Isaiah 42:16

[SailorSister7]

 My best friend, John, left for boot camp on July 2, 2012. He joined on September 29, 2011, but since he was still in high school, he was in DEP up until his ship date. When John told my boyfriend, who he lived with, and I about joining the Navy we had very different opinions on his choice. Throughout the next 10 months, however, we all learned so much about dependence, support, and hope. It has now been two weeks since John has been in boot camp. It feels like he's been gone for ages and the next seven weeks feel like eternity. We recently received the form letter from him, and just his handwriting in the blanks give me some sort of comfort. It's hard when a friend/brother is stripped away so quickly, even when you have time to prepare for it, but I can't realize the worry from the mothers. Shortly after John left, I found this verse in my devotion:

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths...I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."
Isaiah 42:16

The devotion that went along with this told a story about a woman who was driving her everyday route to work when she came upon a detour. This, as it would a great majority of us, frustrated the woman. For weeks she had to leave a little earlier and go out of her way to get to her workplace. The annoying construction signs reminded her daily of the change that had been made in her life for what seemed for worse. However, after several weeks of detours and traffic, the construction was finished and the woman had the opportunity to return to her usual route. As she drove along the newly paved road she noticed all the other construction had taken place. The buildings had been remodeled. There was a new park in the neighborhood. All the adjustments had been for the better.

I constantly think of this story. Our original route consisted of texting every night and hanging out all the time, where now we wait patiently for letters and August 31, to see his shaven head. Although this drastic change has all of our lives tipped upside down, we have hope that all of this will be for the better. I know John will excel in the Nuke program, and I know that although we will be distanced physically, our friendship will be one to last a lifetime.

I call this my boot camp verse, and my favorite part is the last line. The Chief told John, and John later ensured me that the hardest part of the experience would be the time away from friends and family. I'm here in my little town with all the support from my family, friends, boyfriend, and church that I'd ever need, but since John is not here to physically see all the support he has, Cody, my boyfriend, and I were worried that he would get lonely. The Lord said, "I will not forsake them," and that gives me and hopefully John hope that he is never alone.

Two weeks gone, seven more to go. <3

[binladyleela ship 09 div 166]

My son graduated bootcamp June 1, 2012. It was very hard for me as a mother to let go, but I knew God carried him under His wing, plus my son loves Jesus and is not ashamed.

The hardest part for me, was not being able to talk with him on a regular basis. He left bootcamp and is in A school and even though he's many hours from me, it's easier. I can talk to my son on a regular basis and it makes a big difference. 

I still miss him and it's been hard not having him around, but one thing is for sure-God is with him and that gives me comfort and peace!!

Thank you for this verse. I wrote it on my hand to remind me that God is with both of us. We are both traveling on unfamiliar paths while my son is in the Navy.

Good luck to your friend. I hope he realizes how blessed he is to have the support back home. Send LOTS of letters, even a postcard to say hello. I would send my son the comic pages from the Sunday paper. That way he could share with others too. I would get cards for everyone to sign with a word or two from them.

Sometimes there wasn't much to write about, so I tried to fill those times in with cards and other little things I could think of. I sent pictures too. I even found some (clean) jokes and military jokes online to send (even though they were a little corny). Anything I could think of that was upbeat, to make my son smile. As hard as it is on us back home, it's even harder on them. 

I hope I've returned the blessing and helped you in some way while your friend is in bootcamp.

GOoD luck and God speed!

[SailorSister7]

Thank you so much! It's hard being new to the whole Navy idea with the little information I've been given. We just received his form letter, so I'm fixing to bombard him with all kinds of mail. It is such a blessing to know there are other people out there like you.