"I Have Finished My Course..." - Week 42

Ten months ago, before I left for this deployment, I made a commitment to God to consecrate myself and my efforts throughout this mission. I wanted to honor that commitment to the very end. This last week has felt very much like when I was winding down my church missionary service in Brazil over 18 years ago. I literally ran until the last night because I wanted to give the Lord everything I had. 

I only had a few days to teach my chaplain replacements the job I have been doing for the last nine months due to a delay in their arrival. I worked hard all the way to the end and can look back now with satisfaction that I gave it my all. I am reminded of the quote from Vince Lombardi: 

"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious."

Or as Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 

I have grown so much this year both professionally and personally. Only by the grace of God and the help of mentors have I been able to accomplish the things I have during this time. I am immensely grateful to Him for that.

I have left the Middle East and am in the process of demobilizing in Texas now, trying to get my days and nights back on track. I am looking forward to getting home this week to embrace my family and enjoy some rest. 

Now that my travels are in the past, I can share a few pictures. My youngest daughter, Leah, gave me a small teddy bear before I left, so I took these pictures with her bear to show he has been with me all along. I plan to give it back to her with a small album of these photos. 

Thanks again to all of you out there who have blessed me and my family with your thoughts, prayers, and charitable service during this time. I pray that the Lord blesses you for your kindness. 

In His Service, 

Chaplain John Critchfield

Happy Father's Day! - Week 41

It's another holiday in a deployed environment. So, what do we do? Run some more! This is the 10th 5k I have run here since Thanksgiving, as well as completing a 10k, a 10 miler, and a 30k ruck march. I have finally gotten to the point where I don't hate running anymore. And I achieved my best time for a 5k which is about 8 minutes faster than the one I did for Thanksgiving!

Father's Day tends to be a day of mixed emotions for me. My parents were divorced when I was four and I only had occasional contact with my father, so I didn't have the closest relationship with him that I would have liked. I am grateful to Sid Speirs, my friend's father, who was the best role model for me to learn what a good husband and father looks like. I try to emulate him often. I also feel conflicted because I don't often feel like the best father. I have my weaknesses too, and often feel annoyed by my children's fighting, arguing, whining, or demanding. So, when Father's Day comes around it reminds me I need to be better. That's not a bad thing, but it does come with a dose of motivational guilt. 

Today, for my last Sunday deployed, I spoke of 1 Samuel 16:7 and how the Lord looks on the heart. I spoke of what we want to keep out of our heart and what to keep in it based on scriptural evidence. More than anything, I have hope that the Lord sees my heart: my righteous desires, motivations, intents, and attempts to be a good father; how I want to raise my children in light and truth, teach them, coach them, and mentor them to become the best possible versions of  themselves. But most of all my desire to love them unconditionally, as our Father in Heaven does for all of us. Perhaps that is one of the greatest blessings of fatherhood, is that it motivates and pushes me to become more like my Father in Heaven. For that I am eternally grateful. When I spend time with my children one-on-one, I love to have fun with them, listen to and talk to them, and my love for them continues to grow.

I remember my Mission President told us 20 years ago that the most important investigators we will ever have are our own children. I have taken that seriously and have taught them the missionary lessons when they were seven years old, and then had them teach the lessons to the family to solidify them. I often think of what kind of example I am to my children, and I often set and reach goals or make sacrifices simply to show them what a disciple of Christ should do. I hope I succeed at pointing them to Christ and teaching them to look to Him instead of me, because I have plenty of weaknesses. But my greatest goal in life, my mission statement, is to serve God and take care of my family (meaning lead them to Him). I take my responsibility to preside, provide, and protect my family seriously, and I know I will stand before God one day to account for how I measured up to that expectation. I don't ever want to let Him down and am humbled by the trust He puts in me.

So for all the rest of you fathers out there, keep trying. Keep pointing them to the perfect example: Jesus Christ. If we can succeed at that, we will have accomplished most of our job. Instead of wallowing in guilt on a day like this, let's recommit to be better as we worship and become more like our Heavenly Father.

