"Soldiers of Today and Yesterday"
" Honor,Dignity & Hope "

"Providing Honor,Dignity & Hope to those that have served us "

Posted on March 13, 2010

Sir, 
Thank you so much for sending us the chaplain's insignia. I will use it and
comfort our troops with letting them have a faith that God is with them. How
does your wife doing? Is there any getting better in her treatments? I keep
praying for your wife.
Due to our God's divine and special care, our AO got 0 violation even though our
AO is recognized as the last tough place in Iraq. I really appreciate you for
your prayer and many blessings.
Our troops are doing fine. Now the temperature began to go up and up. Yesterday
it was 87 degree here. From now on we have an another enemy which is the high
temperature. And so we have to fight against it. But we are strong enough to
deal with it well.
I pray for you and your family.
Be healthy all the time under God's grace.
May God bless you.

CH (CPT) Abrahamyoung ki Kim
1-37 AR BN, 1BCT/1AD
FOB WARRIOR (JSS McHenry)

Posted on March 12, 2010

Johnie Lee, 

Sorry for the long delay, We have been moving fast without traveling anywhere
over here!
I'll go ahead and give you my second post.

We have been running strong as a hospital now for two months. Mostly we take
care of Soldiers and Civilian contractors who run one of the best COBs
imaginable. Not much action as far as the enemy is concerned but we have been
able to save a few lives and enrich the life of the average soldier within our
footprint. Continue to pray for God's work here as we work through the election
season and into our current operation of this conflict. I have been personally
adapting to my environment well, and continue to pray for our families, that God
would protect them and take care of them back home.

Thank you so much for what you do.

v/r,

CH Luke Sprinkle
TF 21 Al Asad, Iraq

Posted 3/6/2010

From Kandahar Afghanistan 6 Mar 2010
     I am doing ramp ceremonies for our Soldiers, Marines and Fellow Allies (British and Romanian recently). I must say that it is a great honor. We had a rocket attack tonight. I just finish a ramp ceremony at 0230 this morning and yesterday morning at 0230. Busy days. Day starts at 0700 and ends with the ramp ceremonies or around 2200 at night. This place looks and feels just like El Paso to me. I work for the 135th out of the Alabama Guard. I love my work here. I have a great team of chaplains and chaplain assistants. I have sailors working with me. I have a number of chaplains from Holland, Canada, Great Britian and Australia working with us. We are running Financial Peace University and the United Through Reading Program. We are providing a place to meet nightly for many bible studies. We are also living sometimes 6 to a room. 3 bunk beds are provided. There are many great moral boosting opportunities at the boardwalk. Canadians play hockey almost every night. Vehicles here have the steering wheel on the right side. We get around in gators as well.
 
Blessings
Ch McCain

Posted March 2, 2010

Dear Sir, 
Greeting to you in God's grace. How are you? How is doing your wife? Thank you
for your support and care of us.
I am providing the suicide prevention training to our troops repeatedly.
Yesterday I performed a suicide prevention training and today I have to provide
it again. The title Suicide itself makes my soul so tired. But I am OK because
God is with me.
The update of our situation!
Here it is a season of monsoon. And so we have rain and it made messy and muddy
in everywhere and it causes us to trouble to walk around. It is really bad.
The chaplain is the only non-combatant in the unit. And so I cannot even carry
any weapon with me all the time. In the battle ground, the chaplain lives
without any weapon to protect oneself. Isn't it something?
Our troops are going out for the mission and will stay out there for 4 or 5 days
in this week and the next week. Some of our teams already got out the wire and
the others will leave the base soon. During this mission, they will not be able
to take shower, nor to brush, nor to wash their face, nor to wash their foot,
nor to change their clothes but to sleep in the tactical vehicle in dirty dust.
I hope they may have a chance to shave but it is totally depending on the
situation. Doesn't it sound not-understandable? Smell? Our nose already became
numb and our eyes already became dull. And so we have no problem with them. That
is how we are doing here now. At this time, our troops really want to have baby
wipes because that is the only way to clean their secret areas and feet in the
least possible way. Graciously I got some and they really appreciate me to let
them have. Their real needy things at all the time are hygiene items (body wash,
soap, foot powder, baby wipes, mouth rinse, tooth pastes, gums, air fresher---).
Last night I participated to two mission briefings. All they were in high alert.
I prayed for them. Please pray for our troops.
I pray for you and your wife that God may give you all His serenity in the soul
and spirit.
May God bless you.

