Day 230: On the News

Here is a nice story about our Afghan Children Project that so many of you helped to make successful. Thanks for all of your efforts.

I will hopefully be able to get out soon and help deliver the items you have donated. Stay tuned for pictures and updates as they become available.

**UPDATE: Several people have inquired about donating to the project in order to help with some of the shipping costs. I have added a donate button at the top of my blog for those who want to help. The button takes you to a secure link where you can donate through PayPal.

Day 229: The Cougar

After two weeks of traveling, I returned back “home” to Camp Stone today. Over the last few weeks on the road a lot has happened. I said goodbye to 2008 and welcomed in 2009. I celebrated my 33rd birthday. I helped process over 800 new police recruits. I (or the members of my team) gave over 3000 immunizations. I ate several times at the Afghan dining facility...luckily without getting sick. I ran over 50 miles, did several thousand sit-ups, and spent quite a bit of time lifting weights (although you probably would never notice the difference). I read a popular teenage vampire romance novel sent to me by my wife (title withheld to save my reputation). I was able to spend several days hanging out with the Spanish doctors and practice my Espanol. Overall it was a very successful trip. A lot was accomplished and it was nice to change up the routine and the scenery a little.

One thing that was nice about this trip, was that we traveled in the next generation of up-armored vehicle--the Cougar. Below you will see some pictures of these vehicles. Over the last several months these vehicles have been replacing the fleet of Humvees found throughout the country. These vehicles are designed to more effectively shield their passengers from the dangers of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which are the most common cause of casualties in the region. I have to say that driving in the back of one of these gives an added sense of security and safety. It is reassuring that the military is acting so quickly to replace the Humvee with this much safer vehicle. The only down side to this vehicle is its lack of a suspension. Especially if you are sitting near the back of the vehicle, you really get thrown around when the truck hits a bump. Oh well, I think I can live with a few bruises in exchange for the safety this vehicle provides.

By the way, thanks to all of you who sent letters, packages, or just commented on my blog over the holiday season. I really appreciate hearing from you all and for your thoughtfulness.






Have you noticed who is hiding in every one of my pictures. It is my interpreter Shafiq. He tells me that he is the "most handsome man in the world" and constantly sneaks in the background of my pictures.

Day 227: Marathon Training

Today, I went to the gym here in Adraskan for a little run. I was amused when I stepped on the treadmill and noticed the control buttons. As you can see in the picture, the increase speed button has a picture of a man on it, while the decrease speed button has a woman on it. “Wow, this is pretty sexist,” I thought when I first saw it. Can you imagine a treadmill that was designed for the U.S. market with those kind of icons? I don’t think it would go over very well. Perhaps in Asia (where it looks like this treadmill was intended to be sold) this is acceptable. I have gotten in much better shape since I have deployed. However, I am pretty sure that there are plenty of women out there who can outrun me without too much difficulty. In fact, if we were to put all the readers of this blog on treadmills, I would not be surprised at all if the women in the group were hitting the increase speed button more often than the men in the group. Anyway, I thought it was funny and thought you all might enjoy it as well.


By the way, I am still continuing my marathon training. I will be running the Lake Tahoe Marathon on September 23 if anyone is interested in joining me and the family up there. If you don’t want to run the marathon, then perhaps a 5K or 10K would be more reasonable. If none of the above sound interesting, then just come up for a weekend getaway.

Day 225: On The Road Again

Over the past week I have been traveling again. We are in the midst of another round of police in-processing events. These events are much like the others I have been involved in. This means that I am...living out of a suitcase...giving a lot of shots...screening the police for drug abuse...practicing my Dari and Pashto...and enjoying a change of scenery. Honestly, it is nice to get out and do something different for a few days. It definitely helps the time go by a little quicker.

Here are some pictures from the last few days.


Above is an aerial drone. Every once in awhile these remote control aircraft are seen overhead. This one flew right above me and luckily I had my camera handy.


The previous two pictures show the police students training on entering and clearing a building. Now I have seen them practice with rubber guns before, but today was the first time I had seen them use fluorescent light bulbs. It looks like they are in Jedi light saber training.


Last is a view of the mountains near Adraskan. The picture really doesn’t do it justice. In person it is actually very beautiful.

