CH (CPT) Ray Ayers
327th MP BN
I have made it back to the 327th MP Battalion after 15 incredible days of R&R with Camille in Germany and France. I thank God for orchestrating all the details, I couldn't have scripted it any better. Hopefully, I'll be able to share the trip on my blog at a later date. But for now, I've returned to some big changes.
Our mission has changed and as they said on M.A.S.H. "we're bugging out!" Therefore, please stop using the previous address that I gave. If there are items that have already been sent, I'm sorry, there's not much we can do exept pray that they make it before we leave or they get forwarded. If you have something new to send, please use the following address (and if you can, wait a couple weeks before you send anything):
327th MP BN
LOC#6001
APO AE 09378
Thank you all for your prayers, your overwhelming support, and for all that you are doing in your own vocations. I am truly blessed to call you my family and friends.
In Him,
CH (CPT) Ray Ayers
327th MP BN
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Chaplain Washington Installation
I've had a wonderful week and had to share it on the blog - more photos and video attached. The blessings keep on coming over here. First off, over the past few weeks, I have become friends with another LCMS chaplain! It is so awesome to have another "Lut-er-an" in the Area of Operations (AO)! There are so few of us LCMS Army Chaplains that to have another one here is actually remarkable.
His name is Chaplain Washington. He went to Ft. Wayne Theological Seminary. We've hit it off and actually, when I go on leave, he is going to cover the religious support of my battalion.
So it was just like God, to use me this past Sunday--Holy Trinity Sunday--to install Chaplain Washington into his ministry here...in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Since he was not pastoring a church when he got mobilized, the Ministry to the Armed Forces who issued him the Divine Call, required that he be installed. So the two pictures are from the installation service. That's the first cool thing I have to report.
The second thing, actually much more than a "thing", occured last night. After a full day of meetings, writing letters to thank people for their care packages, and counseling some soldiers, I was beat. However, I had the opportunity to accompany two of our soldiers to a Ugandan camp. I was this -->[ ]<-- close to not going. But I went with them to meet some Ugandans they couldn't stop talking about.
Here in Iraq, the security force is composed of retired soldiers from the Ugandan military. These wonderful people are full of the Lord, friendly, and incredibly inspiring. They ministered to us with prayer, kind words, Scripture and a their new hand of friendship.
Right before we left them (Samuel, Richard, Moses, David, and others) they took us back to their hooches and introduced us to their friends. Right before we left, they wanted to sing a song for us. It is in swahili, so you won't be able to understand it, but this is what the song means (loosely translated of course):
"We have Jesus in our heart, the one who is with us. We worship and honor him. The one who made us and all things".
Oh, and one more thing...I was talking to one of the faithful, and he told me he is a lay-reader in churches all over his country. I told him I knew a Lutheran pastor, Tom in Kenya, by lake Victoria who travels around to churches. HE KNEW MY FRIEND TOM!
All I can say is WOW! Thanks be to God for Chaplain Washington, and all the Ugandans...they are blessed to be a blessing.
In His Grip,
Chaplain Ayers
His name is Chaplain Washington. He went to Ft. Wayne Theological Seminary. We've hit it off and actually, when I go on leave, he is going to cover the religious support of my battalion.
So it was just like God, to use me this past Sunday--Holy Trinity Sunday--to install Chaplain Washington into his ministry here...in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Since he was not pastoring a church when he got mobilized, the Ministry to the Armed Forces who issued him the Divine Call, required that he be installed. So the two pictures are from the installation service. That's the first cool thing I have to report.
The second thing, actually much more than a "thing", occured last night. After a full day of meetings, writing letters to thank people for their care packages, and counseling some soldiers, I was beat. However, I had the opportunity to accompany two of our soldiers to a Ugandan camp. I was this -->[ ]<-- close to not going. But I went with them to meet some Ugandans they couldn't stop talking about.
Here in Iraq, the security force is composed of retired soldiers from the Ugandan military. These wonderful people are full of the Lord, friendly, and incredibly inspiring. They ministered to us with prayer, kind words, Scripture and a their new hand of friendship.
Right before we left them (Samuel, Richard, Moses, David, and others) they took us back to their hooches and introduced us to their friends. Right before we left, they wanted to sing a song for us. It is in swahili, so you won't be able to understand it, but this is what the song means (loosely translated of course):
"We have Jesus in our heart, the one who is with us. We worship and honor him. The one who made us and all things".
Oh, and one more thing...I was talking to one of the faithful, and he told me he is a lay-reader in churches all over his country. I told him I knew a Lutheran pastor, Tom in Kenya, by lake Victoria who travels around to churches. HE KNEW MY FRIEND TOM!
All I can say is WOW! Thanks be to God for Chaplain Washington, and all the Ugandans...they are blessed to be a blessing.
In His Grip,
Chaplain Ayers
Friday, April 18, 2008
God's presence in Iraq
There are new photos at the bottom of the blog. One is of me praying with the battalion before we flew out to our mission. The other is my recent promotion ceremony. Our first service in our outdoor chapel was on Palm Sunday. We dedicated the chapel also. Since then, we've torn it down and built another one. This one is a tent with some sturdy walls. That is the video. Barring the Commander's approval, we proposed that the chapel be named "Cornerstone". Like the cornerstone of a building, and Jesus for us; without the Cornerstone Chapel where we can hear God's Word and receive His Sacraments, we will crumble.