CH (CPT) Abrahamyoung ki Kim
1-37 AR BN, 1BCT/1AD
FOB WARRIOR (JSS McHenry)

Posted Feb. 24, 2010

 
Sir,
Thank you so much for sending the calendars. Now we got them and handed them out
to our troops. We have about 100 Ugandan peoples in our FOB. They are also our
team. I am taking care of them because they do not get any support from their
country. They wanted to have couple of calendars in the different pictures. I
allowed them to have two. According to our mission plan, we bring Iraq soldiers
into our FOB and train them. They come and eat in our DFAC. And so I gave them
some of Calendars. They were very very happy to have them and repeatedly said to
us, "Shuk-ran! Shuk-ran!, Thank you." Thank you so much for your support not
only to take care of our troops but also to enrich our ministry.
One of our soldiers was shot on his chest and med-evacuated to the rear. And so
all our communication methods were blocked out. Our soldiers got heavy pressures
on this time. Even the team to deliver mails and food were stuck here for couple
days. Now it is reopened and we are able to call and send e-mails to outside.
I prayed a lot for that soldier. Graciously after the operation, we are reported
that he would be recovered. Thank God.
Iraqi's election is on 2010 Feb 07. This month will be very tough to us. Most of
the AOs in Iraq are pretty quiet but not ours. We are in war literally. We all
are preparing to react day and night any possible happenings.
Please pray for us. I am checking everyday that our troops not to be shaken.
Thanks for your care and support to our soldiers.
Please pray for us. This month is very critical for us.
I pray for you and all your team.
May God bless you.

CH (CPT) Abrahamyoung ki Kim
1-37 AR BN, 1BCT/1AD
FOB WARRIOR (JSS McHenry)

Posted Feb. 24, 2010

 
Sir,
Thank you so much for sending the calendars. Now we got them and handed them out
to our troops. We have about 100 Ugandan peoples in our FOB. They are also our
team. I am taking care of them because they do not get any support from their
country. They wanted to have couple of calendars in the different pictures. I
allowed them to have two. According to our mission plan, we bring Iraq soldiers
into our FOB and train them. They come and eat in our DFAC. And so I gave them
some of Calendars. They were very very happy to have them and repeatedly said to
us, "Shuk-ran! Shuk-ran!, Thank you." Thank you so much for your support not
only to take care of our troops but also to enrich our ministry.
One of our soldiers was shot on his chest and med-evacuated to the rear. And so
all our communication methods were blocked out. Our soldiers got heavy pressures
on this time. Even the team to deliver mails and food were stuck here for couple
days. Now it is reopened and we are able to call and send e-mails to outside.
I prayed a lot for that soldier. Graciously after the operation, we are reported
that he would be recovered. Thank God.
Iraqi's election is on 2010 Feb 07. This month will be very tough to us. Most of
the AOs in Iraq are pretty quiet but not ours. We are in war literally. We all
are preparing to react day and night any possible happenings.
Please pray for us. I am checking everyday that our troops not to be shaken.
Thanks for your care and support to our soldiers.
Please pray for us. This month is very critical for us.
I pray for you and all your team.
May God bless you.

CH (CPT) Abrahamyoung ki Kim
1-37 AR BN, 1BCT/1AD
FOB WARRIOR (JSS McHenry)

Posted Feb. 20, 2010

Dear Sir, 
How are you?
Thank you so much for sending many calendars to us. At present time, our troops
are located at 4 FOBs. I handed the calendars more than half. The calendar
having the pictures of famous place in the world is favored by our soldiers.
According to the News, the Sunnis are planning to boycott the upcoming election
in Iraq. It is not a good sign. The boycott will increase the suspicion and
tension between the two parties - Sunnis & Shiites. In our own political
contests in the United States, we accustomed to complaints, charges of fraud,
and challenges following our elections. A major difference between our elections
and those in Iraq is that we complain loudly, make accusations, and may file
legal challenges but we don't plant explosives and send out suicide bombers to
exact a pound of flesh when our side loses. We are very anxious about the
situation.
On this Wednesday, our BN commander signed on the paper that the president
Obama's order to reduce the number of combat troops in Iraq to 50,000 by August
would not be affected to our BN and we are currently scheduled to return to our
home base, Ft. Bliss, in November 2010. And so we talk to one another that
"Let's forget the date and month." If you can, please continue to support us.
If there is anything would be changed, I will report it to you. Please focus on
hygiene items in your support. Thanks for your loving care to us.
I am very sick because I have provided suicide prevention training twice every
day. Here we do not have any big classroom and also our all troops are on the
mission every day and night. And so whenever any platoon takes a break, I have
to bring them to the chapel and provide the suicide training. During 2009, 160
active soldiers killed themselves. During January 2010, 12 active soldiers and
15 reserve soldiers killed themselves. We are at very stressful situation here.
And so our commanding leaders are very anxious about our soldiers. The chaplain
is the main person to train the soldiers in this matter here. I get up at 0530
and until I go to my bed by 1130, I keep moving and interacting with soldiers.
Now I am so tried and sick. I guess I spent my energy too much. However, I have
to provide this suicide prevention training continually. Please pray for me.
I pray for you and all your family to have a wonderful Lord's Day.
May God bless you.

