Easter Bunny Spotted in Afghanistan Military Outpost;
North Adams Church Sends Easter Basket Care Packages to Afghanistan
 Submitted by Ann Clark-Killam, member of the First Congregational Church UCC of North Adams
"An idea born in the darkness of Lent, blossomed at Easter, and continues to shine forth in the First Congregational Church UCC of North Adams -- as well as in a small American military outpost near Kandahar, Afghanistan," explained Ann Clark-Killam, a member of the First Congregational Church UCC in North Adams. "And we were all blessed!"
Thirty-three care boxes --weighing well over three hundred pounds -- were packed, prayed over, sent, and received by an American soldier with ties to the North Adams church. The seed was planted at Christmas time when Chief Raymond Griffith, Clark- Killam's son-in-law, joined his family for worship during military leave. Chief Griffith is a Navy Reservist presently serving in a remote compound near the border of Pakistan.
"The work is difficult, dangerous and lonely. Family and friends are far away," said Clark-Killam. Most members of the First Congregational had previously known Griffith only by way of name on the prayer list. Now they could see the person behind the print; and Ray and his family came to know the community that was praying for them.
"In the spirit of love, concern, and connection as well as a desire to support our troops in their difficult mission, our pastor, the Reverend Jill Graham, dreamed of sending Easter Baskets through Ray to all 50 plus troops living on that small post," said Clark-Killam.
"We wanted to respond in a positive way to the war and the needs of the troops," said Graham. "So we decided to send them some necessary items -- things which we often take for granted."
"The dream shared became a dream embraced by the whole church and Operation Easter Basket was formed," said Clark-Killam. The church Mission Action Coordinating Committee oversaw the organizational aspects of the project and parish members gathered the needed personal items and snacks from a list of desired items generated with the help of the USO web site (www.operationusocarepackage.org) and other search engine sites. The larger community of North Adams was invited into this project through personal invitation of church members. At the evening worship on Palm Sunday the gifts were dedicated and blessed. Notes of encouragement written by young and old were tucked into each box. Pictures of the community gathered around the gifts were also included in the boxes.
One parish member was heard saying: "This is good work! Hands-on mission work through someone we know, to others we don't know, feels like the work of Jesus."
Six people worked six hours sorting, packing, addressing, and delivering the thirty-three boxes to the post office. Griffith, in Qalat, Afghanistan received, opened, sorted, and made available to sailors, airmen, and soldiers all that was sent, including the congregation's Easter greetings.
In his thank-you e-mail to them he wrote: "I feel blessed that so many wonderful people would do such a kind thing for total strangers." Griffith also told the troops the story of the church's Community of Faith and how they are praying for them. He added in his e-mail, "These connections mean a great deal when living in such an isolated, dangerous place."
When contacted for permission to use his name in this article, Chief Griffith responded enthusiastically about publishing the story: "yes, anything that raises awareness to help the service members serving over here and in Iraq [is good], the more the better."
Graham commented: "We often say 'we support our troops' while opposing the war, but this helped us do it in a real and valuable way."
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 Tell us how God is speaking in and through your church. Have you reached out to the community in unique ways? Initiated a new mission project? Found a new way to minister to those within the congregation? Share your story and help us to spread the good news! Contact Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane, Editor, at cochranem@macucc.org.
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