Sometimes, I write a really thorough letter to someone telling them a lot of things going on in my life right now, and see no reason why I should not just reproduce the letter here on the blog to inform everyone of the same situations. It’s much easier than writing a whole entry pretty much saying the same thing as the letter. And there’s nothing real personal in here that I wouldn’t discuss with anyone.
Dad,
As you know, Sarah and I have been in communication with the National Guard about ways to supplement our income. At first, I was only interested in a trade-based job in the Guard and the benefits and sign on bonuses that would come with that, but then my recruiter, Sgt. Hall, suggested the chaplaincy. I have been in touch with Lt. Walker, National Guard chaplain, and it seems like it would be a real blessing to us.
First of all, as soon as my paperwork is done and I enroll in a seminary (possibly as soon as next month), I would be commissioned as a 2nd Lt. This was a surprise to me, because I thought I would not be commissioned until after graduation from seminary. I would also begin going to drill 1 weekend every month and 2 weeks during the summer and it would begin a 6-year term of service. The Guard would entirely pay for seminary (I think I would go to Southeastern for the first year or two so we don’t have to move) and I would be required to take a full-time course load (12 hours of classes plus at least another 12 hours studying a week on average), plus we would receive money from the Montgomery G.I. bill and something they call “The Kicker” totaling roughly $400-$500 a month, and that’s on top of the ordinary monthly drill pay of $300-$400. It would be like going to seminary full time and being paid $800-$900 a month. Upon graduation from seminary, I would receive a $10,000 bonus and get my Cross, becoming a full chaplain. During seminary, chaplains are non-deployable and they are also non-deployable for 3 years after graduation, which means I would never be deployed. After my 6 years, I go into 2 years of IRR (Inactive Reserve Resources or something like that) where I’m on call and report monthly by phone and be ready to be called in for different things. There are a number of other benefits, including affordable life insurance and other perks that would assist our family.
Of course we could not pay our bills with this income alone, and I don’t want Sarah to work now. We figured out that it is barely possible to pay our bills if I work as a substitute teacher daily and take some shifts at the restaurant, but this is not a permanent solution by any means. Lt. Walker suggested I look into teaching assistance in the public school system as a good job to go with seminary, and so I went to the Wake County schools website and found there are many openings for teacher’s assistants and I more than meet the requirements. In fact, I think I could be at a higher pay-grade than the minimum (for someone with an associates degree and no experience) and make anywhere from $22 to $25k for the regular, 9 month school year–and even more for working year round. This, along with the National Guard money, would easily pay our bills and even let us add to our savings. Most of these openings are at elementary schools, which I think would be fun and a good job with a good schedule for someone also in seminary. I’ve already sent my letter of interest, along with my resume and letter of recommendation, to 4 schools, all within 15 minutes of our new apartment (one of them is Douglas Elementary, where the Sarah’s mom and her brothers and sister went).
Something that is troubling me a little bit is the fact that Lt. Walker told me that, from day one of commission and seminary, I would be considered a chaplain candidate, assigned to a unit, introduced as “chaplain”, and performing many of the duties of a chaplain, including assisting with services and meetings. Of course I would not be comfortable with preaching or conducting services since I am not ordained. Frankly, sometimes I feel it is a joke that I could ever be ordained by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, because it is such a good, rigorous church and I don’t think of myself as a great, mighty man of faith. All I know is that I understand what true blessing is and I want to seek it at all costs, as well as incite others to do the same. Now I’m not exactly sure what the Army wants in terms of church affiliation, but I need to be endorsed by the church to qualify for the program. I plan on meeting with my Pastor, Doug Withington, to find out if the session could approve me to begin this work or not. I feel this approval from the church is something that will really help me determine the Lord’s will in this matter.
Mom told me you were worried about me joining the National Guard, but now that I am looking into the chaplaincy, I am so much more at peace with it, and it seems like such a great thing. What better way could there be to go to seminary? I hope that knowing all this makes you feel better about it too. I would appreciate any of your thoughts.
Love,
Blake
PS - We had an ultrasound last Wednesday but your grand-baby would not tell us if it is a boy or a girl! This was our last scheduled ultrasound before the delivery, so now it is going to have to be surprise, because it only gets harder and harder to see what the baby is the later you wait, because it grows bigger and is more cramped inside there. Sarah was really sad that we could not find out, and started crying on the exam table (but only for a minute). She wanted to buy either blue or pink baby clothes, pick out a name, chose colors for the nursery, etc., but most of all she doesn’t like calling the baby an “it” for the next 3 months. Everything else with the baby and Sarah is great and we have set up appointments at Human Services and they have assigned us to deliver at WakeMed, and all of this is free or close to it, so even if it is not the best in healthcare, it is sufficient and makes us feel less like neglectful parents.
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