Local resident Daryl Thul recently returned to American soil and is temporarily stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.

Thul has been serving in the military in the Middle East for the past year. Thul is a pastor at South Santiago Lutheran Church and has been on furlough for the past year while he served overseas in the military.

Thul will return to his position as pastor at the church Nov. 1. During Thul’s furlough, Pastor Angela LaMoore has been serving as lead pastor and Pastor Hollie Holt-Woehl has served 2/3 time as associate pastor.

Since returning to the U.S., Thul’s brigade is spending 14 days in quarantine and then finalizing the demobilization process - meaning Thul will be back in Minnesota by the end of October.

Daryl wishes to express his thanks for supporting him ands family over the past year and is looking forward to spending time with his wife (Jennifer) and his children and grandchildren.

Although Thul recognizes that it has been a crazy ride, both in America and in the Middle East, he urges us to remember that despite the craziness, God is still in charge. Daryl also reminds us that during the storms, it is important that we remember that God designed us to handle the wind and the waves - in family and in community - and in the name of Jesus.