November 14, 2008
Dear Norma and WA Operation Thank You
Greetings – from sub Sahara Djibouti, Djibouti, Africa! Chaplain Lance Jennings here, Deputy Director – Religious Affairs, Horn of Africa. Thank you for your generosity and thoughtfulness on behalf of personnel serving the United States of America providing assistance to Africans to help solve African challenges.
About me. I was ordained in 1975 in Grand Rapids, Michigan at my home congregation. I have been in ministries in Michigan, Washington State and Alaska since 1987. For the past 20 years I have been in the Air National Guard and concurrently served a congregation until the fall of 2007. Since that time I have been active duty status, serving a remote radar site in Clear, Alaska and volunteered to serve 240 days in the Horn of Africa. I will, Lord willing return mid February and first thing will be to hold my second grandchild Carlee, born August 12 in Anchorage (19 days after I deployed). Looking forward to baptizing her as I did my first in the water of Crystal Lake where our family cabin is located. Lots of memories have been forged there and is the wish of both my sons to do so.
Well, life here is quite different. There are approx. 3,000 personnel from all branches of the military stationed here at Camp Lemonier. The Camp is a previous French Foreign Legion outpost. We are in a porous region of the world. Those meaning harm to others can traverse soft borders from one county to the next.
The premise for a military presence is to aid Africans in solving African challenges. My role as chaplain is primarily “down range” to minister to troops and to meet with religious leaders and establish a rapport with them that will mutually benefit the people of these countries and the United States. Religion is fused in the culture and governments, unlike the U.S. where our mindset and processes operate with separation of church and state. Islam is the dominate faith group for most of Africa. However, in Ethiopia there is a large percentage of Christians and the two groups respect one another.
Daily temps when I arrived in July were 130 degrees on average. Quite the change for an Alaskan. Believe I’ve melted 5 inches since arriving. “Winter” temps have dropped to 80-90.
While in Djibouti I have been volunteering to teach English in the evenings to children who already speak 3-4 languages. Somali, Arabic, French, Afar. I also serve at a local baby orphanage and assist in Civilian Volunteer Assistance (CAV) events, which primarily are painting and general renovation of schools. I will also be assisting in the expansion of a local Cheetah refuge outside the Camp wire.
Driving in Djibouti is an experience in itself. Camels and goats free range in the city and outskirts. There is a fine of $660 for hitting a camel. If you hit a goat, then you pay the value of 7 generations of goats as that is the average number each goat can produce. There are few traffic signals and limited named streets. Most of the side streets are dark, save for the few lanterns and candles people have lit. People still draw water from wells as in Biblical times. The avg water temp out of the ground is 100 degrees. No need for water heaters. As you can imagine, lukewarm is not as pleasant (Ah, Book of Revelation speaks to same in the letters to the churches as you know) and quenching as cold. When we come to paint a school we’re packing coolers of bottled water which the children clamor to have given them
Thanks for giving this a read. Thanks for your gifts to delight, comfort, and affirming the care of one person to another. For your prayers as well. Cherish your freedom.
Cheers,
Lance Jennings
