Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
After Josh was injured in Afghanistan by the IED, there was a brief time when I felt that peace would never rule in my heart again. Josh’s injuries were not only serious, they were also life-threatening. As we spoke with another Marine who had been in the LAV (light-armored vehicle) it became clear to us how close Josh had come to leaving us.
The roadside bomb Josh’s vehicle hit was the largest yet used against our forces in Afghanistan. The 14.5 ton vehicle was thrown about 40 feet into the air and 120 feet forward by the blast of 200 pounds of explosives. Because of his injuries, Josh had about 60-90 seconds to live if he didn’t get help. Cory Mathis, a six-year veteran of the Marine Corps, said that he looked down and saw Josh quietly sitting, making no fuss. Cory’s own injuries, multiple fractures in his legs and a ruptured spleen, had him yelling in pain. Josh’s calm might have saved his life, along with quick work by the Marines around him. Cory told the Corpsman to throw his shattered legs out of the way so they could work on Josh. Another Marine and the Corpsman ripped the bent armored door open to get to Josh, crawling on Mathis to reach him.
Before Kay and I left the hospital for home on Sunday morning, we spoke with Josh again. We wanted to know what he was thinking during that 60-90 seconds of time. Josh smiled and said that he was praying. That’s the calm that Cory Mathis saw as a Marine whose life on the verge of ending faced eternity. He was talking to his Father.
Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A 19-year-old Marine reminded his parents that true peace in this world comes from the knowledge that our Father in heaven holds our times in His hands. Josh knows that. We know that. As we face trials in this life, let’s remember God holds the future in His omnipotent right hand.
Thanks to all who have remembered the Wege family in this time of stress. Your prayers and messages in the hundreds of cards have meant so much more than we can express. Many of you have referred to Jeremiah 29:11 in notes. That passage sums up our worldly situation in a Christian nutshell. The many donations that have come in enabled our family to make a quick trip to see our son and sibling without worrying about finances. Trinity, Dundee, and our WLA and Waucousta school families have showed exceptional love and understanding during this test God has placed before. Your strength and comfort in the Word has helped so much. Humble and grateful thanks!
We don’t know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.
In Him, our Refuge and Strength,
the Wege family
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