I have prayed a prayer that each day the Lord would bring one person into my life who I could either share God's love with, or I could connect with in a spiritual manner. God introduced me to Special Forces soldier Specialist Abraham on Monday, October 15, after a long day of IED training "aka How to Identify Improvised Explosive Devises in things such as coffee cans, animal carcases, or in planted in actual curbsides".
As I stood there with this one lone soldier outside the Warrior Inn Dining Facility at Ft. Benning, we realized we had missed the 1800 (6:00 p.m.) cutoff for dinner. Realized that he struggled walking with one crutch supporting his right side, I asked what had happened to him. At that moment, a van pulled up with "WTB" on the side. I knew then that he belonged to the Warrior Transition Battallion... a group of courageous soldiers, the "Wounded Warriors", some amputees, some haven taken bullets in firefights. He invited me to join him for dinner, as we journeyed to another facility open later.
Specialist Abraham informed immediately that Jesus had rescued him from what should've been certain death. Originally from Turkey, he knew the language of the people of Iraq, and was assigned to a Special Operations unit conducting searches of homes suspected to harbor insurgents throughout the country. On one mission just after dusk, his small unit stumbled across an "IED Factory", which was essentially a bomb making facility in a home in suburban Iraq led to by an informant. After Abraham informed the home's occupants to "Leave the Home Immediately, by order of the United States Military", five AK-47's popped from the windows of the home and opened fire on Abraham and his fellow soldiers. A round immediately went directly through his knee. Suddenly he could not feel his leg... and realized he had been shot. Since then, Abraham has returned home, able to walk while assisted with his crutch, and in physical therapy, counseling for post traumatic stress following the incident, as well as consulting with a speech therapist on stuttering that has begun since the event. As Abraham continued to speak about God's goodness, one part stands out above all others. "I was Muslim for 14 years, and Allah never did anything to reach me... no matter if I made the pilgrimage to Mecca, or no matter what food I sacrificed for Ramadan, but when I gave my heart to Jesus four years ago, God immediately gave me a big hug, and without asking anything from me but my heart, has given me the most beautiful peace I or my family has ever known".
I finished dinner with Abraham, and wished him well. I know that God has stories to tell through these brave men and women... stories of faith, of courage, of hope, survival, and the protective hand of an Almighty Savior.
All throughout our American communities there are men and women who have powerful testimonies to share with us and supercharge our Christian walk... look for that person today and you might be surprised who you encounter!!
Acts 1:7-9 (New International Version)
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
In His Peace,
CPT Atkins
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