Like the well known statement in Charles Dickens, The Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way .. . .”
This was the situation that Church of God United States Army Chaplain (Captain) Megan Hodge encountered as she as she arrived in Iraq to be the chaplain for her Stryker Brigade. In the midst of a country immersed in a war on terrorism, surrounded by radical Muslims who believe they are have a guarantee of heaven and that all the rest of us going the other way; God placed a group of young Arab boys and girls in Chaplain Hodge’s life, through her love for sports and their love for softball. And, through this relationship, Chaplain Hodge was impressed to fulfill a long overdue promise to these young people of softball uniforms and equipment to support the team.
The story below is a personal account of Chaplain Hodge’s ministry and the price that must be paid on a daily bases by our chaplains in these war torn areas of Iraq, and how it lead to carrying the Gospel by simply “Caring” for your neighbor as yourself. Listen to her words as she carries us on her journey.
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“At the beginning of my deployment to Iraq, June 2006, we were sent to the northern city of Mosul, Iraq. From there, my battalion and Soldiers were split up among several outlying Command Posts. Mosul is where the vision for the softball uniforms began to emerge. We worked with the local nationals and were able to conduct several community relations projects, including working with the sports teams. It was at this time that I contact the Church of God Chaplains Commission about helping me find uniforms for two local softball teams. Dr. Jerry McNabb, Assistant Director of the Chaplains Commission, contacted Dan and Mary Winters and Knox McCoy at Coopers Sporting Goods, Cleveland, Tennessee. Through their efforts and sponsorship, the softball uniforms and equipment for the two teams became a reality.
During this time of the uniforms being made and equipment being purchased, my Brigade was put on short notice that we would be moving to Baghdad. So, before the uniforms and equipment arrived, I was relocated down into the southern part of Iraq with my battalion. Since my battalion was no longer in Mosul, I was no longer in charge of the softball project for which we had order the uniforms. For some reason it seemed that God had removed me from the project entirely.
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The All Kosh boys team with fresh new uniforms |
However, I had made a commitment to those young people that they would finally get their softball uniforms and I was not about to break that promised. They had lived with one broken promise after another and I was determined that this project would be completed on my watch. So, when the uniforms were finally delivered to me in Baghdad, I put in a special request through my Commander to fly back up to Mosul and deliver these numerous boxes of uniforms and equipment.
In May of this year, I finally was scheduled to fly to Mosul and keep my promise. After I arrived in Mosul there were numerous bombings of local citizens in the area. The Kurdish area of Iraq, which is where the softball teams are located, is normally very safe. However, this particular month of May was a devastating time with an extraordinary number of car bombs and IEDS. The Command decided that it was too dangerous to conduct this humanitarian mission for fear that those gathered to receive the uniforms and equipment would become targets of disaster themselves. The mission was called off until a safer time. I was then ordered to return to Baghdad leaving the gear behind with the Battalion that had replaced our unit. They promised to deliver the gear when the situation calmed down.
I returned to my home base and began the long process of patiently waiting to hear if they were successful in carrying out the mission?and keeping my promise. After months passed, I was beginning to be discouraged thinking that there was no way that it would every happen. Then just this week I received word from Mosel that the mission was successful, the uniforms and equipment had been delivered and that the teams were elated. I was very sad that I was not able to be there to hear their comments of appreciation and to see their eyes light up as they hurriedly put their uniforms on. No longer did they have to play their games with second hand equipment or no equipment at all. However, my heart rejoices knowing that this was a promise of 2 years being fulfilled, thanks to the kindness and generosity of Mr.and Mrs. Winters and Mr. Knox McCoy. and the Chaplains Commission.
So the story continues…we are no longer in Baghdad…we once again have moved. We are now currently in Baqubah, Iraq. We came up here about a month or two ago to help calm the area. Being in the Stryker Brigade is definitely not for the faint of heart. We are constantly on the move and basically are the Quick Reaction Force of Iraq. So wherever the battle is the hottest….that’s where we go. Internet is a blessing when we actually have it, and I am thankful for the tent in which I can lay my head. I have never been this dirty, this stinky, this tired, or this hot….but I have never experienced God’s presence in such a real way. I would not trade anything that I have been through with my Soldiers for any worldly luxuries…God is so amazing.
Pray for me and for my Soldiers and may God shower us with His presence, His protection and bring peace and the Gospel to this part of the world.”
Chaplain Hodge is a graduate of Lee University and the Church of God Theological Seminary, Cleveland, Tennessee.
To learn more about the Church of God Chaplains Commission Chaplaincy Programs, visit the Chaplains Commission website at: www.cogchaplains.com [1].