Day 222: A Farewell to 2008

2008 will not be a year soon forgotten. Who would have thought last year at this time, that I would be ringing in 2009 half way around the world in Afghanistan while my family celebrated without me back in Utah. This year has been challenging for our family in many ways. There have been a few tears, some lonely moments, and times for reflection and serious soul searching. However, as Sue and I look back on this year, I think we will look back on it as one of the greatest blessings of our life. Hard to believe that what we are experiencing right now could be considered a blessing. However, the lessons learned, the experience gained, and the strength we have gained will help shape not only the rest of our mortal life, but most importantly, the rest of our eternal life.

Shortly before Sue and I were married, I received a much anticipated letter from the University of Utah School of Medicine. The letter came in a thin, legal sized envelope and contained only one sheet of paper, rather than the thick full sized manila envelope I had hoped the postal service would deliver. I was informed in this letter that unfortunately I had not been accepted into their medical school. Shock, disappointment, fear, and anger were all felt at some level. Rather than the fairy tale of getting married and starting medical school near family and friends, we were faced with being driven out “of paradise” and into “the lone and dreary world”. So after we were married, off to Washington D.C. we headed. Some of the challenges and difficulties we dreaded when we left home did come to pass. There was a horrible bed-ridden first pregnancy for Sue, there were the long hours away from home with a new course of study, and there were innumerable sleepless nights with a colicky (although beautiful) newborn. Family events were missed and grandmas and grandpas weren’t present when their babysitting skills were most needed. However, now as Sue and I think of our Washington D.C. years these challenges, although remembered, are not what we really “remember”. We remember fondly the cherry blossoms, trips to Amish country, our small little apartments, driving along the Potomac, life-long friends that were made, and the birth of two of our amazing children. It’s funny, looking back, what a blessing that small envelope containing a rejection letter, turned out to be.

The challenges, the struggles, the heartaches of life slowly fade from the forefront of our memory and are replaced with the good and happiness that these experiences bring us. As we say goodbye to 2008, I am grateful for the experiences I have had this past year. I have learned a lot. I have done things and seen things that I never imagined I would ever do. My love for family, friend, country and my God have all deepened. So goodbye 2008 and welcome to the year in which I will be reunited with you all again--2009!

Day 219: Listening

I spent the majority of my day today in a small room with seven Afghans while we prepared immunizations for our upcoming police in-processing event. I had an interpreter with me. However, most of the time I just sat and listened. It is sometimes more interesting sitting in a room understanding little to none of the conversation than it is if you understand every word. One nice thing about it is that you don’t have to pretend like you are interested in the conversation. Also, there is no requirement to make small talk. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t enjoy being anti-social--at least most of the time. However, it is interesting how much information you can gather just by listening. For example, I could start to figure out the different personalities in the room--the jokers, the serious, the outgoing. Also, I could often tell what the conversation was about...or at least what I thought the conversation was about. That’s the great thing about not understanding what people are saying--you can imagine them saying anything that you want them to.

Now if only I could apply this principle when I get back home. “Honey, please go change Ammon’s diaper” could easily become “Hey, Justin, why don’t you go relax, put your feet up and have a bowl of ice cream!”

Day 215: Merry Christmas

The last time I was away for Christmas it was 1996 and I was on my mission in Argentina. Now twelve years later I am in another part of the world on a different kind of mission. Hopefully this will be my last Christmas away for a long time...hopefully forever.

Today was a rather slow and uneventful day. I think it is normal for days to pass slowly like today did, when you really wish you were somewhere else. I opened a few presents, read a little, worked out, watched part of a movie, and called home to wish my family a Merry Christmas Eve. The snow of last week was melted and rather than a cold and blustery Christmas, we had seventy degree weather. It felt more like spring than winter...although I am not complaining. I’m sure winter will come roaring back within a few days. The dining facility had a nice Christmas dinner and we even had a live band playing in the background. Overall it was a nice and relaxing day. However, I have to admit that I am glad the holiday season is ending and we are moving into 2009...the year I come home!

I hope everyone back home has a very merry Christmas. I miss all of you and am grateful for all the support and encouragement you provide.

Day 214: To My Kids on Christmas Eve

Dear Abbie, Ellie, Eden and Ammon,

Merry Christmas! When mom reads this message to you it will be Christmas Eve. I can only imagine how excited you must be and how much fun you will have today. I hope you have a great and special day. I wish so bad I could be there with you. I miss you guys a lot.

