A Bunch of Softies
August 6, 2003

The Admiral came for a visit this past week.

Now, make no mistake, this was a good thing. I've known this man for many years, and I can assure you he is a fine Christian gentleman. And even though he doesn't want or expect anyone to make a fuss over him, you can't just pretend he's not there! It would be like pretending the elephant in your living room isn't really there.

So, all three days were planned out for this distinguished guest to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, Africa. In my attempt to make this an interesting and educational visit for my boss on the reserve-side of the house, I scheduled a day of visits to the three orphanages that we work with as part of the military attempt to reach out to the community.

The day began with a visit to the girls orphanage, which is only a few miles from the base. Admirals do not just go off on their own. They are usually accompanied by a veritable army of people, mostly there to provide protection. So our convoy arrived at the orphanage at 8:00 a.m. I introduced the admiral to Mr. Yonis, the director. While we sat and had a nice conversation in the director's office, Julie Nethercot, a Marine major, grabbed a soccer ball and started a game with the girls. She had several others from the base joining in the fun. These girls love to play soccer. Most have only flip-flops to wear.

Later that same day we visited the boys orphanage where Ryan Reilly, a Marine captain, brought a number of other military folks out to play soccer with the boys. It is truly heart-warming to watch these tough, dedicated military members giving of their time and energy to these young people. You try playing soccer in 110+ degree weather!

In the midst of visiting orphanages, we paid a courtesy call on the Bishop of Djibouti. Father Bertin is from Italy, but has been serving as a missionary priest in Somalia and Djibouti for the last 35 years. He is an absolutely delightful gentleman — a true pleasure to know. He shared his love for the Lord and the challenges of the ministry in this part of the world. I was both humbled and proud when the admiral asked to pray for the bishop. Here was a Seventh Day Adventist praying for a Catholic priest!

My favorite part of this day was our visit to the baby orphanage. The Sisters of the Nativity run this facility. One of the nuns, Sister Marie Teresa, is an Irish lady who has been serving here for 25 years. It is such a joy to watch her when she's in the midst of the currently 47 babies. A French adoption agency finds homes for these precious little ones back in France.

What came next was priceless. We rolled into the compound in four SUVs; the one the admiral was in was totally armor-plated with bulletproof glass. Marines trained in personal security stood in various places, offering protection wherever he might choose to wander. I was still outside checking on some things while the admiral walked into the room where the babies were being bathed and put into clean clothes. Then they begin the feeding process. I use the term "process" because it's like an assembly line.

So when I walked in I saw the admiral sitting on the floor holding a baby in his arms, the little guy obviously enjoying his bottle and the comfort of human touch. Next to take up a baby was the admiral's aide, a Master Chief in the Navy (who happens to be a former Marine). He has six kids of his own, so you can see how he just took right to it. I even saw the Combat Cameraman (another Marine) who traveled with us to take official photos, grabbing a bottle and feeding a baby.

LCpl Jason Cobb and baby

About this time, a van full of military members from the base drove up to help with the feeding. Eight people walked in: two women and six men. In a matter of minutes each had at least one baby in their lap, some with two. I couldn't help but be amused as several of the Marines cuddled these precious babies while waiting for the bottles to be warmed. Here are these hard-body warrior Marines, with their high-n-tight haircuts, from corporals to colonels, cooing and wiping noses, and simply loving these little ones. You had to have been there.

But my favorite scene in all of this was one young Marine stretched out on the floor with a baby, not more than six weeks old, lying on his chest, asleep. I have never been prouder of our Marines and the other service members than at that moment. These Americans do this every week, on their own time.

At heart, they're all a bunch of softies!

And I thank God for them!