Meditations From Iraqby Fr. Steve Dundas
“O God, who hast made of one blood all the peoples ofthe earth, and didst send thy blessed Son to preach tothose who are far off and to those who are near: Grantthat people everywhere may seek and find thee, bringthe nations to thy fold; pour out thy Spirit on all flesh;and hasten the coming of thy kingdom; through thesame thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” From the Book of Common Prayer
Father Steve Dundas (center of circle) leads a prayer with servicemen in Iraq.Seven months ago I set out on a journey to serve as Chaplain to the Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and others who serve as advisors to the Iraqi Army and security forces in Al Anbar Province. From my youth I had felt the call to be a Navy Chaplain and serve in harm’s way. I was the first Navy Chaplain to do this since Vietnam. Traveling the entirety of the province, my assistant and I logged close to 4500 miles on 30 air missions and about 35 convoys to over 30 bases where our teams served, both US and Iraqi.
We were blessed with wonderful ministry, the highlight being the celebration of Christmas Eve and Day at small Iraqi bases near the Syrian border. It’s hard to imagine from the States just how little life has changed for many in this part of the world since that first Christmas, meeting and having “Chi” (tea) with Bedouin families in their tents.
Watching them tend their flocks and seeing mangers tended by young Bedouin boys took me to a place 2000 years ago when the Holy Family celebrated Christmas with shepherds. The cold, barren desert and the simple, harsh life gave me a new appreciation of that first Christmas. When I read the Gospel passage of the birth of Jesus from Luke during services with the Marines, I found myself with tears in my eyes. No tinsel, no fancy trimmings, but the grace of God in the wilderness.
The Lord was good; wherever we traveled we spent time with wonderful Americans and some equally wonderful Iraqis. We had numerous encounters that only the Holy Spirit could have arranged. In the little Southwest Asia huts, airfields, and Iraqi military bases, we ministered to guys who in many cases had not had a chaplain stay with them during their tour. I really do think that the Lord used us to reach people who would never step into a church or chapel. Likewise, we were encouraged by the faith of many of these fine men, some of whom have calls to ministry or other Christian service.
Most of the advisors we served lived in primitive conditions -- nothing like the states or even the bigger bases here. Travel is difficult. It took two days of air travel and convoys to reach some of our teams. Out of the limelight, they build relationships that are impacting Iraqis and hopefully will bring about peace in this country.
I was privileged to meet some great Iraqi military officers -- professionals determined to see their country freed from the tyranny of extremists. One young officer, a Sunni Moslem, found me one night and told me how much he appreciated what I did as a chaplain and priest for our Marines and his country. Another Sh’ia Moslem officer told me that he wished that his Army had people like us to care for the soldiers. A General showed me his Arabic-English Bible which he said that he read because it had things that the Koran did not contain. Yet another General invited us to dinner at his home where we establish bonds of fellowship over some great food and the ever present “Chi.” I saw him last when we crossed paths at an airfield and he gave me a bear-hug in front of his security detachment and American Soldiers.
There were many other instances during the tour: Iraqi soldiers thanking me for blessing the vehicles of our mixed US-Iraqi convoys, meeting with the first class of female Iraqi police officers and seeing them with tears in their eyes when I thanked them for their service and the sacrifice of their families. I told them that I prayed for them daily, something that I told every Iraqi that I met.
All of this ministry with the troops, proclaiming the Gospel and building friendships with Iraqis is about the Gospel that God, who “through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” War destroys. The Iraqi people have suffered greatly during almost 30 years of war, dictatorship and terrorism. Through our love, care, prayer and practical deeds as Christians, as well as the sacrifices of our troops and the Iraqis themselves, maybe someday (as one Iraqi officer told me) we will all live in peace.
I pray for Iraq every day and will miss my Iraqi friends when I leave. I ask you to continue to pray for the troops, as well as the people of Iraq.
This WeekPray for everyone serving in Iraq. Also pray for the Iraqi people that they may know the Prince of Peace.
Prayer"Father, send your Holy Spirit to guide and care for those serving in Iraq. Empower those who believe in You to share your love and hope with the suffering people across the Middle East."
Fr. Steve Dundas is a US Navy Chaplain holding the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He is a priest in the Charismatic Episcopal Church and worked at Life Outreach International from 1990-1993 as a staff counselor. He has served in the military 26 years. He and his wife Judy live in Virginia Beach where he is Chaplain of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group Two at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek.