Magazines Encourage Deployed Couple

My husband was sent to Iraq in 2007 and soon after my National Guard Unit was also deployed. He extended his tour to meet up with my company a year later. Our units' work was convoy missions which were very stressful, but that year Iraq saw less road attacks since the war started. We were very thankful. The prayers from our home church kept us out of harm's way. At our MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) the Chaplain put out your publication Confidence; Thought Conditioners, and Guideposts magazine. My husband picked them up one day before a convoy and shared them with me. We read them every day.
 

Life is so stressful on and off the Forward Operating Base (FOB). We were fortunate to be able to live together on Camp Adder in Tallil, Iraq. Louis, my husband, was always on missions though and our time together wasn't often. My husband's experience was different from mine as we were in separate company's. Leadership can make a big difference in these situations.  It was all we could do to hang on to the fact that soon we would be going home to 'normal' life. "I can do all these things through Christ who strengthens me" and other verses were cut out and put in my pocket to read throughout the day. We clung to these Bible verses with our lives.

We were blessed that we didn't see any action or experience any death in our units.But the stress of constantly being under that threat; dealing with others in close living accommodations; living with other fears such as leaving your weapon somewhere or being late to work; and being away from our family really took a toll on me. We lived and breathed the written Word just to survive. There were also donated Guideposts magazines all the way back to the 1960's and 1970's. These had such inspirational stories in them. I would find them in bunches when some kind soul sent care packages to Any Soldier! I often did not get to go to services or celebrate my sabbath, so I would save these for us to read when we were back in our CHU (Combat Housing Unit). Our thanks to whomever went to the trouble to send care packages. We lived for those. Before I left I sent for my own subscription to Guideposts so I could have them when I got home. I sent one to my mother, also.

We came back in December and  we still  use the 'Thought Conditioner' Bible verses daily. I have started a Personal Chef business and, as anyone can tell you, it is sometimes scary to go into business for yourself. But the "Confidence" booklet has also been helping me with this and also the "Courage" booklet. I haven't any clients yet, but am still working on marketing every day and plodding on. God has helped us to stay focused and full of hope.

I thank God for your publications and ministry. This is one soldier who has definitely seen and experienced success. The success of knowing God cares for us and is with us no matter where we are or what we are going through. Thank you, God, and Thank you, Guideposts.

Louis and Dede Jones