Listening to the Spirit

I have learned a lot over here in never never land about what people say and do. Many here are very rude about the Afghans and there way of doing things or sometimes I admit the lack there of. I have learned to never speak ill of them even if my frustration level gets to be high, I don't always see their perspective on things nor their reasoning or logic behind their actions. Of course many will say or do one thing or repeat things they hear but not directly have knowledge of. But when asked if they saw it first hand or have first hand knowledge of it will stand their ground and swear to it.
As I have seen this so called first hand knowledge turns out to be bunk! I try to teach those that work for me to not be so quick to judge something you really know nothing about, it only harms our relationship with our Afghan partners and places a vast cavernous void in our working relationship with them. We can't afford this as it taints our ability to reach out to them when we need them most. Many a times it places us in a position of distrust with them also, they will smile and not say anything to broach the subject but the subtle hints are there when we try to work with them.
I have to watch what I say, how I validate or don't validate what others say to maintain a viable working relationship with those I work with and for. I try to keep this same perspective in my life, I take things with a grain of salt that I hear. I know at the Railroad things such as this are prolific, the system there breeds this mentality. Remember what the Lord says about not offending our neighbor, lets try no to be like some of those I work with. As our mothers used to say if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all. I know here it would go a long ways for cementing better relationships. Just my two cents worth of stuff running around in my brain, love to all.

Conference Information

I have been reading some of the talks form Conference this weekend and one of many that made impact on me was from President Monson, "right of choice, responsibility of choice and results of choice." Regardless of what we do we have a choice in all matters, as such we have the option to chose the path we follow, this is a God given right. We must be aware that as such we have a responsibility to make the right choice, not that we always do so. We must ensure we are very prayerful and mindful of the choice we make. President Monson mentioned how Satan and his little minions are always there trying to prode us to make the wrong choice, this we all know but sometimes we fail to realize the option we take. Lastly is results of choice, we are not always aware of how our choice will not only effect others but ourselves. Having been down the muddy bog many times in my life I have failed to see the warning signs that our Father in Heaven and Savior placed there for my benefit caused me to not only bump my head many times but get mired deep in the mud. Hopefully my lifes' lesson will change know that I have new opportunities to choice the path with less bumps and potholes, want to hop on for the ride, glad to bring you along.

Finding faith and God in War and a Muslim Country

One thing I have learned since I have been here is that having faith in God and putting your trust in him really helps make it through the long ardous days and nights in a forigen land without family and friends. I hav grown closer to God and increased my faith in what he can do do for me as I work to be an example to those around me, both Coalition Forces and Local Nationals.
I have no fear of injury or death, I have faith that I will be protected and regardless of the situation I may find myself in that I will be protected. My wife has helped me a great deal with this, she sends me scripture references daily and we get to share these together. It not only brightens my day but gives me hope and strength.
The other day we were on a C-17 aircraft flying to Kandahar, we got to sit in the cockpit area, benefits of working with a General. Anyway earlier that day the Generals Aide and I were laughing about death, the aide was concerned with all the pictures of those who have paid the ultimate price over here. Anyway I am sitting there relaxed when I hear over the intercom is a female voice saying "warning missle launch." Well I look at the LT (Aide) and he is white as a ghost and his jaw is on the floor. I start to laugh, had to no fear, it struck me as funny and I know that God would protect us. Anyway faith, hope and the knowledge of what our church teaches makes my daily life much easier.

Latest on my vacation

Well its about time to start writing here. I have been in country for over a month and gone from home for almost 3 months. In all this time I have been trained and trained again from Ft Hunter Liggett, California and FT Hood, Texas and finally Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan. I have learned a great deal oh and least I forget FT Lee, Va. I got more than I needed to know how to do my job, and wouldn't you know when I finally get to Camp Eggers, Afghanistan that the job I thought I had as the Senior mentor for the Command Sergeant Major of the Afghan Army Logistics (supply). Will I get here and am asked to be the CJ4 Logistics Command Sergeant Major (Supply for US Forces) but finally asked or "volun-told" that I was needed as the DCOM- RS, CSM (Deputy Commander - Regional Support, Command Sergeant Major). What all that means is I work for the Deputy Commanding General over the six Regional Commands throughout all of Afghanistan. So I get to travel an ensure all the logistics, training, housing sites for the ANA, ANP (Afghan Army/Police) are being built to quality standards and ensure we are working to turn the facilities over one day soon to the Afghans so we can go home.

Dave's Army trips

Hello, just thought I would set up this site so I can download pics from my year long Army vacation and a few things that are going on. It will take me a bit to pics downloaded from my camera since I can only do it on my personal computer, which is getting fixed.
Once I get it back I will start putting pics of what we do (as much as possible), where I am at and what the palces look like.
I have to maintain some security as you would expect so I will do the best I can for my family and friends to see what I am up to.