Letter from a Soldier

There are some things that don’t need explanation or introduction. This letter is one of those. I will only preface it by asking you to please pray regularly for the brave men and women who protect our country every day.

Dear Pastor Graham,
My name is Jordan M. Pena, or better known as Private First Class of the United States Army. I received a letter from the church on March 30, 2009, and I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for having the church stand behind me, and my fellow brothers and sisters in service ... as a fellow follower in Christ, member at Prestonwood, at one time as a student, and now a service member of the military. It’s hard to find the right church in North Carolina near Fort Bragg, when I’m used to a great pastor from my home state and city. No one can fill your shoes as a great leader and speaker of God’s Word. I miss not being at Prestonwood on Sundays with my friends, but I get by reading my Soldier's Bible every chance I get, to keep my faith strong.

A little history about me, I graduated from Hebron High School in May of 2007, and went to Basic Training that following July. My 19 weeks of training ended when I earned the title of a United States Army Paratrooper (Red Beret) on Dec. 14, 2007. Shortly after being home and getting to listen to you speak one last time, I left Carrollton for Fort Bragg, where I've been stationed for a year now. I’m going on two years of active duty service and coming on the age of 21 this December. However, I will not be home to celebrate this is year, as I am currently serving in Afghanistan. A 12-month deployment that started on Jan. 26, 2009 will last until my feet touch back home in North Carolina sometime early next February. This August, I have been given the chance to come home on a 2-week mid-tour deployment leave. And I look forward to sitting on a Sunday, listening to you speak the Word of God.

Prestonwood will always be my home church … from accepting Christ into my life as a seventh grader at Prestonwood, to being baptized my sophomore year of high school, to being a senior and standing up in front a crowd telling them that I had joined the Army to protect them and God's Word … I will continue to defend it with honor. I ask for one simple thing, for a prayer so strong that it keeps my family, friends, fellow serviceman and women, and me, out of harm’s way.

Thank you, Pastor Graham, for being a big part of my life. With a cross hanging from my dog tags close to my heart, I feel God around every day, and the prayer of His believers over me and my buddies. We await the day we can come home and be united with our friends and family. God bless, and Godspeed.

Sincerely,
PFC Jordan M. Pena, U.S. Active Army Paratrooper