In His Service,
CH John Critchfield

The Speed of Trust - Week 40

Chaplain Carson Jump (the one who did the ruck march with me a couple of months ago) and I had the opportunity to plan, prepare, and conduct a relationship training for a group of Soldiers yesterday. It is a program called "Strong Bonds" which we often do back home for individuals, couples, or families to improve relationships skills. Since we are in a deployed environment, we are able to use some of that program money to teach individuals helpful skills that improve working relationships here and can help in their relationships back home. 

We used the curriculum "Speed of Trust" by Stephen M.R. Covey, son of Stephen Covey who wrote "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" and many other amazing books (I'm a big Stephen Covey fan). 

We taught about how to first build trust with ourselves through building our integrity, character, competence, and results. This improves our ability to give others someone they can trust even more. Then we can build trust in our immediate relationships by engaging in practical behaviors that improve the feeling and result of trust. This makes every relationship work so much more effectively and efficiently. 

Stephen Covey used to teach that when we make and keep small commitments to ourselves first, it improves our ability to make and keep commitments, or even covenants, with others, whether they be our spouse, friends, family, co-workers, or even with God. I have been working hard this year and remembering this idiom of making and keeping small promises to myself through setting and reaching goals. Every time I think of going to the gym or finishing a homework assignment or finishing some other work-related task when I don't feel like it, I think about following through with my commitments to myself in order to strengthen my ability to keep my commitments with others. 

Following through with what I say I am going to do is very important to me, and I hope I can pass that integrity to my children. It all starts with keeping commitments with ourselves. I want to give others someone they can trust. Most of all, I hope God can trust me with whatever He needs me to do, who He needs me to serve, or what He needs me to say. I want to reach the potential I know He sees in me, even when I don't see it in myself.

I am forever grateful to those key influencing people who extended trust in me at pivotal times in my life that helped me see how much I could accomplish and the worth I brought to this world. I can think of a couple of encouraging teachers, my mom, my friend's parents, and a couple of supervisors who extended trust to me and helped me  see more in myself. Most of all, when I make covenants with God and reflect on them, I see the trust He has put in me, and I never want to let Him down. It only increases my loyalty to Him and what He asks of me.

So for anyone reading this, I encourage you to reflect on goals that you have thought of or set for yourself. Make a promise to yourself of a small step you can take in that direction, and then keep it. Then make another and keep it. Continue doing so until you have met that goal. Following this habit will strengthen your integrity, character, and ability for others to trust you. Before you know it, others will easily trust you, the speed of results will increase, the cost in relationships will decrease, and the energy and joy in your relationships will ultimately increase. I can say from experience that being intentional about these principles makes life much more enjoyable and productive.

In His Service,

Chaplain John Critchfield

I Love Jordan - Week 39

This last week I had the amazing opportunity to visit the country of Jordan to conduct some trainings. While there, we had an extra two days to see some of the local historical sites such as the Jordan River, the site where they believe Jesus was actually baptized, where John the Baptist lived, where Elijah was taken into heaven, Mount Nebo where Moses looked out upon the promised land just before his death, the Dead Sea, and Petra. What an amazing experience! 

One of the Soldiers who came with us desired to be baptized in the Jordan River, which another Chaplain was able to perform. Though our beliefs on baptism were different, I still felt the Spirit of that man’s desire to follow Christ and leave his old life behind. It was quite an emotional experience for all of us.

It was inspiring to be among the historical sites I have grown up learning about in the Scriptures and movies. I crossed off one of my “bucket list” items by riding a camel in Petra while listening to the theme song of Indiana Jones!

Though we were not allowed to go into Israel, I could see Jerusalem off in the distance from Mount Nebo. I look forward to the day when Dana and I can tour the rest of the Holy Land. But one thing was for sure, I felt the love of Jesus Christ in a place where He walked, where He led his children to the promised land, where He fulfilled his promises to the House of Israel, and where He will one day come again to rule on earth. 
But I didn’t need to see it for myself to believe and know that Jesus really did live, and die, and lived again for us near this place. Where the voice of God the Father spoke from Heaven and the Spirit  appeared in the form of a dove upon the Son of God. I know that Jesus is the Christ, and that comes from a witness of the Holy Spirit which is more deeply imbedded than what eyes can see, ears can hear, and hands can feel. I look forward to the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that same truth, and I hope I can help others come to that same belief before He comes again.

