Christmas Morning Rocket Attack

Well, Christmas started off here at Bagram Air Base with a bang… literally!  I awoke at 1:08AM this morning to the sound of sirens going off, lights flashing, and commotion in the hallway.  A loudspeaker situated outside my room repeated, “Rocket attack, don your IBA (individual body armor) and take shelter immediately”.  Phones were ringing in the rooms next door as everyone began to take accountability.  Everything was moving so fast.  I was still rubbing my eyes after being sound asleep and couldn’t really process what was going on.  I never heard the first rocket attack, only the flash of light from the strobe outside my room and speaker.  After about 3 minutes though I heard a second explosion.  A loud rumbling shook the ground. 

From my B Hut I could not determine exactly where the rocket hit, but knew it landed somewhere on the Eastern side of the base.  I called my three people and reported accountability up to the Colonel.  A few minutes after the second explosion, you could hear a slew of jets taking off from the runway.  Security Forces vehicles were dispatched to conduct perimeter checks.  At about 2:00AM a voice came over the speaker to declare “All Clear”.  The jets landed after being in the air for about 20 minutes. 

After the attacks in the early morning hour I could not go back to sleep.  My mind was racing.  What is next?  Is tonight going to be it?  Will I live to see Christmas day?  Will I be able to attend the morning worship service?  I spent time praying that God would keep me safe and allow me to return to my family.  By the grace of God the rockets did not kill or injure anybody.  This morning I learned the rockets hit an unoccupied side of the base on the South East side. 

Today’s mortar attacks reminded me that we are at war here.  Not just a physical war.  A war against Christianity and Islam.  The day they chose to launch rockets over the fence is no coincidence.  The Christmas morning attacks send a clear message that our recognition of Jesus entering the world is reprehensible with Muslim beliefs.  The Muslim world is outraged about Christianity.

The person and work of Jesus is absolutely central in Christianity. He is our foundation, our cornerstone, our pillar by which we stand.  Yet 99.9% of the Afghan population is Muslim.  Muslims and Christians do not worship the same God.  Muslims do not believe in a Jesus who entered the world, who gave His life as a ransom, who arose from the dead, and who claimed to be the divine Son of God.  All those things are rejected by Islam.  Today is a day I praise God that He sent Jesus, and He answered my prayers for safety.  Have a Merry CHRISTmas!