With the war in Iraq going on, our hearts often turn to the couples and families who are immediately impacted by its difficult consequences.
We at ICP thought you would like to hear what Chaplain (LTC) Larry Woods, an Army Chaplain currently serving in Germany, tells regarding soldiers returning there from Iraq. Chaplain Woods, a certified COUPLE COMMUNICATION instructor, says the soldiers and their spouses often attend a retreat to help them with re-entry to life outside Iraq. He writes:
"All of the couples taken through COUPLE COMMUNICATION have been separated from family members at least a year (including me). We are dealing with "anger" issues more than anything else. Coming back from the desert has increased short-fused situations and escalated the onset of anger, which leads to either shutting down or acting out. The course gives choices to our couples and is just the right education model to increase communication. I also offer CC II, which deals specifically with anger.
I have another chaplain who is helping me. We are only taking seven couples through the program at a time and always have a waiting list. It is going better than ever. Our retreat setting, where we teach the CC program, is either in a palace or a castle. It's very nice and comfortable and our feedback is super. Thank you for introducing me to this fabulous course."
Chaplain Woods also is certified in CORE COMMUNICATION, which he teaches to soldiers who are single.
Speaking of CORE COMMUNICATION (our program for individuals) and Iraq: We received the following report from Jim and Sue Keller, long-time certified COUPLE COMMUNICATION instructors in Virginia, who are certified in CORE COMMUNICATION, as well. They write:
"Last summer we taught the CORE COMMUNICATION program to an intact missionary team that deployed to northern Iraq the following week. We received several encouraging e-mails from two of the attendees after they were in Iraq for some time. Most interesting was the e-mail we received a few weeks ago from the team leader. They carried the CORE material, including the skills mats, to northern Iraq where they re-taught the skills to two American team members who were not missionaries, and these people were very responsive. So the skills mats have hit the ground in the Kurdish region of Iraq courtesy of some enthusiastic CORE graduates!"
The Kellers go on to say, "This coming summer, we will be teaching the CORE COMMUNICAITON again for people in preparation for their subsequent work in Iraq."
We are so grateful for the work of instructors such as Chaplain
Woods and the Kellers as they teach the programs to those whose
lives are touched by the war in Iraq. Our thoughts and prayers
go with them.