CH (CPT) Abrahamyoung ki Kim
1-37 AR BN, 1BCT/1AD
FOB WARRIOR (JSS McHenry)

POSTED FEB. 15, 2010 FROM CHAPLAIN KEVIN WINEMIILLER

Our deployment end is in sight we expect to be touching down in the States in April.  Already we are making plans recovering all our equipment and doing inventory of all our belongings.  This week in the Chapel I spoke on Joshua (chapter 5:13-15)when Joshua had an encounter with "The Captain of the Lord of Hosts" it was a time of worship and reflection.  Before the battle of Jericho and the many other battles Joshua faced he had a personal encounter with God and prepared himself for the battle.  I am encouraging the troops to "Go slow" when they get home. I tell my soldiers to go home as a "thermometer" not a "thermostat" meaning  "absorb" those around them don't try to "change" anything right away.  We thank God that our unit has suffered no deaths to date for which we are thankful.  Please keep us in your prayers.
 
Chaplain Kevin

2009 First Sergeant of the Year

Please congratulate MSgt Jeffrey Baxter, 376 EMXG First Sergeant. 

He just was informed by his wg/CC that he was selected as the 17th Training Wing’s (Goodfellow AFB) “2009 First Sergeant of the Year”

—a very tough group of diamond-wearing competitors for sure!

 

Great news for all of us to hear and surely well-deserved recognition!

 

John C. L. Dereix, Maj, USAF

376 EAMXS/CC

 

 
 

Posted Feb. 4, 2010

Sir,

Thanks for your warm e-mail.

Last night our troops executed a heavy night mission. Just 5 minute before the

mission briefing, we got a racket attack. We all ran to the bunkers. After the

mission briefing at the evening, I touched and hugged each one of our soldiers

who participated to the mission. Their faces were filled with somewhat anxiety

and uneasiness. When I hugged one of our young soldiers, he asked, with a

shaking voice, me to have my chaplain Velcro patch on my right chest. He told me

if he had it under his armor, he would feel God's presence with him. And so I

took it out and put it under his armor. I did not go to sleep and stayed in the

CP after midnight and prayed for their safety. Our mission was completed by

0200. Praise God! None of our troops got hurt and returned back to the base

safely. I really praise God.

My family is doing fine. All they are full time students. They are busy for

their school. It is good for them.

If it is possible, would you get some chaplain's patch with Velcro?

I brought several extras here. But several soldiers took it as a symbol of God's

presence. If I have more, I may comfort our young shaking soldiers with putting

it under their Armor before the mission.

I pray for you, your family and all your team.

May God bless you.

 

CH (CPT) Abraham young ki Kim

1-37 AR BN, 1BCT/1AD

FOB WARRIOR (JSS McHenry)

News from one of our Fox Hole Chaplains, CH Luke Sprinkle 21st CSH - w/Ft. Hood, TX Unit

Johnnie Lee, 

Hello from Al Asad Air Base in Iraq! Just got to here with the 21st Combat
Support Hospital. The weather is cool and a breeze accompanies most of our days
as we are getting set to take over the medical mission. We spend out days
studying the practices of our predecessors trying to make them second nature and
also improving on them. Soon well finish our training with a massive exercise.
I am doing well, please pray the ministry here as well as for the health of our
patients.

