A letter to ‘Mommy’ from a soldier in Iraq...

Sep 24, 2003

SEBRING (FBW)—Susan Cook, a member of Sunridge Baptist Church in Sebring recently shared with Florida Baptist Witness this letter she received from her 21-year-old son Dustin Beerbower.

In Iraq since late March, Beerbower, a member of Tropical Farms Baptist Church in Stuart is a specialist with the Army National Guard. Just before deployment he married his fiance Leslie, a teacher at Avon Park Middle School.

Cook said the experience in Iraq has had her son "calling on the Lord regularly.

"And for that I am grateful," she said.

In the letter below, Beerbower tells his mother of a recent experience when he felt divine intervention. He also thanks her for her prayers.

Dear Mommy,

Just want to let you know I’m still O.K.....

Wanna tell you this cool story. Two nights ago, I had gone to bed late. I couldn’t sleep as usual. Then about midnight I heard 2 loud booms, which sounded like they were 2 feet away from me. Immediately, I rolled off the side of my cot and onto the ground. I grabbed my M-16 and a clip, and I loaded a round. It’s just second nature to do this. Anyway, after about 5 minutes of silence we all got up off of the floor and got back to bed.

The next afternoon when I got off shift we were all standing around talking about that day’s event on our guardposts as usual. Well the topic of the 2 explosions came up and we began talking about them. Mommy, you may wanna sit down. This is so awesome. Come to find out, we had 2 rocket propelled grenades (otherwise known a RPG’s) fired at our building from across the river. The Chaplain had gone up on the roof to see the guards up there, and they vouch for this, too, by the way.

He said he saw the 2 men fire the RPG’s almost simultaneously, and the small exploding heads were on their way, no turning back. Being a Chaplain, what is the one thing you always carry with you?...a Bible. The Chaplain said he saw the 2 RPG’s coming, looked almost as though directly towards him. He heard a loud voice yell "STOP THEM." He said he didn’t know why but he held up the hand with the Bible in it and softly said, "Please."

What happened next is gonna blow your mind. The Chaplain said he watched the RPG’s almost instantly do a 90 degree turn away from the building and landing harmlessly in a field about 100 feet away from the palace. Afterwards the Chaplain asked who yelled "STOP THEM." The guards said they heard nothing nor did they yell anything as the event unfolded.

Mommy, I think that there is a second force here in the palace, even stronger than we are. Our guardian angels have taken up post all around our perimeter. Our palace is the only one that has not been hit yet. All of the others have been hit by RPG’s and small arms fire. Ours has been fired upon, but nothing even coming close. I know it has been because of everyone’s prayers back home, and I have 100% faith that I will be returning home safe and in 1 piece. Though I do not know the time or the day, I do know it will happen, hopefully soon.

Well, just thought I had to share that with you ... I just wanna say thanks, Mommy. Thanks for always having faith, thanks for all of your prayers, thanks for never giving up hope, and most of all, thanks for being a wonderful Mommy! I love you. Love, Dustin

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