January 4, 2004 - It's like being in the room with him.. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

December 29th, 2004.. TV Movie

December 25th! Merrry Christmas Jake.. we had a different Christmas... we opened our gifts after midnight, in the hopes that we were celebrating Christ's birth at the same time you were. Most of what I ordered for Christmas (especially with regards to John's gifts) are stuck somewhere in Ohio so we made made paper cutouts and made him pin "his coat" and tape "his shoes" so it looked like he got something. Josh has spent a great deal of time trying to shop for us all. We miss you and it may be that our personal turmoil in your absence during the holidays mirrors what is going on in the world, especially where you are spending the Lord's birthday. We pray for all of you soldiers over there, we are proud of you, and our hope is that this new year brings peace and freedom. Below are links to let you know how much we care for you (I meant to try one of your famous movies but couldn't figure out how to change out of .mov format!!!)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

January 4, 2004 - It's like being in the room with him.. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

December 29th, 2004.. TV Movie

December 25th! Merrry Christmas Jake.. we had a different Christmas... we opened our gifts after midnight, in the hopes that we were celebrating Christ's birth at the same time you were. Most of what I ordered for Christmas (especially with regards to John's gifts) are stuck somewhere in Ohio so we made made paper cutouts and made him pin "his coat" and tape "his shoes" so it looked like he got something. Josh has spent a great deal of time trying to shop for us all. We miss you and it may be that our personal turmoil in your absence during the holidays mirrors what is going on in the world, especially where you are spending the Lord's birthday. We pray for all of you soldiers over there, we are proud of you, and our hope is that this new year brings peace and freedom. Below are links to let you know how much we care for you (I meant to try one of your famous movies but couldn't figure out how to change out of .mov format!!!)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

December 4, 2004.

Haven't heard from that man since Thanksgiving. He called us on that day and we got to
talk for quite a while . I don't think anybody wanted to end the conversation. Got news that
both Catherine and Joshua saw him on IM this morning early US time, so thank God for that!
What a relief. Hoping he sends a picture of his decorated cot for Christmas to post here.

 

Paul Johnson - British Historian on the eve of the election

The great issue in the 2004 election-it seems to me as an Englishman-is,
How seriously does the United States take its role as a world leader, and
how far will it make sacrifices, and risk unpopularity, to discharge this
duty with success and honor? In short, this is an election of the greatest
significance, for Americans and all the rest of us. It will redefine what
kind of a country the United States is, and how far the rest of the world
can rely upon her to preserve the general safety and protect our
civilization.

When George W. Bush was first elected, he stirred none of these feelings,
at home or abroad. He seems to have sought the presidency more for dynastic
than for any other reasons. September 11 changed all that dramatically. It
gave his presidency a purpose and a theme, and imposed on him a mission.
Now, we can all criticize the way he has pursued that mission. He has
certainly made mistakes in detail, notably in underestimating the problems
that have inevitably followed the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime in
Iraq, and overestimating the ability of US forces to tackle them. On the
other hand, he has been absolutely right in estimating the seriousness of
the threat international terrorism poses to the entire world and on the
need for the United States to meet this threat with all the means at its
disposal and for as long as may be necessary. Equally, he has placed these
considerations rig ht at the center of his policies and continued to do so
with total consistency, adamantine determination, and remarkable courage,
despite sneers and jeers, ridicule and venomous opposition, and much
unpopularity.

There is something grimly admirable about his stoicism in the face of
reverses, which reminds me of other moments in history: the dark winter
Washington faced in 1777-78, a time to "try men's souls," as Thomas Paine
put it, and the long succession of military failures Lincoln had to bear
and explain before he found a commander who could take the cause to
victory. There is nothing glamorous about the Bush presidency and nothing
exhilarating. It is all hard pounding, as Wellington said of Waterloo,
adding: "Let us see who can pound the hardest." Mastering terrorism fired
by a religious fanaticism straight from the Dark Ages requires hard
pounding of the dullest, most repetitious kind, in which spectacular
victories are not to be looked for, and all we can expect are "blood, toil,
tears, and sweat." However, something persuades me that Bush -- with his
grimness and doggedness, his lack of sparkle but his enviable concentration
on the central issue-is the president America needs at this difficult time.

