Dear family and friends,

Another month has gone by… it has been a rather eventful one.

I have had a couple of opportunities to interact with Iraqi Nationals. The first was the Women’s Initiative Conference that I attended with the Brigade’s Women’s Initiatives Team. We talked to Iraqi women about ways to empower them in their communities. 65% of Iraqi women are widows. A good portion of these have little to no family support to help take care of them and their children. Some can’t get help from the government of Iraq (GoI) because they do not have a death certificate for their husband (due to kidnapping, missing, etc.). There are lots of programs being put in place to help.

I have also had opportunities to talk with our interpreters that go out with us on missions. These are Iraqi Nationals that interpret when we encounter locals outside the wire. They come from a variety of backgrounds and some are in great danger because of their jobs. Some have not seen their families in several years. Some because their families are in a different part of the country and some because it is too dangerous for them to go back home. I have had some incredible conversations with these folks who have sacrificed so much.

Then there was Mike’s little incident at the TMC (Troop Medical Clinic). Yes, I know it comes as a surprise to some of you, but Mike the medical freak is at it again. So there has been a stomach bug going around. A combination of Iraqi food that was eaten on the 4th of July and lack of hygiene due to water restrictions. So Mike ended up getting dehydrated because water was leaving his body quicker than he could put it in. By the time he went to the TMC, he was so dehydrated that he passed out when he stood up for the medic to take his blood pressure. He now has a nice bruise / scrap on his face. The problem is that everyone keeps asking if I hit him. Even the Deputy Brigade Commander, COL Thompson, asked me if I hit him. Really?!??!?? But he is fine. No permanent damage, just another Mike and the medical community encounter with a crazy ending.

We are still under water restrictions. There is a problem getting rid of the waste water from the FOB. We are on the Baghdad water system here. This is the second time that we have had sewage issues. When that happens the showers can only be used on a limited basis. So we have an hour and a half in the morning and in the evenings when we can shower. The rest of the time there is no running water, except at the chow hall and the TMC.  It is annoying, but we still have better living conditions than the other FOBs. One of the small bases (where Mark is for those of you who know my “son”) keeps having generator issues. So they are without power sporadically. Another base does not have porta-pottie service so they use “wag bags”. Basically because they can’t clean the porta-potties there, they poop in a bag and then burn the bags. So in the grand scheme of things, those of us here at Falcon have it pretty good.
 
It is getting hotter each day. This is the only place I have ever been where the wind blowing only makes it hotter. We are averaging 115 degrees now according to the weather report. According to CSM Cole’s thermometer he has in the gazebo outside of our HQ, it was 137 a couple of days ago. I question the accuracy of his thermometer. However, it is HOT!! The sand storms and dusty days come and go. It really isn’t sand like we think of sand though. The dirt here is the consistency of talcum powder and gets in EVERYTHING. I think it will take years after we get home to get it out of all of our gear.

Most of you have heard about the casualties we had this month. I am sure it has been on the news and in the paper back home. Our soldiers are doing well with it, all things considered. A lot of grief counseling lately. The mortuary affairs section for the brigade is in my battalion. We prepared the bodies of the soldiers to be flown out the night they were killed. As I was helping the mortuary affairs team that night, I was incredibly thankful for my WakeMed experience. I was able to help the team and provide ministry of presence.
That about covers our world here. We really enjoy the news and emails from home. Being here really is like Ground Hog day. Each day really looks like all the others. Tracking Sundays is the only way I can keep track of time. So news from home is a great distraction.

Know that we think of everyone back home often. Your prayers and your support mean the world to us. The care packages, cards, and letters are awesome as well. Mike, my 2 assistants, and I keep a few things for ourselves and share the rest. SPC Young (my primary assistant) and I have a regular schedule of taking care packages to all of our companies. PFC Daughtery (the chapel assistant that works for me at the chapel) helps keep our care package shelves at the chapel stocked. We also use the snacks for our fellowship times at the chapel, before and after services and programs. The soldiers love the things from home. It makes my day to see the smiles on their faces.
I updated the care package list that is attached and have included our address on it, since everyone keeps asking. I am humbled by the support that has poured from everyone. Again it means more than we could ever say. 

The pictures attached were taken in front of a banner my mom sent that her class made before school ended for the summer. "Hale" is Mike and me, of course. "UMT" is PFC Daughtery (my chapel assistant), me, and SPC Young (my chaplain assistant).

Peace,
Melissa