Libo 2

Here's how Kellen looked just before he headed back over the bridge he hates so much! He is a sight to behold in his utilities :) The red emblems aren't part of the usual get-up, but for the past few days he'd been serving as (I think) squad leader. He was ready to pass along that duty, as the instructors' eyes are always on you and the possibility for getting grilled is greatly increased... a bit more stressful than normal.

As I was about to head out for this weekend I checked the mail, just to make sure Kellen hadn't sent a letter with any last minute requests... and sure enough he had! He wanted 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips and peanut butter brownies. I told him the week before about the PB brownies I was planning on bringing, so they were ready, all I had to do was run back to the apt and make the PB&J's and stop off at a mart for the chips!

He had first firewatch, so he got out a bit after 8pm, and was a very happy camper with his goodies! We went out to Chili's and had a nice meal to celebrate our anniversary. After stopping off at an ice cream shop we headed on to Tony and Melody's where we were able to spend our first night together since he left a month ago. Never has the sound of him snoring been so sweet. We had to be up early so he could be in formation at 8am.

I was able to pick him back up around 10:30, but he wasn't allowed to leave base! I dropped him at the base McD's where he could study and write some essays while I drove back to Tony & Melody's to pick up our things. We spent the rest of the afternoon with each other. We found a neat little restaurant called "Quantico Deli Fried Chicken". It's owned by a Korean lady and they had some familiar looking Korean dishes- it was like stepping back into Korea! They even had kimchi, for which Kellen was very happy :P I'd forgotten how bad kimchi breath is! It was a very pleasant day, so we found a park with a picnic table where we could sort out and organize his clothes that I'd thrown in the duffel at Tony & Melody's.

Our time was drawing to a close since (due to being in sick bay for his knee) he had a test to make up. So around 3:45 I dropped him off, with "orders" to be back at 5:30 with supper. As soon as he finished his test last week he was free to leave, and so we missed out on about an extra hour of time together since I left after dropping him off for the test. This time I waited and even though he finished his test in 20 mins, he had to wait until the last person finished testing, arriving at the car at 6:20. He was so upset, as he only had about 10 minutes to squeeze in one last visit and scarf down his supper. The time we get to spend together go a long way to get him through the week, remembering the good time we had, and looking forward to the next liberty. Missing out on times like that really weigh on him and he was really discouraged, painfully aware of the time missed together when I was mere yards away; it's just the kind of thing that brings it all to a head and makes him want to drop, all the while knowing that through all the suffering, he's right where God wants him. In his last letter he wrote:
"I felt like crap this morning. I wanted to drop, but I didn't want to cheat God. He got me here. If He doesn't want me to finish we'll work it out. I just don't like all the pressure. But I feel fine now. The story of OCS, high highs, low lows."

It goes without saying that your prayers are a tremendous support to him. Knowing that he has people at home thinking about him and praying for him really helps bolster him through the week, especially when times seem their bleakest. The instructors are supposed to treat the candidates more "like humans" soon, knowing that the finest of the crop is remaining, and they simply need to do mold them into officers, while continuing to weed out the weakest leaders, etc.

He should also get to talk with someone about his MOS (Military Occupation Specialty, or job). This will give him some idea of what he wants to do in the military, should they select him as an officer. He would like God's guidance in that area. He'd originally thought about MP, but while being there he's thinking about being a chaplain... which isn't a position for an officer... so be in prayer about what it is God wants him to do. He wants to be faithful to whatever God's will is, but he is really hating the separation factor, and so am I. So, hopefully God is able to lead us to something where he's not away so much, with training that will include me moving with him... but that's up to Him.

The OCS site has new pics, but I didn't spot him in them. It's still good to be able to see what he was camping and hiking through. Here are a couple from the 4 mile hike they had in week 3.
Kellen wanted me to be sure and say "Thanks" for your letters. They are a great encouragement during the week, and he is happily the recipient of many a letter- so Thank You!!! If you haven't written, but want to be a part of the encouragement, here's the address once again. Thanks again for all the prayers and notes!

Candidate Lake, Kellen, K. 1252

OCS, C Company, 2nd Platoon

2189 Elrod Ave

Quantico, VA 22134-5033