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Monday, June 6, 2011

Andy's World - for now

Andy shared some pictures with me so I could show you what things look like where he is stationed.


This is were the soldiers live. These are sea crates, stacked on top of each other and next to each other. The ones you can see here are on top; you can't really see the bottom level.


Here is another view. Andy's room is on the top level and this is his walkway. Each room has a door and a window. There are 2 guys per room. There is a bathroom and shower room that is shared by a group of rooms.



Here is Andy's half of the room - not very spacious is it?


This is the store. Andy says you can never count on being able to buy anything there, so I send regular shipments of soap, deodorant and shampoo! He needs these, because he tells us the temperature has been averaging 110 degrees.



The base is surrounded by mountains.


There isn't much greenery, but this is a home outside the base that has little trees planted. If you look behind the trees, you can see a wall, and the house is inside the walls.


Here is a compound of houses. Andy said that there are often a lot of houses in a compound behind walls. It makes me think of biblical cities, like Jericho.


Here are some Afghan people, passing the base with a flock of sheep. The walls you see are surrounding another home outside the base.


This truck is carrying quite a load!


More Afghan people with cows and donkeys.


This is one of the Apache helicopters that Andy works on.


That's the sun, during a sandstorm. Andy said they get 2 or 3 of these a month.


And last - some of the bugs!
The spider is called a camel spider and this one is a baby. He said the adult ones are 2-3 inches long. I think the beetle is really creepy looking.

That's life in Afghanistan. Seeing this makes me even more thankful for our soldiers who are over there for us.

29 comments:

Unknown said...

They sure have to live in some harse places. It does make you think that time has stood still and its back in the Biblical days.
And yes I am thankful for all the service men..Oh ya I really like the bugs that beetle looks prehistoric.

sara said...

wow, I have never seen pictures of where they are staying...thank you! I gives me an idea of how to pray for him and others.

Those bugs are GROSS!!!! I got the heebie jeebies just looking at them!!!

Shelly said...

Wow! Thanks for sharing this. You are right-it does make some appreciate our soldiers more. I would not ever be able to do that. The bugs, ew-keep them there.

Lesley said...

This is really interesting to see. The scenery looks so vast and empty, yet the quarters (for everyone) look rather cramped. Glad that you had a good visit with him before he shipped out again.

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness Mari. I can't even imagine living there. Thank you so much to your Andy for serving our country and keeping us safe.

Darla said...

verrryyyy interesting to see! thanks for posting these. we never get to actually see where the guys are or what life looks like there.

Karin said...

So thankful for people who have the courage to do all these things in the service of their country. Just blows me away. May God be their constant Guide and Protector! Thanks for sharing the photos!

Erika Jean said...

so barren! If he ever needs some cheery mail you just give us the addy! I loved sending my sister packages full of stuff.

Pat said...

There is nothing that would make me want to live there! Thank God for people like Andy who have a higher calling and answer that calling.

Mari said...

Thanks for sharing Mari. WoW!
Thank you Andy and friends!

Mary Lee said...

Thanks for sharing these photos Mari. Thank you Andy, and all members of the Armed Forces for your service and sacrifices!

Connie said...

Thanks for the pictures. So glad we have a God who is watching over our service boys/girls as well watching over their loved ones at home.

Karen said...

Wow, what an eye opener to how other countries live, and what how our soldiers are living, too. It gives me a whole new appreciation for what they are doing and for being so far from home. Thanks for sharing these, Mari. (The bugs. . . oh, the bugs! They would be my undoing.)

Unknown said...

Such a different world from what I know, thanks for the pictures. And thanks to Andy and any others serving for our benefit, it's truly appreciated!!

Julieann said...

WoW, just wow! Thank you for sharing such amazing pictures!

Intersting beetle. How would you like to see that crawling in your kitchen...LOL:)

Happy Tuesday, Mari. God Bless your son Andy!

Julieann

Betty W said...

It all looks so dry and Grey. I bet they are thankful for the AC´s that are provided. Anything is bearable with an AC. (Says the woman who lives in 110° about 3-4 months a year and is hooked on her AC!). :)

Anonymous said...

I cry over the littlest things, however, this is no little thing & I just can't help myself...
MAY GOD BLESS EACH & EVERY SOLDIER... Dear GOD in Heaven!!!

Jenny said...

Wow, Mari. I am so glad you shared these. I had no idea what the living conditions were for our military troops in Afghanistan. I am so humbled by the knowledge of the sacrifices they are making on behalf of our country. I know we say that a lot but in my opinion we cannot say it enough. Thank Andy for me, for the pictures. The sky is amazing!

Jean said...

Very, very interesting!!! Bless his heart for letting you show these pictures to us. And God bless him for serving our country.

ancient one said...

Thanks Mari and thank your Andy for serving his country for me. These pictures are amazing. My grandson in law, Matt, returned from Afghanistan in January. I hope all our boys and girls will be home soon !!

Brooke said...

i had no clue that's what their living quarters were like. not sure what i thought, but definitely nothing like that.

Kayren said...

His room reminds me a little of a college dorm room! They were always small. I was thinking the same thing about the city looking like you think about a Biblical city looking, and then you said that about Jericho. It really is how you imagine it though. It seems strange to me they have houses so close by.

The bugs though....oh my word, creepy!!! Why were they together though? Was one getting ready to attack and eat the other one?

j said...

Really informative. I haven't seen images of where our soldiers live over there.

YICKS! on the bugs - the beetle really is creepy looking.

A Stone Gatherer said...

Hey Mari, can we help buy things for Andy? If so what type of stuff does he use.

Christina said...

Wow he really did get good pics that depict the life of a soldier. My husband moves around between 3 FOB's and 2 are remote but one is huge with a PX and everything but he mostly is out and about. I have seen conditions worse when Iraq and A-stan were up and going, so believe me this is an improvement. I remember once the soldiers were stationed so far out in Iraq that the Army lifted the shaving order because the soldiers couldn't get a hold of razors. Thank God Andy is safe. Like my hubby they will both be there until March and I will be keeping Andy in my prayers with my husband. I do pray for the soldiers but I have my few special people I pray for and Andy is one of them.

Christina said...

PS the bugs are gross!!!!! and my hubby hates spiders. I always tease him and say you aren't afraid of sleeping in a place like A-stan but when you see a spider you run away like a little girl...he says "darn right I do."

Cherdecor said...

I was wowed by these pictures. Where do the sheep and cattle find grass to eat? This is just amazing! I am praying for his safety in return and where ever he is going. God bless Andy!

Raise Them Up said...

I loved seeing these pictures! I'm such a visual person that it was really cool to put images to what I imagine things are like for our servicemen.

I'm glad you all had a great visit. We'll continue to pray for Andy, and that the next nine months will speed by quickly.

Hugs

Kari said...

thanks for sharing these. the compound houses are interesting. thank you too for your son Andy and his service.