Greetings Christ Lutheran family! I’m in Okinawa, Japan, a month into my second deployment. My job is Navy Chaplain for 1,000 Marines and Sailors of Battalion Landing Team 1/1. Okinawa is affectionately called the “Hawaii of Japan.” The Island is amazing and the relationship between the U.S. and Japan as allies remains strong and good. A few weeks ago, I took a dozen Marines on a Community Relations outing to an Okinawan preschool where we sang the A, B, C song, read stories in English, and gave piggy-back rides to the kids. Those events work wonders for the friendship between our Nations.

I wish you could see the faith of these Marines! Forty plus Marines gather every Wednesday night to study the Gospel of Mark, and many come on Sundays to a worship service I lead. Not only do these young men and women strengthen their physical fitness every day, but many of them also recognize how important it is to be spiritually fit. When they train in jungles, sleep in the rain, and hike up Okinawa’s ridges, the Lord is the Rock they lean on. The Hope they trust. He is their Home when they are far away from home.

These Marines are strong. They love to do something called ground-fighting. It’s like a combination of Ju-Jitsu and wrestling. The Marine Corps has its own martial arts system, and guess who has a tan belt? That’s right, me, your former pastor! (Confession: I don’t love to ground-fight, but I do it sometimes to spend time with the Marines). Every now and then, you see a Marine limping who had a rough go.

It makes me think of Jacob in Genesis 32. Jacob ground wrestles with God. The Lord strikes Jacob’s hip, and he ends up with a limp. Interestingly, Marines will tell you, the hips are the most important muscle in a ground fight. Jacob is humbled to see the limits of his strength and the limitless strength of God. The limp symbolizes becoming confident but not cocky. True confidence is found in depending on the Lord to be your ultimate strength!

After two years as a Chaplain of Infantry Marines, I’ve got a few limps—physical and otherwise!  Here in Okinawa, I’ve tried incredible sushi, visited Hacksaw Ridge (check out the movie), and seen God changing hearts. Your prayers are a blessing Christ Lutheran! Thank you! If you would like to write me, please contact the Church Office and they can give you my email or mailing address. My wife Megan and our sons are doing well in California, and we will move again next summer—location TBD! Until then, God bless you all and let’s continue to serve Jesus—limps and all.

God’s peace,

Chaplain Drew Goodson
1^st Battalion, 1^st Marines