March 14, 2013 - Random Acts of Kindness

Random acts of kindness are awesome!

I love it when someone does something nice for someone else, out of the blue, and has nothing to gain from it. Granted, you should do random acts of kindness for your friends and family, that helps your relationship to grow in a healthy manor and lets you know that you love them. You should also consider doing random acts of kindness for people who you have never met and may never see again.

An awesome example of this came up just last week (When I wrote this on December 19, 2012, that is) when I was chatting with one of my former students. She asked me if I though she should bake some brownies and bring them to the fire department across the street from her house, and expressed her doubts about doing so because of the fact that most modern-day Americans will not take food from people they don't know.

I told her that if she wants to do it that she should follow through, but that she should be prepared to eat a few brownies just to prove that there is nothing wrong with them.

Another random act of kindness is the sending of care packages. Thankfully, I have been on the receiving end lately, but when I leave here, I plan on being on the giving end as well. Fortunately, I will have a better idea of what deployed members of the military need when I get back. (Toiletry items, drink mixes, books, crossword puzzles, batteries - whatever kind you are allowed to send, DVDs/Cds, and anything which will provide lighthearted entertainment to name a few items).

I know that people give more during the holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, etc.), but this is something that we should consider doing all year long. From November until mid January, we kept a candy box for everyone who worked in our area. Soldiers would bring extra candy and snacks which were sent to them and we would all share it. After January, we struggled to even have a box.

Keep in mind that it does not have to cost you anything to contribute a random act of kindness in order to help mitigate the effects felt by the sea of misery which so many people must swim through on a daily basis. You could trim the neighbor's hedges or mow their lawn, especially if they are elderly or not able to do so for some other reason. You could make it a point to hold the door open and warmly greet everyone you meet on any given day. You could even bring some cans of food you have just sitting on the shelf at home to the local homeless shelter.

If you have children, you could even get them involved by asking them to donate some of their gently used clothes or toys to a family in need or to any number of charitable organizations. Children are never too young to teach about random acts of kindness or charitable giving... and these lessons may even follow them throughout life.

There have been many times when I have seen a random act of kindness brighten up someone's day.

One final example is the day I deployed. When I was in the store at the airport, a lady bought a drink and a snack for the soldier in front of me, and myself. She did not know the two of us from any other soldier in the world, and she will probably never see us again, but still, she made it a point to tell us "Thank you for your service," both in word and in deed. We were both appreciative of her actions.

She did not know that I had skipped my lunch on that day or that I was rushed through the airport in order to get to our plane because someone had given our group the wrong time to arrive at the airport, or that I would be away from my family for the second Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day in a row, or that I would be missing Christmas, New Year, and our Anniversary as well. This kindhearted lady just laid down her hard earned money in a random act of kindness in tribute to every soldier, sailor, and marine who is fighting for her freedom.

It is the people like the lady at the airport, and my former student, who serve as examples to us all. The gladness which we can bring to another human being by contributing one simple act of kindness without the hope of something in return is simply amazing.

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David H. Troyer
www.davidhtroyer.com
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February 10, 2013 - Deployment Opportunities

This new year is off to a good start. Although I would rather be home with my family, being deployed has offered several opportunities which I would not otherwise have had.

First, since I am stationed in the Middle East, I have had a chance to visit several places which I would not otherwise have been able to see. I was able to visit the Dead Sea as well as several ancient ruins.

When I joined the Army, I wanted to see the world. I was hoping to do so with my family, but the way things have worked out, I will have some nice pictures and I'm sure some fun stories to tell.

Second, I have been able to interact with several very important people at my location. Back at my unit, I would probably just be a face in the crowd to them. Out here, as I continue to diligently perform my duties, I have been able to interact with them one on one. If they remember me or not will be another issue altogether, but they know my name on a temporary basis, at least.

Third, this deployment has afforded me the opportunity to lose some weight. I'm not saying that the food is bad at all. I really like the food out here. Being here has allowed me to select the healthy options and to increase my Physical Training simeltaneously. In my experience, this is a winning combination if you are interested in weight loss. Seventeen pounds at last check.