CH Luke Sprinkle
21st CSH

From our Fox Hole Chaplain Kevin

Greetings from the sand box.  Recently I was able to travel to an outlying area NE of Baghdad on the Tigris river near the Iranian border.  I spent New Years with the soldiers..after going to sleep the enemy had some New Years Greetings about 0415 in the morning.  I was awakened to 2 explosions, mortar rounds that were close to where I was sleeping.  I found myself on my face confessing every sin back to the first grade.  Thank God that no one was injured but it will truly be a New Year to remember.  We are now under 90 days until we set foot back in the good old USA.  Thank God for the privilege to serve my country and the soldiers.  This week I preach in the large chapel on post.  I am preaching a message I have entitled the Armour of God-Christian battle rattle. Sermon below. Every mission has a pre-mission check. As Christians we must have a pre-mission check every day and make sure we are right with god in our hearts.  I know we are here for a reason.  Morale is good and we are looking forward to going home.  Thank you for your love and support of the Panthers.
 
Chaplain Kevin Winemiller-your man in the sand.
Kevin D. Winemiller

Camp Basrah Chapel Iraq 10-JAN-10

Fox Hole Chaplain's news from the Iraqi front

To read about our FOX HOLE CHAPLAIN scroll down from the home page and you will see from his Eyes and Ears and Heart the trials and tribulations our Brave young Men an Women go thru while Deployed in Iraq.
The real live Diary is unedited and Unabashed.

The real life saga starts Today September 2nd 2009
Thanks in advance and God Bless
Johnie Lee Qualls
President /CEO /Founder
Soldiers of Today and Yesterday

Ps: If you would like to post comments to him or have questions please post on our Guestbook
Every Post or Comment will be answered Weekly.
TKS.

I would like to introduce to you
Chaplain Major Kevin Winemiller our FOX HOLE CHAPLAIN
He is quite an inspiration !!!!!!!! He and his Men and Women are in BASRAH as I speak and Type.
Hope every one enjoys their journey and please PRAY FOR THEM !!!!!!!

Posted Aug. 2, 2009

My dear BIG brother and friend,,finally made it to Iraq. The natives are
restless. Sgt K and I are planning our Alaska tour the last 2 weeks in May
2010. We want you to please come along. I will send you more info and an
itinerary.

So..I have been here 3 days and we had a rocket attack. 7 600 pound 107 mm
rockets pointed at our base with timers. The first 5 landed on the base our
Apaches went up and destroyed the rest of them. WE OWN THE AIR. Because of
poor visibility they were able to set these up..most likely Hezbollah "freedom
fighters". We had one wounded concussion with head trauma and 6 stationary
Hummers destroyed. I was hunkered in a bunker with 10 other soldiers. Well do
not worry I will be in touch.

Your fellow warrior,

Kevin D. Winemiller
Chaplain-Evangelist

Hooah to you Mr. Johnnie Lee..wish you were here to give these young Joe's some guidance. Some think we are at Disneyland and their are poeple trying to kill su. Sgt K. and I have written a tentative itinerary for our proposed Alaska tirp May 2010. Your presence and wisdom is requested on this survery trip with the purpose of doing something in the future in Alaska to help soldiers and their dependents.


Alaska Tentative itinerary: Max 20 pax May 17-28 2010 (12 Day Tour)

May 17 -Depart Atlanta for Seattle-WASH-Bellingham (Point of Entry to Alaska)

May 18 - Bellingham to (Ferry) Ketchikan 2.5 days via stop at Vancouver Island

May 21-24-Ketchikan (Home Base)

Activities: Salmon fishing 1 day

Outback Hummer Tour day tour

Diving optional (rental equipment and certified instructor available)

May 25 – 27 Misty Fjords boat trip through Tongass National Monument National Park

Visit Petersburg

Prince of Wales Island

Sitka visit by Ferry

Kodiak

May 28 Return to Bellingham (Ferry) depart for lower 48

Activities:

Visit Alaska’s waterways, salmon fishing, (ship catch back home) Alaska by Jeep, diving, mountains, discover the last frontier

Survey/visit potential sites for future wilderness challenge camp events.



pics are from front of chapel in Kuwait more pics to follow



Stay healthy and strong we need you!!

Love and prayers,

Kevin and Apache crew


Kevin D. Winemiller
Flight Chaplain-Evangelist
sfchap320@yahoo.com
"De Oppresso Liber"



Posted Aug. 8, 2009

Hey my friend Johnie Lee. Things are getting hot. Below is ar eport from my diary. I will keep you updated. feel free to nudge me if you have nnot hear from me. :) God bless and we will keep in touch. The boys are in good spirits.


