Purple Hearts and the Dangers of a War-Torn Country

I was about to post yesterday from Kandahar, where it is easily 10-20 degrees warmer than Bagram - I was suffering. However, I got word that three of our guys got injured in an IED blast, so I had to catch the earliest flight back to Bagram to meet them at the hospital here.

While there I visited a young sergeant, a civilian and a young lieutenant, all of whom received shrapnel injuries. I have to credit God for the miracle that they survived, with as close as they were to the explosion. Keep them in prayer as they make the transfer to the rear for more medical work, especially one of them who is stable but could definitely use the prayer.

At the same time, I watched them bring in an insurgent who had been shot in the leg. We treat them all, regardless of affiliation - a sign of a good country, in my estimation. It's not often appreciated, but every now and then our enemies express amazement, even gratitude, that we are willing to patch them up as if they were one of our own.

I also saw Afghan children in the ER. One was badly burned across the face and scalp, another lying on a bed. I was told their story - a tragic one. Seven children or so were playing in a nearby field and discovered an item they thought they could break apart and use as a toy. Tossing it on the ground and against the wall, they did not realize it was a Russian anti-personnel mine, left decades ago after the Russians fled this country, their version of our Viet Nam.

Inevitably, the mine detonated, killing three and severely injuring the others. What a beautiful and terrible place this has become. Lord forgive us humans for what we do to one another.

Pray also for me, as it has been a long 24 hours, with much time spent in transit across the country and in visitation at the hospital. Two purple hearts will be given out tonight.

In His grip...