He has, it seems to me, the moral right to ask American voters to give him
the mandate to finish the job he has started.

This impression is abundantly confirmed, indeed made overwhelming, when we
look at the alternative. Senator Kerry has not made much of an impression
in Europe, or indeed, I gather, in America. Many on the Continent support
him, because they hate Bush, not because of any positive qualities Kerry
possesses. Indeed we know of none, and there are six good reasons that he
should be mistrusted. First, and perhaps most important, he seems to have
no strong convictions about what he would do if given office and power. The
content and emphasis of his campaign on terrorism, Iraq, and related issues
have varied from week to week. But they seem always to be determined by
what his advisers, analyzing the polls and other evidence, recommend,
rather than by his own judgment and convictions. In other words, he is
saying, in effect: "I do not know what to do but I will do what you, the
voters, want." This may be an acceptable strategy, on some issues and at
certain times. It is one way you can interpret democracy.

But in a time of crisis, and on an issue involving the security of the
world, what is needed is leadership. Kerry is abdicating that duty and
proposing, instead, that the voters should lead and he will follow. Second,
Kerry's personal character has, so far, appeared in a bad light. He has
always presented himself, for the purpose of Massachusetts vote-getting, as
a Boston Catholic of presumably Irish origins. This side of Kerry is
fundamentally dishonest. He does not follow Catholic teachings, certainly
in his views on such issues as abortion-especially when he feels additional
votes are to be won by rejecting Catholic doctrine. This is bad enough. But
since the campaign began it has emerged that Kerry's origins are not in the
Boston-Irish community but in Germanic Judaism. Kerry knew this all along,
and deliberately concealed it for political purposes. If a man will mislead
about such matters, he will mislead about anything.

There is, thirdly, Kerry's long record of contradictions and uncertainties
as a senator and his apparent inability to pursue a consistent policy on
major issues.

Fourth is his posturing over his military record, highlighted by his
embarrassing pseudo-military salute when accepting the nomination. Fifth is
his disturbing lifestyle, combining liberal-even radical-politics with
being the husband, in succession, of two heiresses, one worth $300 million
and the other $1 billion. The Kerrys have five palatial homes and a
personal jet, wealth buttressed by the usual team of lawyers and financial
advisers to provide the best methods of tax-avoidance. Sixth and last is
the Kerry team: who seem to combine considerable skills in electioneering
with a variety of opinions on all key issues. Indeed, it is when one looks
at Kerry's closest associates that one's doubts about his suitability
become certainties. Kerry may dislike his running-mate, and those feelings
may be reciprocated-but that does not mean a great deal. More important is
that the man Kerry would have as his vice president is an ambulance chasing
lawyer of precisely the kind the American system has spawned in recent
decades, to its great loss and peril, and that is already establishing a
foothold in Britain and other European countries. This aggressive
legalism-what in England we call "vexatious litigation"- is surely a
characteristic America does not want at the top of its constitutional
system.

Of Kerry's backers, maybe the most prominent is George Soros, a man who
made his billions through the kind of unscrupulous manipulations that (in
Marxist folklore) characterize "finance capitalism." This is the man who
did everything in his power to wreck the currency of Britain, America's
principal ally, during the EU exchange-rate crisis-not out of conviction
but simply to make vast sums of money. He has also used his immense
resources to interfere in the domestic affairs of half a dozen other
countries, some of them small enough for serious meddling to be hard to
resist. One has to ask: Why is a man like Soros so eager to see Kerry in
the White House? The question is especially pertinent since he is not alone
among the superrich wishing to see Bush beaten. There are several other
huge fortunes backing Kerry.

Among the wide spectrum of prominent Bush-haters there is the normal
clutter of Hollywood performers and showbiz self-advertisers. That is to be
expected. More noticeable, this time, are the large numbers of novelists,
playwrights, and moviemakers who have lined up to discharge venomous salvos
at the incumbent.