News from my fox hole:

5-Aug 09 At a base near here another chaplain just informed me that a young soldier 19 years old committed suicide. He had been here in Iraq only 3 days. So sad. He joined the Army in December. Many young soldiers I have spoken to are paralyzed with fear and say they cannot function. Some come to the Chaplain for comfort and I give them a very good reason not to fear. Also at a base near here 2 Iraqis cut our fence and were caught trying to take the timers off of abandoned washing machines on the base. These timers are used to discharge motar rockets. The sad thing is with the new ROA “rules of engagement” they were let go. I think they should have been killed because they showed definite intent of harming us. This really makes be sick. Sends a wrong message to the enemy that we are weak. NO way to fight a war. On a lighter note there is a family of Foxes living out beside our flight line. Mother and 5 little ones make an appearance about 0500a.m. each day to get the food the soldiers left out. Our creative soldiers have build an “obstacle course” just the size for these critters complete with tunnels and bridges. Soldiers are very creative in their off time.



6-Aug time 2236 Just had my second rocket/mortar attack my 9th day here. I had 16 people in my bunker. The youngest was 19 and I was he oldest person. One soldier said this was his last night in Iraq and another soldier 2 people down from me said it was his first. The enemy continues to set up rockets on timers and hit us. We were warned that an attack may happen tonight one of the indicators was that very few of the Iraqi workers showed up on the base for work today. So..they knew what was coming. I hope everyone that did not come to work is interrogated. Still do not know the extent of the damage but am standing by in case my services are needed. When a mortar enters the radar system an automatic voice blasts the word “incoming” this is when you hit the ground knowing an explosion is imminent. The blast rises like a funnel so we must stay down. I felt 3 explosions I looked 20 feet from me and our doc was face down. After the impact then we run to the bunker and the QRF "quick reaction force" leaves in search of the site where they were fired. Stayed one hour n the bunker prayed for our safety. Still have no found an atheist when there are rockets coming in…

Kevin

Kevin D. Winemiller
Chaplain-Evangelist

Posted Aug. 31, 2009

More from our Fox Hole Chaplain:
update..

12-Aug-09 Camp Basrah

Near tragedy. One of our Apache teams (2 pilots per bird) caught fire after returning from a combat mission. The crew was able to land safely with no injuries. Apparently a fuel plug in the rear of the aircraft loosened spilling fuel. The bird is near a total loss. I spoke with one of the pilots afterwards knowing he is a Christian man asked him if he was “praying” during the incident. He said yes before after and every day. He did not wait until the “fire” came to develop his prayer life. There is certainly a lesson here. Jesus said pray always. I have the highest respect for these pilots. These birds are keeping us all alive while we hold this piece of ground. There are 1.5 million people in the town next to us that for the most part want us out of here. It is nice to know we are protected. Also we have a surveillance blimp in the sky that watches every move of the perimeter 24/7. Modern technology is great but sometimes it comes down to one soldier and his M16. I am no hero but I have met a few and humbled to know these young Americans are willing to risk their lives for someone else’s chance at Freedom. As I listen to the news at home I see many of our own freedoms withering away with yet more government control. When I hear of Americans making plans to flee to other countries is disturbs me a bit. I think we need some modern day Patrick Henry’s to sound the alarm.

19-AUG -09

News from near Babylon:

Tonight’s Bible Study was on The Babylonian captivity. We begin our Study at 1930 (7:30pm) in honor of Gospel Light Baptist Church. The God ordained time for evening service. Psalm 137:1 “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. Not far from where I now live are the Euphrates and Tigris rivers where the Israelites spent time in captivity because of their rebellion and disobedience. They longed to return to Zion. What a wasteland is Babylon. This week we will begin our chapel in our living area named “Panther Chapel. We have the army Band coming to kick off the service. I am looking forward to a good attendance and praying for souls saved and Christian’s encouraged. I found an old German bicycle that someone abandoned, cleaned and oiled it up so now I have transportation around the base.

20-AUG-09 125 degrees hottest day yet. I plan to get a thermometer to track the heat. I heard a humorous story yesterday. A soldier tried to claim himself as his own beneficiary on his SGLI (Serviceman’s group life insurane.) the LTC tired to explain to this soldier that there was no way he could be a beneficiary in his own death. He said”who else would I want to be the beneficiary since it is my money.” After much frustration on both sides of the table the soldier says ..”fine just put me down for 50%.

