According to an old saying, "There are no atheists in foxholes." It’s funny what God will do to get our attention, even to the point of linking us up with praying people in the middle of dangerous situations. Those are true "Come to Jesus" moments, when you can see His hand of protection and mercy at work. To think about a soldier praying for something other than to come out alive may seem strange to people who don’t believe, but those very prayers have ushered new believers before the throne of God. Prayers for wisdom, guidance, and discernment in the midst of danger often show the depth of God’s love flowing through those physically standing in the gap, risking everything for our freedom. But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. Psalm 3:3
Here, a soldier serving in Iraq wrote home to a friend in January of ’05 to share how the presence of God is real even in a war zone, and how prayers from family and friends really do make a difference.
January 15, 2005
Dear Emily,
I hope you are doing well. I counted down the New Year waiting for my flight out of Baghdad and up to northern Iraq. That’s right. In less than two days, our entire camp packed up, and we flew back up to Mosul.
Mosul has become the key battleground area in Iraq right now. The media liked to use that phrase "battleground" to describe states like Ohio and Pennsylvania during the U.S. election. Well, up here, the "campaign" is of a slightly higher caliber.
This is our second trip to Mosul. When we arrived in Mosul the last time, most of the schools were in shambles. The Iraqi government had neglected them for more than fifteen years. Criminals looted them during the war and stole anything of even slight value.
We worked hard to rebuild the only boys high school in the area. We restored the running water, rebuilt the bathrooms, replastered and painted the walls, and planted a garden. We created soccer fields and basketball courts. We replaced broken windows and fitted the new ones with mosquito netting. We provided new blackboards, set up a computer lab, and gave the teachers furniture and supplies. One teacher told us we created a paradise out of a hell.
This day, I thought, is going to mark a new beginning for Mosul children and teachers.
Since the school was in our battalion sector, the commander wanted to come for the dedication. He planned to arrive at 9:30 AM, and we would form a convoy out to the school for the 10 AM ceremony. We had our vehicles lined up at 9:15, just waiting, when we heard an explosion powerful enough to rattle our windows. A few seconds later, the sound of small arms fire filled the air. Then the radios in our vehicles started to go hot. The commander was under attack. That was all we needed to hear.
Within seconds our vehicles were rolling toward the gunfire. We had our weapons on red, locked, and loaded. We rolled into his location as the last burst of rounds filled the air. We secured the position and found our way to the commander to find out what had happened. What we saw broke our hearts.
The commander was leading a three-vehicle convoy. His vehicle passed a construction ditch in the road that was covered up with dirt. As the second Humvee passed over the ditch, it tripped an IED (improvised explosive device). The force of the explosion destroyed the vehicle and blew the leg off the young specialist who was driving.
A sergeant from the first vehicle managed to get to the wounded soldier, moving toward him under fire and applying first aid. As he placed a lifesaving tourniquet around the specialist’s severed leg, we arrived to secure the area. Medics quickly evacuated the young soldier to the hospital. I removed his foot with the boot still on it from the vehicle. It could only have been God’s protection no one died and only one was severely injured.
As we began our gruesome task of cleaning up, the sacrifices America asks of its young service members rose in our minds. No one said a word, and although I’m the chaplain and it’s up to me to offer lessons in times like these, all I could think of was "Duty— Honor—Country."
While some days are better than others and the news media sensationalizes the casualties, please remember there is an incredible amount of good being done for the Iraqi public. Good things largely being ignored by the media. About a week after we arrived back in Mosul the second time, we revisited the school. We were thrilled to watch the kids play a soccer game on the field we built. The teachers kept thanking and thanking us. The school is thriving and educating the future of Iraq.
Thanks so much for the packages and for the kind words. It is a great feeling to know you care about us and support us over here. Just want you to know God has protected many others and me over here. Please keep praying for our safety and protection. Our Battalion Commander has pointed out every day the numerous "close calls" many of our guys have had. This is not just luck, but truly a direct result of the protection from your prayers. We have had some guys wounded, but thankfully no one has been banged up too badly.
The other day one of our guys was shot in the head. Amazingly, the bullet went through his helmet, banged around inside above his head and finally came to a stop under his scalp. The doctor pulled the bullet out and gave him a couple stitches. I saw him the next day, and he had a bandage over the back of his head. He said other than a bad headache, he felt great. The next day he was back with his platoon.
I think our Battalion Commander has counted over a dozen instances of divine intervention, and those are just the blatantly obvious ones. Just today we had another guy take a bullet to the head. He is fine and says he has a bad headache and needs a new helmet.
There was one particular time when forty enemy personnel ambushed us. Outnumbered, we all escaped without any major injuries. There have been many other stories—occasions when grenades never blew up or bounced off the ground, mortars landing next to someone yet they wouldn’t receive a scratch, or soldiers who actually saw bullets going around other soldiers.
One of the guys from my company showed me the book of Nahum this evening. I must admit I’ve studied very little about Nahum. In Nahum, God speaks about the city of Nineveh and would you believe Mosul is built on and around ancient Nineveh? In fact, the locals say that Jonah is buried in the middle of the city. Nahum 1:7-8 states, "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh." I am sure Nahum was not referring to the present, but a flood of war has definitely come to this city Nahum’s description of Nineveh is full of violence and destruction, but I will continue to cling to his message of comfort in verse 7: "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble."
Recently I found myself reflecting on the past nine months, particularly how privileged I am to be an American citizen. When I eat in the chow tent, I realize how much better I am eating than the citizens of Iraq. There I am, surrounded by enemies, enjoying a better standard of living than those outside the perimeter.
Somehow, I feel God is part of all of this, at least in helping me to trust Him more. God definitely has sent His angels to protect us. So thank you again for the letters, packages, and especially for all of your prayers. Our unit goes home soon. Can’t wait!
Your friend in Iraq,
Dan
Letter submitted by Jean Wise, Edon, Ohio. Jean Wise is a health commissioner and lives in Ohio. er friend, Emily Curtis (letter recipient), has received hundreds of letters from troops serving in Iraq sharing stories of answered prayers. Contact: wiseguys@bright.net
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Taken from God Answers Prayers: Military Edition by Allison Bottke, with Cheryll Hutchings and Jennifer Devlin. Copyright © 2005 by Allison Bottke. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene OR. Used with permission.
Allison Bottke is an inspirational writer, speaker, and workshop leader. The founder of God Allows U-Turns, she has written or compiled several books, including God Answers Prayers, God Answers Mom's Prayers (Harvest House); and Journeys of Friendship, Journeys of Love, Journeys of Hope, and Journey's of Joy (Barbour).