Check out an article from the WSJ "U.S. Begins Freeing Thousands Of Captives In Iraq" (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120848406669625219.html?mod=googlenews_wsj). It talks about detainee operations, the primary specialty of our MP battalion. The article mentions Ramadi...where we are! I'm surprised, but at the same time glad, that the public has this much detailed information. The more we can educate the public and the Iraqis about returning rehabilitated terrorists to their communities, the quicker we can get out of here.
In His Grip,
Ray
Check out an article from the WSJ "U.S. Begins Freeing Thousands Of Captives In Iraq" (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120848406669625219.html?mod=googlenews_wsj). It talks about detainee operations, the primary specialty of our MP battalion. The article mentions Ramadi...where we are! I'm surprised, but at the same time glad, that the public has this much detailed information. The more we can educate the public and the Iraqis about returning rehabilitated terrorists to their communities, the quicker we can get out of here.
In His Grip,
Ray
Monday, April 7, 2008
Worship in Iraq
Hi there friends and family!
We have entered our 5th month of the deployment. I try not to count the days, since the number is too high. The Army rule of thumb: count months until 60 days are left, then count days. I prefer to count pay periods--a much more manageable number (by the way, there are 14 pay periods left until we re-deploy)!Thank you all so very much for the tremendous Easter blessings you have sent our battalion. On Palm Sunday, we dedicated our outdoor chapel, held Holy Week services, and celebrated Easter under a shadscreen draped between "T-wall" barriers. God is good, even in Iraq. It is such a relief every week to worship, to gather, and to pray with these soldiers. The stress just seems to melt away with God's Word and Sacrament.I know I have been slow to enter this blog with updates, but the communications have been so poor here. We have to travel a bit to find computers and telephones. We're hoping to get a satellite (me and 8 other officers) so we can have internet access from our hooches. Hopefully, that happens soon.I want all of you to know that we are all doing well here. The Lord is protecting us, I'm confident of that. Please continue to pray that He does. I've learned so much about how to communicate with 18-20 year olds who are full of life and at times, scared. I thank God every day for all of you "prayer warriors" whom hold us up.That's it for now. I'll try to post some pictures soon.
In His Grip,
Chaplain Ayers
We have entered our 5th month of the deployment. I try not to count the days, since the number is too high. The Army rule of thumb: count months until 60 days are left, then count days. I prefer to count pay periods--a much more manageable number (by the way, there are 14 pay periods left until we re-deploy)!Thank you all so very much for the tremendous Easter blessings you have sent our battalion. On Palm Sunday, we dedicated our outdoor chapel, held Holy Week services, and celebrated Easter under a shadscreen draped between "T-wall" barriers. God is good, even in Iraq. It is such a relief every week to worship, to gather, and to pray with these soldiers. The stress just seems to melt away with God's Word and Sacrament.I know I have been slow to enter this blog with updates, but the communications have been so poor here. We have to travel a bit to find computers and telephones. We're hoping to get a satellite (me and 8 other officers) so we can have internet access from our hooches. Hopefully, that happens soon.I want all of you to know that we are all doing well here. The Lord is protecting us, I'm confident of that. Please continue to pray that He does. I've learned so much about how to communicate with 18-20 year olds who are full of life and at times, scared. I thank God every day for all of you "prayer warriors" whom hold us up.That's it for now. I'll try to post some pictures soon.
In His Grip,
Chaplain Ayers
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Support our troops
Hello Friends & Family,
Thought it was about time for an update. Ray is doing well and has arrived at his destination in Iraq with his Army Unit. Many of you have asked what Ray's mailing address is. Letters and packages may be mailed to the following address.
CH (CPT), Ayers
327 MP BN Camp Ramadi
APO AE 09367
The post office now has new flat rate boxes that are perfect for shipping items to soldiers. As you can imagine, real mail is as good as gold. Regular postage is all that is required for (normal) cards and letters.
He can also be reached at his email address raymond.ayers@us.army.mil
Many of you have also asked for ideas of what to send. Here is a list of recommended items.
Throat lozenges, cough drops
Frisbees and Nerf balls
Tea, hot cocoa mix
Candy NO CHOCOLATE
Peanuts, trail mix sm. bags
Power bars, protein bars, nutritional bars
Breakfast bars, pop tarts, granola bars
Canned nacho cheese dip and salsa no glass
Tuna salad lunch kits, tuna in a pouch
Beef slim jims
Batteries, 9 volt, AA, AAA
Anti itch ointments
Bar soap
Hair conditioner
Cotton balls
Dental floss
Foot powder
Hand sanitizer
Icy Hot
Listerine sm. bottles
Maalox tablets only
Nasal spray
OFF
Pain reliever allergy sinus tablets
Petroleum jelly
Q-tips
Saline mist
Shower shoes
Sun block
Toilet paper sm. packs
Tums
Visine
Sm. pads of paper
Deck of cards
Tang drink mix, Gatorade POWDER
Lifesavors, mints
Pringles all sizes and flavors
Jalepeno velveeta cheese
Crackers, flavored snack crackers
Beef jerky USDA grade A
Canned sardines, smoked clams
Acetaminophen
Anti Diarrhea
Baby powder
Body wash
Shampoo
Cough syrup
Earwax removal
Gold bond
Ibuprofen
Lip Balm
Hand and body lotion
Nasal Decongestant
Non aspirin gel caps
Pepto Bismal
Pseudorphedrine HCL
Razors men and women
Shaving cream
Silicone ear plugs
Kleenex sm. boxes, travel
Tooth brushes and paste
Deodorant
Baby wet wipes
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.
