The full moon of the month of Phalguna shines down upon the soldier-medics at Fort Sam Houston Texas. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would appear in His Deity form for the pleasure of His devotees. His arrival at this US Army base would be glorious, in a small cloth covered postal package coming from Vrndavana India. The Lord would create a stir, anticipation and wonder as to His presence.

Every week packages arrive from devotees all over the country containing prasadam cookies for the troops. Mail arrives uneventful usually several days delayed. This package was different. It arrived on time and became an urgent pick up. For some reason Sergeant Mack took up this mission to find me and make sure that no matter what I would get this package today.

Sergeant Mack is a large black bodied soldier, I do not know him personally just seen him around the company. He is well known as the kindest authority willing to go that extra mile to serve the soldiers in his command. It has been said that he is a very good medic with several combat tours under his belt. He became fixed upon this package containing 6? Gaura Nitai Deities. Which he was unaware. All morning it was reported he carried the package around looking for me.

This day we were not in our classrooms; we were out doing field training. Low crawling in the dirt, suppressing fire, and dealing with simulated traumatic injuries. Sergeant Mack did not know who I was or what team I was working, just that I was out there somewhere. He sent messengers looking for me with orders to find me and report to the mail room immediately. Nobody has ever been excused from field training, certainly not over mail. The mail room would close at 3:00 pm, the postal soldiers were ordered to remain open until the package was claimed. At 2:50 pm several messengers were coming down the hill yelling my name. My leaving the field angered the instructors but what could they do? Orders from Sergeant Mack. I arrived at the mail room 3:30 pm, the postal duty soldiers were awestruck. The package smelled good, it did not smell like cookies this time, it smelled like flowers or perfume. It was covered in cloth. They were dying to see what was inside. What has come from India? Open the box!

The female soldiers were captivated the most following me back to the barracks so that I could secure The Lords in my locker and return to the field. On the walk back I explained the process of Deity worship and the mercy of Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda on this most auspicious day of Gaura Purnima. They took turns carrying the box; each soldier wanted the chance to carry the Lords back to the barracks. It reminded me of Ratha Yatra. I was happy to give each soldier a turn to carry the box.

The box had to be inspected as all incoming packages are. Half a dozen Sergeants participated in the inspection. Pulling out bundles wrapped in Hindi newspaper, I let each soldier unwrap the contents. There were no flowers or incense. The sweet scent emanating from the box must have been from the dust of Vrndavana. Each item of an aroti tray was revealed. I explained each item. Lord Nityananda was revealed first then Mahaprabhu. All Their clothes, crowns and jewelry.

"Tonight after we take showers we can dress and decorate Them." I told the soldiers. We females are dirty, sweaty, bear arms and train with our male contempories. Watching the females eagerly participate reminded me that we are still women, ladies at heart. The overwhelming fascination of Deity dressing, decorating and worship is the nature of the soul, especially the nature of woman.

That evening several soldiers stayed back to take care of Sri Sri Nitai Gaura. They learned how to use tilak and lemon juice to clean brass with cotton balls. Lord Nityananda is a little taller than Mahaprabhu and the spoon is to clean the right hand with water drops- one handed took some practice. When I looked out the barracks window I saw the night sky and the beautiful full moon shining. We improvised an altar made of new clean brown army issued towels and new uniform cloth.

I went to thank Sergeant Mack for his determination in making sure I got this special package. He humbly said it was just his job; he was doing his job taking care of the special needs of his soldiers. Going that extra mile….He did not realize that extra mile was for Lord Chaitanya’s pleasure.

Orders are in? I have been assigned to a medical unit in Colorado that will deploy to Iraq in August 2008. Next Gaura Purnima Sri Sri Nitai Gaura will spend Their holiday in Bagdad.