Pressing On

Dear All,

The days are busy now that the center is open. Troops in and out and playing games, talking on the phone, watching movies, hanging out in the lounge and filming United Through Reading. There is always someone to talk to and needs to be met.

The game rooms are the biggest hit. There is one that has eight Xboxes in an octagon shape that are all interconnected where they can play each other. Each system can play two players so you can have sixteen at one time in there playing. You can only imagine the laughter or should I say hoopin and hollerin going on in there. The troops run over on their lunch hour and come after their shift and play until we close.

The other game room has the Wii games which are much more interactive. You can bowl, or play tennis or Dance, Dance Revolution and many others. They get to going on those and even work up a sweat. There are also Xboxes in that room in the corners and they get to jamming with the guitar hero.

Of course there are always troops on the phones and in the evenings there is a wait to get a phone. We have to limit the calls to thirty minutes and having to tell them to hang up is one of my hardest tasks.

We are able to film the United Through reading all during our open hours and boy is that a hit. I particularly like the fact that since Balad is in such a large Air Base we get many troops that are passing through on their way to other FOB’s. They will not have the opportunity to participate in the UTR program where they are going so it thrills me that we can film while they are there. One young father who got strand in Balad for several days filmed three and we are going to mail them at month intervals. His wife and little baby were staying in Dallas while he is deployed and it was fun to talk about the things we love and miss from the Big D.

I mailed last Saturday 84 UTR’s and again today mailed another 81. I am in good shape on mini DVD’s but am beginning to get pretty low on books. We allow them to pick a book for each child so you think about 81 recording that could be as many as 160 or more books we are sending out. I feel great joy when I get them mailed knowing how many of God’s precious children will soon get to see their mom or dad or grandparent on TV. I get to hear story after story of how their children respond. The smaller children just talk away to the TV as though they were there and the older ones are a bit more emotional seeing their loved one. I have one dad at the hospital that every time he gets to read a book he always ends up singing praise and worship songs to his children and I always he him end the tape praying for them. Can you imagine the blessing those children are receiving to hear their father pray for them and what a joy for them to have for the rest of their life. One dad brought his guitar and instead of reading books to his children played and sang songs he had written for them.

I think I am the one that is the most blessed. Hearing their stories, seeing the joy they receive from getting to record these connections of love, putting the children’s pictures on my bulletin board and receiving thank you emails from their families at home makes any effort expended so worthwhile.

I am not sure I have ever told you about the post office. When you go to the post office here you are not allowed to seal your packages. They inspect the contents and then seal them. You would think the postal workers would dread to see me coming with 80+ packages a couple times a week but it is quite the contrary. I have had many of them that work in the post office come over and record books for their children and grandchildren so they have become some of my strongest advocates. They are some of my sweetest friends here.

The troops appreciate so much when we have snacks for them. Having a variety is hard as the PX though good for a PX doesn’t have a lot to pick from. We find they love candy and particularly chocolate so any candy is greatly appreciated. My friend Laurie is working to get us candy here. We are trying to stock up on chocolate now as we only have about two months before it will be too hot to mail chocolate here. We also have peanut butter and jelly out for them on days when we can get bread and they love that. Christmas we were sent two honey baked hams that have been in our freezer and we thawed them this week and boy was that a hit.

I had a thrilled tonight when two young soldiers walked in, obviously brothers, in fact twins. I found out that they were not at the same FOB and were only in Balad to take a class and had not seen each other in a year and a half. They were darling! I pulled out my camera and took a couple pictures and then we emailed them to their mom. It made my day! I can’t wait to hear if she gets them.

Well I must close for now. I will try to write more often now that we are settling in to a more regular schedule. I love you all dearly and treasure your support and prayers for this mission. It is my prayer that we will become a place that our battle weary troops can come and find encouragement, support, and a touch of home.

In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Opening Day Pics and video

Pictured above is everyone who contributed in the start up of the USO building.

Go to URL's below to view General Petreaus speech at Opening ceremony. The second URL shows Linda getting 'coined' by the General plus takes you inside the USO. Coolio...

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f91_1202400070

http://www.dvidshub.net/vjump.php?vid=34861

Opening Day

Dear All,

What a wonderful day is was celebrating our Grand Opening! Besides all the preparations with the building there was much to do to prepare for the opening celebration itself. With dignitaries coming, security issues had to be coordinated and timing...yes timing of arrivals and flight schedules had things changing right up to the last minute.