22-Aug -09

Today we renovated the old British Bar and named it “The Panthers Den.” We removed the old debris. For pews we set up cots seating 3 soldiers per cot. There is a stage and that is where the Army band will play. I am very excited and am prying for a good attendance and service. Preaching on Mark 4: parable of the sowers. 4 types of ground only one good where the seed could grow and produce fruit. Cross reference that with John 1 Jesus is the Word (heavens seed) coming down planted in our hearts to those who believe.

27-Aug-09

Number four attack happen tonight since the one month I have been here in Basrah

This happened less than 100 yards from where I now sleep 3 weeks before I arrived.

. They call the mission “Haystack” to Basrah” they say because looking for insurgents in Basrah is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Spent 3 hours in the bunker until the all clear announcement was made. 6-8 rackets happened in succession. I was face down catching up on my prayer life. They when there was a lull in the bombing I ran across the ally and got into the bunker.

30-Aug-09 Today is my birthday. I am 49 today. I turned 45 in Afghanistan. Panther Chapel was well attended with 47 people. One of our soldiers found a cross around 12 feet high so we put it up outside of the Panther’s Den where we have service. One soldier prepared a cake for me chocolate and peanut butter. Very good. We all had a slice at the end of the service. I preached on Col 3:23-25. Serve God with all your heart. It was great to have the gospel Choir visiting and singing. It is a wonderful birthday. Thank you Jesus for giving me 49 years and all I ask for is another 49 years.


Kevin D. Winemiller
Chaplain-Evangelist

Posted Sept. 8, 2009

Hello Mr. Qualls,

How are you doing today? I hope that September in Texas is treating you well. This SPC  T., Captain Winemiller's assistant. I work with him and SGT K. here in Basrah.

I want to thank you for all that you have done for us Panthers. That keyboard has not only been a boon to our music ministry, is has also given us a wonderful was to bring new folks into chapel, not only to passively take in the sermon, but rather to actively participate in worship. It's great. People feel like they have a real stake in the chapel.

There are quite a few folks in the unit who are skilled in playing the guitar. Chaplain Winemiller and I have been trying to get an electric guitar for the chapel so that we can invite these folks to play there. We've tried getting money through the unit, but have been shot down. Somehow "electric guitar" wasn't worthy of being a mission essential item.

We're trying to raise roughly $350 for the instrument. Do you think that your group might be able to help us with some funding? This guitar would permanently stay with our unit, and will provide an oppurtunity for ministry for years to come.

Thank you for your help,

SPC T.

Posted Sept. 10, 2009

Johnie Lee:

Great to hear from you. Thanks for calling Kim. She is a baby doll and one beautiful Red Headed Cajan Fox. Thank God for a good woman to stand by a man. Spc T. is also my assistant. I have two. Sgt K. and Spc T Thank you for your interest in helping with this guitar purchase. Music is a powerful medium especially out here in this desert barren lonely place. We are drawing many to all of the chapels and thank God for his grace and blessing. I will have Sam contact you with details concerning this idea for a guitar. I will continue to send updates. Thank you for your love and concern for the soldiers.

Kevin

Kevin D. Winemiller
Chaplain-Evangelist

Posted on September 16, 2009

Johnnie Lee.  Geat to hear fromyou...here is an upate.
 
Sept 11 we had a ceremony here on Camp Basrah.  It was very moving with speeches of persons with first hand accounts.  We have one soldier who was in the Pentegon at the time of the plane crash.  I read the timeline of events for that day.  The two star General and myself were the speakers.  It is very moving thinking that I would most likely not be here it it were not for the events of that day that changed the world.  Chapels are well attended.  Yesterday I preached on faithfulness..everyone cannot be the most talented or the most flashy but all can be faithful.  The message was from Collssions 4:1-7.  Morale is good but as time goes by I am looking for soldiers who may need help and encouragement.  Keep up in your prayers and we will continue to take the fight to the enemy. I am training with some hard chargers now for the Army 10 miler held here at our base Oct 4.
 
Your chaplain
 
Kevin D. Winemiller
Chaplain-Evangelist

Posted September 24, 2009

Thanks Johnie Lee here is an update....
 
