Like Soldier, Like Missionary
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Mosque, originally uploaded by Midcoast Mainah.I recently learned that it only cost 84 cents to send a letter to an overseas missionary. Just write a letter, put it into an envelope, address it, put a return address label on it, and then buy an 84 cent stamp. Or put two 39 cent and one 24 cent stamp on it, or put three 39 cent stamps on it. You pay a little more with the 2nd two methods, but at least you are getting it done!!
I was telling this to someone at church the other day, and they considered themselves educated. They then followed it up by asking what it took to send a letter to a deployed soldier. Alas, a lightbulb went on in my head! Folks aren’t sending notes to Fran because they think they need some special envelopes, or special stamps or whatever. Just like I thought about missionaries, they think about Fran!!
So, let me make it offiicially clear. In order to send Fran a post card, you use a regular old 24 cent postcard stamp. If you want to send him a letter in an envelope, you use a regular 39 cent stamp. If you want to mail a package, you pay the same shipping as if you were sending one to someone living right here in the United States.
Really, it’s that simple!!
One last thing…pray for Fran as if he were a missionary…for truly, he is. We were talking on the phone last night, (early morning for him!) and I heard the call to prayers on a loud speaker in the background. Alas, it was the first of the 5 of them that happen each day from the mosque outside the walls of their military compound. Indeed he is in a strange land amongst people who believe in a different God.
October 6th, 2006 at 11:14 pm
Hey! I miss your updates on Xanga. What has been going on? I bet you are really busy schooling the children. It is hard to be both Mom & Dad while Dad is gone. I have been extremely busy also. I can’t tell anyone about it until probably next week or the next. It will all be printed in the newspaper. Tyler was quoted in an article on the usmc.mil web site this week. That was exciting!
You never gave me Fran’s address, so that we could write or send him a package. Please do that.
We are heading to Missoula for the AWANA conference & then hanging out with Marissa’s friends at the University. It should be fun.
The weather has changed for the good. We are finally receiving some rain. Last night I thought that it was hailing because the rain was coming down so hard that I couldn’t hear the radio.
Write to me & let me know what is happening. I’m glad Fran is doing well.
Sister in Christ,
Becky
October 9th, 2006 at 9:40 am
Yes, Fran is a missionary, even though his job doesn’t designate him as one . . . as a Christian, we all are. I can’t imagine what that would feel like, though, day in and day out, several times a day, to hear that call for prayer to another god . . . one that doesn’t exist. And yet they serve that god with such fervor and discipline, and to no avail. It makes me wonder, do we serve our true God with that fervor and discipline, the One who loves us beyond our imaginations? Hmmm.
October 9th, 2006 at 12:12 pm
Sorry, I haven’t checked out your web site for a while. I think of and pray for you often Diane. We regularly pray for Fran and all the soldiers we know and have heard about, like from Becky. There is absolutely no way to conceive what their life is like over there, or what all they have to go through or deal with. I pray that when they all return home, the transition for all will be carefully handled with prayer.
After WWII, the people back home just wanted to get back to living life, they were tired of the war, thus the soldiers didn’t experience the freedom to share, express, and release their thoughts and emotions. Therefore, they weren’t free to move on past, but had to keep it all locked up inside, resulting in our nation basically missing out on a lot of history that never was shared.
We all know what happened when our soldiers returned from Viet Nam. Shame on this nation.
Last week I heard of several situations where people living in major airport cities have made it a mission to greet every military person returning home from the war with praise and gratitude. Gives me the goose bumps. Too bad we live out in the boondocks, but Praise the Lord for those groups of people who see the need for honoring our brave soldiers. I guess I can participate in that endeavor by praying for strenghth and endurance for those committed people, and for their numbers to increase.
God Bless You All
Dee
October 9th, 2006 at 3:44 pm
Hi Fran,
Nice desk.
You asked me several times if I know SQL Server.
Well, I’m learning it now.
I have a client in Scarborough who uses SQL server.
Wayne