 
In His Service,
Chaplain John Critchfield

Sharing The Love - Week 38

A couple of weeks ago I had dinner with the Rabbi who was here to support Passover. We started discussing how people of my faith have more in common with the Jewish religion than we do with other Christian denominations. I told him of our understanding of the Abrahamic Covenant, how I am of the tribe of Ephraim, how we see temple worship as a continuation of receiving the fullness of the Abrahamic Covenant, and how we have a book written by a branch of the house of Israel, whom the Lord led away from Jerusalem just before the Babylonian captivity, which captures words of the prophets God called among them here on the American Continent (The Book of Mormon). 

He was very interested to learn about this book, and I offered to give him a copy of it. He was excited to learn of the Washington D.C. Temple Open House and hopes to attend here shortly before it ends. As he left this week to go back home, I brought him a Book of Mormon and wrote my testimony in the cover. I told him how this book was written to his people, the Jews, and how it is one of the most sacred things in my life, and I appreciated him treating this book with the same respect he has shown me in our conversations together. He received it with gratitude and even kissed the book (something Jews do to sacred things). I felt honored that we were able to share our faith with each other in respect and love during these last couple of months.

I also had the opportunity to minister to a Soldier who found out about some severe and alarming news happening with his children back home. As he was debating what to do, talking to his wife who was trying to do the same, he was having difficulty sleeping and really struggling with feelings of powerlessness and guilt for being here during all of it. I helped him process his thoughts and feelings about it and his wife called during our discussion. I was able to provide some counsel, having worked as a counselor with children who have gone through similar experiences as they are now going through. I reminded him of the power he has access to through his covenants and faith in the Lord. We prayed together and I felt like the Lord would be with him and his family every step of the way. The next day he was granted emergency leave to go home and be with his family during this difficult time.

That same day is when we heard about the mass shooting at the elementary school in Texas, and my heart felt heavy with the tragedies of this world. I went back to my list of scriptures that help me put things like this into the Gospel perspective and sent them out on the LDS Group chat. We have a large unit from the Texas National Guard stationed here, and this hit home for a lot of them too. I felt love for those families and the community that was affected. I felt God reassuring me of His plan that this will all work out in the end.

For those that may be interested, here are the scriptures I learned from John Bytheway that help us during times like these:

1. 1 Nephi 11:17: God loves us, but we don’t know the meaning of all things, especially when bad things happen.

2. Moses 7:26-33: God gives us all agency, and some use it poorly resulting in evil. Sometimes bad things happen as a result of the imperfections of this fallen world or the influence of Satan. God weeps with us during those times. All of it is made up in the Atonement of Christ. Learn to seek the power and grace available through the Atonement of Christ.

3. Alma 14:9-13: Some tragedies take the lives of those we love, presumably earlier than expected. Death is a part of life and the gateway to immortality. Those who die innocently or in the Lord are merely transferred to the next stage of immortality and eternal life sooner than we are. But we are still here, to learn, love, endure, and help others to endure as well.

4. Alma 7:11-12: The Atonement of Christ allows Him to be there for us in our tests, trials, temptations, and tragedies so we do not have to endure alone. He wants to be “At One” with us during those times too and can be even more if we let Him.

5. D&C 101:32-36: One day we will understand the reasons and purposes behind all of this. One day we will rest from all our sorrows and challenges. In the meantime, trust in God and hold fast to His words, the Iron Rod. Use the gifts that the Lord has given us to endure well in this life: The restored Gospel and His Restored Church, the power of covenants, the power of the Word of God available in restored scriptures and modern-day prophets, the priesthood, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, Families, Priesthood Quorums and Relief Society organizations that can support each other, and above all The Atonement of Jesus Christ.

All in all, it was a week full of opportunities to share the love that God has for all of us, no matter what our circumstances may be.

