Greetings from sunny Kuwait! I hope each of you is keeping very well during this Christmas season! May the light of Christ dwell richly in you as we wait together!
Things here are going well, I think. I’m settling into a weekly routine of sorts where I have meetings, hold services, counsel soldiers do visitation. There is a sense of security that I get from having a routine, but it’s a double edged sword most of the time – on the one hand, I like knowing what I’m doing on a consistent basis, but on the other, I get board very quickly and the routine can grate on me.
The Lord is stretching me in a number of ways, primarily in the ways I am present to people in different venues. Preaching every week is a challenge I haven’t had to do this in a while and it’s forcing me to rely on Jesus as my only source of affirmation. Now, this doesn’t mean people don’t give me affirmation, it just means, I know people are fickle and so have learned not to rely or ‘feed’ on their praise. My classic problem is that I want to do everything at once; the good things that I know take time to develop, I long to see already established. It is hard for me to wait patiently and work slowly, allowing this community to unfold and become what Christ has for it. I want to just be there now. *sigh*
The holidays in a military (I say ‘military’ because we’re Army, Navy and Marines) camp are a strange thing. On the one hand folks are not generally in the festive mood. They feel most keenly the absence of family, friends and holiday traditions at home. And unfortunately, we’ve arrived at just the time of year to catch all the holidays during our stay. So, this is where I see my role as a priest of God and how God has made me intersect with this group. I don’t generally love the holidays when I’m at home. I love being single all the rest of the year, except at the holidays – then it becomes very difficult for me. However, here everyone is feeling like a fish out of water, so –strangely- I don’t feel that way; I love the holidays here! And it enables me to speak words of encouragement, peace and hope into this community. And that is such an encouragement to me, too.
Emotionally, it is a roller-coaster for me. I can be rejoicing with a group of people over promotions or whatnot one minute, the next diving the depths of fresh grief with someone who just lost a loved one. Now, when I’m doing well and am at peace with myself and Jesus, I find this to be one of the best aspects of my job – you never know what you’re going to get and the Lord literally lines the streets with divine appointments. However, when I’m feeling drained and overwhelmed, this is difficult and I feel I have nothing useful to give. Again, the lessons are present: 1st- a constant reminder that this is Jesus’ ministry and love for this folks, not just mine; 2nd – I need to be vigilant about my self-care. (For those of you tracking this – I have managed to get my ‘day off’ mostly nailed down and am now working to get a routine that will actually refresh me established – this is still very hit or miss.)
On the friend front, this continues to be a struggle, but the Lord has provided a few tentative life-lines. I feel like I’ve learned so much about starting a new life from my move to Denver and these lessons are paying off now. I know the Lord has friends for me here, but it takes time to find them and who I start off with may not be who I end up with. So, patience is again the watch-word. It is also complicated making friends here as I am the post chaplain, so it requires someone of fairly significant maturity to be able to see me as a human and a pastor and not have a melt down about either. I have one real possibility for a friend, but she just got moved to another camp, so I’m not sure if we’ll be able to stay in touch. This is a pretty serious need I have, so if y’all could pray for that, I’d sure appreciate it. Right now my major source of support are my fantastic friends back in Denver (I’m SO grateful for y’all!!!), but obviously, I need some fellowship here as well.
Well, thanks for hanging in on this Christmas ramble…do stay in touch – I’m on em regularly at tkin5787@hotmail.com or terri.king1@us.army.mil.
Prayer Reqs:
- Friends for me
- Connections and community here at KNB for everyone
- Holiday mercies for all
- God’s comfort for the grieving (there are a lot)
17 December 2008
06 November 2008
Initial Impressions...
This is a neat place. We have Navy, Coast Guard and Army here and we're right on the Persian Gulf. The post itself is rather industrial, but the beauty of the water more than makes up for it right now. I like the contrast of so many worlds in one place - Middle East, American; various military; etc. This post is rather small, so I think it will be possible to build social networks very quickly. The bad flip side to that will be that it will take a short period of time for folks to get board and start doing stupid stuff. It looks like I will be able to get out some and visit my units at a Camp Arifjon which is only a few minutes away by car. I was able to go there yesterday and do a little scouting and meet some of my fellow chaplains - a good networking opportunity for me... SPC Sanders (my chaplain assistant) and I are excited and looking forward to getting to work here. We're setting into our various living quarters- he's in the open bay barracks and I'm in a scary little room in a building of scary little rooms... It'll be fine soon, I just need to get used to it and tweak it a bit... I'm really looking forward to doing ministry of presence here - already had a talk with an american civilian working here about God and family...interesting place/ cross-roads of people...
04 November 2008
Arrived
Hey Gang - just a line to let you know I've made it here safely to Kuwait Naval Base, Kuwait...jet lagging, but happy to be here... - more soon - so many thoughts...
02 November 2008
Well, I'm within a few hours of leaving the US for the longest 'mission's trip' yet...10 months. I find myself waxing nostalgic as of late, but I won't bore you with it... I'm really excited and can't wait... - here's my snail mail addy for the duration:
Terri King (NO RANK)
HHB 1st BN 487th FA
Camp Patriot, KNB
KUWAIT, APO, AE 09337
Terri King (NO RANK)
HHB 1st BN 487th FA
Camp Patriot, KNB
KUWAIT, APO, AE 09337
25 October 2008
Reflections on life as of late...
Dear Friends and Family
Well, it’s been about a month since I wrote and things are starting to settle in some, so I thought I’d take a moment to write. It’s been quite an adjustment coming here, as was expected.
When I arrived here at Ft Hood, TX I immediately received yet 2 more vaccines...one of which was the Flu Mist and yes…it really does give you the flat out flu…I’m not impress w/this so-called vaccine – I think I stood a better shot without it. Anyway, the fall out of that was that the day I met my unit, I was feverish and feeling completely crummy. Were it not for my overwhelming enthusiasm, I think it might have been a disaster.
In the last 3 weeks, I’ve been desperately trying to catch up with trainings, online and off, meeting folks, preaching, leading worship (now that I have my voice back), meeting my unit, FINDING my unit amongst all the others of this 3-Brigade taskforce we’re a part of, trying to heal, doing PT, passing a ‘pop’ PT test (!), counseling soldiers, and team building with the other chaplains in the task force…oh, and I went to Schuyler, NE to do my regional ordination interview…I think that about catches the breadth…
So, its been busy, but with the constant help of the Lord (I kept finding myself in the right places at the right time or saying the right thing to the right person, etc) and a lot of support from my Team back in CO – I’ve managed to stay sane, sort out some of my role and gain some footing in this strange environment.
I’ve found myself reflecting on 2 things lately – what is ‘normal’ and where is ‘home’ (I know, here we are again). Normal for me now means being on-call 24-7, but so far not being called at ridiculous hours. Normal is eating with 50+ other soldiers in a DFAC (dining facility) with some REALLY high fat foods (working on getting around this). Normal, is getting a random call from a soldier in crisis and finding time to meet them and just spend some time pouring into their hearts as they tell their tale. Normal is a daily thirst for God’s word and finding my quiet time is the most critical point of my day. Normal, is calling my friends every few days, trying to remember the last time I talked to them – each day has felt like several, so I can end up calling more frequently than I realize(or what used to be ‘normal’). Normal is wearing the same thing every day, just with different under garments. Normal is living in a one room cell that I think would give a Monk a run for his money. Normal is expecting the Lord to give me what I need when I need it and not a moment before. Normal is looking for an embracing the mercy and grace that surround me as I get to know these people. Normal is looking for opportunities to love people whether it’s by getting them a snack, listening to them or just smiling and give them a decent human being greeting.
I had an epiphany this summer on the subject of home, that I am continuing to live into/test its validity. This summer I was at Ft Jackson. It was a wonderful time of training and fellowship with other new chaplains. However, when I left there, I reported to Training Center McCrady. This was a very difficult place to be in even though it was only for a week. The hardest part was not the accommodations or food or training, but in the know that this was not the place I was supposed to be. Knowing that everything I was doing I would have to do again when I met up with my unit. That place felt useless and pointless in the scheme of my overall mission. That place could not feel like home no matter what I did. And this was the impression I walked away with – this place more than any other in my adult life, was not and could not be home. This hit me on the drive back to CO once I was finally released on a 10 day pass. I often feel at home wherever I am. No matter what the living conditions, I have usually been able to find a sense of equilibrium and thereby home. Not so there. This really helped me to discover that home is not a place. It is not the stuff you have with you, not entirely the people surrounding you. Home is being in the place you know you belong. Home is knowing you are doing and being what you need to do and be and find the space to do it. Interesting…
On a final note, I’ve been reflecting on my ordination interview a few days ago. I had such a good time with them. It was a little stressful, but the gift of not having time to freak out and read everything you can get your hands on to cram, is that you have the chance to sit back a little and watch God come through. It was a delight to sit with the panel and discuss a range of topics together. I never thought such a thing would ever happen to me. What a life I have!
Prayer requests:
- A sense of peace for all of us as we transfer over in the next week or so
- Quick and good communications with the States re-established
- A solid sense of ‘the job’ upon arrival
- A good reestablishment of a healthy life rhythm
- Good use of the time between ‘now and there’
Well, it’s been about a month since I wrote and things are starting to settle in some, so I thought I’d take a moment to write. It’s been quite an adjustment coming here, as was expected.
When I arrived here at Ft Hood, TX I immediately received yet 2 more vaccines...one of which was the Flu Mist and yes…it really does give you the flat out flu…I’m not impress w/this so-called vaccine – I think I stood a better shot without it. Anyway, the fall out of that was that the day I met my unit, I was feverish and feeling completely crummy. Were it not for my overwhelming enthusiasm, I think it might have been a disaster.
In the last 3 weeks, I’ve been desperately trying to catch up with trainings, online and off, meeting folks, preaching, leading worship (now that I have my voice back), meeting my unit, FINDING my unit amongst all the others of this 3-Brigade taskforce we’re a part of, trying to heal, doing PT, passing a ‘pop’ PT test (!), counseling soldiers, and team building with the other chaplains in the task force…oh, and I went to Schuyler, NE to do my regional ordination interview…I think that about catches the breadth…
So, its been busy, but with the constant help of the Lord (I kept finding myself in the right places at the right time or saying the right thing to the right person, etc) and a lot of support from my Team back in CO – I’ve managed to stay sane, sort out some of my role and gain some footing in this strange environment.
I’ve found myself reflecting on 2 things lately – what is ‘normal’ and where is ‘home’ (I know, here we are again). Normal for me now means being on-call 24-7, but so far not being called at ridiculous hours. Normal is eating with 50+ other soldiers in a DFAC (dining facility) with some REALLY high fat foods (working on getting around this). Normal, is getting a random call from a soldier in crisis and finding time to meet them and just spend some time pouring into their hearts as they tell their tale. Normal is a daily thirst for God’s word and finding my quiet time is the most critical point of my day. Normal, is calling my friends every few days, trying to remember the last time I talked to them – each day has felt like several, so I can end up calling more frequently than I realize(or what used to be ‘normal’). Normal is wearing the same thing every day, just with different under garments. Normal is living in a one room cell that I think would give a Monk a run for his money. Normal is expecting the Lord to give me what I need when I need it and not a moment before. Normal is looking for an embracing the mercy and grace that surround me as I get to know these people. Normal is looking for opportunities to love people whether it’s by getting them a snack, listening to them or just smiling and give them a decent human being greeting.
I had an epiphany this summer on the subject of home, that I am continuing to live into/test its validity. This summer I was at Ft Jackson. It was a wonderful time of training and fellowship with other new chaplains. However, when I left there, I reported to Training Center McCrady. This was a very difficult place to be in even though it was only for a week. The hardest part was not the accommodations or food or training, but in the know that this was not the place I was supposed to be. Knowing that everything I was doing I would have to do again when I met up with my unit. That place felt useless and pointless in the scheme of my overall mission. That place could not feel like home no matter what I did. And this was the impression I walked away with – this place more than any other in my adult life, was not and could not be home. This hit me on the drive back to CO once I was finally released on a 10 day pass. I often feel at home wherever I am. No matter what the living conditions, I have usually been able to find a sense of equilibrium and thereby home. Not so there. This really helped me to discover that home is not a place. It is not the stuff you have with you, not entirely the people surrounding you. Home is being in the place you know you belong. Home is knowing you are doing and being what you need to do and be and find the space to do it. Interesting…
On a final note, I’ve been reflecting on my ordination interview a few days ago. I had such a good time with them. It was a little stressful, but the gift of not having time to freak out and read everything you can get your hands on to cram, is that you have the chance to sit back a little and watch God come through. It was a delight to sit with the panel and discuss a range of topics together. I never thought such a thing would ever happen to me. What a life I have!
Prayer requests:
- A sense of peace for all of us as we transfer over in the next week or so
- Quick and good communications with the States re-established
- A solid sense of ‘the job’ upon arrival
- A good reestablishment of a healthy life rhythm
- Good use of the time between ‘now and there’
08 October 2008
Notes from Jess
Terri is doing OK!!!!!
Here is here snail mail address through 10/28
Ch Terri King
1-487th HHB
BLDG 56413
Ft Hood, TX 76544
therefore please email her at both her email accounts every time you contact her:
tking5787@hotmail.com and terri.king1@us.army.mil
26 September 2008
Transitions...Again...
I’m sitting in the Denver Airport USO lounge. It’s gorgeous. There’s a little sleeping area, nice homey chairs around round tables, big, squashy chairs, all the snacks, entertainment and internet access one could possibly wish for. I may never leave! I hear this is one of the nicest one around.
Last night I met with most of my Team; a group of incredibly gifted, talent, and fun pastors and friends who will be helping look after my life and me while I embark on this incredible journey. It was a very rich time of fellowship, community, and joy.
When I was 17 and just figuring out I really was a Christian, the Lord spoke to me in joy and said that He would make me a pastor. I was very excited (had NO idea of the women in the pastorate issue in the Church), but then he told me it wouldn’t be until my mid-30s, so chill. Today, I am 35, hold my first pastoral credentials and am embarking on my first assignment as a specifically called pastor. God is good, faithful and true.
Everyone keeps asking me how I’m feeling. In some ways, I don’t know what I’m feeling right now. I know that I’m not feeling bad, but other than that, I think there are too many things pulling in too many directions to choose any one feeling. As much as it is sad – a point of grief and grieving – that I’m leaving Denver and my friends in the US, knowing that all those relationships will be changed as I will be changed when I get back – I’m also captured by the 18 year calling and wooing of God to be out in his fields- chasing, playing, dancing, resting, working with Him in all He’s doing. And that sense of comradery with Him so fills and fulfills me.
I have worked very hard to stay here and be present to my friends and communities as I’ve waited to begin this leg of the journey; I want to be careful to honor the friends, mentors and teachers (formal and informal) who the Lord has used to bring me here, yet my heart is every looking forward to what is to be done. Thus, I have a mixed reaction to going. In many ways I’m in a great place – I love where I’m going, and I love where I’ve been. I suppose the overriding feeling is perhaps Hopeful.
I will be in SC tonight, then TX joining my unit tomorrow morning. Pray for us!
Last night I met with most of my Team; a group of incredibly gifted, talent, and fun pastors and friends who will be helping look after my life and me while I embark on this incredible journey. It was a very rich time of fellowship, community, and joy.
When I was 17 and just figuring out I really was a Christian, the Lord spoke to me in joy and said that He would make me a pastor. I was very excited (had NO idea of the women in the pastorate issue in the Church), but then he told me it wouldn’t be until my mid-30s, so chill. Today, I am 35, hold my first pastoral credentials and am embarking on my first assignment as a specifically called pastor. God is good, faithful and true.