 
24-SEP-09  Fox hole Chaplain
 
  All quiet this week with no attacks. Praise be to God.  Today I received my certificate of certification from 20 hours of intense language study in Arabic.  I am using the language daily praticing with the locals.   Sad to say we had a Black Hawk chopper go down in Balad to our North with one KIA.  So sad when there is loss of life.  Someone's son and husband gave of their life for our freedom.  We are half-way through our deployment and morale is good.  I heard today that now that the temperatue has dropped t(to 110 degrees Farenheit) that the pink flamingos have returned to the marshes of the Euphrates River.  I now wake in the morning to little sparrows singing outside me hooch.  My what a treat to be serenated by God's little birds.  It is easy to appreciate little things over here.  Amazing the the Garden of Eden is just down the road from where I am sitting right now.  I am reminded of Psalm 137:1   "When we sat beside the rivers of Babylon we wept when we remembered Zion."  This was written when the Jews were in captivity in Babylon thinking about home..Zion.  This is a barren place but I know God has a purpose for this time in "exile."  I continue to see many soldiers give their hearts to the Lord and a revival in Bible study and prayer.  I have had many sodliers say they are going to make Bible study and prayer a part of their daily lives. Thank God for his mercy, protection, and His Grace.
 
Kevin D. Winemiller
Chaplain-Evangelist

From our fox hole Chaplain Kim

Sir, 
Greeting to you in God's grace.
Have all your beloved had a happy new year?
Here we are doing fine because of God's great care.
Our troops are on heavy mission every day and night. It says our AO is the last
difficult area in Iraq.
I pray almost 2 hours everyday and ask God to bless our enemy to do poor job
regarding their mortar attack and rocket attack to our FOB and RKG attack to our
MREP.
Amazingly it is happening just like my prayer.
Whenever enemy threw the RKG since we have succeeded this AO, it rebounded back
to them. And so we have not gotten any damage nor hurt. Whenever they attacked
their rocket and mortar since we have succeeded this AO, they all the time
landed on somewhere outside of the wire. Who and how can this explain properly?
Praise God.
Yesterday, we got a rocket attack. Again our good God blessed the enemy to do
poor job and it landed outside of the wire.
Thank you so much for the Christmas cards. We got them all and I handed out to
our soldiers.
I pray you all to receive many blessings from God this new year.
May God bless you.

CH (CPT) Abrahamyoung ki Kim
1-37 AR BN, 1BCT/1AD
FOB WARRIOR (JSS McHenry), Iraq

"A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken
spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22)

Posted Oct 3, 2009

Here is the newest installment of "Fox hole Chaplain"

 

28-SEP-09

Right now I am quarantined in my room for the next 4 days with the pink eye. Doc says it is contagious. Last night after my forth chapel service of the day my right eye felt like I had sand under the eyelid so I went to the medic to wash it out and got the news. I probably shake hands with at least 300 people on Sunday. I have not taken a “day off” since I have been here so it does feel good to chill in the room. I must apply an antibiotic cream that must have cement in it because it does hurt when applied to the eye. This week an area of our living quarters was closed off because of a suspious bottle looking device encased in a green army issue sock (half buried) sticking out from underneath a certain soldiers barracks. Well, turns out that the “suspious” object was two Gatorade bottles filled with bourbon (illegal in a combat zone where every man is armed with a supply of ammunition) EOD came and retrieved the object and everyone had a good laugh. Panther Chapel was well attended this Sunday. We have great command support for all of our services and activities. Saturday mornings I run a soccer program. Saturday evening we have a volleyball tournament complete with a “traveling” trophy to the winning team each week. Last evening I saw 5 white doves fly overhead. Birds are returning to this area. Next week I begin Sunday school one hour before our 0930 service. I will teach from the book “Wild at Heart” by John Eldredge. This book is specific to men finding their purpose in life and walking with God alone and not going with the crowd, discovering what God wants them to become.

 

3-OCT-09

 

The pink flimigos have returned to the marshes around the river Euphrates.  Now that the temperature is down to 100 degrees during the day and 75 at night it is actually very pleasant.  I have grown a new appreciation for God's creation.  I appreciate the small birds that now sing outside my barracks each day.  Our chapel services are going well. We are so blessed to have "Panther Chapel" a place to meet with the sodiers and teach the Word of God.  I try to instill in the troops that man is 3 parts, mind, body, and spirit.  Tthe Army trains the first two but it is up to the individual to feed his Spirit.  It is our faith that sustains us through trying times.  The body will fail and the mind but fiath lasts forever.  To date 22 our our soldiers heros have committed sudicide in Iraq this country this year.  hrevs me very much to think of the families that must deal with thier soldiers memory. Life is such a precious gift. I train my soldiers that we are our "brother's keeper" and we must be aware and watch out for each other. I believe that if a person has one friend next to him that it can make the difference between life and death. 