In His Service,

Chaplain John Critchfield

Making Time Count - Week 37

I feel like I am counting down the traditional 40 weeks it takes to carry a baby full term. Only, at the end of this term there is a ministry to finish and a page to turn to the next chapter of life. I have been just as busily preparing for that day when I turn the page and allow the next Chaplain team to take over the responsibilities I have been doing here. As a Boy Scout, we were often taught to “leave it [the campsite] better than you found it.” Well, after all these months of hard work developing products to better perform religious support operations, as well as lessons learned I want to pass on, I continue to stay busy leaving this position better than I found it. Just a few more weeks and I will be making my way back to the U.S. for more de-mobilization and “reintegration training.”
Many people have asked me how much time I have left, or how long I have been here. I am trying not to count the days until I leave, like so many others do (it’s actually discouraging to see people mark off days on a calendar like they are serving a prison sentence or something). While I am excited to get back home to see my family and spend time with them, I also want to work hard until the end and leave here with no regrets or wasted time. I promised the Lord I would consecrate myself to this ministry while I am here and I intend to carry that out to the last day. I remember this same feeling as a missionary. I later heard John Bytheway (LDS Speaker) describe it as: “Instead of counting time, make time count.” I am using that idiom now.

One of the ways I have been making time count is through counseling Soldiers who are going through tough times. One in particular is a young woman who has been through much trauma in her past and has been trying to cope out here in many unhealthy ways. The day I saw her sitting on the bench outside our office in the middle of the hot day vaping and listening to heavy metal music, I asked if she was okay and she said, “I’m just enjoying the fresh air.” That seemed incongruent so I looked at her compassionately and asked again “Are you sure? You look like you are avoiding something…” She started to open up and I invited her into the office to discuss this in a more confidential setting. 
She had a lot to let out and we began to meet weekly over the last couple of months. We have worked on healthy coping skills and preparation work for trauma therapy. She has improved significantly at setting better boundaries with herself and others, seeing that she does have value, worth, and potential. She has come a long way in a short amount of time, and we had our last meeting this week since she is going home soon. We reviewed all the challenges she has faced during this deployment and how she has grown. I provided encouragement and empowerment of her efforts that have helped her come this far and to continue that progress when returning home. I felt the Lord inspire me to say certain things to her. I know it was inspired because I was learning as I was saying it. I could feel a portion of the love that God and Christ had for her and was reminded of how my own challenges have helped me grow too.
I know the Lord has put me here at this time for a reason, actually many reasons. I am reminded of that each week as I reflect on the hand of the Lord in my life every day and share some of these experiences. I just hope I can continue to make time count so I don’t miss anything He wants me to accomplish with the time I have left here. Thank you all for your sustaining prayers for me and my family that help us to endure well (or at least better). May the Lord continue to strengthen us all to make time count with each day He has given us.

In His Service,
Chaplain John Critchfield

I Love The Book of Mormon! - Week 36

Since I finished a major goal two weeks ago by completing my military course online, I have felt the need to set a new goal to occupy my time in a useful way. I realized that I don’t function well unless I have a goal to work toward. I think I picked up this pattern as a missionary 20 years ago and have been doing it ever since. President Spencer W. Kimball said: “Goals are good. Laboring with a distant aim sets the mind in a higher key and puts us at our best.” Growth and success in life don’t happen accidentally, they happen intentionally. I am trying to be deliberate about my growth opportunities while I am here, and I am seeing the benefits in my daily life. 

So, I decided to read The Book of Mormon again before the end of my deployment, which will be in about two months. I happen to have the military-sized Book of Mormon with me that I used in 2018 when taking President Russell M. Nelson’s challenge of highlighting all the times we see a reference to Christ. I love reading this copy because it reminds me not only of the Savior, but His mercy, love, grace, plan, and role in my life. 

I had the opportunity this week to meet with a Soldier who I have come to know here. She has been struggling with relationship issues back home and wanted “advice” on how to deal with it. I helped her navigate through her challenges by processing what it was really about and getting to the heart of the issue. We discussed what a healthy relationship looks like and how to work on how she sees herself. She is a self-proclaimed Atheist (and has mentioned it to me several times) but that hasn’t stopped me from discussing what we have in common. I felt inspired to share with her about exercising faith in what she believes as a principle of action (which I learned from Alma Chapter 32-33 in the Book of Mormon). 

We discussed changing her paradigm to getting her worth from who she really believes she is as opposed to others who have emotionally abused her. Though she may not believe in a higher power, I was able to share with her true principles that align with her belief system as a way to help her grow. Regardless of people’s belief system, true principles resonate with our heart and are encouraging, uplifting, ennobling, and empowering. The Book of Mormon has taught me so many of these true principles that I am able to share with others in a way that meets them where they are. I love The Book of Mormon because I love the Savior of whom it testifies on every page, and it not only helps me learn of Him but come closer to Him and share His love with others any way I can. 