Gen. David Petraeus was our distinguished guest. I was very impressed with him. So personalable and down to earth and very much about the troops. Took so much time to talk and take pictures with the troops. He went through the center and when he got to the ame room he had one of the trrops teach him how to play golf on the WII game.

Another surprise of the day was Will Courtney. He is on the USO World Headquarters board and the Dallas USO board. He came to the Grand Opening with other headquarter board members. It was so fun to see someone from home.

I need to get to bed but wanted to say hi and send some pictures. I tried and could not get the pictures to post. The internet is running very slow and that makes a difference. I will put them on as soon as I can.

I am so grateful for God's incredible faithfulness and provision for the USO Balad Air Base Center. What fun it was today to have troops in and out and enjoying the center.

In His Mighty Grip,
Linda

Good Times!

Dear All,

We have had eleven absolutely wonderful days here together that will forever be cherished for both Johnny and I. We spent many days laying on the beach, saw what we wanted to and never looked at the time nor felt any pressure to hurry or rush. We are well rested, a little sunburned but more than grateful for this time we have had.

Wednesday we took a bus half way around the island to Puerta De La Cruz, a very quaint harbour town with a wonderful town square and old fortress from the 1400's. There were more cliffs than beaches but the beaches we saw had their share of topless bathers. HMMMMM!!!!!! I just don't get it! Most of the streets were cobble stone and full of people with cute little resturants and shops.

Thursday we took a bus tour to the summit of El Teide a dormant volcano. Quite a contrast from the beautiful sunny beach to snow. The bus ride up was something else, up a very narrow winding road that at times made me hold my breathe. Johnny and I had chosen seats on the upper level right up front so it made for quite the trip. We rode a cable car up as high as you could go and hiked a short distance further. The homeward journey wasn't quite as treacherous and included several quaint little villages. With the two days of sight seeing we had pretty well been around the whole island.

We became frequent customers at our favorite little resturant. Four times I believe. It was a two and a half mile walk over from our hotel and the same back. I think we thought if we walked it we could eat more, but as I sit here at the airport I am finding my jeans to be a bit tight. Our next to last night we found a beautiful resturant where we dined in candle light with an amazing pianaist entertaining. It was a wonderful evening. There was not a dance floor but that did not stop Johnny from waltzing me around the area we were, once the other people had left. Another couple saw us and joined us dancing. Beautiful! So nice we went again last night!

We are now at the airport and will soon start our journeys home. This first leg we will do together then go our different directions once we are in London. I don't dread going back to Iraq but can not bear the thought of being apart again. Goodbye the second time I am finding harder than the first time.

I will be glad to know how things are in Balad. I do know we are on water restrictions and only we be allowed a three minute shower every other day. That's going to cramp my style.

That is all for now! I love you so and again am so appreciative of your support and encouragement.

In His Mighty grip,
Linda and Johnny

P.S.

As you can see from my previous post, I have my IT man with me and hence.....Pictures in the posts! More to come....though I am sure that feature was not available in Iraq because I know I could have done that on my own! HA! HA!
Linda

PS Sorry Wendel it took me so long!

Tenerife at Last...

Dear All,


What a wonderful time to be away and with Johnny. I think Johnny and I are the only American’s here. This must be the vacation spot for Europeans. With each day we are gearing down more and more. No big plans or places we feel we need to go, just taking it easy and enjoying being together.

Our room faces the ocean which is wonderful but also faces the night life of Tenerife, so we consequently have music until the early hours of the morning. It doesn’t seem to effect my sleeping as much as Johnny’s. During the day we just roam around seeing whatever sites we want to and spend a lot of time walking along the ocean and sitting out on the beach. We have just taken it easy up and until now, but plan to venture out to some of the surrounding towns and sites. Today we took our first bus ride to the next little village over. It was nice and we found a nice little restaurant with probably the best pizza I have ever had. It was called Olive Garden and not to be confused with what we know and love back home.

The trip here went fairly uneventful. I was very frustrated in Kuwait when they would only allow me to check one bag. I had planned on two. I brought a lot of stuff that I did not need that I was sending back with Johnny. Not only did they only allow one bag, the one big one I had was over the weight limit. I had to start stuffing stuff everywhere to get it down enough to qualify. Everyone around me had huge bags and were checking two. I figured they were going someplace different only to find them on my flight in my same row. I must not have received the memo with 'who to pay' to get more through. When I arrived in London I went to the check in counter to find out exactly what I was allowed for the next day. I got that all squared away and went on to my hotel. I boxed up a big box of stuff I was sending home with Johnny and had the hotel shuttle take me into the little town close by to mail it. That was a fortune but much cheaper than paying for the extra bag on the airlines. Later I walked into the same little town and after walking in circles several times I found this very, very old pub that had been recommended and stopped to have dinner. It was very quaint and I enjoyed the fish and chips and sitting by the fire place. Since my walk in had not been as direct as I thought I took a taxi back to the hotel.

