SURPRISE......

So, I just found out that Will has a 4 day weekend so a few people at church helped me and we found something somewhat reasonable for me to fly down and surprise Will for the 4th of July. I am leaving the kiddos with my parents and off to GA I will fly on Wednesday. I will pick Will up at his barracks on Thursday morning. I am so excited! And I know this will be a great break for him to get away from his barracks and out and about. Pray that the kids will do well with my parents and that this will not be bad timing with the stress and emotional status of Kierra. Oh, and we are not telling them that I went to see Will. I just went on a trip for a few days. I will be home Sunday night late. :-)

4th Week in the books!

June is almost over and I am headed into week 5 of OCS. I'm glad to know that I am 1/3 of the way complete with this school, but there are still a lot of things we have to complete before co missioning on the 21st of August. This last week we were in a classroom most of the week learning tactics and troop leading procedures. The week did drag a little towards the end, but we did get to give back to the community here in Columbus, GA on Saturday and that was fun. We did a service project for Habitat for Humanity and we landscaped (leveled, dug up, and laid sod) for 4 houses as well as tore down another house that had been burned in a fire. It is fun to see what 150 people can do when they all work together.

I went to a different chapel service today and it was pretty good. I enjoyed the upbeat worship style. The sermons here don't measure up to what Pastor Clint gives out every Sunday but God still speaks to me through each messenger that I have heard. I signed up to work in the Children's department, so hopefully I'll get a chance to serve while I'm here as well. I also go to a Bible study on Tuesday nights that is very enjoyable. God is really speaking to my heart about humility and patience...which seems to be my main purpose for attending this course. :) j/k I am thankful to have my Lord and Savior here to keep me motivated through whatever comes my way.

We have a 3 day week next week and then a 4 day weekend for the 4th of July. I don't have any plans, but I know that several people are looking forward to getting away from the barracks for a break from each other and the course. I find out in two weeks what branch (career field) I will be getting to choose. I am leaning towards selecting Air Defense Artillery...but I possible could select Military Police. Please pray for me in this decision as I want to go wherever the Lord has for me. :)

I pray that all is well with you and yours. Feel free to drop me an email (will.andrews@us.army.mil)

A Soldier For Christ

Will

3rd Week Complete

We made it through another week here at OCS. This week was a little more difficult than the rest because we had inexperienced student leadership; but we made it through and God is good. We had leadership classes (which I really enjoyed) and military justice/law classes as well. We also completed the Leadership Reaction Course which is a number of obstacles that each squad (10-12 people) have to complete in a short amount of time. The obstacles were fun and we had a good time taking turns leading our squads through.

My morale is high because the Lord continues to bless me in all things here at OCS. Every week I meet someone new who needs an encouraging word from the Lord and I am thankful for the opportunity to share. Continue to pray for my family as I am away. Danae does an amazing job by herself, but we are all missing each other as we have gone over the one month away mark.

I know that many of you are wondering what are the times to try and communicate with me...weekends are best to try and call, but email is probably the best way right now. I usually get to check the internet on the weekends so I can respond to anyone who wants to drop me a line.

I love you guys and hope that all is well.

A Soldier For Christ

Will

We're Home...

Well, we're all home safe and sound, but we had a GREAT trip. It was so good to see family. The girls saw all their cousins from my mom's side of the family (my real MOM) and they had a blast. Kierra wanted to stay there for a long time longer she said, but it was time to come home. We are headed to Georgia the middle of August to see Will and I have annual training with the National Guard coming up so it was time to part, but we had a good visit.

Will sounds good. We are anxious to hear our duty station and branch but I think that will be another 3 weeks of waiting. He is sitting number one in the class right now and that is where he has to stay to compete for what he wants. There is only one slot for the branch he wants.

We are doing well. Pray for the girls as they are having a tough time without their daddy. They miss him so much.

In HimDanae

Second Week Down

Week 2 is in the books here at OCS...less than 10 weeks to go. :) God has continued to provide me the motivation necessary to be His messenger here in GA. This past week we got the opportunity to jump in the pool during the combat water survival test. All in all it was a pretty good week. Next week we head to the classroom to learn leadership skills and ethics. I'm looking forward to the education and continuing on with this necessary process. :)

Danae and the girls made it safely to West Virginia where they are spending time with family. They return home next Thursday so please be in prayer for their safety. The girls are continuing to adjust to me being gone, but I think they are progressing.

In 4 weeks I will know what branch (career field) I will be placed in, which will be welcomed knowledge. So far I have done pretty well in all of the required tasks...and we have several more tests coming up in the next few weeks.

Thanks for your prayers and I ask that you keep them coming.

God Bless

Will

First Week

Well I made it thru my first week of OCS, and it really hasn't been that bad. The school is adapting their techniques and trying a new concept on my class. They are giving us much more responsibility to conduct our training and as such we have more freedoms than other cycles before us. This is a good thing and a bad thing. Sometimes little direction can lead to chaos and confusion...that is our challenge...we have to keep ourselves in check and all work together. :) So far it is going pretty well.

We took a physical fitness test and also completed an obstacle course. The obstacle course was a ton of fun - rope climbs, sliding down ropes, jumping over objects, balancing beams 10 feet off of the ground...good fun training. :)

Please keep one of the members of my platoon in prayer. I don't want to give out all the details, but please pray for him. The Lord knows what he needs. God continues to bless me here and my family back home. Be in prayer for Danae and the girls as they travel next week to West Virginia.

Being away from my girls is difficult, but I know that I am exactly where the Lord wants me so that makes this all worth while. :)

I love and miss you guys.

Will

Will's Address

I have finally gotten an address for Will, so I will post it. Letters are a great thing to send him.

OC Will D Andrews
Class 09-08 2nd Plt C co
3rd BN (OCS), 11th IN Regg
7480 Riorean St
Ft Benning Ga 31905-4410

Please be in prayer for our branch. Will would really like Military Police (MP) but there are only 2 slots available for that and a few hundred people to compete against. Pray that God would put us where He would have us. I know Will would be okay with other branches, but that was his top pick.

As for the girls and I, we are doing well. I had a strange opportunity last night to go with a friend and watch her harvest organs for transplant. That has to be the coolest thing medically I have ever done. A little wiggy at first, but once we got into it my nerves and stomach setteled down and it was crazy cool.

We will leave on Monday for West Virginia to see my Mom's side of the family and will be gone for 2 weeks. Hopefully when we get home summer will have started here in Idaho.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.

Danae