One of my favorite quotes about The Book of Mormon comes from President Ezra Taft Benson’s monumental talk "The Keystone of Our Religion":

“It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called “the words of life” (D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance.”

May we all find life in abundance in Christ!

 

In His Service,

Chaplain John Critchfield

Happy Mother's Day! - Week 35

For anyone reading this, know that my wife, Dana, is an AMAZING woman. I know in my weekly emails I get to talk about some of my experiences during this deployment and how they have been growing experiences for me. But Dana has shared many of her growing experiences with me as well. I can only try to understand and appreciate what it must be like for her to be a solo parent for the last eight months, with about two more to go. She has had to fill the responsibilities of both mother and father for the most part. She has had to learn to do things that I would normally take care of. She has learned much better how to ask for help. She has had to learn to nurture children who are dealing with my absence in their own ways, which has often been full of anger, and forgive them on a daily basis knowing that they are struggling too.

When we were engaged, my mom’s friend asked me “So what is it you love most about her?” I thought for a second and said, “She is a stalwart woman.” I further expounded about how I saw this hard-working nursing student who was a Relief Society President in her Student Ward, working for her dad’s business since she was 14, excelling in academics, and still found time to serve others. I thought to myself, “There is a strong woman who will be by my side through the hard times of life, no matter what the Lord calls us to go through.” I knew then, and am even more convinced now, that my wife would be an amazing mother. She is like one of those pioneer women who walked across the plains without their husbands, caring for their children and few belongings while enduring great trials, trusting in the God of our fathers to lead her through. I am blessed to have her nurturing our children, especially during this difficult time.

She is one of the women spoken of in Proverbs 31:

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

…

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

…

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

There is no way I could accomplish any of this without her and I am forever grateful that she chose me.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge as well the mother who brought me into this world, cared for and nurtured me, taught me the Gospel of Jesus Christ, showed me unconditional love, and made me into the man I am today. Her 15 years of single parenting was, without a doubt, extremely difficult I am sure. And yet we have grown stronger in our character and in our relationship with God and Christ through those tribulations. I hope I can honor my mother (and father) through the way I live my life, honoring the covenant that they gave to me by serving others. I feel as Abraham Lincoln when he said, “Everything I am I owe to my angel mother.” Thank you, Jody Seamons Schuman for your nurturing love and showing me an example of a “stalwart woman” so I knew what to look for in my own wife. 

I am forever grateful for all the mothers in my life. Not just for giving life, but for nurturing life. Birdie Speirs and Pam Bartschi have helped to nurture my life and the life of my children and I am so grateful for them.

So on this day, I have arranged for an American Flag to be flown on our deployed military installation for each one of these women. The same flag that we all turn and salute each day, look to as a symbol of freedom and sacrifice, and honor with the utmost respect because of what it represents.

This is the same flag that will be given to each of these women who also have served, sacrificed, and are deserving of honor and the utmost respect as well. I love you and hope to honor you all the days of my life. God be thanked for the amazing women in our lives! Happy Mother’s Day!

In His Service,
Chaplain John Critchfield

Interfaith Experiences and Another Goal Met! - Week 34

Yesterday I accomplished a significant goal I have been working on intermittently for the last 18 months, and during most of this deployment. I turned in my last assignment and finished the required schooling I have to complete as a Major to eventually be able to promote to the next rank! It is known as Intermediate Level Education (ILE) or Command and General Staff Officer College. All field grade officers are required to complete it, so it is geared toward understanding the Army and all branches of the military, how they operate, how to put together operations, and so forth. So, it was way above my head most of the time. It was quite a challenge trying to balance life while making time to go to school online watching lectures, doing reading, quizzes, exams, and papers. After spending 10 years in college, I thought I was done with school! This felt like getting another degree, but I am glad it is behind me now and I am excited about completing this goal with the Lord’s help.

This last Thursday was Holocaust Remembrance Day. We were fortunate to have a Jewish Rabbi here with us who was supporting the Passover and he shared some touching stories and prayers. One of which was about a Jewish Hungarian man named Tibor Rubin (Tibor Rubin - Wikipedia) who survived the Holocaust, was liberated by the U.S. Soldiers from one of the camps, moved to the U.S., and wanted to become a U.S. Soldier as well. He ended up fighting for the U.S. in Korea and saved many lives. He then became a Prisoner of War there for another 30 months and kept many people alive while imprisoned. He was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor. We had a candle-lighting ceremony that was deeply touching.

