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Moseley Chimes
February 2008
Last Christmas we were discouraged by the MOD from sending parcels to the troops in Afghanistan as they can delay the arrival of gifts from family and friends. So what about Easter?
Regardless of your feeling about war these young men and women are serving overseas doing a job they’ve been asked to do by the Afghan government. They’re working in an alien environment, missing family and friends. Having been in touch with a number of soldiers I know how much pleasure a letter or parcel can bring. So why should we only make a special effort at Christmas? Chocolate eggs are out for obvious reasons but I did manage to send the hard coated variety as well as some chocolate finger biscuits. Weight is a problem so I try to keep to 3½ lbs and use a box 11" × 7" × 4".
If anyone is interested in sending some ‘goodies’ I am happy to act as coordinator. My contact changes when the person I’m writing to comes home, so parcels could end up with a member of the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) or someone at a Forward Operating Base (FOB). I’m currently in touch with MERT so goodies either find their way to a general cupboard or are bagged up and sent on to the FOBs. We would probably need to send parcels off by 28 March to be sure of them arriving in time for Easter.
Christmas on the Frontline with Matt Allwright (BBC1, 29 Dec) gave an idea of what life is like for our troops. Padre Priest (real name!) on his God Quad; the catering; accommodation; how contact is maintained with the locals; the way medical staff treat the sick and injured (soldiers, civilians and the Taliban). The most poignant moment for me was when a ‘shout’ went up and the hope that it wasn’t ‘one of ours’. Sadly the news followed that indeed one of our soldiers had been killed.
A few treats at Easter would cost us so little (postage is free), but mean so much to those who receive them, and would be a way of sharing some of the hope and love we have thanks to the Resurrection of Jesus.