All goes well with the ministry here. It is a very long story and I have a lot to tell, but there is little time. Basically, the days are 14 hours long and the work is intensive but very rewarding and meaningful. As a missionary to the soldiers the Lord is allowing me greater and greater access to their lives. As a minister to the caregivers (other ministry teams) I have been able to interact and intervene in many cases where help was very much needed. As a soldier I have been able to model the behavior, values, attitudes and demeanor of a a Christian person and officer. I do miss the congregation and I especially miss those dear older saints because they mean so much to me as family. I also miss the children and watching them grow and mature as youngsters. I am not lonely because of the tremendous support I have from the army and fellow soldiers. - Pastor Schoenfeld
UPDATE 4/8/03
A big part of my job is done in a field environment. Troops need to set their weapons and to achieve marksmanship. This is a survival skill and part of what we ask our young people to do for our nation. At other times the soldiers are out in the field for several days to practice living in tents and off the land as well as basic procedures for perimeter defense and security. Still other times we practice the skills required to identify, engage and defeat the opposition. This requires army skills and includes nuclear, biological and chemical defense as well as offensive practice.
 |
|
 |
This was taken at Fort Drum, NY near the Canadian Border several weeks ago. |
 |
Soldiers need to carry their world along with them. This young soldier is about 2/3 equipped. He is carrying a rucksack and a gas mask and has his kevlar helmet in his hand. He is speaking to MG Erck and I am taking the photo. |
 |
This was taken at Fort Eustis, VA several weeks ago. |
 |
We train soldiers to fight. The soldiers in the back are firing the standard army rifle which is the M16A2. The are firing from the prone position. This practice will help keep them alive. I am standing with Major General Wayne Erck, my Commander, and Major Curtis who is the commander of the troops firing their weapons that day. |
 |
Fort Dix is a huge post and comprises some 90 thousand acres. I use a "hummer" to get to the several locations. |
I was very moved by this email. It tells a wonderful story. It is the reason for my being in the military and for my ministry to our soldiers. It retells an event witnessed by Lt Cmdr. Iennello. - Pastor Schoenfeld
Martin Savidge of CNN, embedded with the 1st Marine battalion, was talking with 4 young Marines near his foxhole this morning live on CNN. He had been telling the story of how well the Marines had been looking out for and taking care of him since the war started. He went on to tell about the many hardships the Marines had endured since the war began and how they all look after one another. He turned to the four and said he had cleared it with their commanders and they could use his video phone to call home. The 19 year old Marine next to him asked Martin if he would allow his platoon sergeant to use his call to call his pregnant wife back home whom he had not been able to talk to in three months. A stunned Savidge who was visibly moved by the request shook his head and the young Marine ran off to get the sergeant. Savidge recovered after a few seconds and turned back to the three young Marines still sitting with him and asked which one of them would like to call home first, the Marine closest to him responded with out a moments hesitation " Sir, if is all the same to you we would like to call the parents of a buddy of ours, Lance Cpl Brian Buesing of Cedar Key, Florida who was killed on 3-23-03 near Nasiriya to see how they are doing". At that Martin Savidge totally broke down and was unable to speak. All he could get out before signing off was "Where do they get young men like this?"