I was up and out early to meet up with Johnny. All went smooth until I got to the security check and they told me I could only carry in one item and it had to be a certain size. By that time I was getting anxious and had wanted so bad to be at the gate when Johnny arrived. I did not know what to do. They sent me back to the check in and by then I was in tears. I kept apologizing for being so emotional and the little gentleman that helped me could not have been nicer. He just took my one bag that I had wanted to check anyway and checked it through and told me to go and enjoy my husband. I was so grateful and wish I had his name to be able to thank him. I was still so emotional and disappointed that I would not be at the gate when Johnny got in. They do security really weird…..I love DFW Airport….I love DFW Airport! You send all your stuff through and you go through and then you go through another one at the end where you take off your shoes. I wanted to share with them an easier way but decided it best that I didn’t. As I was putting on my shoes, I looked up and saw Johnny walking down the way. It probably wasn’t real lady like to yell his name and ran. Probably scared everyone around us! I don’t need to tell you what I did…..Cried like a baby! Johnny kept trying to console me but it was just so wonderful to be in his arms.

We made our way to our next flight and just kept grinning at each other. SO hard to believe we were finally together.

Needless to say we are having such a great time. Telling stories and remembering things to tell each other. We have talked to Amy, Alyson and John Micah a couple times and that has been so fun.

I am not sure what is going on back in Balad but I keep getting updates that they are on a power shortage, water shortage and high security alert. You are only allowed 3 minute combat showers! So sorry I missed that! I hope to hear soon what is happening there. Pray for our troops.

Well enough for now. Again I love you all dearly and appreciate so much your support and encouragement.

In His Mighty Grip,
Linda and Johnny too!

R&R

Dear All,

Yippy skippy! I am on my way! I got out of Iraq yesterday and spent five hours sitting like a sardine in a C1-30. I unfortunately did not get a direct flight into Kuwait from Balad. We made two stops and each time a few got off and more got on. Our last leg we were jammed packed in that plane. For the day, I totaled three combat take offs and two combat landings and one normal landing in Kuwait. (Combat landing not necessary in Kuwait)I landed in Kuwait late in the evening and could not find any of my USO counterparts and the USO Center was not open. I decided to take the military bus into the airport and get a hotel from there.

You have to wait about thirty minutes for your luggage to arrive. It comes in on a big pallet on a fork lift and is placed out in an open graveled area. A little different than DFW Airport. I had to get my orders stamped and have all my battle rattle (vest and helmet) stored. I missed the bus by about 15 minutes and had to wait until 01:30 to get the bus in. I walked around the base and had McDonald's to eat. Who would ever think I would get excited about a McDonald's hamburger. I made a couple of phone calls and the wait went really fast. You wait for the bus in the R&R check in area. I sat through the briefing that they give the troops getting ready to head home on the R&R flight that goes into Dallas. I talked to several that were going to Dallas and ask them to tell you all hi.

I finally arrived at my hotel at 3 in the morning. As I crawled into bed all I could think of is how much more appreciation I have for our troops. Going on R&R is grueling! Once the troops arrive in Dallas they have been through so much and have to be absolutely exhausted. They have it all very organized but it is still quite an ordeal. Once they get to Kuwait they sometimes have to stay there a day or two. They sleep in tents with fifty others. I felt very blessed to be in a very nice hotel and able to get a little rest before I head out to meet Johnny.

I slept until I woke up this morning and had a very nice quiet day. I even got a pedicure and manicure. I have to be at the airport early, early in the morning. I will have another night alone in London then will meet up with Johnny. I just can't wait.

I just wanted to say hi and let you know I am on my way on R&R. I was able to get so much done at the center before I left and that felt great. I had troops that came and volunteered and helped. I had so much fun with them and getting to know them. One night I got pizza for eight airmen that came to do all sorts of little jobs. They were such a help and were so fun. They all leave in my housing area and had been asking and asking to come help so I put together a list of things that needed done and they got them done. They also did the United Through reading for their children while they were there.

We will check in once we are in the Islands.
I love ya'll and appreciate so much your support and help. The books you are sending are making such a difference and enjoyed by our troops and their families so much.

In His Mighty Grip,
Linda