What the Chaplains Say
"Thank you so much for the package. Your organization is more of a blessing than you can ever imagine. Your thoughtfulness to the needs of our troops and even the smallest extra treat makes such a difference. Your contribution has helped improve the morale of deployed military personnel and in turn assisted in propelling forward the movement on our war against terrorism. On behalf of our entire chapel staff and the people we serve, we pray God blesses you for your love and support. Your thoughtfulness is a blessing to us."
~Chaplain Doug
"Chaplains Stamper, Plummer, Snyder and Timm were ecstatic in telling me about Adopt-a-Chaplain. Chaplain Stamper shared the story with me over coffee and donuts from you all! In my second tour here a former commanding officer asked me who took care of the chaplains…I told him that was my job. He then asked who took care of me (besides God). I can let him know about Adopt-a-Chaplain."
~Chaplain Pat
"The coffee has also caused quite a bit of "walk in traffic" from the HQ next door. They have a big "silver bullet" full of coffee but it is so bad it is only drunk by those most desperate. Quite a few of these, "I am just here for the coffee" visitors take the chance to stop and talk about concerns. They would have not come over to talk about those concerns without having a cover story for why they walked over."
~Steve
"I continue to be amazed at how supportive all of you are. I guess I just kind of expected the donations to trail off after Christmas, but you guys just keep on going. Like the Apostle Paul penned, 'I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.'"
~Chaplain Norwood
"We had a memorial ceremony this morning for our first KIA in H&S company. After the ceremony the H&S company marines gathered and had the SFB coffee and donuts. It was a bit cold and windy during the ceremony, so the coffee and donuts afterwards hit the spot. It was also a good opportunity for them to let their hair down and decompress a bit."
~Roddy
"I am humbled beyond belief that you all would be so willing to help me out here and you don't even know me. What an amazing ministry Adopt-a-Chaplain is to all of us out here in Iraq."
~Chaplain Derrick
"You guys continue to amaze me. Your support is outstanding! I want to apologize for getting behind on acknowledging all of the care packages (# 2134, 2344, 2287, 2699) that have arrived. My assistant and I have been traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan and got behind on sending the cards. I am placing them in the mail today. We passed out the morale items and home-baked cookies at our brigade Christmas party and everyone was impressed with the generosity of the people back home. We even got some ideas from your Web site for a distribution system for items. My assistant cleared out one of the book shelves in my office and we created our own "free-tail" center so that soldiers can stop in and pick up needed items. This also serves a second purpose … there are some soldiers who would never make an appointment to see a chaplain for fear of appearing weak. But they don't mind stopping by my office for a few morale items from the "free-tail" store. And in the process, some of these ‘macho’ types stick around to talk about other issues going on in their lives."
~Chaplain Norwood
"Your organization has been so incredibly kindhearted and gracious to me and the marines of this battalion. ‘Thank you’ just doesn't seem to be enough. We so greatly appreciate the encouraging letters and cards and the love expressed in the careful selection of items that obviously went into the care packages. The wonderful brothers and sisters of your organization have indeed made this deployment a much, much more enjoyable experience. We truly consider you our friends and extended families."
~Chaplain Sean
"I just wanted to personally thank everyone involved for their ministry to the Chaplain Corps. I can't tell you how humbling it is to comprehend that someone who doesn't even know these men would give of themselves to commit to truly loving them. Naturally, I have an interest in this ministry, since my husband is involved, but what a testimony you and all that give of your time, is to me and others. I'm sure knowing that a burden is laid upon the hearts of many to send a little love to these men and women in harms way. Never have I wished to be able to articulate in words how grateful I am that you have blessed these men and women and put smiles upon their faces by giving of yourself in this manner. Thank you a million times for your ministry to the Lord. May He continue to bless you, as you as you continue to bless others."
~Lee Ann Stamper (proud wife of Chaplain Carl Stamper USN)
"I want to thank you for everything you have done for us and the soldiers over here. Certainly, your assistance and support have been one of the highlights of this deployment. I am blessed just by knowing that there are wonderful loving people who are praying and actively ministering to our soldiers as you all have done this year. You make me very proud of our country and our faith. May God's love continue to abide upon you each day. I imagine that for many chaplains (including myself), you have become a life-line of true blessing."
~Chaplain Hernandez
"Ben ... and ... ALL the GREAT folks at Adopt-a-Chaplain: YOU people are SOOOOOO wonderful...and give NEW meaning to, “Ask and you shall receive!" The 'special' box arrived today with the beautiful ‘support plaque,’ and the ‘custom-ordered’ GOODIES. THANKS so very much! It means a GREAT DEAL to us ... to have folks like you ... ready, willing and able to help chaplains help forward-deployed soldiers who stand and serve in harm's way."
