FAMILIES HELP SOLDIERS FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM OVERSEAS
Sharon Meaney, Staff Writer

As temperatures in the Valley have soared, imagine wearing full body armor in a place where temperatures ranged from 90 to 112 degrees?

For weeks and months, our military personnel serve in these conditions all over the Middle East. These "unsung heroes" are the core of Calvary's 4-year-old Adopt-a-Chaplain ministry.

For over two years, Paula Ould has served along with her daughters in assembling care packages for our soldiers through Adopt-a-Chaplain.

"I wanted to instill a sacrificial nature of servanthood and gratitude in my kids," says Paula. Do you know how hard it is for a 3-year-old to make an entire batch of cookies and then give them away?"

In addition to family time, Paula teaches her kids to pray for the soliders every night and explains the importance of the chaplain's role in sharing Jesus with those who don't know him.

Adopt-a-Chaplain supports almost 450 Chaplains (and their soldiers) serving in the Middle East. One chaplain named Doug expressed his gratitude: "I am humbled beyond belief that you all would be so willing to help me out here and you don't even know me."

Paula's girls get so excited when they have the opportunity to speak with a soldier face to face. "They ask if they were one of the soldiers who got our cookies. If we ever do explain what we do, watching these men and women in uniform then kneel down and thank the kids is priceless. They walk away beaming."

For more information about how to get involved or items that soldiers most need, click on the link below:

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