Care package to Iraq
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” ~ John 15:12
Cpl. Nhan (“Young”) Huynh is a U.S. Marine who has been serving in Iraq since May of this year. Nhan was a junior student at SF State University who first started coming to Koinonia through the 2007 New Student Welcome Night. At the Good Friday’s Service this year, Nhan made a salvation decision. I asked him once why he decided to join the Marines and Nhan told me that it was a proud family tradition for him, and that it was a way for him to express his gratitude and give back to this country that he and his family have received so much from.
Nhan was deployed to Iraq in May for a one-year mission, as a truck driver in an area that has previously experienced heavy casualty, especially drivers. We held a BBQ farewell for him, and committed to pray for him, especially in light of the politically volatile region that he was going to. On the morning of his departure, Eddie, DY and I woke up really early and met him at the Marine Base in San Bruno. Nhan showed up in his desert fatigue uniform and his usual irrepressible grin in spite of the freezing cold. We had one last time of huddling and praying with him, taking pictures, and wishing him good luck before sending him on his way to Iraq.
He told us that the most cherished item on the battlefield is a letter from home, “like gold.” Since then, we have sent care packages of snacks, photos from recent events, and letters. (These go into a small box with pre-determined size.) We heard that there were others in his platoon that did not get any letters. So, for the month of November, with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up – a time when our military men and women can be especially vulnerable to homesickness – we decided to mobilize all of SF Campus to write cards and letters not only to Nhan, but to other Marines in his Unit, to thank them for the brave and selfless thing that they are doing so heroically for our country.
It was a community-involved expression of love, as everyone from little kids, to fellow students of SFSU, to USF, to Praxis wrote personal cards for Nhan and his fellow Marines. Our Joyland children made a Thanksgiving card for Nhan with personal message of gratitude. We also included a tape recorder in the package with taped personal messages from many of us, so that Nhan can hear from the familiar voices back home. We included letters to his platoon, even though we did not know them. We had over 50 cards and letters, and there was so much snacks that we had one shopping bag full of leftover snacks which did not make it in the specified box. As I was trying to stuff as much into every nook and cranny of the package as I could, I felt so happy for Nhan that he is going to receive this many letters, cards and voice messages during a time of the year when he must be feeling extra lonely and homesick. I was also so proud of our church, that there is such an outpouring of love and care for this one young brother and his platoon, that I had to in the end turn snacks away, and the letters and cards were as thick as a Webster’s dictionary. It was a beautiful picture of love in action.
On November 24, I received the following email message from Nhan upon his receipt of our care package:
I have just received your package, and let me say that it is by far the most memorable package ever! It took me a good two hours to read all of the wonderful cards you guys wrote for me, and that was just the pile that was for me. The snacks and goodies will be distributed and shared among the platoon. The Asian snacks that Christine Chang (formerly Fong) put in the care package were perfect as well, reminded me a lot about home. God has blessed me with so many friends that care and keep my spirits high. I'm sorry I have not been able to call, my platoon has been bombarded with work. I'm not allowed to tell you for operation security purposes, but I'll tell you when its clear. We've been going on the road everyday, moving stuff around, getting back late, and doing it all over the next day. The tape you guys sent me was awesome too! Man, I can't believe you guys went through such effort for me, I feel overwhelmed. Despite all of the stress and long hours on the road, I truly feel that God is watching over my platoon because all around us, there are attacks, bombs, and other things that are out to harm us, yet we have made it this far without a single incident. Please pray for the marines and soldiers who have not been as fortunate as my platoon, for behind every attack that we get briefed about on a daily basis, there are American troops who had to endure them. Today, in the chowhall, there was a live concert put on by our very own marines and sailors, opening for the concert was a gunnery sergeant from Communications Platoon who jammed on his guitar, singing Christian songs of praise, the very same ones we sing in church on Sundays. It was nice to see live music. Thank you once again for the care package, I will be sure to post the cards y'all addressed to the platoon in the break room for the marines to see, and the Turkey artwork from the little kids was a definite keeper!
Nhan Huynh
Because of Nhan, the troops in Iraq became more real and personal to us. It was no longer a war we read about in the news only, but had a voice and a face. He may thank us, but we thank God for him for displaying the Christian love of laying down his life for others.