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4 - 1 - Soldier The
story behind Jessica was this: Friday night Belle brought home Jessica’s
computer which had crashed while she was on-line with one of her college
classes. I
took the computer over to our friend Lenny and asked that he go through it, and
fix it up or build a new one. Belle and I would pay the cost. Jessica is really
struggling to survive and is spiraling down. Last night I called Lenny because I
had just been through a most remarkable experience. It’s
from the heart and a gift “ 4-1-Soldier” Kind
regards Bill PS. Lenny built a new computer for Jessica. I met with him last evening to go over the costs and make arrangements for the hook-up and delivery. I also told him about the experience with God which happened only minutes before. Here’s the deal he said: "I’ll go halves with you. And of that half that you owe me I will donate that to your new fund." I paused, looked at him and said "I’ll match that." So that’s how this started. Now the story: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Plea for Help Today started a new chapter
in my life Some of you have
known our family for many years and some we met only yesterday.
I would like to talk about the “ yesterday”.
I delivered firewood to a first time customer, and
as part of our business we always call ahead when the truck is loaded and
ready for delivery. The man answered the phone and said he would be home, so off
I went. As I approached the home
there in the driveway stood a man in his mid-thirties leaning on a cane. He
smiled and waved as I approached with the truck. After I parked we introduced
ourselves and made a little light chatter…now, those of you who have known me
for a while can vouch for me on the chit-chat part. The next question I asked ,
“So what did you do to deserve a nice looking cane like that?”
His answer: “I was a tank
commander in Iraq and our 70 ton Abrams was nearly split in half by an I.E.D…with
me in it “. This is the
introduction to the story of one of our soldiers. It’s a plea for help to those of us who might be able to
make a difference in one soldier’s life,
a small payback for their selfless defense and personal sacrifice which
they made for each and every one of us. God spoke with me today.
And then it happened again.
My wife, Belle is going to college studying for a degree in Nursing.
In one of her classes is a young woman named Jessica. They study
together, support each other in their quest towards the degree and share the
blessings of a friendship. Jessica is also a US Navy veteran who served in the
Iraq war. She has three young boys. Her husband left her and now she lives with
her three children at her mother’s house.
She does get a little help from food stamps. Her benefits from the Navy
are getting delayed and Jessica is
struggling to try to keep it together. Her
ex-husband showed up from California late in the summer for a short visit and
gave her $ 60.00 towards clothes for the three boys. We hear the stories. We all
offer our sympathies only to shrug, not really personally affected by it,
don’t know what to say or how to help. But
for me, today was the day God had a word with me. While driving to Goffstown at
6pm leaden down with another load
of firewood the sky was heavy with those roiling black clouds after a sudden
storm. As I came to a stop sign I
noticed a bright light on the very tops of a couple of trees to my left. Odd,
because the clouds were so thick, I thought. But then I looked to the right and
the very tops of those trees were of the
same golden color. Around the corner I went and there before me was the most
wonderful and glorious rainbow I had ever seen. And ….at each turn was another
rainbow. And God told me it was his sign that what I had been thinking about all
day was the beginning … That these child soldiers, coming back home, injured,
hurting, plagued with nightmares, and
struggling , need our support. That we might be able to help just one
soldier would be the goal. The rainbow is the promise. We have chosen Jessica to
be the first recipient of the pot under the rainbow. She has shown courage,
works hard to better her life and never
complains or asks for sympathy. Her
spirit is in her voice. She has a
face, it’s the face of courage. She is your neighbor. Belle and I are asking for
your consideration to help one soldier at a time. We are setting up an account
at The People’s Bank to do just that and we will distribute the funds to her a
few weeks before Christmas. This
will be a gift from the heart. When
you order firewood from Weigle Tree Service,
please consider contributing $5.00
extra. The Weigle family will match
your contribution. Or you may contribute to the fund on your own.
It’s a way for our community to circle around one of our children, hold
them close, welcome them back home
and say we care The soldier in the tank?
That will be the next chapter. It
is our hope that help will be able to continue, one soldier at a time. Thank you and may God bless, The Weigle Family
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