Do you Believe in Missions?

Planoamy
Once again I have let my enthusiasm overstep my ability.

I received a letter today in the mail from Afghanistan. Specifically, a soldier I had written to last month, who posted a photograph that went into my brain and sort of stuck there.

You know those pictures, like the ones in National Geographic--they show a person with an expression that just makes you hold your breath and stare. Sometimes it's the look in the eyes or the way they are standing. You get the feeling that despite the situation, this is a spirit looking at you personally. Well that happened to me. I can't really explain it very well but I was doing my usual thing, reading the daily posts to my soldier site, and one lady put up a picture of some kids they were seeing in a village in Afghanistan. Soldiers try to take toys or candy to the kids so they won't be afraid of them. She gave a little boy, maybe 6, a teddy bear. His brother, about 11, stepped up and put his arm around the kid. Not with a smile or joking look. The boy looked like he dared anyone to take his little brother's toy. If you've ever heard of a thousand yard stare, he had one. I looked at that meager little dirty face, with that fierce look. He didn't have a toy or candy. There were holes in his shirt. But he loved his brother and no one was going to mess with him.
I wrote to the soldier who posted the picture. I told her, we can't do a lot about the adults in these countries. They have their own ideas about us. But if we can help a few kids, maybe with sandals, or pencils and paper for school, or outgrown clothing from our own families, think how it might change those children. I don't have money to buy the things a village would need. I don't have kids with outgrown clothing. I don't belong to a megachurch with bottomless pockets. So what I can do is a small part. I can ask.

Tonight I got a letter back from this soldier. She thinks I am an angel. Those of you who know me know this is laughable, but I do try to be helpful when I can. I ran the idea by my mom but she's not very enthusiastic about helping other people's kids. It is easy to say, let them deal with their problems, I've got my own! But the next time I go to Super Walmart, I will put back the big bag of cookies and buy one little pair of kids shoes first. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.


--if you want to see the picture, go to www.anysoldier.com. Click where to send. you can search for her post by her name, Laurie Strange. But I warn you--this site is addictive but not political. The worm's eye view, if you will.