Since I won’t be home this Christmas, I wanted to make sure you had a little note from your daddy. Every kid deserves to hear from their daddy on Christmas. Some kids don’t get to, so I feel blessed that even though I am very far away, I still get to say hi to my favorite people in the whole wide world today. I love you guys...A LOT! I have been given a lot of presents in my life; however, the five best presents I have ever received are my Susie, Abbie, Ellie, Eden and Ammon. Thanks for being the best kids a daddy could ever have.

I especially wanted to tell you how grateful I am that you are willing to ask Santa to give some of your Christmas presents to the boys and girls of Afghanistan. Yesterday, I put a picture on my blog of a little boy who is probably only a year or two older than Abbie. This poor boy was standing outside in the cold with no socks on. Can you imagine going outside in the cold and not having any socks on your feet? I bet your little toes would get cold pretty fast. Every day I see kids who don’t have warm clothes to wear or who don’t have enough to eat. Other kids don’t have any paper to write on or crayons to color with when they go to school. Tomorrow, you will get to open a lot of presents and will get a lot of fun things. I am sure you will have HUGE smiles on your faces in the morning as you sit around the Christmas tree looking at your presents. Try to think of the HUGE smiles that will be on the faces of the kids here in Afghanistan when in a few weeks they open up the presents that you are sending them. I am proud of your decision to share. Sometimes it is hard to share...but in the end it always makes you feel happier and blesses those whom you share with.

A long time ago, on the first Christmas morning, Heavenly Father shared his Son, Jesus Christ with the world. I’m sure it was hard for Heavenly Father to send His Son so far away. However, he did it because He knew that His sacrifice would bless all of His children. This year, our family is being asked to sacrifice--we are being asked to be apart. It isn’t easy. We sometimes feel sad. Sometimes we feel like crying. However, I know that soon we will be back together. Just like our Father in Heaven, we are sacrificing to bless the lives of other people. It is hard, but someday we will look back and be glad we made the sacrifice.

I love you guys. I miss you so much. I wish I could somehow pull you through my computer and give you a big hug and a kiss. Know that I am thinking of you on this Christmas day. I can’t wait until the next one, when we will all be together again.

Love,

Dad

Day 213: Nothing To Say

Sometimes inspiration comes...other times it doesn’t. I was sitting here trying to think of something meaningful to write for this post and after several failed attempts I realized why my page remained blank...I really have nothing to say. So I will say nothing. However, yesterday we went out on a convoy and I took a few interesting pictures I wanted to share. Here you go...enjoy.

Wow, it sure takes a lot of words to say that you have nothing to say.


See the kid in this post. No socks...middle of winter...evidence that Sue's Christmas service project is important.


This year my Christmas sleigh ride is being replaced by Christmas humvee rides.


Doesn't it look like I just landed on Mars or another planet? Interesting scenery.


These women in their burkhas are dangerous due to their limited field of vision and the bad habit they have of stepping out in the street without looking.


A view from the back seat of the humvee as we drive through the city.


This is the Blue Mosque. It is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in all of Herat.

Day 211: Calling 911

I have only called 911 once in my life. Several years ago when we lived in California, Sue and I drove by a young girl who had just been hit by a car. The poor girl looked as if she had been twisted into a pretzel. As we were one of the first people on the scene, I called 911 to request emergency medical assistance. I was surprised how long it took for 911 to answer my call--at least several minutes passed before anyone even picked up the phone. However, ultimately they answered, the ambulance was sent, and the girl ended up doing fine.

Imagine if you had no access to emergency medical care and that if you called 911 no one ever answered your call. This is the situation the Afghans face every day. Their medical system is broken and people don’t have access to the care they need. The Afghan police in particular have a serious lack of emergency medical providers. The police are often the targets of attacks and are frequently injured or killed. Up until now, the Afghan police out here in the western part of the country have had no trained medics. One of my goals when I arrived was to help create a program to train and certify medics--increasing access to care, providing needed medical support, and most importantly saving lives. Well today, the dream become a reality. The first Afghan Army and Police medic training course outside of Kabul kicked off this morning. Approximately twenty students will spend the next eight weeks learning everything from how to care for a broken leg, to how to dress a gunshot wound, to how to deal with serious chest and abdominal trauma.

In a place where progress is so slow and is measured in inches rather than feet or miles, it was satisfying to see something so important and with so much potential to do the Afghans some good, finally come to pass. It is a first step. Much work still lies ahead. However, today the Afghans are one step closer to having access to the medical care that they need. They are that much closer to being able to one day call 911 and have someone actually come to help them.