-Camille
Thought it was about time for an update. Ray is doing well and has arrived at his destination in Iraq with his Army Unit. Many of you have asked what Ray's mailing address is. Letters and packages may be mailed to the following address.
CH (CPT), Ayers
327 MP BN Camp Ramadi
APO AE 09367
The post office now has new flat rate boxes that are perfect for shipping items to soldiers. As you can imagine, real mail is as good as gold. Regular postage is all that is required for (normal) cards and letters.
He can also be reached at his email address raymond.ayers@us.army.mil
Many of you have also asked for ideas of what to send. Here is a list of recommended items.
Throat lozenges, cough drops
Frisbees and Nerf balls
Tea, hot cocoa mix
Candy NO CHOCOLATE
Peanuts, trail mix sm. bags
Power bars, protein bars, nutritional bars
Breakfast bars, pop tarts, granola bars
Canned nacho cheese dip and salsa no glass
Tuna salad lunch kits, tuna in a pouch
Beef slim jims
Batteries, 9 volt, AA, AAA
Anti itch ointments
Bar soap
Hair conditioner
Cotton balls
Dental floss
Foot powder
Hand sanitizer
Icy Hot
Listerine sm. bottles
Maalox tablets only
Nasal spray
OFF
Pain reliever allergy sinus tablets
Petroleum jelly
Q-tips
Saline mist
Shower shoes
Sun block
Toilet paper sm. packs
Tums
Visine
Sm. pads of paper
Deck of cards
Tang drink mix, Gatorade POWDER
Lifesavors, mints
Pringles all sizes and flavors
Jalepeno velveeta cheese
Crackers, flavored snack crackers
Beef jerky USDA grade A
Canned sardines, smoked clams
Acetaminophen
Anti Diarrhea
Baby powder
Body wash
Shampoo
Cough syrup
Earwax removal
Gold bond
Ibuprofen
Lip Balm
Hand and body lotion
Nasal Decongestant
Non aspirin gel caps
Pepto Bismal
Pseudorphedrine HCL
Razors men and women
Shaving cream
Silicone ear plugs
Kleenex sm. boxes, travel
Tooth brushes and paste
Deodorant
Baby wet wipes
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.
-Camille
Friday, March 7, 2008
Chaplain Ray
Hi Everyone!
I pray this message finds you all well. I'm writing you from Baghdad, Iraq. I've been waiting since we left Ft. Dix, N.J. on January 31st to get one, and today, we finally received our mailing address.
Here it is:
CH (CPT), Ayers
327 MP BN
Camp Ar-Ramadi
APO AE 09367
All is well here. I know some of you wanted to send some goodies to the soldiers in my battalion, and I thank you for your wonderful care for these fine men and women.
I know it has been a long time since I have been in contact with some of you receiving this email. As a matter of fact, I just realized that some of you don't even know that I'm deployed to Iraq. I apologize for not staying in touch. I'd love to hear from all of you, and the "snail" mail is a welcome treat. Email is nice, but letters and pictures to hold are something we all covet here.
Again, thank you for the care packages that some of you have told me you are assembling. When I receive them, you will be sure to receive an email/letter letting you know how fun it was passing it out on your behalf. You all are a blessing to me and this ministry to the 327th Military Police Batallion.
In His Grip,
CH (CPT) Ray Ayers
327th MP BN Chaplain
I pray this message finds you all well. I'm writing you from Baghdad, Iraq. I've been waiting since we left Ft. Dix, N.J. on January 31st to get one, and today, we finally received our mailing address.
Here it is:
CH (CPT), Ayers
327 MP BN
Camp Ar-Ramadi
APO AE 09367
All is well here. I know some of you wanted to send some goodies to the soldiers in my battalion, and I thank you for your wonderful care for these fine men and women.
I know it has been a long time since I have been in contact with some of you receiving this email. As a matter of fact, I just realized that some of you don't even know that I'm deployed to Iraq. I apologize for not staying in touch. I'd love to hear from all of you, and the "snail" mail is a welcome treat. Email is nice, but letters and pictures to hold are something we all covet here.
Again, thank you for the care packages that some of you have told me you are assembling. When I receive them, you will be sure to receive an email/letter letting you know how fun it was passing it out on your behalf. You all are a blessing to me and this ministry to the 327th Military Police Batallion.
In His Grip,
CH (CPT) Ray Ayers
327th MP BN Chaplain
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