Message from Stinky - Oct. 2005
 Salam e-lekum (Peace to and Happiness to You)...
I luckily find time to write to you after the completion of a very busy week. We find ourselves living in a very spontanious mode.
We are fighting an enemy who is constantly watching us and
making sure we never get a good nights sleep. Lately we have
been fighting against a very determined group of young Taliban,
who like to talk on little radios. We can hear them talking on the
radios when we go on missions, which makes it somewhat easier to
locate them. You would think that they would know that we were
listening to them, but nevertheless, they continue to do it. And I
will say it is quite eary hearing them say to each other "I am
watching them move right now, and am ready to do God's Will (In
Shalla)." This is a very mountanous region, so they can hide very
well in the mountains and we cannot always see them.
 It is very weird how distorted and brainwashed the Taliban has
made them. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda take the Koran and put a
twist on it that is suitable for condoning killing innocent people.
And we always hear them making twisted remarks to Allah and the
Koran. It's pretty sad, especially to see that the majority of the
Taliban foot soldiers are young men, 15-25. Please say a prayer
for the education of the young people of this country, that they
may be taught the truth. Although it is frustrating to know they
are being lied to, the ones who practice true Islam are a very
peaceful people, and the prayers they do five times a day are very
peaceful to watch. They have the call to prayer, which is the eldest
person in that group, singing the call. Followed by ten minutes of
numerous body movements, and whispers to Allah. Pretty cool
experience to watch them pray.
We have a small jail in our village and every time that we get a guest at it, we always show them the recruiting banner that hangs
on the outside wall. I think it's pretty funny, worth taking a picture
with it (and my awesome interpreter Dost Mohammed).
It is very weird having someone who speaks your words for you. It
definetly restricts the interactions I am able to have, but on the
other hand, if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have any interactions
with the locals. 
 My favorite time to meet with the locals is when I put on the
Afghani "Man Jammies". They are so comfortable, and although I
may not look like a normal Afghani, I really do look like a Russin-
Afghani, from the north. The picture is me with our private
Afghani security team and the commander, Manaan Aka, to the left of me.
 We don't find many things in this area that our GMVs (stripped
down HUMVEE, put on Steroids) cannot traverse. But the one
things it has trouble with is WATER. It can go through water up to
the top of the windshield, but anything deeper, we must find a
ferry crossing to get across. I find it humbling that we have this
vehicle that allows us to be mostly invincible, but when we come
across deep water God tells us that he is ALL invincible. Still pretty
cool to have the local kids stare and gawk at these Monster
Machines with big guns, walking up the mountains and swimming
through the rivers.
Well, as usual we will be going out tonight. We try to use the dark
to our advantage, since we have amazing technology to help us
fight in weird conditions. I can assure you that your tax dollars are
being well spent over here. We continue to do good things for this
country and the rest of the world. I am doing things for God, and
locals are feeling the peace of God in their lives finally. God bless
you all and may you keep these people in your daily prayers.
Stinky |
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