Everyone keeps asking me how I’m feeling. In some ways, I don’t know what I’m feeling right now. I know that I’m not feeling bad, but other than that, I think there are too many things pulling in too many directions to choose any one feeling. As much as it is sad – a point of grief and grieving – that I’m leaving Denver and my friends in the US, knowing that all those relationships will be changed as I will be changed when I get back – I’m also captured by the 18 year calling and wooing of God to be out in his fields- chasing, playing, dancing, resting, working with Him in all He’s doing. And that sense of comradery with Him so fills and fulfills me.
I have worked very hard to stay here and be present to my friends and communities as I’ve waited to begin this leg of the journey; I want to be careful to honor the friends, mentors and teachers (formal and informal) who the Lord has used to bring me here, yet my heart is every looking forward to what is to be done. Thus, I have a mixed reaction to going. In many ways I’m in a great place – I love where I’m going, and I love where I’ve been. I suppose the overriding feeling is perhaps Hopeful.
I will be in SC tonight, then TX joining my unit tomorrow morning. Pray for us!
10 September 2008
Reflections on Big Army In-Processing…
Now…I need to qualify everything I’m about to whine about. Compared to what Vets from WWII, Korea and Vietnam went through, my life is a dream…
In processing in the Army is A THING. Thus far, my life in the Army has been carefully sheltered, managed and judiciously exposed to the larger, person-eating processes of the Big Army…. All bets are off now, baby…
So, on Sunday, 7 September, 2008 I officially began to engage my career as a soldier… I reported to Training Center McCrady, right next to sunny Ft. Jackson, SC. This is a Mobilization station for IRR (which I am) and N. Guards (which I’m going to be working with). This is a confused and confusing place with a VERY dedicated staff of NCOs and civilians (and the occasional officer) working EXTREMELY hard to get us through this experience as quickly as possible, while still keeping us basically intact as human beings…this is a hard job…
We start off by knowing absolutely nothing before arriving here – most with absolutely NO IDEA (like me) WHAT we will be doing or WHY we are here and not training with the unit our orders mention we are assigned . Now, I say ‘mention’ because the unit to which we are assigned is really no more than a footnote in single spaced full page type – it’s barely a bi-line. You have to work to find it. I had to call a Major Chaplain I know to interpret the orders for me…and it took him a bit to get it figured out, too. What chance did I have as a buck LT and baby Chaplain?! *dear in headlights*
But, in spite of all that, I’m just bouncing up and down because it looks like God really means it; He really does want me to care for soldiers in harms way…I’m stoked!
Then I arrived here…
Now, all ‘bouncing’ must cease (or at least be stuffed in a duffel bag temporarily) as the mood here is VERY TENSE. The staff are great and working hard to ‘humanize’ this potentially VERY dehumanizing process. But we new soldiers aren’t staff… we’re tense – ready for whatever might pop up out of the woodwork – a cranky Drill SGT ready to drop us (do push-ups), an officer disguised as a civilian who might be offended by humor revolving around criticizing the higher-ups for the organization we now find ourselves in, the occasional ‘turkey’ of a fellow soldier who just ‘won’t get with the program’ and play well with others…we ready. We can do it. We can handle it. We think…
So we’re tense…it’s taken until today for that to ease off and us to realize this too will pass, we are all human beings, we all have good intentions at heart and are actually an AMAZINGLY cool bunch of people. And the Drills are not that cranky and are absolutely not dropping any of us. And the officers are cool – great stories and leading well by example (at least in attitude if not in barracks hygiene…for at least one of them, it’s been 30 years since he’s been living in a barracks) and I have yet to find a genuine turkey yet…
So..you ask, dear friend…what HAVE we been doing? Paperwork. Forms. Receiving 7 immunization shots…in 2 days… Hearing tests. Vision tests. Physicals. Briefings. Paperwork. Finance (gettin’ paid…). New ID cards. Paperwork. Waiting in line to do…you got it, more paperwork… The last 3 days have been an overwhelming blur of waking between 4- 5am, rushing to get to the site where all our stuff is being processed, waiting, rushing, waiting, getting back to the barracks between 6-9pm, crashing, trying to work out (I have managed to get in 2 days!!!) and trying to not let the stress and weird pace make us all sick (I’ve been religious about my vitamins…)
I’m bruised, exhausted, starting to come out of being completely overwhelmed and totally blessed. The other thing that’s been happening these last few days is that I’ve been getting to know and encourage the soldiers surrounding me. We’re all very anxious – we know we could be going to places where we or someone we’re going to know could get seriously hurt or killed. We all have people we love back home who we’re fearful of how the time and events that happen while we’re apart will change us and our relationships. We fear the potential of many losses. Yet, we’re here. Some will stay and do what they can, coping as best they can. Some cannot stay for a variety of reasons and will go back to difficulties already in progress. I have had such unique and amazing opportunities to love on the folks around me and be the presence of Christ among them. It’s been humbling and awe-inspiring for me, in the moments I have had to reflect. I’m getting my ‘bounce’ back out of the duffel…please keep us in prayer.
In processing in the Army is A THING. Thus far, my life in the Army has been carefully sheltered, managed and judiciously exposed to the larger, person-eating processes of the Big Army…. All bets are off now, baby…
So, on Sunday, 7 September, 2008 I officially began to engage my career as a soldier… I reported to Training Center McCrady, right next to sunny Ft. Jackson, SC. This is a Mobilization station for IRR (which I am) and N. Guards (which I’m going to be working with). This is a confused and confusing place with a VERY dedicated staff of NCOs and civilians (and the occasional officer) working EXTREMELY hard to get us through this experience as quickly as possible, while still keeping us basically intact as human beings…this is a hard job…
We start off by knowing absolutely nothing before arriving here – most with absolutely NO IDEA (like me) WHAT we will be doing or WHY we are here and not training with the unit our orders mention we are assigned . Now, I say ‘mention’ because the unit to which we are assigned is really no more than a footnote in single spaced full page type – it’s barely a bi-line. You have to work to find it. I had to call a Major Chaplain I know to interpret the orders for me…and it took him a bit to get it figured out, too. What chance did I have as a buck LT and baby Chaplain?! *dear in headlights*
But, in spite of all that, I’m just bouncing up and down because it looks like God really means it; He really does want me to care for soldiers in harms way…I’m stoked!
Then I arrived here…
Now, all ‘bouncing’ must cease (or at least be stuffed in a duffel bag temporarily) as the mood here is VERY TENSE. The staff are great and working hard to ‘humanize’ this potentially VERY dehumanizing process. But we new soldiers aren’t staff… we’re tense – ready for whatever might pop up out of the woodwork – a cranky Drill SGT ready to drop us (do push-ups), an officer disguised as a civilian who might be offended by humor revolving around criticizing the higher-ups for the organization we now find ourselves in, the occasional ‘turkey’ of a fellow soldier who just ‘won’t get with the program’ and play well with others…we ready. We can do it. We can handle it. We think…
So we’re tense…it’s taken until today for that to ease off and us to realize this too will pass, we are all human beings, we all have good intentions at heart and are actually an AMAZINGLY cool bunch of people. And the Drills are not that cranky and are absolutely not dropping any of us. And the officers are cool – great stories and leading well by example (at least in attitude if not in barracks hygiene…for at least one of them, it’s been 30 years since he’s been living in a barracks) and I have yet to find a genuine turkey yet…
So..you ask, dear friend…what HAVE we been doing? Paperwork. Forms. Receiving 7 immunization shots…in 2 days… Hearing tests. Vision tests. Physicals. Briefings. Paperwork. Finance (gettin’ paid…). New ID cards. Paperwork. Waiting in line to do…you got it, more paperwork… The last 3 days have been an overwhelming blur of waking between 4- 5am, rushing to get to the site where all our stuff is being processed, waiting, rushing, waiting, getting back to the barracks between 6-9pm, crashing, trying to work out (I have managed to get in 2 days!!!) and trying to not let the stress and weird pace make us all sick (I’ve been religious about my vitamins…)
I’m bruised, exhausted, starting to come out of being completely overwhelmed and totally blessed. The other thing that’s been happening these last few days is that I’ve been getting to know and encourage the soldiers surrounding me. We’re all very anxious – we know we could be going to places where we or someone we’re going to know could get seriously hurt or killed. We all have people we love back home who we’re fearful of how the time and events that happen while we’re apart will change us and our relationships. We fear the potential of many losses. Yet, we’re here. Some will stay and do what they can, coping as best they can. Some cannot stay for a variety of reasons and will go back to difficulties already in progress. I have had such unique and amazing opportunities to love on the folks around me and be the presence of Christ among them. It’s been humbling and awe-inspiring for me, in the moments I have had to reflect. I’m getting my ‘bounce’ back out of the duffel…please keep us in prayer.
05 September 2008
Here We Go Kids...
****For those of you looking for more pictures - I am posting ALBUMS on Facebook - it's a faster load time than here - so most pics in the future will be there***
Dear Friends
Well, I have finished my training here at Ft. Jackson and have officially graduated from the officer basic course. It’s been a stressful last few days and lots has been happening in general the last few weeks. I suppose the biggest news is that I will be deploying with a Hawaiian National Guard Battalion to Kuwait for a year! I am very excited about my first mission with the Army and am going though many of the feelings and preparations I have gone through in the past as I’ve prepared myself to be in foreign counties.
This assignment came up about 2 weeks ago and the details have been in the process of working out ever since, with details and plans radically changing daily; it has stretched even my flexibility. While my unit is from the great islands of HI, our training will be held here on the mainland, so alas, I STILL don’t get to go to HI. *sigh* It sounds like they’re a great bunch of guys and I’m enormously looking forward to meeting them. It looks like we’ll be in the US for a few months training up on the details of our mission then head ‘down range’ together in late OCT, early NOV.
I’m experiencing a mix of emotions right now and feel very aware of the transitions I’m in. Mostly I feel glad and affirmed. The Lord has guided my steps all these 17 years of following him right up to this moment. I feel very aware of how each step lead to the ones that bring me here today; how beginning to think about how my youth group was run after just being a Christian for a few months, to taking my first tentative steps to lead and care for others in my college fellowship, to my first overseas mission project, to becoming and IV staff person, to joining the Covenant, to delivering my first sermon in an African church, to leading my first mission project, to moving to Denver, to taking my 1st Oath of Office, to graduating from seminary, and now, to graduating from an Army Officer basic course…wow. In some ways, I feel like I'm going through a type of 'ordiantion' from each memeber of the Trinity - Seminary was from the Father, this school was from the Son and the one from my denomination will be from the Holy Spirit...
One of my classmates asked me the other day if I felt prepared to be going down range. I just laughed and told him, ‘no.’ I have learned enough to understand that we never know what we think we need to know before embarking on a great journey with the Lord; there are reasons why he asked his disciples to take nothing with them on the road. I told him that in following the Lord one must learn to trust more and more and that it’s not about what you bring – no matter how great or valuable it may be – but it is about what the Lord will bestow on you as his beloved child and faithful servant as you look to him on the road he has asked you to walk.
I feel very blessed. I have an amazing contingent of colleges in the Chaplain Corps; I really do grieve leaving here because they made such a great community even in just the short time we were here. I’ve also been reflecting on my training. I feel like I’ve done nothing but train for the last 4 solid years. The other thing I have been feeling is… sick of training – how much more can I do before I become no earthly good? This is also a good sign to me that I’ve healed a lot from my last time in ministry and am indeed ready to get out there again and see what the Lord will use me for.
I don’t have an address yet, but I’ll post it ASAP. In the meantime – here are the PRs for the month:
- The biggest PR I have is that I’ll get to attend (and be prepared for) my Ordination interview 20OCT-22OCT; there is a slim possibility I can make it. This would open the possibility of being ordained next summer in the Evangelical Covenant.
- In conjunction with that, please pray that I am able to get leave 21-28 JUNE 2009 to come back and be ordained – again a huge leap, but God can do whatever he wants!
- I would love prayer for my time right now – I’m stuck at Ft Jackson for 3-25 days doing I-don’t-know-what. Pray that I get out of here quickly so I can start meeting and working with my unit at Ft Hood.
- I need about a 10 day window before I go down range so I can sell my truck and meet with some folks back in Denver to get my life the rest of the way arranged. Please pray for the timing on that and that I DO get the time.
- Pray for my unit – they are going through the normal pains of remembering how w deployment works and could use all the prayers and encouragement they can get – safety and health.
- Pray for me that I would be able to get done all they need ASAP and bond well with my folks.
Dear FriendsWell, I have finished my training here at Ft. Jackson and have officially graduated from the officer basic course. It’s been a stressful last few days and lots has been happening in general the last few weeks. I suppose the biggest news is that I will be deploying with a Hawaiian National Guard Battalion to Kuwait for a year! I am very excited about my first mission with the Army and am going though many of the feelings and preparations I have gone through in the past as I’ve prepared myself to be in foreign counties.
This assignment came up about 2 weeks ago and the details have been in the process of working out ever since, with details and plans radically changing daily; it has stretched even my flexibility. While my unit is from the great islands of HI, our training will be held here on the mainland, so alas, I STILL don’t get to go to HI. *sigh* It sounds like they’re a great bunch of guys and I’m enormously looking forward to meeting them. It looks like we’ll be in the US for a few months training up on the details of our mission then head ‘down range’ together in late OCT, early NOV.
I’m experiencing a mix of emotions right now and feel very aware of the transitions I’m in. Mostly I feel glad and affirmed. The Lord has guided my steps all these 17 years of following him right up to this moment. I feel very aware of how each step lead to the ones that bring me here today; how beginning to think about how my youth group was run after just being a Christian for a few months, to taking my first tentative steps to lead and care for others in my college fellowship, to my first overseas mission project, to becoming and IV staff person, to joining the Covenant, to delivering my first sermon in an African church, to leading my first mission project, to moving to Denver, to taking my 1st Oath of Office, to graduating from seminary, and now, to graduating from an Army Officer basic course…wow. In some ways, I feel like I'm going through a type of 'ordiantion' from each memeber of the Trinity - Seminary was from the Father, this school was from the Son and the one from my denomination will be from the Holy Spirit...
One of my classmates asked me the other day if I felt prepared to be going down range. I just laughed and told him, ‘no.’ I have learned enough to understand that we never know what we think we need to know before embarking on a great journey with the Lord; there are reasons why he asked his disciples to take nothing with them on the road. I told him that in following the Lord one must learn to trust more and more and that it’s not about what you bring – no matter how great or valuable it may be – but it is about what the Lord will bestow on you as his beloved child and faithful servant as you look to him on the road he has asked you to walk.
I feel very blessed. I have an amazing contingent of colleges in the Chaplain Corps; I really do grieve leaving here because they made such a great community even in just the short time we were here. I’ve also been reflecting on my training. I feel like I’ve done nothing but train for the last 4 solid years. The other thing I have been feeling is… sick of training – how much more can I do before I become no earthly good? This is also a good sign to me that I’ve healed a lot from my last time in ministry and am indeed ready to get out there again and see what the Lord will use me for.
I don’t have an address yet, but I’ll post it ASAP. In the meantime – here are the PRs for the month:
- The biggest PR I have is that I’ll get to attend (and be prepared for) my Ordination interview 20OCT-22OCT; there is a slim possibility I can make it. This would open the possibility of being ordained next summer in the Evangelical Covenant.
- In conjunction with that, please pray that I am able to get leave 21-28 JUNE 2009 to come back and be ordained – again a huge leap, but God can do whatever he wants!
- I would love prayer for my time right now – I’m stuck at Ft Jackson for 3-25 days doing I-don’t-know-what. Pray that I get out of here quickly so I can start meeting and working with my unit at Ft Hood.
- I need about a 10 day window before I go down range so I can sell my truck and meet with some folks back in Denver to get my life the rest of the way arranged. Please pray for the timing on that and that I DO get the time.
- Pray for my unit – they are going through the normal pains of remembering how w deployment works and could use all the prayers and encouragement they can get – safety and health.
- Pray for me that I would be able to get done all they need ASAP and bond well with my folks.
30 July 2008
Settled in...
