The Chaplain called us!

     Monday was a busy day even though it was a holiday (Labor Day).  Many of our soldiers had left for the 4-day weekend. In the morning we picked up Soldier M from the Newport News airport, then took him around to some apartments to find a place for his family to live. (Some of our soldiers have training for 6 months, so they can move the family to the area if desired - even though they themselves still stay in the barracks most of the time.)  He was successful in securing a place that had a fence for the 3 kids and a dog only a few minutes drive from the base.

     In the afternoon we drove to the Norfolk airport (1 hour away) to get Soldier K.  After a couple calls and 1 1/2 hours of flight delays we were finally able to pick him up.  The poor man had been travelling all day from California and had a major headache. I knew how he felt because flying makes me sick too.  We finally got him delivered back to the base.

     At 10PM we drove back to Norfolk to get Soldier L.  His wife gave birth to twins the previous week so he was happy to go home for a few days.  We didn't know if he would be depressed for having to leave his wife and babies, but he was very happy to have been home. His flight finally came in at 11:30PM.

     We fell into bed just after 1AM, having missed the Senior Missionary Couples dinner earlier that evening.  Most of the missionaries have P-Day on Monday, but we take our breaks when we can get them and Monday isn't usually that day!

     Tuesday we had to be on base early for In-Processing which is usually on Monday, but was delayed because of the holiday.  We received 8 new LDS soldiers from the group.  Normally we get 1 to 4, so eight at once is a fun surprise.  All of these new soldiers are 18 years old, just out of High School.  They are so young!  We really pray that they will choose to attend church and make their army life much easier.

     Next was our mid-day Family Home Evening.  We usually bring sandwich fixings and share with the full-time Elders while we wait to see if any soldiers show up.  This FHE session is not as well attended as the evening session. We had been too rushed to bring food so we took the Elders to the food court at the PX (Post Exchange or base "mall") to buy some lunch. As we were preparing to leave with our take-out lunch a female soldier walked up to us with a big smile. "I haven't seen missionaries on the base for years!" she said. Obviously she was an inactive member.  Elder R took down her contact information and will follow up because she said, "Call me!"  We decided that was why we needed to be there that morning. 

     I am glad that I took this picture of our chapel a few months ago because the look is changing.  The cross has been removed and will be displayed someplace else instead of the front of the chapel.  The chaplain assistant has always been worried about it offending us, since we don't display the cross, but we have assured him that it is not offensive to us at all, since we do honor and remember the crucifixion.  The reason it has been removed is because of the large 60 inch screen TV that will be installed.  Those curtains will also be removed. I guess the drum set will stay since the Protestants use those for their service.  We are really excited that they are working to get an internet connection so that we can watch general conference in this building instead of transporting soldiers to the stake center.  Hopefully it will be more convenient and available for the soldiers - and ready in a couple weeks as promised.
     Wednesday we got a call from the battalion chaplain.  He said that he met with a soldier who should meet and counsel with US.  Imagine that!  We met with the soldier the next day.
     Soldier W is an inactive church member who has been at Ft. Eustis for nearly 2 years trying to complete his training.  He and a couple battle buddies became particularly close. The plan was for the 3 friends to go to Germany together for their next duty assignment. Through a series of test failures and medical problems, he did not graduate with his friends.  The two friends moved on and he stayed behind. Recently he learned that those friends were killed in an automobile accident in Germany.  He certainly would have been with them if he had succeeded in his training.  He was trying to figure out what God had in mind for him through all of this.  He had been raised in the church but at some point fell away.  He was one of those soldiers who did not identify himself as a member, so we were not aware of him on the base. 

     Elder Elkins gave him a blessing which told him how much his Father in Heaven loves him.  He seems like a really nice young man who is at a turning point.  He can choose to come back now and have some real peace in his life.  We hope that is what he will choose. We invited him with all of the energy and love that we could offer.  At his request I called his parents that evening.  They have been praying for him and love him very much.  There must be reasons for him to be here, and he is trying to figure it out.
    Soldier N is one who has recently come back into activity and has been attending faithfully.  By requesting his records we learned that he is a Priest.  He wasn't sure what Priesthood he had been given before he fell away.  He will now have the opportunity to use that Priesthood as the other soldiers guide him. His great desire is to receive his Patriarchal Blessing.  Because of the changing of leadership in the ward, we have been unable to get him an interview.  We had hoped for this Sunday, at Stake Conference but he will be in FTX (Field Training Exercises) and that makes it impossible for him to attend conference.  He only has a few weeks left here. Ahhh...the challenges of Army life at Fort Eustis.
     This morning we attended the graduation that was supposed to be for one of our dear soldiers.  He has been trying to pass his PT (Physical Training) tests, getting closer, but ultimately failing each time. Since he was not in attendance at the graduation we knew that he had failed once again.  He has such a tender heart it is sad to see him not be able to succeed.  His instructors must have felt the same way about him, since they have given him extra tries.  We don't know yet whether they will give him one more try or if they are processing him out of the army this time.  He volunteered to lead the music in our meetings for the past few months and we will miss him terribly.  The army is not the right place for everyone.
     Zone Meeting today made it a good day for feeling the Spirit.  Our young Elders and Sisters are so wonderful.  It has been a busy week and we will not get much rest till after Stake Conference on Sunday.  We had to find a new driver for the church van to transport soldiers to the Stake Center. (Brother D got transferred to Hawaii!)  Hopefully that will work out along with the meal and everything involved.
      Keep praying for us.  It does help.