Remembering back to August, I can think of the significant time of healing that my heart was undergoing. At that time the Spirit of God was pouring into my life, showing me once again how great His love for me is. This was truly amazing and broke me down to my core. It was at that time I adopted what I will forever claim as my life verse(s), Philippians 3:10-14. Knowing Christ is my Goal, and like Jacob in Genesis 32:22-30, I will not give up until that hunger is satisfied. While that tenacity may at times bring more pain - God did break Jacob's hip, after all - it is a promise of the living God that, "You will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you" (Jeremiah 29:13-14). Pain is nothing to fear, by the way. Listen to the deeply encouraging words that the writer of Hebrews gives to us, "Endure hardship as discipline... no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:7...11).
This time in Korea has been much different. The exercise went very well from a Communications perspective. The Marines from MWCS-18 accomplished their mission effectively and with professionalism. Because it has gone so well, we've been afforded the opportunity to engage in other life matters without reservation.
And as the OIC, I am able to emphasize what areas I'd like my Marines to be working on in their free time, for example, getting on a normal physical training (PT) schedule and working on their online courses. PT and studying Scripture were at the top of my list. This led me to the most significant difference - a spiritual one. Over the course of the past month it was pointed out to me that I have been the one that has been doing the pouring out this time around. This is not of my own accord, but similar to the way the Apostle Paul says the comfort that we have received from God can be poured into other's lives (2 Corinthians 1:4). In that same way, I have been able to share the amazing Life that Jesus has given me with my fellow Marines. Hear these amazing examples...The first Sunday we got to Korea the chaplain hadn't arrived yet. Fearing a missed opportunity for myself and for others to hear the Word of God, I held a church service for 15-20 Marines and delivered a powerful message about the faithfulness of God, playing off the Marine Corps motto of Semper Fidelis, which is Latin for "Always Faithful." Questions about Jesus and Christianity were asked to me directly by some of my Marines, and I led a Bible study each Wednesday night of the exercise. The Wednesday before Easter, I shared some of the compelling similarities between Christ's death and the first Passover
the Israelites experienced (Exodus 12). Eyes were opened, literally and figuratively speaking, as the Messianic symbolism of the first Passover were noted for the first time by many (email me to learn more about these).
Here is one compelling miracle that is representative of the time I've shared with some of my Marines. One of them who had spoken with his wife prior to this exercise about needing to "get back to church," called her the first night after we had a significant conversation about Jesus. Before even mentioning to her anything about our conversation, his wife told him about a question that their two children asked her that day out of the blue. They came downstairs after playing in their rec room and asked their mother, "Can you tell us about Jesus?" Upon hearing this, the husband was floored! He then shared bits and pieces of our conversation and both husband and wife were brought to tears! Amen. Jesus is amazing.
Add to all of this my prayer request from my last email - asking you to ask God on my behalf for the opportunity to minister, disciple, share the Word with others. Look at how He has answered! Most faithfully and in a way I would have never imagined. Now there are about five Marines from my unit and a similar number from other units who are going back to Japan with questions answered, and/or a hunger to search Jesus out for themselves. Please pray for continued opportunities in this area, as my passion is sharing the Word of God with others. It literally stirs my heart and I love it and it brings me closer to God because I believe I am in His will most when doing this. Please tell me how you are doing and how I can pray for you. Also, check out my blog for more insight into what God has been showing me recently http://okinawaone.blogspot.com/ .
Lastly, I just want to say in a [somewhat] public forum, congratulations to my grandparents Karl and Donna Abt who are celebrating 60 years of marriage this weekend. Amen for that too.
Sending you Love from the Korean Peninsula,
S.R. Haack
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