Wake up Call...

Jon left Germany on Monday. It was a long sad day yesterday. I think it was the longest I went with out any contact from him since we started dating. So of course I was worried. I had no idea when I would hear from him. However, I woke up to a wonderful text message to say to go on skype! Thank you to the inventor who created this AMAZING communication tool! I was so thankful to talk to Jon this morning. While in Germany, he was six hours behind...now he is about 10! It was 7pm there and they just arrived in Kryzygstan and would be staying there for a few days. While waiting for the flight in Romainia, he and his unit had to sleep outside along the runway. I was so sad to hear that...however when I put it into reality, Jon LOVES camping so I am sure he was just fine! :) He arrived at 2am their time and was starving. He had only good things to say about the "chomp house." The food was hearty and is open for 24 hours! I got to see where he was staying in the Kryzgstan airport. He gave me a virtual tour. It was so awkward talking to him with so many people in the background. There were beds everywhere and it was almost like a huge tent with hundreds of people staying in there. A lot of people from his unit left today to head to Afghanistan. Jon should be leaving tomorrow if the flight does not get cancelled again. The internet is not very strong, and we ended our conversation by the shut off of connection. He said that when a lot of people are on, the internet tends to run slow. Please continue to pray for him and send him letters of encouragement. He will let me know when he can start receiving letters and of course I will pass that on to all of you. I recently opened up an e-mail from one of Jon's aunts in Florida. I would like to close this blog with a prayer that she shared:

We pray for your continued strength to be strong in the face of adversity.
We pray for peace in your heart, to show others how to find their own peace.
We pray for your safety, that you will return to your families and friends.
We pray that your hope, courage, and dignity will remain in tact, so that you may show others the way.
God bless you and keep him in your loving arms, today, tomorrow, and always.

Love and prayers,
Kristine

The Time Has Come...

Due to OPSEC I had to delete some information that I posted lastnite! Sorry!

What a rough few days. Waking up to see the news of a local soldier from NT...and now preparing to see Jon leave for the next year to a country where life will be totally different...almost freedomless! A place where morals do not matter, women are degrated, and life is just plain out miserable and unethical! What a true challenge it must be for those already in Afghanistan fighting. Jon is currently enjoying his last days...or shall I say last hours in Germany with friends, TV, internet, and freedom. All of his things are packed up and gone. :( I was pretty emotional today when talking with him on skype. However, I have to remember his purpose and that this is something that he has ALWAYS wanted to do. Until then, I will be here to pray, encourage, and support him all the way through this journey. Tomorrow, they will be on lockdown at 6pm their time. The unit will have a ceremony to honor those leaving and then provide dinner for them afterwards. Soon after they will all huddle into a huge room...almost like a gymnasium until further notice. On a better note, Jon recently got his address for Khandar. However, he is not sure when he will be able to recieve mail and packages. His address is:

PFC Strible Jonathan

B Co 40 en

c/o HHC 105th en bn

APO AE09355

Jon would love to hear from each and every one of you! The smallest things are the ones that are most treasured. As I prepare for his departure...I currently sit here typing with tears in my eyes praying for safety and a return that is healthy, honorable, and momentous! I know this will be a difficult year for not only Jon, but certainly for myself and his family and friends. Together we will support you Jon from now until the end! I love you! I will end with a quote that had me thinking and truly shows his strength and integrity...

" I am only one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will NOT refuse to do something that I can do."

Love and prayers,

Kristine

The Time is Near

Good afternoon! Wow is it a scorcher today! I'd say 90 here in Buffalo! Well it has been a few days and Jon is doing well. Once he got back to Germany, they reminded him that he needed to get his things together. The movers (Germans) had come to take all his belongings for storage. His entire unit got emptied yesterday and the other building was being emptied today. As I sit and realize this whole mindest, my heart hurts to know that the time is coming so soon. He said that there is not much talk about what day exactly he is leaving. However, they did tell him that it's going to be Sat, Sun, or Monday of THIS weekend. I don't think reality has quite sunken in yet. Friday night I am sure it will hit me once again. Lately I keep saying that I am more worried about him losing his freedom and ability to do what he wants when he can, rather than his safety. However, I do worry about safety as well. I DO know that Jon will be safe no matter what obstacles he will face. He is strong and determined in whatever he does. Today they got to decide which month that they wanted to come home while being deployed. Each soldier chooses a month. Jon of course chose December. What a great month! However, only two soldiers can leave per month. So depending on how many people signed up for December will depend if he is able to leave or not. He will not know until the date gets closer. The soldiers are able to leave from 3months until 9months into deployment. Some will have to leave already in August after only being there a short while. Please continue to pray for Jon and the rest of his company as they collectively come together for their mission as soldiers.

Difficult Adjustment

I awaited a phone call all morning. Jon finally arrived in Germany early this morning our time (1am I believe). He was relieved to know that he had transportation back to Baumholder when getting off the plane. After he left yesterday, his plan was to hop off the plane and catch a train or bus ticket which could have taken him up to four hours to get home. Goodness is he so random! Thankfully, while in NYC he was able to meet up with a bunch of people from his base and catch a ride from Frankfurt to Baumholder. Through all the exhaustion of traveling, he caught a nap. I talked to him quite a bit today! It is so awesome to see how well technology has come these days! Skype, telephone, and facebook! Hopefully it will be the same in Afghanistan. He tends to spoil me in the communication department. :) I know Jon was feeling a little down adjusting back to Germany and not being with all of us today. It must be such a hard transition going from being surrounded by family and friends continously for two weeks to "reality." My heart broke to hear the saddness in his voice earlier today. However, later on tonight he called and said " I am no longer sad! I have my roomate." Jon will find out tomorrow more details on his deployment. He is thinking that his unit will be leaving in the next week or so. I am thankful that God has blessed me with such an amazing man in my life. Please continue to pray for him with patience, strength, and determination; but most importantly trusting God in everything.
Kristine

Saying Goodbye Means Looking Towards the Future...

Good evening! This is the first blog I have ever visited and even tried doing. I hope this goes well. I figured that I would update my feelings, thoughts, and experiences while Jon is away. This blog will also keep family members, friends, and co-workers updated on Jon's deployment over the next year with the Army. I hope that this will keep many of us connected with how he is doing while being in Afghanistan.

Well after a wonderful two weeks, it was time to say goodbye today! It was an emotional yet heart warming moment to see such an amazing young man depart for his purpose and will. We will all truly miss him until he returns....in six months (half way break :) ). As we speak, Jon is currently traveling back to Germany for a week. The first week of July will mark his next journey to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Please keep him in your prayers as we experience the joy, pain, love, and determination of Jon's journey over the next year.

Kristine