Finally, as I am keeping this post brief, this deployment has afforded me the opportunity for personal growth. I am taking 15 Master's level credits this semester (the same as last semester), I am working on my language skills, studying for the board, learning about my current Army job, and as I have time, I am still working on my writing.

Deployment is not exactly what I would have picked at this point in my life, but I know that we all have to "take our turn." And besides, as it says in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." This deployment has certainly proven that in my life.

David H. Troyer
www.davidhtroyer.com
www.amazon.com/author/davidhtroyer

This post was going to be  "January 28, 2013 - Deployment Opportunities"

December 15, 2012 - Merry Christmas!

2012 Troyer Family Christmas Card

Merry Christmas! 

Christmas is just ten days away. Although I cannot be with my family this Christmas due to my deployment, I am still excited or them and for the joy which they will experience this year.

Before I left, in November, I went to one of the small shops on the outskirts of town, and started looking for Christmas presents after work one day. Since I was in my uniform, the shopkeeper and her assistant asked me if I was new in town, since they have a large number of people in the community who come and go.

I told her that we had been in town for a few months, and that I had been in once before to look around. I told her that the previous visit is what made me decide to purchase my Christmas presents from her store. In the course of our conversation, I told her that I was deploying and that I wanted to buy some presents for my family before I left. 

She was thrilled that I picked her establishment for this important task, and she helped me to find everything I was looking for, and then some. Once I had finished shopping, these two ladies wrapped each gift for me in some beautiful paper and tied ribbons around them.

It is the gestures like this, when people who have no gain whatsoever from it do nice things for others. This random act off kindness is one of the reasons I am still looking forward to Christmas this year. There are several beautifully wrapped presents sitting under the tree so that my family can experience the joy of opening a present which I picked out special for them on Christmas morning.

Another reason is that my wife and daughter will be able to spend some time with family while I am gone. They will be able to spend some time catching up on relationships that tend to suffer when you are in the Army and live far away from relatives. Even though we have our "Church family, and our "Army family," as so many call them, it is still nice to be able to return to those you have spent so many hears sharing life's experiences with.

Another reason I am excited about this Christmas is the fact that I was able to work something else out. My wife should be getting a special surprise at some point. I cannot say any more than that for now, as she reads my blog and that would kind of ruin it. I do plan to post pictures of her surprise later.

One final reason I am excited about this Christmas is for what it represents. It represents a time when the Savior, Jesus Christ, came to earth as a child so that one day, he could pay for our sins. I am thankful for His sacrifice and for what it means to me and my family.

I hope that if you are looking forward to Christmas as much as I am this year, and if you are not, perhaps you can borrow some of the hope and cheer which I possess this year until you find yourself with some Christmas cheer of your own. If nothing else, just enjoy the time you can spend with your family, and think about all off the soldiers, airmen, and sailors who cannot.

David H. Troyer

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December 14, 2012 - Deployment so far

So far, things have been going well on this deployment. It took some traveling, but I finally made it to my country of destination.

When I got here, I was able to get settled fairly quickly. Some people complain about the food here, but I like it. Honestly, I think it is about the same as the food I had in Basic Training or AIT. I work in a tent, but I'm sure that is not a surprise to anyone.

The chaplain and his assistant have been a big help. They have things set up in their office so that everyone can take whatever they need. The basics are all there and they also have some other cool things which most would consider luxuries. From what I hear, we have had visits from chaplains of various faiths.

I have been able to keep in touch with my family fairly well since I have been here.
As you can see, the care packages have started rolling in for Christmas. The first one shown here with the stockings and the two hats was sent by my wife. Notice the "Jayne Hat" based on the one from Firefly.

She made the Christmas hat and large stocking special for me. The stocking has a place for a nametape.

Then, she made a stocking for each of my roommates and stuffed it full of some cool things. (A sampling of things from my stocking/package.) I am going to surprise them at Christmas.

This package was sent by some family members. It has some really cool things in it. The hand sanitizer is going into my work area soon.

 

This package was sent by a friend who is  veteran. She knew pretty much what would be useful. She sent extra so that I could share (so did everyone else). I like the blanket. It is coming in handy.

 I'm sure I'll have other things to talk about later, but for now, things are going well.