A Great Weekend!

Hi Family and Friends,

Had a great weekend with my soldiers at Buckley Air Force Base. I spent all day Saturday in the air as we flew to Camp Guernsey, Wyoming for training in a Chinook helicopter. (These are the huge, two rotor, aircraft that seat about 30 soldiers)

If you struggle with motion sickness...ummm....don't come along. I looked back during the flight and saw one of our guys "losing his lunch" all over the back of the plane. Gross!!! Our pilot CW4 Dave Parker was great...he has just returned with the group from Iraq and has 8000 hours in the air so I felt good about our trip. (Unfortunately, his co-pilot had about 200 hours under his belt and was training during much of the trip. In my headphones I often heard Dave say, "Left foot...I said left foot!") When we got to our base safely I told them I only had had to pray a few times. They said, "Thanks Chaplain!" (I'm not a chaplain yet but they all call me that :)

We landed in Wyoming, picked up about 20 special forces soldiers, dropped them off in the country around an old abandoned helicopter, went back to base and came back an hour later to hoist the old helicopter into the air in order to bring it back safely. (This was one of the most exciting things I've ever seen, heard, or been a part of!)

Once the mission was completed we went home to Buckley Air Force Base. I was so cold (4 Degrees in the Air) that when I got back I shivered all the way home and fell asleep early.

I got up at 4 a.m. to finish preparations for chapel and had a great Sunday with my soldiers. The men and women are beginning to trust me and I was busy after chapel with a variety of counseling sessions and meetings.

*Happy Birthday to my sister Comfort! We love you and pray this next year will be a great one for you!!!

**We are busy shopping for a house when we move this summer. Please be in prayer that we find the right one for our kids to grow and flourish.

***We had a doctor's appointment this morning and Christina and the baby are doing great! 28 days till our little boy comes home (or girl I guess :)

****I start my new job next week and finish my last month of full-time school this month.

These are exciting times for the Nagel family!

Much love,

Dave


Here below are pictures of the hatch being opened, the old helicopter being prepared for hoisting, the special forces soldiers, the crew chief, and special forces soldiers being dropped off to secure the area. Notice the fake M-16's in bright colors!














Pictures in the air. Fun to fly with the windows and doors open!














Private Bender: One of my Chaplain's Assistants. Nice Kid. Big Heart!







Private Cooley: One of my Chapel Musicians. Nice young man and family friend from before my days in the Army.