It reminded me that we live in a world where tragedy and trauma happen all too often. But the God who loves us all receives these innocent lives to Himself, and ultimately His grand purposes are accomplished beyond what we can see with our mortal eyes.

I also had the chance to attend another Iftar (fast-breaking meal) with the Muslim Chaplain, this time at their local mosque here on our installation. I respectfully observed the local Muslims as they said their prayers after sundown, broke their fast together with us as we feasted on some amazing local food.

These are cherished memories, to live and work with people of other cultures and faith traditions. I am touched by their devotion to God and the tragedies of their ancestors. I have ancestors who were persecuted and driven from their homes for their faith as well. Ultimately, anything we sacrifice in love toward God and our neighbors, for the God we love more, is worth more than we can imagine.
 
In His Service,
Chaplain John Critchfield

Happy Ramadan - Week 33

This week has been mostly business as usual, so I thought I would share more about a religious holiday I was slightly familiar with before, but now am more acquainted with: Ramadan! One of my responsibilities as the Operations Chaplain is coordinating travel for some of our High Demand/Low Density Chaplains (like Jewish and Muslim) during religious holidays. That’s one of the reasons I have been so busy these last couple months in handling a lot of logistics for these missions. Well, our Muslim Chaplain got here a couple weeks ago and we were able to get him around the area to visit Service Members and Department of Defense civilians for the holy month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar which begins and ends with the crescent moon, which is a key symbol of their faith. Toward the end of the month is when they believe the Prophet Muhammad received the revelation that is now the Quran. During this month, they refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. It is a period of introspection, communal prayer, and reading of the Quran. They believe God forgives the sins of those who observe the holy month of fasting with prayer and faithful intention. But it is more a practice in self-restraint. Not just in food and drink, but also in behavior toward others. 

After sunset, Muslims usually gather together to have a meal called iftar. I had the opportunity to gather with the Muslim community here and share one of these meals with them at the cafeteria. 

The Muslim Chaplain, who has become a friend as well, invited me over and we discussed our common principles of faith include fasting, giving to the poor, worshipping the God of Abraham, and practicing goodwill toward others. As it turns out, he wrestled in college and visited BYU before. I was able to share with him some materials that our Church published regarding many of the similarities we both share in our faith traditions (Muslims and Latter-day Saints: Beliefs, Values, and Lifestyles).

I learned that Muslims also believe that Jesus will come again to restore peace and justice to this world and bring us to God. We had some great connections and I feel blessed for having the opportunity to come here during this special time. Even though it is illegal during Ramadan to eat or drink in public during daylight hours in this country (we were literally warned not to do so when leaving the military installation or we would be ticketed and fined), I can appreciate people who genuinely practice their faith. In a way, it strengthens my own faith that God touches people’s lives in many ways. I look forward to the day when Jesus comes again and I can stand side by side with my Muslim brothers and sisters who also look forward to His coming.

In His Service,
Chaplain John Critchfield

Passover And Easter - Week 32

I have become friends with one of our new Chaplains here who is a Jewish Rabbi from New York, originally from Israel, and is here to provide Jewish support during Passover. I had the opportunity to attend his service for Seder, the first night of Passover. 

We just finished studying it in our Sunday School curriculum and it was neat to be there participating in an event that has been an ongoing tradition for over 3,000 years. It also happens to be on the same weekend as Easter, just like it was during the first Easter. 

I was given the honor of sitting at the head of one of the tables, so I was responsible for handing out the different food and drink that was symbolic of God's mercy upon us during the Exodus from Egypt. 

This Rabbi friend of mine also gave me a very meaningful gift.

This looks like an ordinary pencil made from a stick. But he explained that he bought this in Jerusalem the last time he was there, and it is made from a fallen tree that was in the Garden of the Empty Tomb (or as he put it “the place where Jesus’ body disappeared”). It was an excellent reminder of that place we celebrate this time of year where it was first declared “He is not here, for He is risen.”

We got together on Saturday night with some of the other members of our LDS group and watched “Lamb of God” by Rob Gardner. I love this production and can’t get enough of it. The music is so moving, and I highly recommend it.

