In the Valley of the Shadow of Death A Chaplain of Marines Speaks His Heart and Mind from the Front Lines of Afghanistan

Start date: March 2010 367 minutes, 13 seconds in 15 episodes

Fr. David Alexander, an Antiochian priest and chaplain with the United States Marine Corps, gives us a window into life with his Marines as they battle in Afghanistan and his struggle to be a shepherd in their midst.

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Episodes

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Date	Title & Description	Duration
May 14, 2013	Resembling Dust Fr. David explains how the humility that comes with exhaustion can bring you very close to God. Click to play	19:42
May 07, 2013	Being an Impostor Fr. David tries to put himself in the shoes of a non-canonical Orthodox chaplain who is attempting to minister to canonical Orthodox marines. Click to play	26:42
Apr 23, 2013	In Between Fr. David describes what it's like when you're about to deploy or about to come home. Click to play	23:59
Aug 04, 2010	Facing West Fr. David Alexander presents his final episode of In the Vally of the Shadow of Death. As he prepares to return home from Afghanistan, he reflects on what he has learned and those things for which he is thankful. Click to play	26:09
Jul 20, 2010	Convoy Fr. David explains that with convoys, as with life, the worst parts are paradoxically also the best. Click to play	24:11
Jul 07, 2010	Eve Means Life Fr. David has been away from his baby daughter, Eve Marie, for five months. Here he reflects on the nature and meaning of their long-distance relationship. Click to play	19:38
Jun 24, 2010	Paschal Joy, Paschal Lessons, Paschal Rest Fr. David shares some of the joys and frustrations of celebrating Pascha in Afghanistan. Click to play	20:58
Jun 09, 2010	Finding Scott Hakim While looking for an Orthodox Marine, Fr. David is reminded that, when conducting a search, you often find much more than you bargained for. Click to play	33:28
May 26, 2010	A Just War Fr. David applies St. Augustine's seven principles of a just war to Operation Enduring Freedom. Click to play	38:16
May 13, 2010	Fallen Angels Fr. David explains that there are many similarities between American Marines and the Afghani people, particularly in the area of loss.	21:52
Apr 28, 2010	Brief Moments Fr. David reminds us that we need to be content where we are, looking for those brief moments in which God can speak to people who need to hear.	31:05
Apr 14, 2010	Full Hearts Fr. David sends his first group of Marines into a fight on their own, and he blesses them before they go.	14:17
Mar 31, 2010	A Table in the Presence of My Enemies Fr. David describes what it's like to build and prepare an Orthodox altar for his Marines in Afghanistan, most of whom are not Orthodox Christians.	27:54
Mar 17, 2010	Faithful Guardians of Soul and Body Fr. David reflects on guardian angels, both his earthly protector, the Chaplain's Assistant, and his heavenly one.	19:47
Mar 03, 2010	How Do I Say Goodbye? Fr. David describes the various ways in which he and his Marines say goodbye to family and friends before going to war.	19:15