The Power of Prayer

So this week was pretty tough.  As with every other long trip I've taken, much of the week was spent with misty eyes and praying for strength and a speedy passage of overwhelming and frequent feelings of mistaken roads taken and bad decisions.

As usual, in times of sorrow I turned to prayer which always seems to be the first thing I turn away from during the good times.  Won't be making that mistake again.

So it came as a refreshing surprise to me this morning when I awoke with a renewed sense of purpose and a slightly less sting of being homesick.  At the end of the day, an old friend of mine skype'd me and told me he was in Grafenwohr Germany and told me I was welcome to come over and catch up.

So within just a few days of praying and seeking comfort I was able to have dinner tonight with an old buddy...who happens to be feeling a bit of a loss right now as he faces retirement.  God works in mysterious ways and quite possibly gave both my friend and I the opportunity to seek the comfort of old friends in a nice pub in the little town of Vilseck.

As for the rest of my week, things are looking ok.  I've been able to email and talk to my family every day and I plan to seize that opportunity while I can before heading to less friendly areas.

I've attached a few pictures of the notes I've found this week in my boots, shaving kit, bags, and other places from Karen and Carlie.  I think they are cute and they were certainly appreciated this week as I found each of them.  Carlie also thought enough of me to let me have the homemade ledger that she made in vacation bible school last summer.  I don't think it meant much to her...but she just wanted to give me something of hers to take with me.  I'll have to think of something to do with it to give her back when I get home....maybe I could post pictures in the little book of my adventures.  Any ideas?

As far as assignments, I'm now in the 172d brigade combat team as a part of the 1-2 Infantry battalion.

Talk to you all again real soon.

S.