Then, I got up early on Sunday morning so I could go participate in the Easter sunrise service. I have never been to one of these before, and I'm glad I had the experience. 

As I walked to the field where the service was held, I was reminded of Mary Magdalene who went to the tomb on Sunday morning “while it was yet dark.” Then as we were reminded of the glorious resurrection while the first light of the sun peaked over the horizon, it was a wonderous reminder of the light Jesus has brought into our lives since that morning He conquered death for all of us. 

I sat next to a fellow Soldier who asked my belief of the resurrection, whether it was literal or figurative. He shared some of his concerns about conflicting messages he had heard about weather Jesus’ “presence” was simply upon someone else or if he only returned in Spirit. I was able to testify to him that Jesus was literally resurrected, that His spirit reunited with His body in perfect form, never again to be separated. He ate food with his apostles, they were able to touch his body and witness for themselves that it was Him. He visited many others after His resurrection. And because He was resurrected, He paved the way for all of us to be resurrected one day too.

I had the privilege of giving the Easter sermon at our own service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Thankfully, Dana had sent me a wonderful replica of a set of figurines, each with a message about the Easter story (from Emily Belle Freeman's book "Celebrating A Christ-Centered Easter" 2015). The explanation of each of these figures and the insights we gain from each one was a powerful message, and I am grateful for Dana helping me in this ministry by sending it to me.

This has been a magnificent season to celebrate our Savior and Redeemer. The same One who “Passed over” the ancient Israelites and miraculously brought them out of captivity to remember His covenant with them, and gave them a reminder of His sacrifice for them. He is the same One who lived, and died, and lived again for all of us. I am eternally grateful to my Savior and my opportunity to testify of Him.

 

In His Service,

Chaplain John Critchfield

Norwegian Foot March - Week 31

For the last few months I have been practicing and training for this Norwegian Foot March event which happened yesterday. To complete it successfully, a soldier must march 30 km (18.6 miles) in 4 hours and 30 minutes or less, in full uniform with boots wearing a ruck (backpack) weighing at least 25 pounds. That’s a pace of about 14:30 per mile. Norway started this tradition in 1915 as they prepared for “The Great War” in training their new recruits and building esprit de corp. It is an approved foreign badge that we are authorized to wear on our dress uniform. So I thought it would be a good goal and challenge to work toward. 

I had only done one 6-mile ruck march in the Chaplain Basic Officer Course, so I put in 54 miles of practice over the last three months. I took pictures of my blisters and toenails falling off (which really grossed out my kids) to show them an example of sacrificing for a goal. I don’t think it had the effect I was going for because they just questioned my sanity and made faces of disgust…

Nevertheless, I prepared and the day finally came. I was super excited to get going as we showed up at midnight to weigh our bags. We stepped off at 0100 and I was off to a good start. I was fortunate to have a Chaplain friend of mine join me so we could pace each other. 

After the first half, I could feel my feet aching with blisters, but I prepared in advance with moleskin around the areas I usually blistered up, so it was manageable. During the last lap my legs were reaching exhaustion and I continued to pray to the Lord to help me endure and finish strong. Well, He did and I certainly felt strengthened beyond my own capacity. As I crossed the finish line with 20 seconds to spare, I nearly collapsed from exhaustion and hobbled to the rendezvous point. I had accomplished my goal with the help of the Lord!

Dana asked me before the event why I was doing this again. I told her 1: It is a physical manifestation of building character and resilience. The blisters and muscles will heal, but character and resilience can last a lifetime. 2:  I want to be an example to my children of those very things and show them that it is possible to do hard things that stretch you beyond your own capacity because then you see the Lord’s hand in your life. 3: I wanted that foreign badge on my uniform to show I am more than “just the chaplain” but can do what any other Soldier is expected to do.

As I have been studying the accounts of Enoch, Moses, Abraham, and Jacob over these last few months, I have noticed the theme that when they are asked to go through challenges the Lord doesn’t turn into a cheerleader, but simply reassures them “I will be with you.” This was one of those times I could feel the Lord with me and can testify He is with us in our most challenging times. All we have to do is turn to Him and we will feel His strength, love, and grace.

 

In His Service,

Chaplain John Critchfield