Dear Family- Around – The – World:
Greetings from sunny, stormy, humid Ft. Jackson, SC! Well, I’ve been here nearly 2 weeks now and am happily settling into a routine of working out, Death By Power Point (this is what we call all the classroom instruction – there is no army presenter who can present without pp…). I have really been settling in this time and am much more able to look around and be genuinely present (for the most part) to get to know my classmates and instructors better. This really is a much more laid back environment this time.
Surprises:
- There are 2 instructors here from last time – wonderful, approachable, pastoral types – one is PCSing (permanent change of duty-Station) and the other is the course manager.
- There are *GASP* 4 (!!) Covenant Chaplains here!! I think this must be a Bermuda triangle of some sort – I don’t think I’ve seen this many even at our annual conferences! 2 are instructors, I am a student, though a full chaplain) and one is a North Park student who ALMOST went to Denver Seminary (turns out I met him and his wife when they did a visit…hummm…perhaps this why he didn’t come to DS…*insecure!*)
- The PT is not as stressful as last time. I feel very used to the workout schedule and it’s not such a shock to my body or mind as it was last time.
- I did officially pass my PT test! I heard they ‘jacked up’ (messed up) the taping for body fat for folks, so that score did not come through right – they told us this test would count as a diagnostic and not the ‘real’ thing. But I have decided to do Special Populations (sp. Pops) anyway as I feel that I do probably deserve to be there and it just is nicer doing afternoon workouts with others…
This week has been a lot of classroom instruction on a WIDE range of topics from the bean counters (how we get/appropriate and use money in our units) to more helpful stuff for direct ministry, like how to do an annual training cycle around a deployment and all the different area of respoinsibility we will have. There has also been some good stuff on professional ethics, morality in war and practical learning as we perform Field Services in our platoons.
We did a live fire exercise yesterday where they paired us up with AIT (Advanced Infantry Training) soldiers and had us (and them) practice how to work with/protect a chaplain in a hostile environment. I am pleased to say our soldiers were up to the task and all the chaplains lived! I did sustain an injury in the field, however – I was ruthlessly attacked by a Yellow-Jacket Bee while standing by a bush listening to instruction….needless to say, my hand is very puffy right now and I am looking forward to the swelling to go down…
Do continue to keep me in your prays and do keep up the correspondence – I have LOVED the little note (thanks Susie and Robin!) I’ve gotten here and the emails just give me such joy!
Prayer Reqs:
- Continued good weight-loss
- More speed on my run time (I’d LOVE to be able to do it in 19.30 – I’m at 20.53 right now)
- Healing for my hand from the bee sting
- The presence and peace of God as I lead a practice Field Service on Friday
Greetings from sunny, stormy, humid Ft. Jackson, SC! Well, I’ve been here nearly 2 weeks now and am happily settling into a routine of working out, Death By Power Point (this is what we call all the classroom instruction – there is no army presenter who can present without pp…). I have really been settling in this time and am much more able to look around and be genuinely present (for the most part) to get to know my classmates and instructors better. This really is a much more laid back environment this time.
Surprises:
- There are 2 instructors here from last time – wonderful, approachable, pastoral types – one is PCSing (permanent change of duty-Station) and the other is the course manager.
- There are *GASP* 4 (!!) Covenant Chaplains here!! I think this must be a Bermuda triangle of some sort – I don’t think I’ve seen this many even at our annual conferences! 2 are instructors, I am a student, though a full chaplain) and one is a North Park student who ALMOST went to Denver Seminary (turns out I met him and his wife when they did a visit…hummm…perhaps this why he didn’t come to DS…*insecure!*)
- The PT is not as stressful as last time. I feel very used to the workout schedule and it’s not such a shock to my body or mind as it was last time.
- I did officially pass my PT test! I heard they ‘jacked up’ (messed up) the taping for body fat for folks, so that score did not come through right – they told us this test would count as a diagnostic and not the ‘real’ thing. But I have decided to do Special Populations (sp. Pops) anyway as I feel that I do probably deserve to be there and it just is nicer doing afternoon workouts with others…
This week has been a lot of classroom instruction on a WIDE range of topics from the bean counters (how we get/appropriate and use money in our units) to more helpful stuff for direct ministry, like how to do an annual training cycle around a deployment and all the different area of respoinsibility we will have. There has also been some good stuff on professional ethics, morality in war and practical learning as we perform Field Services in our platoons.
We did a live fire exercise yesterday where they paired us up with AIT (Advanced Infantry Training) soldiers and had us (and them) practice how to work with/protect a chaplain in a hostile environment. I am pleased to say our soldiers were up to the task and all the chaplains lived! I did sustain an injury in the field, however – I was ruthlessly attacked by a Yellow-Jacket Bee while standing by a bush listening to instruction….needless to say, my hand is very puffy right now and I am looking forward to the swelling to go down…
Do continue to keep me in your prays and do keep up the correspondence – I have LOVED the little note (thanks Susie and Robin!) I’ve gotten here and the emails just give me such joy!
Prayer Reqs:
- Continued good weight-loss
- More speed on my run time (I’d LOVE to be able to do it in 19.30 – I’m at 20.53 right now)
- Healing for my hand from the bee sting
- The presence and peace of God as I lead a practice Field Service on Friday
21 July 2008
Hey Gang - just a quick update as things get rolling here...
I love it here. It's so much different than the last time I was here - I'm so much more confident and just know the Army so much more - I feel like I have a much better grid for knowing what's what and don't just have to take everything in. Folks here seem more laid back than last time as well...could just be me though. But there are a lot of folks from 2 years ago - instant pals! More soon - here's my mailing addy for while I'm here:
CH (1LT) Terri King
USACHCS
CH-BOLOC Class# 08-002
10100 Lee Rd
Ft. Jackson, SC 29207-7090
and do please pray I do ok on my APFT (fit test) this friday!!
I love it here. It's so much different than the last time I was here - I'm so much more confident and just know the Army so much more - I feel like I have a much better grid for knowing what's what and don't just have to take everything in. Folks here seem more laid back than last time as well...could just be me though. But there are a lot of folks from 2 years ago - instant pals! More soon - here's my mailing addy for while I'm here:
CH (1LT) Terri King
USACHCS
CH-BOLOC Class# 08-002
10100 Lee Rd
Ft. Jackson, SC 29207-7090
and do please pray I do ok on my APFT (fit test) this friday!!
16 July 2008
Hey Gang - well in a few short hours I will start the drive back to Ft. Jackson, SC to complete my Chaplain training - YEA!! I'm totally excited this time - not at all terrified (like last time!). I'm looking forward to a nice road trip, time with friends along the way and getting into the routine at the Ft. Please keep these items in prayer - and STAY IN TOUCH! ;)
- safe travels (Fred (my truck) is on the older side now (195k miles))
- good fellowship with God and friends I meet along the way
- good establishment/integration to the routine at Jackson
-favor on my PT test next Friday (25th)
- quickly build rapport with the other chaplains/make good friends this summer
For those of you on Facebook - check out my photo albums for some of my recent adventures. For those of you not on facebook, it's ok- I'll still post some pics here - it's just much more expedient to post them there...
I'll send my address again on here when I get it - I expect cards and fan mail! ;)) - love, ter
- safe travels (Fred (my truck) is on the older side now (195k miles))
- good fellowship with God and friends I meet along the way
- good establishment/integration to the routine at Jackson
-favor on my PT test next Friday (25th)
- quickly build rapport with the other chaplains/make good friends this summer
For those of you on Facebook - check out my photo albums for some of my recent adventures. For those of you not on facebook, it's ok- I'll still post some pics here - it's just much more expedient to post them there...
I'll send my address again on here when I get it - I expect cards and fan mail! ;)) - love, ter
06 July 2008
Reflections on Becoming Swedish...
Hey Gang! I am currently in Chicago for a week-long course on the History of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Of course I procrastinated the readings for this course (about 1000 pages...really, perhaps more) until last weekend, but have managed to get it down to about 200 remaining. Now, what I hate about that is that for the last 4 or 5 days I have had relatively little I could do besides read....what I love is that now that I'm here, I am literally staring at and interacting with the buildings and streets that I've just been reading about.
