My Last Blog From Fort Sill

Well...this is it...my last blog from Fort Sill. I'm still here for a little while longer but I'm about to have my internet shut down. We're not sure exactly when we're leaving but we're all getting ready. As I look back at it, it has actually been a quick two months. And last night as we were packing and preparing to get ready to go on pass to see our families, I actually started to become very nervous and anxious about what I was about to embark on. So far the worse thing I've had to overcome was being away from my family and dealing with some new faces. But as I laid in bed last night, it really hit me that I was going to be heading overseas and heading to a war-stricken land. Granted, I am in the best possible spot I could be in for a deployment. I'm not going to be kicking in doors or running convoys, I should be on a very comfy base. But the simple fact still remains that I'm going to be there. And while I'm so excited to spend Saturday through Wednesday with Meg and Caleb, I'm also very nervous for the days that will follow. I guess that it is simple human nature to be nervous about the things we don't know. Lots of guys have been saying, "when I was deployed..." or "guys I know said..." but still, there is something scary about the unknown. Something scary about the fact that I can't pickup my cell phone and make a call. Something scary about the fact that I will be half a world away from my family. But I can say that I can take strength in knowing that God is the Master Planner and he knows what is best. To know that no matter what happens, good and bad, that His will be done. And as I proceed forward, two Bible verses come to mind for me.

Proverbs 16:3: Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.

Philippians 4:13: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

While I'm still nervous about leaving soon, I can rest knowing that God will give me the strength I need. That I will continue to work on behalf of the Lord and make sure my conversations are full of salt (Colossians 4:5-6) for His glory. As I said when I originally heard about my deployment, "the Will of God will not take you somewhere the Strength of God cannot protect you."

Thank you all so much for all the support you have given my family and to me. It is a blessing and a pleasure to have you in our lives.

I'm looking forward to blogging again from Iraq (maybe Kuwait).

Josh