Sunrise services, Resurrection Sunday, Baghdad Iraq

Photos from Resurrection Sunday services around Baghdad. The large one on the left is a "file shot" from our public affairs office of a service in an Orthodox church in downtown Baghdad. Iraq is about 12% Christian. The area of Baghdad immediately across the river from the Embassy is mostly Christian.

I took the other two at the Embassy service Sunday morning. I was too engrossed in the sermon to get the sunrise! But the main point is God is doing His work over here, too!

The last photo is also a file shot. This one is the service at Camp Victory, near the Baghdad Airport. I like it because they actually caught the rising sun!

Tuskeegee Airmen...The Legend Continues!

On a recent trip to Balad Air Base, Iraq. It's quite an honor: The Air Force has assigned the 332nd--the Tuskegee Airmen--as the combat air wing in Iraq! This sign is in front of Wing HQ. The bottom reads:"Tuskegee Airmen....The Legend Continues!"

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Visit to the 332nd Casualty Support Hospital

The 332 Casualty Support Hospital at Balad Air Base. The 332nd CSH is part of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing. They are kind of an emergency room on steroids. They don't do long term treatment. Their objective is to stabilize wounded or injured patients so that they can be evacuated to a full service medical facility in Europe or the States. Nevertheless, they are equipped to handle just about any kind of injury. They have everything from bandages to transportable MRI machines, and some of the best, most motivated staff anywhere. The staff is here on four month assignments. The CSH Commander told me that's about the limit most people can do before they get burned out by the pace.

This crew is from Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB in San Antonio. These folks are truly a blessing from God. Pray for them, as well as for the patients they treat. They work under enormous stress on injuries that would have been fatal 20 years ago. God is truly doing a mighty work through them. As a result, 97% of their patients survive!

Alert! Choppers Inbound!

Medevac Choppers coming in to the 332nd Casualty Hospital. They didn't stage this for our benefit! Fortunately, this time they were only delivering blood, not wounded soldiers.

Touring Saddam's Bunker

Touring the inside of Saddam's bunker and the "Believers' Palace" above it. Seven 2000 lbs bombs sure makes a mess!

The "Believers' Palace--Outside. The palace was supposedly a venue for Saddam to entertain members of the Ba'ath party. It was used for that, but that wasn't it's real purpose.
...and inside. This is what's left of the main reviewing hall after the Air Force dropped two 2,000 lbs. GPS guided bombs through the roof during the war. The damage looks extensive, but you realize it isn't once you know the real purpose for the building...

...It's real purpose was as a shield for Saddam's underground bunker, which we entered through here. The Believers' Palace was cleverly built to act as a blast absorber for the bunker, which is buried 60 feet under it. 70 feet of concrete above ground, and 60 feet below made it virtually bomb proof from the air.
But it wasn't blast proof from the ground. The Army blew open the doors inside the service building.

An April Night in Baghdad

April 5th, 2006. After a few days of marginal to "Noah-ific" weather, this evening was gorgeous! I only wish I could capture the freshness of the air, the smell of jasmine, and the sound of the evening call to prayers.