~Chaplain Quinn
"Daniel, you have one of the most awesome military ministries I've known."
~Chaplain Popov
“Praise the Lord” for the Adopt-A-Chaplain ministry. The care packages that you folks send are a real blessing to the troops in Iraq. Because of people like you, they know they are not forgotten and someone cares. As a chaplain serving in Iraq, it is a special blessing to me that these ‘love gifts’ are given in the name of the Lord. I am the Multinational Security Transition Command–Iraq Chaplain located in the I Z. However, my assistant and I travel practically every week visiting various locations where our personnel are located. We have been to the borders of Turkey, Syria, Iran and Kuwait, and many places in between. Quite often we ‘load up’ some of the boxes you send and take them with us to give to soldiers ‘downrange.’ Our MNSTCI personnel are often ‘embedded’ with Iraqi forces and thus do not have the amenities found in the Coalition base camps. Our command supports training to the Iraqi Army, Navy, Air Force and civilian police. In addition to ‘carrying’ packages, we also mail items to some of our remote locations. Because of your organization, we are able to spread cheer, encouragement and the love of God. Blessings to you, and please keep up the great work. With hearts filled with gratitude,"
~Chaplain (COL) Joel Jenkins
“My chaplain assistant will unpack the microwave in the morning and set it up for the soldiers. The mugs are great! Yup! We will definitely recognize one of those if they walk off. I was working on my sermon around midnight last night down at the building where my chaplain's office is located and home of the coffee pot and new microwave. I was talking to the soldier on guard duty in the building as he made himself a pot of coffee for the long night and he commented how much the soldiers appreciate the snacks and coffee. It really raises their morale, he said. Cool!”
~Chaplain Kari
“I have been out and about for the past two weeks or so -- can't say where -- but when I returned it was like Christmas morning. There were so many boxes filled with such wonderful things I couldn't believe it. I have about twenty of our soldiers helping me open the boxes and you would not believe the pleasure it brought to all of us. Not only were we appreciative for the things inside, but just the idea that we were remembered in such a special way was extremely appreciated. Please thank everyone for the wonderful practical things that they sent such as soaps and toothpaste, etc., and also for the not-so-practical things -- but the things we really had fun with like stuffed animals, a beach ball, a basketball net and ball and little games like that. There was also some kind of gun that shot marshmallows … well, someone ate all the marshmallows -- so -- we still had fun with it. Thanks again. You people really are a blessing to all of us.”
~Chaplain Mahalic
“In my last couple weeks of visits, my assistant and I have made it a talking point to ask soldiers what they'd like to see at the Adopt-a-Chaplain store. That's right -- you guys have your own store here at Camp TQ, right in the entrance to my office. We've been receiving so many packages lately that we had to build extra shelves for our entry into the high-volume world of free retail (free-tail?).”
~Chaplain Steve Timm
“While I'm giving thanks, I can't help but offer one more thank you to you for your continued care and concern and selfless support, steady supply of care packages, and constant prayers. As I get ready to go home and have a little time to reflect, I am even more amazed at your commitment. It's been a blessing.”
~Chaplain Jerry
“I have received a bunch of great boxes from Adopt-A-Chaplain and am so very thankful!!! The ‘Mascot’ has arrived safely and will be joining me for some travels when I get back on the road. I will be sure to take plenty of pictures and send them your way. Please tell the great folks serving at AAC how much I really do appreciate the support. I am amazed at your group and their incredible commitment to supporting us over here and around the world. I am forever grateful.”
~Chaplain Pete Keough
“I received two more boxes. The soldiers really enjoy the pop sticks. My assistant hands them out to the local nationals who are hired to work around the building. It is loved by them too. If I think about it, I will try to get a picture of them eating one. My assistant has come to have adopted them, buying pizza for them, tennis shoes and socks. He shares on a specialist (E4) pay. He is a good kid at heart.”
~Chaplain Folsom
“I had to dig into the secret stash of ping pong balls again today. They won't last long. The soldiers have assured me that they are not eating them as I have suspected. ‘They break easily, Ma'am.’ They like to spike them hard is the truth of the matter. It is a good pastime for the soldiers, but our ping pong balls are taking the brunt of their aggression. Could you send us a supply of ping pong balls? Thanks!”
~Chaplain Maschhoff
“We had a baptism last week, always fun for a Lutheran pastor who doesn't get to do many adult baptisms. The soldier being baptized is connected with the Roman Catholic Church and plans to start taking adult catechism classes when he gets home. His sponsor is a Wisconsin Synod Lutheran, and I am an ELCA Lutheran. Those three denominations don't always play well together. Throw in my chaplain assistant, who is Calvary Chapel, and one other witness who is some variety of Baptist, and we had quite a crew. All we needed was an Eastern Orthodox guy and we'd have just about covered every base.”
