Home Far Away

I am hoping soon we will be able to post new pictures for you to see. However, in the absence of pictures I am going to try to describe the place I live.
FOB Mahmudiyah is a small base 19 miles south of Baghdad. It is actually shaped kind of like a baseball field and not much bigger. There are some beautiful palm date trees and some weeping willows, cork screw willows I believe. I have even found a Formosa tree here. There is no grass. Mostly it is just rocks and sand. When the sand storms kick up it can be pretty miserable. When it rains, which isn't much, the sand becomes a very heavy mud and it is everywhere.
I am blessed to have a private room in the B-DOC, or Base Defense Operations Center. It is much bigger than I thought probably measuring somewhere around 15 x 12 feet. It used to have windows, but they are all boarded up. Windows is something we don't have the luxury of with the threats we face. The B-DOC is where they monitor the perimeter with video surveillance and other means. The soldiers here are responsible for base security. Here too is the FOB Mayor. You see the Army runs their bases very much like small towns. Someone has to field complaints and make sure all infrastructure issues are working as they should be, such as water, showers, toilets, food, electricity...This is not an easy job.
I work in the main building which is a short walk from the B-DOC. I work in the TOC, or Tactical Operations Center. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what I do. I like to tell people it is GS-13 Classified. My rank equivalent is GS-13 and the work I do is classified. I work both with Military Intelligence and Military Operations.
I can tell you that I enjoy my work. I am often bored with little to do, but that is actually a good thing when you are in a war zone. On the other hand, being bored often leaves me with too much time to think of how much I miss my family. I have to constantly be on guard and focus solely on Jesus for my comfort and strength.
Having read Rick's opening sermon for 40 Days of Purpose, I can tell you that out of necessity here it is easier to give yourself completely to the Lord. He is all I have. Don't wait until you are in the desert to give yourself completely to the Lord. Do it now. Enjoy all that He has to offer and don't miss out on a thing.
God bless you and may you walk with the Lord always!