I don't recall any occasion, certainly not since the age of FDR, when so
much partisan election material has been produced by intellectuals of the
Left, not only in the United States but in Europe, especially in Britain,
France, and Germany. These intellectuals-many of them with long and
lugubrious records of supporting lost left-wing causes, from the Soviet
empire to Castro's aggressive adventures in Africa, and who have in their
time backed Mengistu in Ethiopia, Qaddafi in Libya, Pol Pot in Cambodia,
and the Sandinistas in Nicaragua-seem to have a personal hatred of Bush
that defies rational analysis.

Behind this front line of articulate Bushicides (one left-wing columnist in
Britain actually offered a large sum of money to anyone who would
assassinate the president) there is the usual cast of Continental suspects,
led by Chirac in France and the superbureaucrats of Brussels. As one who
regularly reads Le Monde, I find it hard to convey the intensity of the
desire of official France to replace Bush with Kerry. Anti-Americanism has
seldom been stronger in Continental Europe, and Bush seems to personify in
his simple, uncomplicated self all the things these people most hate about
America-precisely because he is so American. Anti-Americanism, like
anti-Semitism, is not, of course, a rational reflex. It is, rather, a
mental disease, and the Continentals are currently suffering from a
virulent spasm of the infection, as always happens when America exerts
strong and unbending leadership.

Behind this second line of adversaries there is a far more sinister third.
All the elements of anarchy and unrest in the Middle East and Muslim Asia
and Africa are clamoring and praying for a Kerry victory. The mullahs and
the imams, the gunmen and their arms suppliers and paymasters, all those
who stand to profit-politically, financially, and emotionally -- from the
total breakdown of order, the eclipse of democracy, and the defeat of the
rule of law, want to see Bush replaced. His defeat on November 2 will be
greeted, in Arab capitals, by shouts of triumph from fundamentalist mobs of
exactly the kind that greeted the news that the Twin Towers had collapsed
and their occupants been exterminated.

I cannot recall any election when the enemies of America all over the world
have been so unanimous in hoping for the victory of one candidate. That is
the overwhelming reason that John Kerry must be defeated, heavily and
comprehensively.

November 19, Jake called this morning.. they are on the move again, its cold and he is glad to have all his silky warm thermals and his kevlar. His brother John attended the Bonfire Memorial and voiced a prayer for those days and these.

******************************************************************

President Bill Clinton: "Finally, let me say this. Quite apart from all the details, the thing I want most is for people who come to this library, whether they're Republicans or Democrats, liberals or conservatives, to see that public service is noble and important, that the choices and decisions leaders make affect the lives of millions of Americans and people all across the world.

I want young people to want to see not only what I did with my life, but to see what they could do with their lives. Because this is mostly the story of what we, the people, can do when we work together.

Yes, this library is the symbol of a bridge, a bridge to the 21st century. It's been called one of the great achievements of the new age, and a British magazine said it looked like a glorified house trailer. And I thought, well, that's about me, you know? I'm a little red and a little blue. "

**************************************************************

"There's an old saying, "Do not pray for tasks equal to
your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks." In four historic years,
America has been given great tasks, and faced them with strength and
courage. Our people have restored the vigor of this economy, and shown
resolve and patience in a new kind of war. Our military has brought justice
to the enemy, and honor to America. Our nation has defended itself, and
served the freedom of all mankind. I'm proud to lead such an amazing
country, and I'm proud to lead it forward. ...Reaching these goals will
require the broad support of Americans. So today I want to speak to
every person who voted for my opponent: To make this nation stronger
and better I will need your support, and I will work to earn it. I will do
all I can do to deserve your trust. A new term is a new opportunity to
reach out to the whole nation. We have one country, one Constitution
and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work
together, there is no limit to the greatness of America. George Bush

But in an American election, there are no losers, because whether or
not our candidates are successful, the next morning we all wake up as
Americans. And that -- that is the greatest privilege and the most
remarkable good fortune that can come to us on earth.
John Kerry

Nov 2 : Grandmother Doris got a call from Jake. She asked him what
he would like for Christmas.. he wants one of those beaded seat cushions
for his army vehicle.. Interesting.. Maybe a thought and a prayer for
when these soldiers do come home...a year is a long time away. Mi amigo,
Carlos, sent something from Hebrews, words from a long time ago in that
ancient land where our soldiers are working:

And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over
one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love
and helpful deeds and noble activities. Hebrews 10:24

September 26, 2004
It was a good Sunday.. Jake IM'd and this time used the computer's camera to send live video. Basically, he looked very tired and dirty. I think he was hungry too, because he said he was daydreaming about Taco Cabana. Wooh. Still has his mustache; either that or his upper lip was dirty..