~Chaplain Timm
“My battalion commander made a visit to my chaplain office yesterday. I was able to place a cup of Starbucks coffee in a bright yellow plastic mug in his hands as we talked about how our soldiers were doing. Good stuff!”
~Chaplain Maschhoff
“Thank you for everything. Recently we have received a variety of boxes with goodies of all sorts. My assistant has fallen ill this last week, and I have been engaged in a series of training events causing the versatility of our team to fall short as of lately. In any case, this weekend I'm going to make an extra effort to get around to distribute these items. Of course, included in these packages were cookies!!!! These are always very popular. I think the Otter Pops were a fabulous idea! I will keep you posted on their success rating. God bless you for all you do.”
~Chaplain Gino
“I found out about your ministry in military.com’s emails I receive and started browsing. It was good to know that people actually look after CHAPLAINS, since we mostly think about SOLDIERS.”
~Chaplain Luis Pina
“Hi AAC. My mailroom guys got a workout today delivering to my door. Seven boxes, including three with the ever-popular popsicles and one with a guitar stand. You guys are the greatest.”
~Chaplain S. Timm
“Thanks for your support. I have the Commitment Statement from you on my desk, so I see it everyday. I really appreciate your support and prayers. Good things are happening these last 80 days since I returned from R&R Leave. It seems that something significant is happening every day.”
~Chaplain Chavarria
“Thank you for sending the copies of Mark Cahill's books. I started passing these books out yesterday. One thing is for sure, soldiers certainly like to receive "things." They are generally very excited when I bring out the cookies and saltwater taffy. I will try to capture some pictures for you. Until next time my brother ...”
~Chaplain Gino
“Every week in our evening worship service, we have prayer and testimony time, and I've printed up the good news from your last letter to share as a sign of how I saw God at work during the last week. I pray He will bless you as much as He has blessed us through you.”
~Chaplain S. Timm
“These "God Things" are absolutely awesome. I love hearing all about them. Thank God for seven-year-olds, right!!! I also got the message about the bats. I'm sure the team can't wait to hear the news. They'll be very excited. I appreciate you and the rest of the gang very much. Try and stay out of trouble over the weekend, OK Ben?”
~Chaplain Rendon
“Before anything else, I want to thank you and your organization for your commitment to supporting chaplains. As I read the narration of your organization's beginnings, I was struck with sincere gratitude. Although I do not personally know the chaplain from Afghanistan, I felt his anguish and pain. It is true that chaplains and perhaps all Christians suffer in particular over here. My limited experience has uncovered the fact that, much like the general American religious culture, the military is a melting pot of America: some soldiers avidly avoid anything related to Christ, while a few others intently seek strength from their Savior. In America, we may visit our "faithless" neighbors, but in the military we live with them. This is part of the culture that military chaplains live in, preach in, and sacrifice themselves in. Often chaplains care for others but struggle finding support to care for them. Therefore, clearly the greatest gift we could ever receive are your prayers of intercession.”
~Chaplain Ivan
“I received the ICEE Pops and the Twinkies and other items this week. Thank you so much for you kindness; this program is wonderful. If I see any chaplains who are staying or will be switching places with me, I'll give them a line on this program.”
~Chaplain Neal Durham
“I'm more than sure that the ladies of the 4th Support Battalion will be grateful just as I for your willing heart to give. New hair bands, clips, lotions, etc. will be greatly appreciated. I eagerly await the boxes to arrive. Sometimes I’m so amazed at the support I receive for our troops.”
~Chaplain Rendon
“Today I received a goody bag from my chaplain which was delivered by his assistant PV2 Dowling. I want to take the time to thank you. Thank you so much for having us soldiers in your thoughts. It really means a lot. I personally want to thank you all because this goody bag made my day a little brighter (I wasn't having a good day today). God bless you all and thank you for your support.”
~An American Soldier,
SPC Mack Isabel
“I am a PV2 chaplain assistant for Chaplain Rendon. I help him with many things but one in particular is I help him organize and hand out all the goodies and other items you have sent out to the soldiers. The last handout we just accomplished was the female products. The females were all very thankful. It brightened their day. We all appreciate your kindness and willingness to help out all the soldiers. It means a lot to have your great support. Well, thank you and God Bless.”
~PV2 Dowling
“Thank you so much for the wonderful packages that you sent to all of us. We really appreciate all of the support that you've shown all of the troops out here. It makes our mission that much easier. Thank you again!”
~SPC Profit