Lake Region—The Lake Region Conference National Servicemen's Organization (NSO) has been responding to the needs of military personnel in Iraq. The number of Adventists serving in the armed forces overseas is now higher than ever.

The work of the NSO includes the ongoing ministry of sending care packages with Bibles to promote the spiritual and mental health of our young people in service. They appear to be real morale builders.

One soldier wrote, "I am very thankful for the things you have mailed. The books came in handy. I am reading [them] and plan to gather some soliders for Bible study." Another wrote, "Just letting you know I got the boxes! What a big day for me!"

Many requests are coming in, including, "Do you have any Sabbath school lessons? Loved the tapes!" A current project is to provide DVDs of sermons to be used in Sabbath services in Iraq.

NSO provides support to anyone in the military who requests material or help. I receive the names of soldiers from my son, an Army chaplain stationed in Iraq. Just this week he wrote:

"I do believe the Spirit of God is with us here. I have to believe. My belief is all I have. Yesterday, I was burdened with an office full of soldiers and their problems late into the night. Helping people is what I enjoy, but sometimes it starts to weigh heavy on your spirit when there is nowhere to go, nothing to do, and no one to really talk to. A few examples of the soldier issues are as follows:

"(1) Soldier's uncle committed suicide, and he sat in my office and wept; (2) Soldier's wife cheated on him, he felt alone, found a friend here, confessed to his wife, now she is making him pay for it, and holding him out to dry; (3) Soldier is suffering from post traumatic stress because the driver of her vehicle was killed during an IED explosion and she had to peal his bloody body off of her face and clothes....

"The chaplain works 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He is expected to be up with a ready smile and a good word.... This week I go on the most dangerous mission I have been on. The roads are bad, insurgents attack every convoy, and the last soldier that was killed was killed on this trip. I have been afraid, very afraid, but I’m trusting that the same God that kept me this far will keep me one more time. One more time, God, one more time."

NSO needs your help; we have more than 25 boxes waiting for funds to be mailed. We also need to purchase blank DVDs in order to duplicate sermons. Please help by sending your check or money order payable to the Lake Region Conference, to the attention of: P.C. Willis Sr., NSO Director, Lake Region Conference, 8517 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60619.

Philip C. Willis Sr., Lake Region Conference National Servicemen's Organization director