I've arrived at Fort Stewart, Georgia, but I have not yet gotten my duty station or permanent housing.  I got in late Friday night, so, after being put in the Reception Company (orientation) barracks, I was released until Monday morning.  The base seems fairly nice, and the weather is certainly appealing.  The barracks itself is an unfinished open-bay, which is aggravating, but at least I'll only be here for a short time.  I think I'm the only medic here.  The guys here are astoundingly preoccupied with getting drunk, listening to horrid ringtones over and over again, talking about cars of entirely unnecessary proportion, blasting some of the most asinine music I've ever heard (through the hours AM), and incorporating "fuck" and aggression into the most casual of statements.  They say it takes about 8 business days to get us through orientation, after which we'll move into permanent barracks (which are like apartments, praise the Lord!)

 

Since I got here I've been listening to Bill Clinton's autobiography audio book, finished my 500 Nations documentary on Native America (very good), and reading What's So Amazing About Grace?, by Philip Yancey, which may become my favorite book.  I recommend it to the utmost.  Besides all that, I've been playing old school RPG's for old Nintendo systems, on my laptop, and sending out a storm of messages to old friends.  It's been a pretty dislocating time...

 

After I got home from my blissful time in Indiana with the old roommates, I got to spend an evening with, perhaps my closest friend, Eric.  We talked for at least three hours straight about various things over a large bottle of some kind of Spanish red wine.  After that we watched a CG movie with perhaps the best computer graphics display I've ever seen.  I brought up how the desire to create a quality, imaginative, revolutionary, story-driven video game, had really resurged in me lately, and we discussed possibilities.  A couple days later I found myself in a similar conversation with my brother.  It's such an exciting prospect...

 

Christmas at the house was awesome... so far I've never missed it.  Although, I was disappointed that my brother didn't find the money to come home from California.  I have missed him a lot over the last few years... it would be wonderful to live in the same city again, one day...  Everyone liked the presents I got them.  I concede that it is quite enjoyable actually participating in the giving side of the exchange!  It's nice to have the money to do so with ease.  It's a wonderful anxiety waiting to see just how much surprise the gift will bring.

 

I spent Christmas Eve enjoying our tradition of the last few years:  playing party games with the Hays (a family that has been our friends almost as long as I've been alive), while eating finger foods and drinking throughout the day and night.  We played Cranium, some kind of Cranium-brand debate game, and Scattergories.  I couldn't drink until after midnight, however, since I drove to church.  It turned out it had been 2 years since I had visited my home church... unbelievable.  I hadn't been there in so long because I had become so involved working at two additional churches.  When I came home the Hays had left and my parents were just getting ready to go to sleep for the night.  My sister and I laid down on either side of our L-shaped couch, falling asleep to A Christmas Story.  As I did so I marveled at how close my sister, Stasia, and I have become recently, despite all the many counter-factors in our relational history, and our current differences.  I can only worship God in light of that.

 

I put packing and loading for the move off to the absolute last minute, in typical style.  I did it during the latter half of Christmas Day, while dad put in Braveheart, which he has humorously done every Christmas Day for the last few years, much to the confusion of my mother.

 

Ha!  It turns out I've written quite a bit.  I suppose I'll stop there.  I hope you're well, and that you are ever experiencing God with resonance.  His love for us is to be found everywhere.

His Peace,
Jake
 

Well, I've made alot of progress learning "I Celebrate The Day" (by Relient K) for keyboard, so that I can preview it for my minister of music this Saturday. I've gotten both hands playing what they need to simultaneously, now I just need to sing on top of it. Thankfully, I won't have to sing lead for the actual "performance," which will be mid-month. Plus Eric and I will get loads of time to play it before the service. Man, God really does answer prayers... I could've never gone this far without some seriously particular empowering. I just haven't spent much of my time developing musicianship. God is more than patient with me though, he seems to remain notably cheerful ;D

I've gotta get up tommorow and pick up my uniform from home, find some place where I can buy/sow patches onto my Class A uniform, for this Saturday's drill. I'll talk to my sergeant about re-enlisting as a Chaplain's Assistant and getting a nutty re-enlistment bonus that could secure the money I need for this Spring semester of school.

I've been worrying, thinking, working for, and praying about how I'm going to pay for next semester, quite a bit. I think I'm finally at peace about it, though, and ready to trust God on all of it.

Finally, I went to the second Chrysalis formation today, and it was amazing! Mark Hogg seethes with Christian energy! I got to preview Tyler Stewart's talk on Christian action, and it was great. He's a very relaxed speaker, and a very real person. I'm very glad he has been selected for this team :D Well, I'd best get to bed! God bless!

AND FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, GO WATCH THE MOVIE "SIGNS"!!!

love, jake

This has been one of the greatest days of my life :)

I really don't even know what to feel, or think. I don't feel numb, just still. I got to meet one of the warmest people I've ever met, Ms. Alex Liner. She gave me a tour of her gorgeous homeland with smile and beam. That was well worth the trip, Alex. Anytime you're up for it, you can know that I certainly am :)

On my way back home I decided to stop at Belmont and, finally, after three years, visit my dear friend, Mr. Eric Detweiler. I got to run into Mr. Travis again, and met Ms. Liz, another friendly gal.

People who love each other with little to no hesitance make my step lighter. Thank you so much :) One endless day, everyone who loves will be with everyone else who loves, because of the Lover. And the Lover... how he'll love! Stay close to Jesus and he will warm you up- that's what I've learned in life.

loved,
jake

Ah, time for an update.

Today I played a much needed game of Frisbee with the many people who showed up for our usually small, Monday gathering. Afterwards, Chris, Eric, the Coffey Girls and myself spent a few hours talking about Harry Potter, Star Wars, dogs, and other things. I could spend everyday with those guys.

I began moving in to my dorm room today, which is exciting, even though not many people have come yet. I am starting to get very anxious about getting a job and paying the coming bills, so if you guys could pray for my job search and myself, that would be greatly appreciated. There's a job opening at the Oldham County Public Library that sounds perfect, except for the longish drive (25 minutes probably). But I may be able to get all of my hours in in a few shifts, which would be sweet.

Tommorow, Eric, Chris, myself, and some others are going to hang out at this house that Chris is house-sitting, so that should be a lot of fun.

Well, that'll do for now, God Bless you guys :D

loved,
jake