FOB Blackout

Hey friends! Hope everyone is doing well at home. Sorry I haven't wrote in awhile. I've unofficially renamed this place 'FOB Blackout'. We're always on commo blackout - they shut down the phone and internet. Then when it's back on, I'm either busy doing something else that I can't get on the computer or the wait is too long... or I hate to admit it, but I just don't feel like writing. I'm trying to get over that hump. Thanks for continuing to write me though!! When I do get on the computer, I do read your emails and I can't tell you how much they help me. I gain strength through you all. =)

I don't think I've shared my chair before. I bought this chair when I was at KAF and let the girls decorate it. I love it! The arms have pink and orange animal prints. At Ft Dix, my nickname was 'Ka-Pow'.....










Speaking of the girls, I don't think I wrote about this either. A few weeks ago, I had to go somewhere without my team for a few days. When I get back I get a big surprise. Two of the girls practically shaved their heads! Some kind of challenge, which they quickly realized was not fair, and bam... they're getting buzz-cuts. All they got was 5 guys to shave theirs, and one to shave his legs (which we all think it was just an excuse to try it). I almost cried when I watched the video. See what happens when you have too much free time?!? I can't leave them alone for too long!

Our zip code has changed. Here's the latest that will probably change again in a few months...

Kitty Powell
A/431st CA BN, FOB Wilson
1-502 2BCT 101st ABN DIV
APO, AE 09370

Not that anyone is counting, but I have about 235 days left in country.

Miss you all!! Take care.

More photos...

Gunner waiting patiently to roll out.












(Left) ANA posted outside someone's house. The little girl is just peeking out to see what's going on.

(Right) One of our interpreters playing around with one of the kids.




(Left) Water well in a villager's compound. He was pulling the water out to build the mud wall around his home.

(Right) This boy acted all serious for the picture, the rest of the time he was grinning from ear to ear.



(Left) Master Corporal Julie... my Canadian friend. (Abby, wish you were here for my first patrol with the Canadians!)

(Right) This little guy is so precious. The Canadian Captain gave him the notebook and marker. He just sat and doodled while we talked with his father. His father gave me some grapes that he was eventually sharing with me. The grapes are so good!

Just some pics...

I've been holding out... here are some pics from the last few days.









I quickly made friends with the little boy on the right. I got onto another boy for picking him up and choking him… really! He walks up and the kids picks him up around the neck and is choking him. I scolded the kid, but this little guy was already balling. A lot of the kids are pretty mean, except the little ones of course. ; )

Hope you don't get tired of seeing the kids 'cause I take lots of pictures of them. The village we visited here doesn't have a school, which isn't unusual. They have an orphanage and lots of kids in the village, yet no school.

Sunset from Kandalay.

Looking for words

I’ve been having trouble finding things to write about. Nothing funny lately, and nothing else I can really write about. We’ll save all the stories for when I get home. I have been thinking of you all though…

I’m thankful for all of you all, my friends, who read what I write (no matter how silly) and send me emails checking on me. Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how much that means to me. Sometimes your emails almost bring a tear… a happy tear though! And oh my gosh, thanks for the packages!!! Talk about a pick-me-up. I can’t explain how some magazines and hygiene items can bring so much joy to my day, ha! I’ve read several magazines already and they’re being passed around. I think the guys enjoy Shape as much as we girls do. ; ) Ha, and my little Sumo wrestler reminds me to ‘SMILE’ everyday! (Now what does Sabrina have to look at every day?) And of course, all the girly products will be put to use as well.

I haven’t been able to give anything out to the kids yet, but there will be lots of opportunities for that. I'm going to bag up some beads & pipe cleaners today to take down to one of the villages. They will flip out for the pencils and be so interested in the beads. I won't be able to hand them out myself, but I will give them to an elder that I trust and he can distribute. Sadly, the kids are too distracting on foot patrols. Those kids are starving for some kind of interaction, whether candy, pencils, photos, or a SCHOOL. I’m still hopeful that we will be able to open the Pir Mohammed School. A lot of skepticism on that, including my own, but I have to believe that these people will eventually stand up and fight for themselves and their next generations. Otherwise there is no point in what we’re doing. This is definitely an interesting place to say the least.

Continue to pray for us please. Miss you all very much.