RAMSTEIN AFB:

After a quick down couple days in Heidelberg Germany, it was off to Ramstein AirForce Base. We knew the schedule was going to be crazy for the next 3 days. And it definitely was…everything from playing at the airport terminal on base, to going to the high school was on the agenda…ohh yeah and we had the marriage conference every night also. Just the logistics to getting us all rides to the different places was a challenge. Although I might mention everything went pretty smooth (well except for when we forgot to pick up a couple team members…and they got stuck all day…oops)

Once we arrived in Ramstein we had to hurry and get ourselves on base. Which was a process in itself. We had to be escorted everywhere by our good friend Tim Carentz. He put a TON of work and effort into helping to open some opportunities for us on base, I know that Mr Alvey helped open some doors also, and a TON of other people that would be too numerous to mention here.

We arrived at the PAX Terminal and the music for the troops had begun..after missing a couple opportunities for the planes that should have been coming in, we went back to the terminal that evening and played for some troops that were getting to go home. It was awesome seeing the faces of our men and women who had been fighting for us everywhere from Bagdad to Afghanistan getting to head home and us being able to play some music for them.

We pretty much had 2-3 teams working at the same time constantly throughout this 3-4 day process. We had childcare going on, the band going on base, tech hop scotching to different venues, and marriage counseling going at the same time. Again I just want to say that when you see tech’s willing to help with childcare, and childcare sitting there helping us with our setups…that’s just exciting to know you can count on your entire team in all aspects of a trip.

The second day we knew was going to be absolutely crazy. We had Mom’s day out that pretty much the entire team (except the band because they were going to sing for some wounded soldiers) needed to jump in and help on. About 3 hours into it, the techs split off and went to the High School and did a setup. And then after that we raced back to the church to do the marriage conference. Was a great but very long day LOL!

Third day we went to our last big setup out of the church and went to a hanger on the base for about 200 troops that move all the gear and supplies for the airforce. It was awesome and I think Mickey Pittman was really able to speak to these guys and encourage them in what they are doing on a daily basis.

Student Concert came on the fourth day and WOW it was great. I have never seen anyone be able to work with the youth like Doug Pierce. He knows just what to say and just what to do to get these students out of their seats and excited and singing right along side him. It was an AMAZING turnout for the student event and it was great to see the gifts we brought out going to some very grateful students (IPODs and XBOX360).

I don’t think that we realized how much the little things mattered to people that are hurting so bad. The thing that I noticed the most on this trip was that, we talk about going to all these sexy places (Africa, Thailand, Brazil), and that is AMAZING and I am so glad we do it. But what about the people who are ensuring that we have freedom.? These people are Americans and they need our help and assistance too. They go from full family units to single parent units at times overnight. Then are expected to act as if everything is fine and perfectly normal. Their husbands are in the direct line of fire, they don’t know when the next phone call is coming, and the pressure and stress that the families are under….words just don’t describe.

I will never forget the testimony that one lady gave. When she went up to the microphone and stated that she was struggling with her husband and he was deployed and had 4 kids that she was struggling to take care of as he was gone. She needed a break, she needed some relief and most of all she needed support. Frontline Community is at the forefront of meeting those needs, and it was an honor to be there even for the short time and give back.