The Upper Room

Against a backdrop of refueling fighter jets and transport planes, chaplains at the U.S. Transit Center at Manas Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan reach out to thousands of U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine personnel. 

 

The passengers stopping at Manas are headed to or from the War in Afghanistan. Since 2001, the airbase has served as a major layover site for debriefing, preparation, equipment checks, and calls home.

 

During a recent deployment to Manas, Air National Guard Chaplain Assistant Master Sergeant Marilynn Diller (125th Fighter Wing) met troops hungry for words of comfort and hope.

 

 

“Many are just traveling through this location, and we are the first or last stop for them to get material that will last the duration of their separation from life as they know it,” Diller explains.

Whether headed to or returning from the frontlines, these troops face tremendous challenges and trials, so Diller sought resources that would feed their spiritual hunger.

 

The 125th Fighter Wing Chaplain, Major Sarah Shirley, knows the stress of a Manas stopover from her own deployment to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011. She adds “receiving a word of hope, especially one to carry along and read on the plane, can facilitate healing.”

 

In spring 2012, MSgt. Diller sent an email requesting copies of The Upper Room daily devotional guide for the Manas Wings of Hope Chapel. Since World War II, The Upper Room has been sending copies of The Upper Room to U.S. military personnel serving around the world. Today, over 45,000 copies of each issue are distributed through U.S. military chaplains, helping our military personnel stay connected to a worldwide network of prayer.  This Veterans Day, consider giving a gift to the Chaplains’ Ministry. Your gift today can help nurture the lives of our men and women in uniform.