The enemy is now always a force on the outside but within a struggle to keep going in upleasant circumstances.   As a chaplain I hear so many sad tales and my only solution is to point soldiers toward the cross.  I am reminided of a story of a young boy lost in Old England.  The policeman asked the boy if he remembered anything near his house.  Te boy thought for a moment and said..."Mister if you can get me to see the Cross I can find my way home."  How true if people could just see the love of Christ on that Cross it would change them forever. ..and find their way home.

 

 

Kevin D. Winemiller
Chaplain-Evangelist

Posted Oct 9, 2009

OCT 9  09
 
Today was a sad day attending the memorial service of a soldier.  This week a soldier took his life bringing the total to 39 this year in Iraq.  How does a person get so despondant to think there is no hope.  The base is in mourning and shocked. Staring with my fellow soldiers looking at the traditional memorial stand with the soldiers weapon, boots, ID cards, and 8X10 photo seems unreal thinking he was walking among us a few hours earlier.   Life is a precious gift from God.  This past week had many challenges dealing with various solider issues.  I am preaching in chapel through the book of John.  This past week in the "Panther Den" chapel I spoken on the passage where Jesus cleansed the temple. I could have titled the sermon "Jesus kicked butt and taken names."  The image of Christ protrayed often is some effeminate wimp.  Have you ever shaken hands with a carpenter? He truly took care of business when neccessary.  I spoke of 3 temples, the phyiscal temple in Jerusalem, (destroyed) the temple of Christ's body which was destroyed and raised up again in 3 days and the temple of our body which is the housing for His Spirit. Sometimes we need to let Christ cleanse our temple turn over the idols and chase out what does not belong.  I illustrated this point by saying at home we like to have visitors but normanlly they staing in the living room.  Jesus wants to look in every room in or hous (Living temple) and clean up what is neccessary.  We would never want our guest to look in our closets.  Jesus wants to us to give over all those secret hidden areas to Him.  the message was receive well.  We had 40 in attendance.  One incident really spoke to me.  When I was giving prayer requests one soldier from the other side of the room ( who was not there for chapel) raised his hand.  there is a divider in the room so all I saw was a hand going up.  when I walked around the diviver and look at the soldier I said "you can come over on tis side."  He willingingly came and stayed for service.  the idea that struck me was there is always a "stranger in the gate" listening wondering if it is ok to join the group.  God has sent mane seeking soldiers.  At the end of the service a soldier approached me about baptism. Nothing was mentioned about baptism this service.  The Holy Spirit prompted him concerning this step of obedience.  Now we are planning our first Baptism this Sunday.  I have our bagpiper lined up to play Amazing grace.  We are going down in the water this Sunday.  Where are we going to get that much water in the desert?  Stand by for the next report!!
 
Kevin D. Winemiller
Chaplain-Evangelist

Posted Dec. 10, 2009

Hello Johnie Lee good to speak with you.  Below is an update.  God bless.

Greetings and praise the Lord. For the past 5 months I have been in Basrah Iraq serving as a Chaplain with the 1-130th Attack Recon Battalion. My unit is responsible to patrol the Iranian border and intercept hostiles and material that is used against the innocent. I am currently home for 2 weeks R n R. North Carolina never looked so good when I exited the airport and saw Kim and my children. My duties as chaplain include holding services for the troops, Bible studies, counseling, and being with soldiers in crisis. I have seen many soldiers come to faith in Christ and have had the privilege to baptize 2 in the desert. To think we are serving in the place of the beginning of civilization is unreal. The Garden of Eden at the intersection of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is 12 miles north of my location. Two weeks ago I walked through the remains of Abraham’s house in Ur. The desert is a lonely place separated from family and familiar surroundings. Many of God’s men were led through a desert experience and came out stronger on the other side. I plan to finish strong. I have 4 months to go on this tour when I return. Pray for many open doors to share the gospel in this barren land.  Each morning in my office I have a Bible study I call the Proverbs circle. I read the proverb for the day and make comments and then open the rest of the hour for discussion. The Lord had blessed this meeting time. 

 


 

Kevin D. Winemiller
Chaplain-

sfchap320@yahoo.com
"De Oppresso Liber"

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