It's amazing how quickly the Lord can help you build a life. I haven't been sleeping terribly well since I came out here. I have awoke many times with the thought of "what will become of me" ringing in my head. It's been a very unnerving thing to be in a place where I have no established relationships and limited knowledge of the area. But despite that, it has also been a wonderful thing. The Lord has blessed me with two new close friends, my friend Nancee who I introduced you to last time, and recently my new friend Lynette. Lynette's been a real gift to my soul in a number of ways - she a compassionate listener, deep thinker, and fellow musician. She's also a blast to hike with - she's filling me in on all the floral and fauna in the area. This is us hiking Bergen Peak.
It is funny to me now, that when I came here I was so dead set on not becoming deep friends with people again. I knew that wouldn't last, but I held out for a while! I love that the Lord sees what we really need and knows what we really mean when we tell him things. He knew it wasn't that I didn't ever want to have close friends again, it was that I was tired of getting hurt in my friendships in the same ways. So not only did He put these amazing people in my life who care for me and whom I can care for, but he also He continued the work of teaching me boundaries in my relationships.
I have to do 5 semesters in the mentorship program here. It's a self directed study encompassing two contracts a semester, one on developing an aspect of our character and one developing a ministry skill you'd like to improve on. In theory it sounds great, in reality, it's logistically nightmarish. One must meet weekly with 2 mentors of your choice (but you have to have the same ones all semester)and work through a 5 point plan that you write at the beginning of the semester which includes academic as well as relational aspects. This was my first semester doing this and I did my contracts on Friendship (Character contract) and Worship (Ministry Skill). A book I read and highly recommend in the area of thinking through friendship is Alered of Rivealux's Spiritual Friendship. There are limited things about Alered's perspective (he was a 12cent. monk), but many of the principles he discusses surprisingly still hold true in our would. I found it very helpful in my thinking.
Academically, it was a good year. I passed 1st year Greek (yea!) and have already begun looking at next year's assignments - I'll be studying sections of the book of Romans. I have completed 36 credits this year, which is 1/3 of the program, so I am right on track with that; Lord willing it will continue to be so!
I guess the real news right now is that I will be heading off to Ft. Jackson, S. Carolina next week. I have been anticipating this time for nearly 2 years. I find myself nervous in a way, but more curious and excited at this point. I feel physically ready (barely, but there none the less). I'm a little worried about the whole 'screaming drill sergeant' thing, so I would appreciate prayer for that.
The Lord has also blessed me with a really great small group Bible study in my church. They're going to do a little prayer/BBQ/send off thing for me in our group this Sunday evening and I love that they're supporting and encouraging me. I'm inviting Nancee, Lynette and my other friend David who is a Chaplain Assistant in a unit I'm trying to get assigned to - terrific guy, been teaching me a ton about Army culture and practices.
Well, that's it for now - I'll try to update here once I get there, I hear I'll have internet access, but it may be a while. If you want to send me a snail mail this summer here's the address:
Chaplain Officer Basic Course
LT. Terri King
10100 Lee Rd.
Ft. Jackson, SC 29207-7090
I will be back in RI after the course is over (I couldn't came to the East Coast and not come up, right?). I expect to be there from around July 25-Aug 3. So if you want to hang out, let me know! My cell is still the same: 401.368.2080.
Summer Prayer Requests:
- Physical fitness- PLEASE pray I pass my fit tests and that my knees hold up well.
- Psychological 'warfare' - please pray that I can stand up to the 'psych' games the Army throws at new recruits.
- Academic - this will be a lot like taking more classes, please pray I have a sharp mind and excel at whatever they give us.
- Travel - I will be driving something like 4,000 miles this summer - pray that my truck holds up and that I don't get into any accidents.
- Family - my step father Elliott, will in all likelihood have passed away by the time I get back to RI. He has struggled with kidney disease for the last 20 years and is finally at the end of what his body can cope with. Please pray for my mom Hilda during this time. Pray too for Elliott's adult sons as they struggle with loosing their father.
Pics from this year:
My good friends Natalie and Melissa came out to visit early this past semster and we were able to go to a National Forest - we got a buck of close up pictures of this heard of elk!
I
was blessed to spend a week on a S. Dakota, Lakota Indian reservation a fews weeks ago as part of my degree. We were able to drive out to the badlands one afternoon - here they are!
