Update from Tuesday, 18SEP12

Holler from Africa- Camp Lemonier, Djibouti to be exact. From Bahrain the flight was about 3.5 hours, and we were in Africa by noon yesterday (Monday). The following four hours were spent at Camp acclimating to the dry 110 heat and waiting for our bags while the British Royal Marines were figuring out their flights to sea. For those curious, I am still rolling with the same boots, socks, jeans, and polo, and a shower wasn’t possible last night. Today we are waiting to head to town, load up on an big deck merchant oiler or replenishment ship, then sail around pirate waters :) . for a undetermined bit of time until we can find the Iwo Jima. Same old headline but it could be a while before another update, and I have no clue what communications look like out at sea. 

Flying into Africa brought back instant reminders of my time in Haiti, from the climate to the gravel roads to the impoverished shacks and tents the locals call home on the dry desert hills. In many ways, Djibouti is not the most picturesque of places in the world, yet it is amazing to think not only of the men and women stationed here for months, but also the people who live just outside the wire in complete and utter poverty. As much as I desired to hop outside the wire and see the population or climb the sand dunes, not only was it not allowed but our standby status most of the day effectively wasted most of our day. Besides, with a large contingent of military personnel and the local population living and working here on base, there remains a desperate need for the Gospel right here. Of just the few people I have met, morale seems tremendously low and the camp just seems gloomy and draining (especially when the Wifi was down all day), yet one of my greatest finds on the base was a small prayer tent just outside the galley. Blessings still abound here- I slept in a 15x7 metal shipping container pumping with A/C (better than two junior enlisted sailors who described their berthing as an orphanage), found a couple full meals in the mess hall, I have all the clean water I could drink, and my bunkmate was a brother in Christ from Georgia.

Other interesting notes:

- U.S. drones are bigger in person than I thought (and they don’t have kill meters on the side)

- This base is the largest employer of the local population in the country

- The Djibouti-an President lives in Ethiopia and his wife (the first lady?) lived about a block away in a similar metal container to mine

- Nobody seems to smile, and absolutely nobody wears flip flops

- Of course, the power adapters are the exact opposite of the one I bought in Bahrain. Figures :(

- The one turf field on base had night lights, but the games were organized not pick-up so I was left out (plus all my bags are still packed in a warehouse)

- If only I had packed my bats…yes they have about 5 sets of batting cages. Weird.

In closing, two reflections come to mind.

1) Amidst all the grumbling and complaining, the easy thing to do is grow cynical. Rather, I praise God today because the Holy Spirit has not only given me a sense of great joy throughout the day, but also of laughter in the midst of all the ridiculous changes. The thought of 1 Peter 1’s “joy unspeakable and full of glory” amidst the believer’s trials comes to mind, yet how little and insignificant are these present circumstances? In light of the hope offered in the Gospel, our present ‘crosses’ or ‘sufferings’ seem to pale, and as J.I. Packer aptly suggests, “these private mock heroics have no place at all in the minds of those who really know God.” Likewise, Paul states his contentment in Christ in one of my favorite passages, Philippians 3, for which this blog derives its name. Particularly, he declares “indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him.” (v8-9) What a great reminder that nothing this world has to offer is as worthy as knowing Jesus and making Him known!

2) Amidst a dreary desert camp setting like Djibouti, the words of Scripture seem even more vivid. Particularly, Isaiah 41 comes to mind. As God affirms his covenantal promises to his beloved people, he assures them “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (v.10) Then comes an even more vibrant picture of his abounding grace, perfect for this context and continent, starting in verse 17: “When the poor and needy seek water and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them…I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land springs of water…that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.” What great hope that the Lord is coming soon to restore justice here on this earth! 

3) BONUS THOUGHT: This song has been on repeat both in my head, and now on my Ipod....Waka Waka anyone? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ztr96RbMW8)
 

With JOY for the King and the Kingdom!