September 22, 2004

Jake IM'd this morning. He was doing well. Wants to know what his brother John wants for Aggie graduation. Says he does a lot of daydreaming about taking care of us all. That's cool.

September 14, 2004

Jakes called, he liked the idea of ESPN doing their live shows in Kuwait. His wisdom tooth isn't bothering him quite as much. Got the package of movies and everyone there liked Boondock Saints. I am wondering if he saw the Big Bounce. Pretty cute little movie. We sure miss him here.

August 2004. Jake's back in Kuwait. It seemed especially hard to see him go. His leave home went by too fast. He had a busy two weeks. Las Vegas, multiple games of Texas Hold'um, Astros games, family time, the Valley Bend house return parties, afternoon movie matinee with mom, Aggie Happy Hour, Crosby ISD and CFBC Sunday Schools visits and thank you's...telling what its like to be a soldier in the OIF2. He looked good, a bit thinner, a blonde mustache, retains the easy-going attitude we all have come to know despite trips down IED alley - I think the soldiers don't sleep so good over there. God bless him, all of them over there.July 13, 2004

Jake sent an email today. He is well and hoping for a 2 week leave. I guess all his injuries have healed. Either that or his nose has fallen off and he is not telling his mother. He mentions that his prayers are for all his soldier buddies to get home safely to their families.

Jly, 2004

Well like normal, mission first- people second. I got taken off guard duty and put on a mission. Oh well, what can you do maybe when i get back it will be close to my leave so i will stay in the rear until the 6th of August. That way i don't miss my flight. But so you know i checked again and i have leave 6-23 august. One day to get there and 2 days to get back, so i will be THERE 7-21 aug. Well as far as any injuries, i managed to burn the living daylights our of my right forearm with a cigar. I was putting my guitar on and burn myself, i think it got infected, so i cleanedit and but some neopsorin on it. The i was gettting the truck ready and jumoed off the tailgate trying to hold a maching gun mount with one hand and my helmet weith the other. I wasn't wearingf my chin strap so my helmet slid off my head a scraped by nose pretty good. i think i got sand in it so it to got infedted. Gross yellow looking thing. The baltimore raven cheerleader were here and i got pictures
and autopgraphs but wehen i talked to them they all stopped mid sentence looking at my nose. so i cleaned it and applied neopsorin. My biggest enemy is myself i think. Well its not that bad, pretty hot about 150 someone said but i don't think so. I stood up all day with onl;y 2 .6 liter waters and was fine. i am just tougher than most. It was good talking to yall the other day, take care and i love yall.Love
JakeJune 13th

Jake IM'd today. He is back from missions and hoping that they have a few days off. Still no word on his promotion!! Jake says THANKS and Ah humdillah to the Houston Bridge Club, Tammy Naron's Sunday School at CFBC, all that great beef jerkey and mags from Colorado from Kim and hubby, Ellisor/Lester Sunday School at Champion Forest Baptist Church who have adopted him. A special hug to Mrs. Ellisor. Please keep praying for him as well as all of the soldiers and continue to pray for God's guidance... Jake says you are sending him everything a soldier away from home could want...Stay safe and be happy. Credo Deo.

May, 2004

Jakes view of Kuwait:
"Cool breezes off the Persian gulf can make you think of Corpus if you close your eyes and the barren, treeless desert can remind you of Columbus and farther west if you squint." (I think this Texas boy is longing for his homeland. )

Newest News:

Well how is everyone? Things are fine here. They have slowed down a bit, in fact two days ago I went swimming in the camp pool. And played in a softball game yesterday, We won 25 to 12 our platoon against the company "all-star" team. We should have won by more but we were a little nervous since it wa our frist game together.
I am working on another video, it should be available shortly, and is longer than the last one. I have enclosed a picture from our muster ceremony (SGT Siefert '01 (at least soon to be), Spc Patterson '00 SSG Costello '92) so John can send it to A&M. He got his ring by the way, and his dunking can be seen online. Well everyone take care and thank you all so much for the packages, it really touches my heart that yall care so much. Thank you and Happy Mothers day mom and Grandmother and you other mothers.

