Libo 3 and Letters

What a wonderful break this libo was! Kellen was free at 1:30pm on Sat and he didn't have to be back until 6pm on Sun! Kellen's aunt and uncle were out of town, but we were still able to make use of their fine home as usual. We were sorry to miss them, but it was such a luxury to be selfish with one another and not share :) We did skype with his parents both days, and it was great for them to catch us up on what's going on in Brazil, as well as for them to see Kellen in much better spirits from their first skype visit 2 weeks ago. Things are beginning to settle into routine a bit I guess. Kellen knows more about what's the be expected; the instructors are easing up and treating them more "humanely". There's still yelling when you mess up, etc, but most of the candidates are a bit immune to it; you take the yelling, and the assigned essay and learn that lesson- don't take it to heart and let it break you down.

Kellen spent plenty of time studying and writing essays for the week ahead, and had me help him with studying. It's not very romantic, I know, but it's time spent together, and it's a way I can actually help him aside from praying and bringing food. As always the food part played a large role. I brought up a fav of his, fried chicken with rice and beans (Brazilian). I kept the chocolate/peanut butter dessert theme going, with much success. The only time I seem to cook these days is right before I head up to VA :) I also got to whip up a nice, big breakfast with pancakes and sausage on Sunday morning. Those meals, plus eating at a great burger joint (Five Guys) and Pizza Hut made for a very filling weekend.

I was blessed to have Monday off, so I spent one more night in VA and made the drive back refreshed this morning.

Pray extra hard for Kellen this week. Mon-Thurs he is his platoons leader. He's responsible for letting his men know what they'll need, when they'll go places and then walking them there, commanding the march, etc. He admits that the verbal aspect is not his strong suit; the instructors call him out on that regularly for stuttering or stumbling over his words. He knows what and how to say things, but once he gets to where he needs to say it they get kind of mixed up and he struggles with it. I'm sure they're hoping to use this as a time to drill the importance of getting it right. And with the march he has to wait for the right beat to give commands, and that's kind of a musical rhythmic thing, which is also not his strength. So keep him prayed up! The best thing is, Kellen isn't afraid to try. He volunteers to ask questions when he and the other candidates are talking, because they're hesitant to do it. He knows the worst the instructors can do is yell and assign an essay, and he can survive that. I think he's brave to go out on a limb like that, but he'll improve with practice I know. They're limited to 2 essays (max) a week, so far he's meeting that quota, sometimes the essays go to the next week if he's assigned a 3rd in a week.

Kellen is half-way done. He just started week 6 of 10. There's another "board" where they evaluate the candidates on week 7 and 9. He's testing well physically and academically, so it's still looking good. God has been very faithful to us and blessed Kellen with some great friends. He realized that he is surrounded to the left and right, and his bunk mate as well, by men who were already in the Marines before OCS. He said, "No wonder I look so bad at inspection!" But, they really have helped him in getting his gear as it should be, etc. These priors are full of info and understand a lot of what's required of them without it being explained since it's all part of the military lifestyle that Kellen didn't really possess.

His knee seems to be mostly healed up, and doesn't bother him too much. He's still on antibiotics, and once they run out he goes back to sick bay for a check up to make sure he's all healed up.

I'll conclude with a couple letters from last week. Thanks again for your letters and prayers- they're VERY encouraging!

Letter1- Monday, Feb 9
Guess what- I have another essay to write!!
Today was a PT crazy day. First we had a test on uniforms (boring). Then, we got ready and ran the O-course, ran 880 sprints (half a mile) then ran in circles screaming and doing push-ups or star-jumps, etc. After that we went on a 3 mile hike to take our land nav class. After which we had to hike back, so I'm beat.
I love you. Hope you're happy.

Letter2- Tuesday, Feb 10
I have another essay to do. But I passed my 5 mile run 36:53 and I passed my 3 mile run in boots in 23:00. Running up huge hills in boots sucks! I hate it. But I lived. This week has been PT hell. OH! We did the Quigly {a big swampy area with obstacles} and had to break the ice to get into it. But it wasn't that bad.
I need to write an essay on belligerence, because I smiled and rolled my eyes.
I'm so exhausted- everyone is. The reason we only had one test is because this week is super PT week.
Can't wait to see you. Love you with all my heart.