Posted on 01/26/2009 4:30:06 PM PST by SandRat
The underwear drive didn't surprise members of the congregation at Desert Skies United Methodist Church.
They are used to helping out, and underwear was just the latest request from the overseas soldiers.
It's all part of Desert Skies' involvement with the national Adopt-a-Chaplain program. The congregation has been involved since 2006, when a group of its women decided to come up with a mission.
"We thought about what's significant about our community, and the first thing we thought about was the military," said Jennifer Stivers, 32.
Stivers said churchgoers researched Adopt-a-Chaplain and are now helping their third chaplain, Capt. Vincent Michael Garcia, who is from Fort Huachuca.
Garcia, 35, is not Methodist, but he's affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America. He has finished 13 months of a 15-month deployment at Camp Victory in Baghdad, although he travels throughout Iraq and also into Kuwait and Afghanistan.
The soldiers he meets often talk about their personal struggles with their families and marriages, or about religious issues.
"During deployment, soldiers are often more curious about spiritual things," Garcia wrote in an e-mail from Iraq. "Stress and separation of family can spur religious questions. I provide a soundboard for them to talk openly without fear of being judged or criticized."
Garcia also takes wish lists from the soldiers for things like toothpaste and underwear, or even special requests, such as bagels from Trader Joe's.
The women from Desert Skies have made items to send, such as pew cushions, and they also collect donations. "Once a month, we try to send off between 10 and 15 boxes of stuff," Stivers said.
Adopt-a-Chaplain, which started in 2005, is a Christian-based organization that helps soldiers by supporting the chaplains stationed overseas with them. Individuals and churches involved are asked to communicate regularly with the chaplain, to pray for the chaplain and to send care packages for the men and women being served. So far, more than 50 tons of food, toiletries, clothing and other items have been sent from around the country.
The Rev. Dan Hurlbert said Desert Skies' involvement is typical, but the 650-member church, at 3255 N. Houghton Road, is different because of its "do-it-yourself" attitude.
"Other congregations that I have been a part of, or know of, have trouble generating enough energy to get an idea off of the ground," said Hurlbert, who has been there since 2004. "To know that everyone, from preschool-aged children to Would War II veterans, participates in ministries together is unique."
For Hurlbert, the effort helps to ease feelings about the loss of a student he knew when he was the United Methodist campus minister at the University of Arizona.
"Tina Time was a college student here in Tucson who sought my counsel when she learned her Guard unit was to be called up," Hurlbert said.
The last time he saw her, she was at the UA Hawaii Club's luau, where she was crowned queen. In December 2004, she was killed in a vehicle accident near Nassiriya, Iraq, while serving as part of the 208th Transportation Company out of Tucson. She was 22.
"Her death made the tragedy of war personal for me," he said. "As I remembered her, I prayed that Tina knew people here in Tucson remembered, loved and cared for her as she made the ultimate sacrifice."
Garcia, who originally is from Chandler, will return to Fort Huachuca in early spring. He said Adopt-a-Chaplain has been a great help to his ministry.
"I am so humbled by the generosity of their congregation," he said of Desert Skies. "This church has been a wonderful example of servanthood and of giving."
Contact reporter Patty Machelor at 235-0308 or pmachelor@azstarnet.com.
More online
To learn more about Adopt-a-Chaplain, go online to www.adopt-a-chaplain.org
Our Greek Orthodox parish has done this. Its a great program. Every parish ought to look into this.
Our Methodist Church has been involved in this program for 3 years. It is one of my favorite missions. In addition to sending packages to soldiers we know personally it is great to be able to provide assistance to a larger group in appreciation of their service to all of us.
Thoroughly check out http://strengthforservice.org/ for an idea to compliment the Adopt-A-Chaplain service.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Of course it was organized by an Eagle Scout!
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