The short version is this: ok, so we've all heard of Martin Luther (famous catholic Monk and academian who posted his 95 thesis (suggestions for reform in the Catholic church) on a cathedral door on the campus he was working on in 1517 in Germany), well LONG story short -Luther's ideas change the world and every European country over the course of the next several centuries. Sweden (birth place of the ECC) is no different and by the early 1800s the Lutheran State Church is the officially sanctioned church of the people. The thing is, after several hundred years, even a good idea gets stale and people began to look again for a fresh movement of God in their lives. Pietism started in Sweden c.1800 as a movement of individuals and small groups of Christians started to gather together to read the Word and discuss how they can more deeply and fully live out the Scriptures. This is so common for us now that we instantly think - 'yeah, and?' - BUT this was revolutionary stuff 'back in the day' - at that time you were considered 'saved' if you went to church; birth an baptism into the Lutheran church = salvation, NOT personal relationship with Christ. So folks were not generally encouraged to read scripture for themselves; it was frowned on...after all how could the laity properly interpret scripture... I guess they put a little more faith in education (a good and useful thing) and not as much is the Holy Spirit (when He’s not being abused!)…So we think of someone as being 'Pious' as a really negative thing, but when it started out these cats were basically the original Charismatics -very lively and fully engaged in each other and the work of God in their lives and work...VERY COOL.
Well, even longer story shortened, there was more and more tension between the State church and these new pious movements (these people were called lasare (readers) and later banded together in groups called Mission Friends – NOT intent on separating from the Church at all, but again seeking a more vibrant spiritual life) until eventually the Church gave them less and less recourse to splitting off and forming new groups. Out of these groups the Swedish Covenant was eventually formed. Now (we’re up to about 1880 now), there was a really grievous famine happening in Sweden, causing about 1 million Swedes to immigrate to America. There had been a fair amount of immigration happening for various reasons before this, but the famine put it over the top. Many of the immigrants settled in the mid-western states and just did what they did in Sweden – set up Mission Friend societies and made contact with their local Lutheran church (I won’t go into the whole Synod’s thing here…). Well, this was ok for a bit, but eventually what the Mission Friends wanted out of life and fellowship could not be found in the Lutheran ranks and so they split (or were booted out, as the case may be) and formally founded the (now) ECC in 1885 in Chicago.
So it’s this interesting movement that started out with deep concern for the will of God, God moved some of them from Sweden to America where they experienced freedom to grow and become more of who God has for them to be. They’ve established a hospital, a seminary and undergrad school and a whole bunch of outreached and missions to the poor, disenfranchised and lost across the world…that’s how far I’ve gotten so far.
NOW, here I am, little English-Hungarian girl, in the middle of what used to be a predominantly Swedish and Jewish immigrant neighborhood. I’ve spent about a solid week reading all about Swedish history and immigration history and I’m wondering…Did I sign up to become Swedish when I joined this group? Lol! I don’t know yet – I’ll keep you posted on that – but even if I did, I’m thinking that might not be a bad thing!
The short version is this: ok, so we've all heard of Martin Luther (famous catholic Monk and academian who posted his 95 thesis (suggestions for reform in the Catholic church) on a cathedral door on the campus he was working on in 1517 in Germany), well LONG story short -Luther's ideas change the world and every European country over the course of the next several centuries. Sweden (birth place of the ECC) is no different and by the early 1800s the Lutheran State Church is the officially sanctioned church of the people. The thing is, after several hundred years, even a good idea gets stale and people began to look again for a fresh movement of God in their lives. Pietism started in Sweden c.1800 as a movement of individuals and small groups of Christians started to gather together to read the Word and discuss how they can more deeply and fully live out the Scriptures. This is so common for us now that we instantly think - 'yeah, and?' - BUT this was revolutionary stuff 'back in the day' - at that time you were considered 'saved' if you went to church; birth an baptism into the Lutheran church = salvation, NOT personal relationship with Christ. So folks were not generally encouraged to read scripture for themselves; it was frowned on...after all how could the laity properly interpret scripture... I guess they put a little more faith in education (a good and useful thing) and not as much is the Holy Spirit (when He’s not being abused!)…So we think of someone as being 'Pious' as a really negative thing, but when it started out these cats were basically the original Charismatics -very lively and fully engaged in each other and the work of God in their lives and work...VERY COOL.
Well, even longer story shortened, there was more and more tension between the State church and these new pious movements (these people were called lasare (readers) and later banded together in groups called Mission Friends – NOT intent on separating from the Church at all, but again seeking a more vibrant spiritual life) until eventually the Church gave them less and less recourse to splitting off and forming new groups. Out of these groups the Swedish Covenant was eventually formed. Now (we’re up to about 1880 now), there was a really grievous famine happening in Sweden, causing about 1 million Swedes to immigrate to America. There had been a fair amount of immigration happening for various reasons before this, but the famine put it over the top. Many of the immigrants settled in the mid-western states and just did what they did in Sweden – set up Mission Friend societies and made contact with their local Lutheran church (I won’t go into the whole Synod’s thing here…). Well, this was ok for a bit, but eventually what the Mission Friends wanted out of life and fellowship could not be found in the Lutheran ranks and so they split (or were booted out, as the case may be) and formally founded the (now) ECC in 1885 in Chicago.
So it’s this interesting movement that started out with deep concern for the will of God, God moved some of them from Sweden to America where they experienced freedom to grow and become more of who God has for them to be. They’ve established a hospital, a seminary and undergrad school and a whole bunch of outreached and missions to the poor, disenfranchised and lost across the world…that’s how far I’ve gotten so far.
NOW, here I am, little English-Hungarian girl, in the middle of what used to be a predominantly Swedish and Jewish immigrant neighborhood. I’ve spent about a solid week reading all about Swedish history and immigration history and I’m wondering…Did I sign up to become Swedish when I joined this group? Lol! I don’t know yet – I’ll keep you posted on that – but even if I did, I’m thinking that might not be a bad thing!
06 June 2008
pics!
These sunset pics are from St. Benedict's Monestary in Snowmass, CO - I took them during spring break (March) when I was there on a personal retreat (GREAT time w/God!)
Graduation!!!
This is my family: L-R: Dad (Leo), Me (duhh), Christianne (Dad's wife), Scott (brother), and Mom (Hilda).
This is one of my best buddies since I moved out here - Susan - she has been such a support to me as I wrestled through these last few years!
These are two of my favorite professors: Professor Emig and Dr. Dallaire - both are lanugage teachers! (The languages were among the class I learned the most in, but had the hardest time).
This is a goofy pic of another of my closest friends - Nancee and Jess (middle) - LOVE these guys!
04 June 2008
Life ...of late...
Dear Ones!
I know, it’s been FOREVER since I updated this thing – I finally got smart and pre-wrote my thoughts on Word, so this blog would stop eating my entries. So much has happened in the last few months: finishing in Germany; getting re-commissioned into the Reserves; graduating from seminary; running in my first official race!
Germany
First of all – thanks so much to all of you who prayed, emailed and were available for me to bugg when I got the chance to call- you love and support meant (and means) the world to me. Germany went extremely well. I had the opportunity to see and participate in a vast array of ministry stuff while there. I was able to serve 200 hundred soldiers by doing ‘spot-check’ pastoral care as they processed their paperwork for deployment (these soldiers are all down-range now), participate in and partially lead a singles retreat and spend about five days in a field training exercise (FTX) with a group that deployed about two weeks after I left. I was privileged to work with some really soft-hearted, humble chaplains who gave me ample opportunities to serve and learn; I am so grateful for their ministry to me during that time.
Additionally, I was able to spend some time as a tourist. I got to see some of the cities of Nuremberg, Garmicsh (ski town), Bamberg and brief glimpses of several others en route to other destinations. (And yes, Dad, I did ride the train!) I think the absolute highlight as a tourist was seeing a live performance of Carmina Baranah (130 person choir – men’s, women’s AND children’s) and a Mozart piano duet performance at a Nuremberg concert hall – it was truly spectacular! (Susie – you would have DIED for the organ in that hall!!)
