Ahh...Week 3 is just about done

I can finally write this with a sigh of relief. Today was test day...what I mean is that today we had our second PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment), our Basic Officer's Course and Fleet Officer's Course exams (final exams), and a service dress blues uniform inspection. The good news is, I passed all three. Thank you Sally, Isaiah, and Eliana for your prayers just before and during the test (I sent a quick email to them just before). I doubt that I'm in line for the academic award, but I passed both of the exams today with decent marks.

The PFA this morning was kind of funny. I improved all of my tested sections (push-ups, sit-ups, and the 1.5 mile run)...even managed to shave over 20 seconds off the run time. The funny part was that afterwards, it was so cold in the gym that everyone sounded like they were coughing up a lung. That cold air during a run doesn't do a body good. LOL

Plans for this weekend have yet to be formally announced, but our Class Officer (who is on staff here at OTCN and oversees our training) told us that we've been pretty good this week and that we will get off base liberty this weekend. We will have to be in service dress blues (that means ribbons but no medals) if we leave the base. Otherwise, the rest of the base is open to us. That includes the movie theater, bowling alley, and so on. Sadly, many of the folks here are excited to head to the bars in Newport. Alcohol has been authorized, and I really wish that it hadn't. You can imagine that none of the Chaplains will be headed that directions. I know, we are such duds...lol Someone did ask if we can have desert, and although alcohol has been authorized, desert has not been. Go figure. :) That kind of puts the kabosh on what a couple of the Chaplains and I were planning...chow here, then out for ice cream. Such is life. I did hear that there are some great sushi places to visit. Maybe we can get a group together to head there for lunch. Or maybe not...sushi is expensive.

I will say that this trip/training has most definitly stregthened my reliance on Christ. In the times when I thought that I had had enough (generally because I missed my family), I felt His presence picking me up and moving me forward. I have had the opportunity to spend more time in my Bible than I have in a while, and it has been wonderful getting deeper into the Word of God. Chapel services here are pretty light in that they do not go in depth into the Bible, but that's where personal study can take off. There are also studies here as well during the week.

We only have 2 weeks left, and you can tell. The team here (India Company) has moved into survival mode. One of the most common statements you will hear is that people are done and ready to move on. I'm one of those people... :)

The good thing is that next week will be our DLC training (leadership training); part of which is firefighting and sinking ship evacuation. We are looking forward to it! After that, it is week 5, and my family is coming to town on Wednesday of that week. I can't wait to see them!

Isaiah - if mom is reading this to you, I want you to know that a lot of the times that I thought something was hard, I just thought of you and you got me through.

In short - another week down...we survived! God bless everyone!