Last week on Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday I went to the reserve center in Vallejo to do some make up days and get some paperwork done.  I was supposed to be going down to LA to meet my new Unit and process in there, but the paperwork was delayed and that didn’t happen the way we thought it would.  I was talking to my Chaplain Thursday about 4:30 and he said it probably wasn’t going to happen this weekend either and we will just do it all on Oct 1^st.  Then when I was in class on Thursday night I get a call from him saying our commander approved it and we would be going down on Thursday for a couple days.  Alright I was excited to be able to meet the unit and get to know my Chaplain better since I would be spending a year with him pretty much 24/7.  The trip down went really fast we talked got to know each other’s ministry history and shared some nightmare church stories, it was a good time.  We got down to LA pretty quick and checked into our hotel and hung out for a bit then went got some Sushi it was a relaxing time.                                                       

On Friday morning we got to the unit and sat in on a great PP brief then met with the Commander and started prepping for a suicide brief we would do the next morning part of the Army Safety Stand down, which just means we take the morning to make sure everyone knows not to kill themselves and how to make sure your motorcycle and car is in proper working order.  Chaplain and I met the staff and talked to the guys and Gals who would be going with us.  Over all this entire Unit was very welcoming to a new Chaplain and Assistant.  I know God is going to use us in a big way here and I look forward to what is coming.

Well here I am back at the reserve center in Vallejo.  I ended up getting taken off the case I was working and being put into the Sub pool, I have a couple make up days so I decided to come back here and get some fun paperwork together.  

A couple of weeks ago I noticed that 9/11 was on a Sunday, since this was an important day in my life I wanted to share some thoughts and encouragement to the congregation. I was kind of nervous about it and wasn’t sure what i was going to say.  While on a trip to Reno with my Dad I had a dream where I got up in front of church read a statement and sat back down, my family was there it was one of the clearest dreams I had ever had.  When i woke up i told my dad about this dream and he said I should write it down, so i did.  After I read it out loud it sounded pretty good, I added a few minor touches but I knew this was a message from god.  I am always amazed how God talks to us and encourages us in times when we need him Most.

On September 7th 2001 I joined the US Army to serve as a Chaplain Assistant, I felt God was putting this on my heart and I listened eventually after I got over my own selfish desires. 

It was the right thing to do.

My journey has been long and filled with joy, sadness and frustration.

I served in the Special Forces as a Chaplain Assistant on active duty for four years then transferred to the Army Reserves in 2008

Today we remember a tragic event that happened ten years ago. Many good Men and Women lost their lives that day and others continue to live without loved ones  

It was a senseless act of violence against out country because of hate.

Even if you don’t agree with the war going on right now, I think you could agree that our men and women who are serving deserve our respect and support

We still have young men and women away from home in danger everyday

We still have towns all over our country that are missing key people in their communities

We have wives and husbands missing their significant others 

We have sons and daughters missing their parents

It is an honor for me to have served for the last ten years, it has been quite a journey and learning experience and in January I will have the honor of serving along side my Chaplain in a war zone helping minister and bring our soldiers home.

I will be in a place that isn’t safe and comfy like my living room couch

My wife will be without her husband while I’m gone

My two little girls will be with out a father at home while I’m gone

My Mother and Father and Sister and Brother will be without me while I am gone

But like I said it is an honor for me to be able to serve my country in this way

A country that allows me to be a Pastor and help students find their faith

A country that has allowed me to attend any college I would like and study anything I would like

A country that allows my children to go to school

So In January when I board that plane out of the comfort of a country that has been so good to us I will be proud. 

And as I board that helicopter to the base I will serve at

I’ll be holding my head up, honored to be able to serve this great nation I love

As you reflect on this day please take a moment to remember those serving and those who have served this country we live in.

Please pray for my family during this time.

Thank-You and God Bless 

Jonathan

Chaplain Assistant

United States Army

July 10th2011

I just recently was able to track down a unit to transfer to after almost a year of being pin balled around and not really training anywhere.  I did a weekend with this new unit I would be in and really enjoyed it.  We had family day and a great time.  One of the Chaplains was leaving getting out of the Army, not sure why but sounded like he had enough.  The other Chaplain was transferring to a unit to mobilize; when I first was talking to him it was great to hear his excitement with this.  He knew that it was a huge deal and a hard thing but he was truly excited for the opportunity.

August 3^rd 2011

My new Chaplain asks me if I would like to mobilize as his Chaplain Assistant, I told him I would have to talk it over with my wife and get back to him.  I talked to her and we decided that Yes this was the right thing to do for three reasons

1)      I have not been mobilized as a reservist and I joined in 2008

2)      I knew whom I would be working with and general location of where we would be going.  Chaplain said part of the reason he wanted me to be his assistant is because he knew I had ministry experience and his main goal would be to provide Bible studies and worship services while deployed

3)      I could graduate and land a sweet job then have the Army call me and tell me I am going, possible to a hotter War zone then I would be going

I called my Chaplain the next day and told him I would be honored to be his assistant and mobilize.  It was a hard decision but once it was made I felt much better about it.  Then came the long talks with family and friends and of course all the if questions.

I first after my wife told my brother, he has been a great sounding board in the past and I wanted to let him know what was going on and how it was shaping up.  After that I told my best friend, who replied, “If we have a county in a couple months.” Joking of course.  After that I waited to hear more details and get some kind of rough timeline to tell my employers.

I decided to tell the Church I worked at next and cut ties with them first.  It was hard but I knew with all the training and uncertainty it would be better in the long run.  It was difficult to be leaving because I knew I would probable not be returning to that Church when I got home.  I was going to be finishing my degree and hopefully looking for a full-time ministry spot when I returned back home.  I had worked at this Church for about a year and a half and just started to see some progress in the programming and the students getting excited about what was going on.  They did have a good lead on a new worship member wanting to be involved in Youth Ministry so I really hope that works out for them.

My job with ANOVA was easier because they told me I would have a position when I got back if I wanted it and I could work until I left for training, of course that wasn’t without issue as well.

My Mom ended up finding out by accident I had left a paper I took notes on during my conversation with the Chaplain and she found them.  We talked about it at that point I didn’t really know what was going on.  The next weekend my father and I were going on a short trip together so it was a good time to tell him about it.

August 29^th my orders officially go in for the unit I would have stayed with if I were not mobilizing with the new unit in Southern California.  Since then I have had a difficult time getting information past what I had from before which was Oct 1^st we start training and middle of December we mobilize with a break possible at Christmas and leaving the country sometime in January to a location that I am not sure of yet.

So here I am September 6^th 2011 in my office trying to figure out the next step, unfortunately it is out of my hand at this point, I did some on line training today for a government card woo…. and I electronically signed my orders and was on phone with my Chaplain walking him thru how to sign his orders, tomorrow I’ll be back working at trying to get us orders and lodging for as training this weekend we are suppose to be going to in Sherman Oaks. 

So far I have had to really rely on the fact that this is the right thing for me to do right now and that so many things have fallen into place in my personal life that the Military just takes a little time to catch up.