Winged Warrior

(Charleston, SC: 25 Feb 2010) Chris Peterson is the son of our long time dear friends Pete and Pam Peterson. Chris is a Captain in the Air Force and flies C-17 cargo/airlift aircraft out of Charleston AFB. He just got back from Qatar in January after a four month deployment serving in the war effort. We came to Charleston primarily to catch up with Chris. Chris has had a special place in my life since 1996. When I was transferred to the Pentagon and we couldn't sell our house in GA which kept Joy and the girls from moving with me, I stayed with Pete and Pam and Chris in their townhouse in Springfield, VA. Later when Pete and Pam were sent to Turkey and Chris stayed back in VA to finish his high school senior year, I got to be Chris's stand-in dad on several occasions.
We enjoyed dinner together and catching up on Chris's life in the Air Force and here in Charleston. Since our son-in-law CJ is in the middle of AF pilot training we quizzed Chris extensively about his experience, not that long ago, in pilot training. It was not an easy time for Chris. He struggled greatly and several times came close to being eliminated from the program. He was not the first in his class, but eventually he received the prized pilot wings. He was however, the first to recognize how God used this experience and other things that were going on to humble him and strengthen his faith. Through the hard times he hung in there, kept faith, worked hard, and tried to keep a positive attitude. In the end he didn't just get his wings, he also got his choice of assignments. He took Charleston, perhaps the premier C-17 base in the Air Force. He continues to work hard, keep faith, and wait on God for what's next (like maybe bringing the right woman into his life!)
Chris has a special place in our hearts. It was great to see him. We were encouraged in our own faith as we saw God's faithfulness in his life.