Crede Deo


Jake

IM from Jake, 5/01

Iraq is getting hot! He got to do a bit more sight seeing this time around.. the palace of Ur, Abraham's house, one of Saddam's palaces. Jakes says that the palace was bigger than the white house and this was just one of the ones Saddam owned. He also said that he got to see Pat. He was happy to hear that his brother John dunked that Aggie ring in Jake's pitcher.

April 4 20 2004 Hey ,
How is everyone? How is the house guys? You find someone to move in yet? Hows Chris doing so far this year? Has Kent broken any more arms yet? The next video will be good.
We are still here in Kuwait, today is Aggie Muster. The anniversary of the battle of San Jacinto when Aggies get together where ever they are to celebrate their years at A&M, and remember those Aggies who have died the previous year. I met a capt yesterday from Class of 97 from A-1, i think his name was Dallinger or Dillinger. He said Michiaki knew of a muster ceremony here, i am still trying to find the guys holding it before tonight. Otherwise things are good we moved into new tents 8 per. I built a bunk bed/ shelf out of pallets, not quite Bob Villa, more junkyard wars. Ill send a picture. They had a sale at the PX and I bought a frame that was 50 dollars for the flags for 12.50, and a pair of shorts for 2 dollars. They didn't have a size but i thought they would fit and they did but, either they were made below the equater in Australia where everything goes the other way like toilets flushes and traffic, or they are female shorts cause the zipper and button are no the wr
ong side. Probably the latter but they fit, are comfortable and were only 2 dollars. I haven't bought the phone yet cause the guy wants 100 dollars for a used one, i will decide in a couple days. Mom you don't have to send all the gums just a bunch. How is everyone? Grandmother thanks for the money, I have a CD you will really like. Mom, Did you ever read that article on male salon/ barbershops in that magazine i gave you back in Bliss? I am thinking about sending money back to have the ford fixed at Zippeys he does resortation on old vehicles. and it will be cheaper than buying a new one all though i would like to, i am fighting the temptation, i know my money could be better put to use some where else. even though you can buy any make or model (including Harleys) tax free here. Well Tell everyone i love them, and I love you. I miss yall.
Love
Crede Deo, Jake

Feb 17, 2004 Jake called home. He seemed quite impressed with the Army's choice of beverages especially their storage, and access at camp... apparently your tax dollars are providing sufficient nourishment. We will let you know as soon as his promotion goes though and then you can call him Sarge... Their is an active and vibrant resale of tech devices in camp - cell phones are apparently more reliable than email so used international phone sales from the retiring company are boistrous. Its just nice to know we should be in touch in the near future. I MAY have gotten the above address right. First mission should be soon.

Feb 20, 2004 - Jake called this evening just before formation at 7:30 his time.. they have been assigned their truck, first mission tomorrow.

Feb 25, 2004 - Call from Jake today, he is in Baghdad and surprised at how green and beautiful it is. He remarked that being this close to the Euphrates and appreciating the beauty of the region made him mindful that this is the historical region for the Garden of Eden. He is sending a slide show of pics.. Hopefully I will figure out how to post them here.

Feb 25, 2004 - (email)

Hey everyone, how are y'all?

Everything is going well here. I feel good, except I think I am getting a cold from sleeping out in the cold. It has been pretty cold here lately. Our first mission went well, we went to a place called Udari. I am not allowed to tell many details, so I will have a lot of stories when thew war is over. Today I am in Baghdad, we had some down time on our current mission, and they only charge 3 dollars and hour to use the internet. I would call but it is like 2 AM back home.
I haven't bought the cell phone yet, i need a chance to go to finace to withdraw money for cash, but when i get it i will have my mom post the number and times to call on my site she has set up. By the way it is pretty neat, and the address she has up there is the right one for right now. Again if and when it changes I will let you know.
I am making another little slideshow video of me working, our bunks (very neat some guys have satellite tv's), us playing ball, and of the plane when we took off. A copy or viewing, for those terribly interested will be available at either myh parents house or my house.
As far as care packages i really appreciate them. It takes mail about three weeks to get here and all junk food, little cheap road games, and stuff like that really helps pass the time on the road. I am not asking for you guys to send them, but it is neazt to get them, after all i can buy that stuff here with all the money i am makeing tax free.
Well my hour is almost up, and I will let you all get back to work or school. God is taking care of me here, just today i was feeling hungry and had no cash at the PX to buy any Burger King, i figured i would find a chow hall, but this Colonel walked up and offered me an extra whopper he had bought, and a coke! So all is good, minus the indegestion.