Re-commissioning
So, it’s funny what was hectic and what was not this last semester. One would expect that the last semester in seminary would be one of frenetic finishing. Far from it. This was the most tame semester perhaps of my higher education career. Some of this was planned; I save easier classes for the end and did the scarier stuff early to give myself ‘fail’ room (I did not fail…so I had more time than I anticipated). But what was hectic were the other 2 ‘legs’ of the 3-legged stool that are the Army, ECC (church) and Seminary. This semester I ended up taking two trips to continue along the ‘ordination trail’ in the ECC process. I took a week-long class in KS on Vocational Excellence (VocEx) and a three day trip about a month later to Omaha to do the interview for my pastoral license.
The VocEx class was TERRIFIC. They had us do a battery of psychological tests prior to coming out and then formatted the week to be a really cool hybrid of class and retreat. It turns out that I am actually sane (wheew!), but that I suck at self-care (what a shock). This was, in a weird way, good to hear as this was something that I had been thinking/praying about for a while before this retreat – so I took it as a confirmation that this is something God is speaking into my life. I spend much of the rest of the semester talking and praying about things gleaned from this retreat; what a great growth time.
The trip to Omaha, while completely nerve-wracking, went very well. I think I had emed y’all some about that one, so I’ll spare you some of the details now. It turned out to be a wonderful opportunity to meet other Covenant pastors and let them get to know me some. And in the end, they decided that I could be a pastor, too ;). Now, for those of you who are unfamiliar with this process – this was NOT ordination – that is scheduled to be next summer…but more on that later. For now, I am a licensed pastor, under the authority of other ordained pastors.
The other thing that kept me hopping this semester was putting together a ‘packet’ for the Army to be re-commissioned into the Reserves. And, no, I have no idea why they do this – I keep my same rank (1LT), and my time in service/grade counts from the time I first commissioned, not this new one. But the one real difference is that I am now considered a full chaplain (as opposed to a candidate), but they have asked me to wait to take a local position or wear the cross on the uniform (Christian chaplains wear this in addition to rank) until I finish Chaplain School this summer…but more on that later… Needless to say, we got the packet done and I was accepted…but it did take quite a bit of attention to details that I did not feel I had the energy for… (PLT)
Graduation
Well, I officially have a Masters degree now (yea!*and there was much rejoicing*). I received my MDiv w/a concentration in Chaplaincy on 17 MAY. This was one of those truly spectacular weekends for me. It will live in my heart and memory as one of the personal greats for a long time to come. There were many wonderful surprises God had for me: many of you sent cards and well wishes on em (SO COOL!) and many came out to my graduation party that afternoon (SO FUN!!); my entire immediate family was able to come out (dad, Christianne (dad’s wife), mom and brother) and celebrate – it was SO AWESOME to have them meet my Colorado family and visa versa; and an additional surprise was that I was co-awarded the Chaplaincy award for my class. This is given to the students (2) who the school believes have demonstrated excellence in and great potential for chaplain work in the future. It was a VERY unexpected honor (I heard I turned grey when they called my name).
The rest of the day was devoted to picture taking, catching up w/folks during the open-house at my apartment and an EXCELLENT dinner at a local Italian restaurant. The next day I saw family off to the airport and had a wonderful breakfast with my dad and his wife before they left in the early afternoon. It was truly a weekend of blessings for me.
What’s happened since graduation?
I have been enjoying some absolutely EXCELLENT down time. I have kicked my work out routine into high-gear (lose the ‘stress pounds’ gained at the end of the semester) and recently ran the Boulder-Boulder, a 10K (6.2mi) fun race in the city of Boulder, CO. It was SO FUN. My time was miserable (1.27), but it was a hoot to see people in costumes, local garage bands out on the sidewalks, and the literally thousands of people who came out to run and encourage. My friends Jess and PJ were in the race with me and my friend Susan was our ‘pit crew,’ carrying extra clothes/bags to the finish line for us. I heard there were 53,000 (yes, thousand) who participated in the race this year – the biggest in its 30 year history!
Additionally, I have joined a local soft-ball mixed adult league; we’re 3 and 1 now (not too shabby!). I’ve also recently read the book “The Shack” – an interesting fictional interpretation of the Trinity in a so-so story format. I was blessed with some gift certificates to a book store and have started to read Mother Teresa’s story (the controversial one that includes clips from her diary) – it is SO COOL to read about a modern mystic… and I have also picked up Great Expectations by Dickens (wanted to read it for a long time). My days have been filled with good work outs, excellent people time – catching up with friends old and new – some reading, some emailing, some prepping the rest of the summer, teaching a guitar student (who is AWESOME!), contemplating playing guitar more myself, vegging and generally enjoying the grace God has poured out on my life currently.
What’s Next?
The June looks pretty much the same as above. Starting July 7th I will be in Chicago at North Park Theological Seminary for a week long history of the Covenant class (another step in the ordination process- and a very interesting topic (I love history)), then I will have about a week to get the paper for that class done and pack up for about 2 months of Army training back at Ft. Jackson, SC. I will be finishing the Chaplain office basic course which will qualify me to deploy (war zone) or mobilize (non-war zone). I have one more event to attend for my ordination qualification in late October, but I am looking for and hoping the Army will send me off somewhere in the world sometime starting in November. At this point it does not look like I will need to move anytime soon, so I expect I’ll be back in CO in early September – though I will have my celly on me, so DO CALL ME ANYTIME!
Prayer reqs.
I love what I’m doing and finally preparing to do. Please pray God would open a door for me to ‘get crackin’’ in November. The timing on this will be somewhat critical for me as student loans will come knocking very shortly thereafter, and I would really like to honor my obligations!
Ok, so that’s CERTAINLY enough for now…I have some reflections on life as of late I’ve been pondering, but I’ll spare you for the moment until I can get this and some pics loaded…
Thanks for being here for me – I appreciate and love you guys to death!
I know, it’s been FOREVER since I updated this thing – I finally got smart and pre-wrote my thoughts on Word, so this blog would stop eating my entries. So much has happened in the last few months: finishing in Germany; getting re-commissioned into the Reserves; graduating from seminary; running in my first official race!
Germany
First of all – thanks so much to all of you who prayed, emailed and were available for me to bugg when I got the chance to call- you love and support meant (and means) the world to me. Germany went extremely well. I had the opportunity to see and participate in a vast array of ministry stuff while there. I was able to serve 200 hundred soldiers by doing ‘spot-check’ pastoral care as they processed their paperwork for deployment (these soldiers are all down-range now), participate in and partially lead a singles retreat and spend about five days in a field training exercise (FTX) with a group that deployed about two weeks after I left. I was privileged to work with some really soft-hearted, humble chaplains who gave me ample opportunities to serve and learn; I am so grateful for their ministry to me during that time.
Additionally, I was able to spend some time as a tourist. I got to see some of the cities of Nuremberg, Garmicsh (ski town), Bamberg and brief glimpses of several others en route to other destinations. (And yes, Dad, I did ride the train!) I think the absolute highlight as a tourist was seeing a live performance of Carmina Baranah (130 person choir – men’s, women’s AND children’s) and a Mozart piano duet performance at a Nuremberg concert hall – it was truly spectacular! (Susie – you would have DIED for the organ in that hall!!)
Re-commissioning
So, it’s funny what was hectic and what was not this last semester. One would expect that the last semester in seminary would be one of frenetic finishing. Far from it. This was the most tame semester perhaps of my higher education career. Some of this was planned; I save easier classes for the end and did the scarier stuff early to give myself ‘fail’ room (I did not fail…so I had more time than I anticipated). But what was hectic were the other 2 ‘legs’ of the 3-legged stool that are the Army, ECC (church) and Seminary. This semester I ended up taking two trips to continue along the ‘ordination trail’ in the ECC process. I took a week-long class in KS on Vocational Excellence (VocEx) and a three day trip about a month later to Omaha to do the interview for my pastoral license.
