From today's local paper:
Airman's view: Unexpected blessings come with deployment
It brought tears to my eyes when I learned of the local Duluth community rallying around this little neighborhood lemonade stand and overwhelming it with requests for cups of lemonade for sale.
By: Jodi Stauber, Duluth News Tribune
I raised my hand to deploy. I am extremely proud to be a member of the 148th Fighter Wing, serving my country. I thought I had an idea at the time what deployment would mean: teaching my husband to pay bills, breaking the news to the kids that Mom would be gone for a long time, endless preparation just to pack all my military gear, and then walking into the great unknown — by myself.
What I didn’t realize was that my heart would be forever changed by my experiences or that I would meet people who would soon become lasting friends.
Soon after arriving in May at my deployed duty station in Baghdad, I was able to visit some Iraqi families living nearby. During the first visit, other airmen and I brought a small amount of necessities. We soon discovered there wasn’t nearly enough for everyone. Two of the mothers were left crying, pointing to their baby’s diapers, saying, “No more.”
I knew at that moment I had the ability to help, and I would do what I could to ensure these families had enough diapers for their beautiful children. These mothers do not have the luxury of going to the local supercenter to purchase necessities.
So I took action and did what any mother would do. I called on my own family for help. I e-mailed my husband and told him to take our children shopping to buy diapers and personal-hygiene items. My extended family heard the news and decided they also wanted to help.
I soon received word that my sister-in-law, Jessica Stauber, and my friend Beth Nelson enlisted the help of all our children and decided a lemonade stand was the answer. It brought tears to my eyes when I learned of the local Duluth community rallying around this little neighborhood lemonade stand and overwhelming it with requests for cups of lemonade for sale (“Duluth lemonade stand raises $1,100 for Iraqi families,” Aug. 15).
Word spread quickly, and I began receiving boxes from friends, family, churches and people I didn’t even know. My work space in Baghdad was completely filled with boxes! I received easily more than 150 boxes of donations. I could never offer enough thanks. I will never forget the beautiful Iraqi women and children. I am so grateful they were able to experience friendship, love and generosity from the people of Duluth!
The recipients of the generous donations were countless children and their families. Also, Iraqi military soldiers, being trained by our Air Force, benefited from the donations as they learned how to secure their country.
We visited the families as often as the mission allowed. We started teaching English to some of the women and girls. They were fun and eager students with infectious smiles. Lena is 22 years old and had to leave high school and couldn’t graduate because of the war. Her family has suffered deeply, losing loved ones to roadside bombs and being deprived of a safe education.
Lena and I formed a close friendship. I found my favorite book, “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint Exupéry, translated in English and Arabic. I gave it to her and shared with her one of my favorite quotes from the book: “One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.”
I will always remember when Lena looked me in the eyes and said, “I love you. You are my sister.” I nodded back with tears in my eyes and told her, “You are my sister, too.”
I was blessed to have been able to bond so closely with someone from such a different culture than my own. What an unexpected blessing to find a friend I will carry in my heart forever.
Preparing to return home, I knew I would miss my Iraqi friends, but I couldn’t wait to be reunited with my family. From what he tells me, my husband has stayed organized enough to pay all the bills, and I know from pictures my children have grown. I am grateful for the generosity of the many people who’ve helped them in my absence, from providing meals to helping with laundry to just being their friends. I am proud to be from such a wonderful area and proud to have represented Duluth and the United States in my mission to Iraq.
JODI STAUBER of Duluth is a chief master sergeant in the Minnesota Air National Guard and was command chief for the 148th Fighter Wing during its deployment in May to Baghdad. She’s expected home today. |