Take Care and God Bless

Crede DEO


Jake

PS. Dad I am working on my sand shots by my tent there are a variety of types of bunkers ranging from hard to soft. Mom, nicew website you did a good job, put a link up there to Cthree you never know who my check it. Love yall and miss yall, sorry for cutting off the phone the other day, it was the phone center's fault. Tell Grandma, Josh, John, and the Sieferts I love 'em.

PPS. Erin, thanks for the letter, and for keeping me in your prayers, I miss you guys to and don't take that in a "Jacob" way, its a kinda semi-plutontic...no just kidding

PPPS. Mark i have been trying to write some songs, my guitar is not here yet, but should be here soon. Ill send 'em to ya when I get a chance.

PPPPS. Uncle NEil, that whisky was awesome, I look forward to some more, we finished it all (in a responsible way) before we left Bliss, you did a great job. Tell your family I love em, and to do good in school.


March 1, 2004 (email) address change again, you know the ARMY...

SPC SIEFERT, JACOB 1798
143rd/375th GROUP/766th bn
1836th TC/ 3rd Platoon
Camp Arifjan
APO, AE 09366

Well quick update since the internet time is limited here... all is still ok my cold is gone, and I am back from missions, enjoying a day off. I am fixing to go waste money at the PX since my computer is giving me a hard time burning the slideshow, maybe i will treat myself to the subway. I am still working on the phone situation will be resolved soon. otherwise, i really appreciate all the e-mails it means a lot. I will try to find time to write each of yall individually later today after i get some "work" done. Take care and God Bless

Crede Deo

March 5, 2004

mom please foward this to my normal group of CC:'s and whoever else the computer is being touchy


Hey how is everyone? I am on a another mission, can't tell ya much about it but im in Baghdad again. Everything is going ok, except none of us can seem to get rid of this "crud" we all have in the morning. Oour conex's should be in today or soon, with my guitar so i can start practicing, singing without any back up is not easy, even for such a talented "crooner" like myself.
By the way it was neat, on the road the other day going the other direction was an Army truck full of guys with burlap sacks over their heads, all tied up and guarded. I don't know where they came from, or where they are going but keep your eyes on the news.
I want to say again i appreciate all the prayers and e-mails, it means a lot please continue to pray for all of us, and a peace of mind.
I have finished my first video of pictures here, but haven't had time to mail it yet, since we have actually been busy, there are at least 2 copies, one to my house, and one to my parents.
I also am happy to say that in 15 days i will again be debt free. I mailed my last 2 checks, and with the time it takes for mail, it will take 2 weeks for them to go through, but it is a good feeling.
To answer Johnathans questions.....the people hear seem mostly concerned with doing there own thing, expect the kids who run up to the street when we pass by and scream for food. They have three signs for wanting food: 1)an Aggie "Gig'em" which Im sure is based not on Texas A&M but the thumbs up we all have a tendency to do,2) the hand in and out of the mouth like and indian, yopu know when you are a kid and go ahahahaahah, and 3) a varying amount of fingers sometimes, 1 some times 2, and sometimes the "bird" ( which is not on accident). These kids to some time look very poor, but that is not to be taken as a lack of interlligence. When they are thrown MRE's and snacks they quickly hide it in shirts, robes, and ditches and ask for more. I would be more apt to throw them stuff, but i saw one boy get the tar kicked out of him by a group of boys for a box of Jimmie Dean's. That was promplty confiscated by the MP's as they chased them down in a humvee. also those kids, and
adults, try to sell you contraband, hash, liqour, porn, war trophies, cigarettes, and saddam money, but some have been known to caryy bombs so the army says to stay away from those people. but other than that you get a lot of waves, and shouting in arabic and occasional broken english but only when you ride through places where people aren't working. The waves kinda remind me of riding the fire truck.
I guess that is about it, oh yeah Mom and Dad I forgot to mention...Johnathan owes me an Aggie flag for Christmas so if he hasn't sent it remind him, and if you can a Texas flag. I love all you guys, take care.