The VocEx class was TERRIFIC. They had us do a battery of psychological tests prior to coming out and then formatted the week to be a really cool hybrid of class and retreat. It turns out that I am actually sane (wheew!), but that I suck at self-care (what a shock). This was, in a weird way, good to hear as this was something that I had been thinking/praying about for a while before this retreat – so I took it as a confirmation that this is something God is speaking into my life. I spend much of the rest of the semester talking and praying about things gleaned from this retreat; what a great growth time.
The trip to Omaha, while completely nerve-wracking, went very well. I think I had emed y’all some about that one, so I’ll spare you some of the details now. It turned out to be a wonderful opportunity to meet other Covenant pastors and let them get to know me some. And in the end, they decided that I could be a pastor, too ;). Now, for those of you who are unfamiliar with this process – this was NOT ordination – that is scheduled to be next summer…but more on that later. For now, I am a licensed pastor, under the authority of other ordained pastors.
The other thing that kept me hopping this semester was putting together a ‘packet’ for the Army to be re-commissioned into the Reserves. And, no, I have no idea why they do this – I keep my same rank (1LT), and my time in service/grade counts from the time I first commissioned, not this new one. But the one real difference is that I am now considered a full chaplain (as opposed to a candidate), but they have asked me to wait to take a local position or wear the cross on the uniform (Christian chaplains wear this in addition to rank) until I finish Chaplain School this summer…but more on that later… Needless to say, we got the packet done and I was accepted…but it did take quite a bit of attention to details that I did not feel I had the energy for… (PLT)
Graduation
Well, I officially have a Masters degree now (yea!*and there was much rejoicing*). I received my MDiv w/a concentration in Chaplaincy on 17 MAY. This was one of those truly spectacular weekends for me. It will live in my heart and memory as one of the personal greats for a long time to come. There were many wonderful surprises God had for me: many of you sent cards and well wishes on em (SO COOL!) and many came out to my graduation party that afternoon (SO FUN!!); my entire immediate family was able to come out (dad, Christianne (dad’s wife), mom and brother) and celebrate – it was SO AWESOME to have them meet my Colorado family and visa versa; and an additional surprise was that I was co-awarded the Chaplaincy award for my class. This is given to the students (2) who the school believes have demonstrated excellence in and great potential for chaplain work in the future. It was a VERY unexpected honor (I heard I turned grey when they called my name).
The rest of the day was devoted to picture taking, catching up w/folks during the open-house at my apartment and an EXCELLENT dinner at a local Italian restaurant. The next day I saw family off to the airport and had a wonderful breakfast with my dad and his wife before they left in the early afternoon. It was truly a weekend of blessings for me.
What’s happened since graduation?
I have been enjoying some absolutely EXCELLENT down time. I have kicked my work out routine into high-gear (lose the ‘stress pounds’ gained at the end of the semester) and recently ran the Boulder-Boulder, a 10K (6.2mi) fun race in the city of Boulder, CO. It was SO FUN. My time was miserable (1.27), but it was a hoot to see people in costumes, local garage bands out on the sidewalks, and the literally thousands of people who came out to run and encourage. My friends Jess and PJ were in the race with me and my friend Susan was our ‘pit crew,’ carrying extra clothes/bags to the finish line for us. I heard there were 53,000 (yes, thousand) who participated in the race this year – the biggest in its 30 year history!
Additionally, I have joined a local soft-ball mixed adult league; we’re 3 and 1 now (not too shabby!). I’ve also recently read the book “The Shack” – an interesting fictional interpretation of the Trinity in a so-so story format. I was blessed with some gift certificates to a book store and have started to read Mother Teresa’s story (the controversial one that includes clips from her diary) – it is SO COOL to read about a modern mystic… and I have also picked up Great Expectations by Dickens (wanted to read it for a long time). My days have been filled with good work outs, excellent people time – catching up with friends old and new – some reading, some emailing, some prepping the rest of the summer, teaching a guitar student (who is AWESOME!), contemplating playing guitar more myself, vegging and generally enjoying the grace God has poured out on my life currently.
What’s Next?
The June looks pretty much the same as above. Starting July 7th I will be in Chicago at North Park Theological Seminary for a week long history of the Covenant class (another step in the ordination process- and a very interesting topic (I love history)), then I will have about a week to get the paper for that class done and pack up for about 2 months of Army training back at Ft. Jackson, SC. I will be finishing the Chaplain office basic course which will qualify me to deploy (war zone) or mobilize (non-war zone). I have one more event to attend for my ordination qualification in late October, but I am looking for and hoping the Army will send me off somewhere in the world sometime starting in November. At this point it does not look like I will need to move anytime soon, so I expect I’ll be back in CO in early September – though I will have my celly on me, so DO CALL ME ANYTIME!
Prayer reqs.
I love what I’m doing and finally preparing to do. Please pray God would open a door for me to ‘get crackin’’ in November. The timing on this will be somewhat critical for me as student loans will come knocking very shortly thereafter, and I would really like to honor my obligations!
Ok, so that’s CERTAINLY enough for now…I have some reflections on life as of late I’ve been pondering, but I’ll spare you for the moment until I can get this and some pics loaded…
Thanks for being here for me – I appreciate and love you guys to death!
13 January 2008
The Middle...
Hey Gang - sorry it's been so long since I wrote - more mess with computers and timing. This has been a very good and eventful week for me. I was able to work with 200 soldiers who were preparing to deploy over the next few months at something called a PDP (pre-depolyment somthing...) The first day I worked with another chaplain who treined me in what the event was and what our role in it was to be - mainly checking ID tags, signing paperwork and checking in with them on their basic emotional health as they prepare for this deployment to Iraq or Afganistan. It was a real blessing to be the pastor caring these men and women as they went through this event.
I was also blessed to be able to be a part of something called a CRC meeting (Case Review Commitee) which tries to intevene in soliders, dependants and civilians' lives when they get complicated on base - this is a stop gap measure desigend to help families before there needs to be more judicial/leagal involvment with the families. It was good to learn how the commitee (comprised of social workers, an MP, a Lawyer, a Doctor and the comander of the base as well as the chaplain) works and the types of things I can expect to get involved with once I'm doing this full-time. It's pretty mesy, but the light never shines so bright as when it's darkest.
I will be going on a field excercise this week (FTX) and have managed to get some gear together to prepare for it. It's a time of practicing how a unit (or batallion or brigade - different sized groups) will work when they are in a deployed situation. The group I will be going with will deploy in the next year, so this training, while in some moments will be fun, in many moments will be fairly serious learning as they prepare for real life stuff.
Personally, I find myslef again in between two worlds - not quite a civilain not quite a solider, though more one than the other (not sure which). I have manged to make some good connections with people here, so it feels a little saddening to leave, though I do miss friends in the states - thus, the two worlds thing. Please pray for me and my troups this week as we 'play' in the field - that we stay safe as we practice. Pray for me, too as I prepare to come back to CO for my semester of seminary. I return on the 24th. - love, Ter
I was also blessed to be able to be a part of something called a CRC meeting (Case Review Commitee) which tries to intevene in soliders, dependants and civilians' lives when they get complicated on base - this is a stop gap measure desigend to help families before there needs to be more judicial/leagal involvment with the families. It was good to learn how the commitee (comprised of social workers, an MP, a Lawyer, a Doctor and the comander of the base as well as the chaplain) works and the types of things I can expect to get involved with once I'm doing this full-time. It's pretty mesy, but the light never shines so bright as when it's darkest.
I will be going on a field excercise this week (FTX) and have managed to get some gear together to prepare for it. It's a time of practicing how a unit (or batallion or brigade - different sized groups) will work when they are in a deployed situation. The group I will be going with will deploy in the next year, so this training, while in some moments will be fun, in many moments will be fairly serious learning as they prepare for real life stuff.
Personally, I find myslef again in between two worlds - not quite a civilain not quite a solider, though more one than the other (not sure which). I have manged to make some good connections with people here, so it feels a little saddening to leave, though I do miss friends in the states - thus, the two worlds thing. Please pray for me and my troups this week as we 'play' in the field - that we stay safe as we practice. Pray for me, too as I prepare to come back to CO for my semester of seminary. I return on the 24th. - love, Ter
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