Inspire, Spring 1991

frA Dave '84and Angela(Johnston'84N)Jones with their son,Madison. A fter three years in the Marine Corps, 1st Lt. Dave Jones'84 has faced some changes in his life since the Middle East crisis erupted. Dave,his wife Angela(Johnston '84N),and their I8-month-old son, Madison,currently are stationed at Whiting Naval Station in Milton, Florida. The war has affected the Jones' base housing. Security has been tightened. Gates to their housing development have been secured, and everyone must show an ID to enter. Visits to the Jones household must be cleared by special permission. Everyone has attended anti-terrorist seminars. Upon completion of Marine Corp Officers Basic Training School in March,Dave will train on a Cobra aircraft in California. Depending upon the length and severity of the Persian Gulf crisis, training may take anywhere from three to six months. Even if the war ends quickly, Dave antici- pates being assigned to the Persian Gulf to assist occupational forces and relieve those who have been fighting. "I don't want to go to war. But it is my job,and I have been trained as a Marine pilot," Dave states. "It is weird,really, but I feel like I am missing out on being there with friends I trained with." As Dave and Angie look back on their time with many young men and their wives,they are thankful for those with whom they were able to share their faith. And now both Angie and Dave are finding broader opportunities to minister to families at the base. Angie states,"I can't imagine what wives who have no concept of God must feel as their husbands leave for war. I know I can trust God,and that is a comfort if and when Dave leaves." Her greatest fear for her husband is that he become a P.O.W.in Saddam Hussein's hands. "Those whom we have seen on television—the men who have been cap- tured—it is easy to see their lives are in the balance." Dave's cousin is currently flying missions in Kuwait in an F-I4 Navy fighter plane. Dave and Angie are constantly praying for him and for other friends who are in Kuwait,Saudi Arabia,and Israel. Trapped In Iraq w hen Sami Kanani traveled to Baghdad on July 6,his wife Roxanne(Butler)Kanani,a 1969 Cedarville College elementary education graduate, never dreamed his safety would be in jeopardy. Sam,a missionary with Baptist Mid-Missions, was trapped in Iraq when the gulf crisis broke out. Sam had gone to Iraq to bring his ailing mother to the United States. The death of an uncle had left her alone and unable to care for herself. Sam's goal was to make the necessary arrangements for his mother to leave the country. But while he was there, Iraq invaded the country of Kuwait. Roxanne eagerly awaited for a phone call from her husband, since the sanctions embargo prohibited overseas mail from entering or exiting the country. Although she telephoned day and night, she was unable to reach him. Cables were returned unopened,and letters written in Arabic and sent through the country of Jordan did not get through. Roxanne did not hear from Sam from July 27 until Thanksgiving,when his long-awaited call came. Between that time and the beginning of the war, their telephone calls were limited to four minutes each. Then they were cut off. All the phones were tapped, and every word was spoken with extreme caution. Roxanne states that the last call she received from her husband was January 9. The Samiand Roxanne (Butler'69)Kanani family. Roxanne metSam when he was preparing for a ministry in missions. She was teaching in a public school when he came to her small church in Racine, Wisconsin,on deputation. Sam had comefrom Baghdad to the states as a teenager to live with his father, who was a businessman on Wall Street. Sam became a U.S. citizen and was enrolled in Stony- brook Christian High School in Long Island, New York. That's where he first heard the gospel and was saved. Roxanne has continued their ministry with Campus Bible Fellowship on the Kent State and Akron University campuses. "The Bible studies continue, with the help of local pastors and friends. I maintain personal discipleship with some of the girls as well as Friday night socials,"she says. The Kananis have been involved with campuses in the Akron area since 1986. Their ministry with interna- tional students has flourished due to Sam's heritage and understanding of the Islamic religion. Nathema 17, Nasim 15,and Nabiel 5,pray for their father's safe return to the United States. When Nabiel watches the news with Roxanne,he often asks if Daddy will be all right. Roxanne comforts him with the fact that Jesus is with Daddy. Michael'80 and Donna(Ford '86) Aiken. Busily Waiting For War To End M ichael Aiken'sjob is to ready 200 men for combat in an amphibious assault against the Iraqi army. Donna (Ford '86) Aiken's job is to wait, encourage,and go on with daily life in Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. Michael graduated in 1980 with a pre-semi- nary/Bible degree, worked at Cedarville College through 1980,and then joined the Marine Corps in January 1981. Ten years later, he is doing the job he has been trained for. Mike carries the title of company commander for headquarters and service. He leads his 200 plus men in daily training exercises and drills for combat duty as their ship waits in the Persian Gulf. Traveling with the Marine Corps excited Aiken when he first enlisted ten years ago. Now he loves his career. Donna states,"This is his job. Mike has been training for the past ten years for this. No one wants a war, but most servicemen hope they will be able to use what they have learned during this conflict." Donna admits that the thought of leaving Camp LeJeune when Michael went to the Persian Gulfon August 20 was tempting. "It was two months after our wedding,and all my family lives in Ohio." But Donna states that even though she had been at Camp LeJeune for only a short time,she had begun teaching English and GED classes for Coastal Community College. She also had started master's work in reading education at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington. "I'm glad I stayed. Being in a community of other women whose husbands are in the Middle East is very comforting. They know exactly how I feel," she says. In a town where one out offive women has a husband,father, or son deployed to the Middle East, the ladies talk to each other. Donna spends much of her time visiting other families and attending wives' functions. "When I visit a mother who has four children, it keeps me from feeling sorry for myself. Some of the fathers haven't seen their newborns. I have three friends who had their babies in September. Their hus- bands left for the Middle East in August with Michael. I'm also fortunate to know that Mike is on ship duty. Sand war is scary,and many of the men that Michael trained with have just gone over to fight on land." Donna proclaims that there are many opportu- nities for witnessing, and she continues to use life- style evangelism in the community. "If I can say anything to comfort, I will." Donna finds it a challenge to listen to the different views that unbelievers have about the events in the Middle East. "I know of one other Christian woman outside of my church,Enon Chapel." But Donna keeps her ear to the ground and continues to encourage others when the opportunity is there. "The Postman has become everyone's best friend." Donna gets a letter from Michael about every other week. Mail is precious and so are the three times that Mike has telephoned while in port. Donna says she will really be happy when she receives the date of Michael's return. "I'm planning a long and relaxing second honeymoon!"