Operation Spartan Shield

High wind and dangerous heat in Camp Arifjan this week, the heat is painful to the skin and face, and sands are everywhere. The weather has not dipped below 100 degrees all week long.

Dessert Camp Arifjan in the morning around 7 am - the weather in the summer is extremely hot. At this time, it's already over 100 degrees. All sand, no greenery around. Click here to see the  Panoramic Photo of Camp Arifjan

Travel Time We started our day super early today (Friday, July 20, 2018); the instruction was to clear our room and everything has to be out of the door by 500 am. My roommate and I woke up around 415 am, and we both started taking care our hygiene (brushing our teeth) and moving duffel bags out of the room. By 500 am, we were out of the door, ready for inspection. By 530 am, all the duffel bags were lined up. I did not realize at the time, but each soldier was allowed to have 3 or 4 duffel bags weigh up to 70 lbs per bag. And today we had about 250 soldiers and civilians traveling to the middle east. That means we had  45,000 lbs (or about 22.5 tons) approximately just on our duffel bags (assuming on average each packed 3 bags weigh 60 lbs per bag). Amazing isn't it. That morning was hot and humid. At 500 am, I think the outside temperature was 81 degrees with 75% humidity. I was sweating as I transported my two duffel bags down the stairs (I was on the top 3rd floor)...

CONUS Replacement Center (CRC), Fort, Bliss Texas (taken around 5:30 am) Almost Ready to Go 

Wherever I go, I am blessed to meet people who consider me a part of their family.   From Left to Right: Sister Naomi, Ned and 4 months old Nayara, Stephanie Murphy, Patty Murphy, Karl Murphy, and me.

All I need for one year is inside these two bags, such as clothing including Sunday best, shoes and boots, sandals, socks, dental hygiene, shaving cream, finger nails clipper, towel, computer, and many other things.

Some of my work friends took me out for a nice dinner last night. They are more than a friend to me, they have become my brothers.  Thank you bro, will see you again soon and success to all of us. Celebrating our successes for the last time before we go on our separate journeys. From Left to Right: James (IPO), Mulu (Field Office), Me, and Kokou (IPO). 

Jangan Pernah Menyerah is an Indonesian Gospel Song. It means Never Give Up. My family and I really like this song and the message. I combine Canon in D (in this case Canon in E flat) and Jangan Pernah Menyerah. Happy Sunday, hope all the best for us! Jangan Pernah Menyerah!

It's preparation time now. This week is my last week in Virginia. On Tuesday (10 July 2018), I plan to go to visit my parents in Utah and then from there I plan to report to Ft Bliss in El Paso Texas. And I am not coming home anymore. From Ft Bliss then I am off to Kuwait, where a great mission awaits for me over there (whatever that mission is). My preparation starts off with going to the temple. It just happens that the Clifton Ward has a temple day yesterday (Saturday 7 July 2018), so I went with them. It was a glorious day at the temple. During the temple endowment session, I was thinking about what I'd be doing in Kuwait, I had some ideas about my position, but in reality I have no clue what I'll be doing day to day and my responsibilities. No clue whatsoever! So I prayed about that and felt that I should not worry, because everything will be fine. How? I don't know, but it will be fine. Here're some photos and videos from the temple day yesterday: ...