Crede Deo


Jake

April 5 - Jake IM'd this am, he read Sea Bisquit -thought it was a great book and maybe he was impatient with the Colorado horses. The dogs over there make him lonely for Moses. Green season is over and Kuwait didn't move to the time change. He has been listening to Harry Connick, Jr. RE the Passion of the Christ, Jake wondered if any publicity is good publicity with regards to Christ. (Good question in my opinion). In any event, he said the reason he liked the Left behind books was that they made the point it wasn't our job to be concerned about making God's plan work. He found sour gums on some web vending site and bought 850 of them. ? WHo knew?

April News

EASTER morning.
I guess Jake still has stinky feet, mission is over 2 weeks old and they are still out in Iraq somewhere. Jake attended an Easter service outside the mess hall. He's good. Me, Janet, hopes Easter the world over was good for all. Also, should any of you know - I have been fasting from desserts until soldier son comes back from Iraq. If you know me, well... R.J. Goodies butter cream frosting cake this Thursday was a sore temptation.. Al humdillah.

April 8

Jake: IM'd in the morning. Pulled into somewhere in Iraq that had internet connections. I am sure I am not the only one he was talking to, but it is always so good to hear from that man! He was doing well. Sunburned on the tip of his nose; covered full face for mission because of sand, dirt, wind, intimidation, and smell. Army passed out sun screen after the fact. How are the conditions over there, we all ask. He says he can hear significant gunfire and there is a bit more civilian hostility demonstrated on the road in the form of verbs and gestures. Quite a few more attacks on bases where they overnight, as well as the routes they take. But in his words, "they have been very protected by God on their convoys". He says the fighting groups seem to be small bands. The papers over there (I dont know exactly what that means) state that there are 3 or 4 groups that are fighting the coalition. Jake says, well, he worries, about the press here not making it any easier for the soldiers in the Sunni triangle conflict. For him personally? As of yesterday morning he hadn't bathed for several days and only changed his socks once.. (uh well..that could be the stench described above.... If you know Jake the next few sentences make PERFECT sense.) He has started a tradition; mission return entails a NA beer and a cuban out by the tent at Arifjan. Having finally recieved his guitar, Jake and Garrent croon on these occasions. (Buddy Garrett from Sonora, Texas, all of us here say Howdy!) Jake says those several jillion sour gums he ordered off the internet couldn't be shipped to the middle east so they are coming to Sunstone for forwarding.. uh hum. On the most serious note: I, Janet, think its hard for those soldiers over there to sit under the stars and celebrate life and completed missions without thinking a great deal about God, faith, forgiveness, past wars and the future of our world. Whether your top brass or fueling a vehicle in the sand, comparisons are drawn in histories of past wars and this day's experiences... We, a world away, all worry and wonder, what SHOULD we be doing? Those of you praying and those of you not; those of you Democrat and those of you not; isn't it our responsibility, beyond politics and prejudice, to listen to the voices of all the people occupying Iraq- those who call it home and those who have been called to serve and protect those homes? And most of all, we are responsible for refusing to let their voices be drowned by those who traffic in terror. In Sha' Allah.

 

 

April 19th - heard from Jake on the way back from Kerrville. He finally got back to Arifjan and decided that you can make up for not bathing in 3 weeks by taking 2 showers a day. He came back to mail and packages.. it made him very happy!! He says that the smiles and waves are not as noticable, a subtle change in atmosphere. And it has been more dangerous.

I wish there were some way we could do a better job of showing that what we stand for as a nation, no matter what the politics; that individual Americans care for all humankind. How do you reach a youthful population in another culture, who are idealistic and passionate, telling them that the stories they have heard about Americans are not any closer to the truth than Americans believing that the average Middle Eastern desires violence and terrorism. In sha' Allah!