August is Here

Well, Dee has been gone from the US for 6 wks now. Sure has gone by very very slowly! He has requested his R & R for the first two weeks of December and it looks like that will probably be granted. But nothing is ever written in stone.

Temporary Housing was supposed to be just a few weeks. There are 200 guys crammed in one long bunker/barrack. It's getting hotter there, and tempers are starting to flare. Recently, Dee has been working 8 hr shifts and that was nice for us to talk. I usually could talk to him before he went to bed, and he'd call us before we went to bed. We had gotten in to a routine and it was getting much easier. But now he is on a 12 hour shift at night. The time difference doesn't allow us much time for us to talk with school for the girls and earlier bed times. He literally just started that shift today so we don't know how it will work out but we'll make the best of it. I'm sure we'll only get one time a day but I'm thankful for that!

He also got word that his temporary housing is going to be probably another 6 wks. He can't wait to get in his own housing area. Right now, trying to sleep in the daytime, with so many others that don't respect those sleeping, the flies are horrible, the temperature is very hot to sleep in.....so he's not sure he'll be able to sleep. I am looking for a clip on type fan he can plug in to use on his bed. Hopefully the noise and the breeze will help. So far, no luck finding one.

Probably one of the things that is difficult is alot of the guys are single so it's hard to have things in common. And many that are married, don't value their marriage and think of this time as a vacation from their family, time to let rules go out the window. Dee does have a few friends there with the same values and beliefs so I'm praying they will all find time for each other.

Dee said they started a Southern Baptist church service Sunday but he wasn't able to go because of work. He is hoping to make it this Sunday.

He has been enjoying shopping from locals, buying his family presents. He says they have beautiful scarves and jewelry. I get a package in the mail soon, this week. Can't wait to see the goodies!

Dee has said that if anyone wants to do something, please do it for the local kids there. He doesn't need anything really but the kids and teens there don't even have soap to take a bath. The medic goes out and has contact with these children, so I will be collecting shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, etc....especially in travel sizes so we can make up some zip lock bags as a set. So I will have a box in the S.S. room for those that go to FBC. When it's full, I'll ship it.

Those close by, but not at our church, just let me know and I'll meet you somewhere. My Mom's S.S. class is calling this Operation Dee! How cute. They have really taken him under their wing.
Beverly, thank you for adopting Dee and taking care of the personal items he has needed, along with snacks. You're the best!

Love to you all. Thank you for the prayers!

Lori