Well I have survived my time at Camp Ripley made it through our SRC and now am in waiting mode till our send-off on August 9th.

I was always told to be careful what I pray for because God just might answer your prayers!  I guess at some point I prayed for patience lol 

In the movie Evan Almighty (I know you are missing my movie quotes so here you go) There is a scene where Evan's wife has packed up and taken the kids because she can't handle the strange erratic behavior anymore.  She's in a restaurant and God disguised as the waiter (name tag Al Mighty) asks if she needs anything.  They begin talking and he asks her "If someone asks God for patience do you think He makes them patient? or does he put them in situations that they be patient.  If someone asks God for courage, do you think He makes them courageous or puts them in situation where they can be courageous. . . ."

How often do we want God to miraculously zap us with what we want instead of putting us in places where He can teach us and grow us in those areas.  These past few months have been teaching me to wait on His timing - to be available to what He desires and not my set agenda.

Like many of my soldiers I am getting antsy to go - we've trained . . . we've told our employers we are going . . . we've told our family and friends we are going . . . in fact I've even packed my duffel's and am living out of my ruck . . . so let's go already.  And yet now is the time to wait.  For the next four weeks or so it's that limbo time of being here but yet transitioning to being away.  A lot of emotions are involved some that I don't even realize until I wonder why I'm in a funk.

So my prayer is to live each day that I have in the here and now - to keep my eyes open to what God might what to do in me or even through me as I prepare to face the unknown.  He has begun to use me in a number of soldiers lives as they walk through and deal with the same issues that deployment is forcing them to face.  I've talked to soldiers about their relationships, about fears, depression - if nothing else God is teaching me how to listen.  I don't have the answers but I do know the one who does - Jesus!  That is the hope I can bring.

While at Ripley I had the opportunity to be interviewed by a reporter for KGAN-TV out of Cedar Rapids.  I wasn't the main focus of the story but did get a three second blip near the end.  Here's the link if you want to see it. http://www.kgan.com/shared/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kfxa_vid_2882.shtml?sms_ss=email