From: "Barb Kavouras (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: CLIMB: Fw: final field report Date: Friday, November 02, 2001 12:28 PM Rev. Dean Kavouras Cleveland, Ohio chap7953@multiverse.com September 25, 2001 Final Field Report Dear Friends, This report comes to you from the comfort of my office in Cleveland, having arrived home on Sunday the 23rd. Many of you read my field reports from the Somerset, Pennsylvania crash site, and the lows and the highs associated with it. Today, however, I will end on the highest possible note. On Saturday the 22nd my wife forwarded to you, a copy of the Service and sermon this chaplain provided for the troops. A few days earlier I had asked them if they wanted me to come below with them and begin their day with prayers. This germ of an idea evolved into a formal Service for Sunday morning, which as it turned out, was the final day. It was held once (at 9:00 a.m.) down below, near the actual crash site (rather than up at the Command Post area); and once at 11:00 a.m. back at the morgue, for those who did not have crash site clearance, about 20 Red Cross volunteers and others helpers. I was able to find an area organist (with the help of Pastor Hahn) who located a portable organ and amplifier. I told her that besides the hymns, I wanted prelude music and postlude music and that it was to sound reverent and solemn; only music which would make them think they were in the finest cathedral, instead of on a makeshift road "in the valley of the shadow of death". She came through beautifully and that music helped the comforting and healing process tremendously, for nothing drives theological truth home like reverent music. The Pennsylvania Army National Guard brought folding chairs down to the site and hooked up a public address system. They rigged a microphone onto a piece of copper pipe with duct tape and off we went. My pulpit was the portable stair and little landing used to get into one of the many office trailers, my vestments, an FBI raid jacket. There were about 150 FBI agents, ATF agents, Federal Marshals and people from other agencies. We sang A Mighty Fortress (LW version), Our God Our Help In Ages Past and I Know That My Redeemer Lives (TLH). My organist, Mrs. Kathy Shaffer of Hooversville, PA copied the hymns very neatly onto two sides of one sheet of paper. The singing was as hearty as any church on a Sunday morning. I consider this a great thing because many people were unfamiliar with the hymns, but wanted very badly to join in the peace that hymn-singing gives. I let them keep the Service sheet and music sheet for further devotional use, which included Psalm 91; Psalm 23; an apropos prayer; Apostle's Creed; Lord's Prayer and more. With many people in front of me on folding chairs and many more behind them on a 10 foot bluff, both standing and sitting, I preached to them about the wages of sin - death; and the gift of God - eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Near the end of the Service I had them all face the crash sight and did portions of the interment Service from the Agenda (It has pleased Almighty God in His good providence to call out of this present life the souls of our departed brothers and sisters.earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.). Judging from the rapt attention during the Service, the request for printed copies of the Sermon afterwards (which my "deacons", two FBI agents, had ready to distribute) and the numerous heart-felt thanks and tears of gratefulness afterwards - I'd say the Word of God did its job and uplifted many weary souls. I take no credit for this! I only report to let you know how God has worked through His mighty Word, that you too may be encouraged. Thank you all for your support: money, prayers and messages of encouragement. In closing I pass on two emails I received from people in response to this Service. The first is from an FBI agent, the second a member of United's Accident Scene Team. The agent writes: Chaplain: "Driving home to Virginia this afternoon, I listened to news reports of the memorial gathering in Yankee Stadium . . .A sound bite from Oprah Winfrey was aired - apparently, a few "VIPs" were in attendance. I immediately flashed back to the Service you gave this morning and thought about how lucky I was to have been in attendance." The member from United writes: "Dear Rev Kavouras, I was given a copy of your message notes on Sunday while waiting for my flight home at the Pittsburgh airport. I can't tell you how much they meant to me. I am a member of the United Airlines Accident Scene Team. For 13 days I had felt numb, in spite of reading my bible and praying. Your notes brought up the tears within me, and helped to reaffirm what I knew was true... Our God is still in control. Thank you for being faithful in delivering such a powerful message." Thank you all again for making this ministry possible, Rev. Dean Kavouras, Chaplain FBI, Cleveland Division + + + Confessional Lutherans in Missionary Boldness + + + The CLIMB e-letter brings you unedited, uncut reports directly from the mission field, whether in South America, Africa, Europe, inner-city, rural, or collegiate America, or military installations and battle sites around the world. 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