It is my hope that everyone who is thinking of Katie from afar and praying for her mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health will be emboldened by her words.
Letter #7
Family :)
Hello, I apologize, I have barely any time to write. It has been a busy week & the weeks coming will be even more so. Today is Saturday, I don't know the date... late 20s.. On Saturday - next Saturday we have final drill, then the same day we hop on a bus and drive up north with all of our belongings. I have heard that mail up there is extra slow, so communication might be a little less than present, even though my letters have already been few. I love you guys so much.
The weeks are going by so so fast. I blink and it is Sunday again. I've heard the weeks go by even faster up North, and there are only 4. Then we come back to the depot and spend 2 chill weeks as Marines, preparing for graduation. And preparing to see you all. :)
I remember my first Sunday @ church here, and I saw a company that was on their 6th week, and I though to myself, "Wow, that is so far away." And now I am in their shoes, about to go up north, with name tapes on my cammies, and shoot my rifle finally and hike some mountains. Sleep outside and be in the wild, getting muddy, everything that I signed up for. I've (we've) learned all the show stuff. We've learned hot to march pretty, how to sit pretty, how to hold ourselves well and speak properly, but now we are going to get some dirt under our nails. I'm excited. In 4-5 weeks I will be a Marine.
I have received so many letters from so many people, but I have so little time to write them back, could you pass on some messages for me? To grandma Schei, I have been thinking about her too :) I can't wait to get a photo of me in my blues and compare it to the picture of her in her blues. (By the way, we all got fitted for our uniforms this week! They are getting taylored right now! We will look so good).
To grandma & grandpa Berges, tell them I love their letters and am so grateful for their prayers. I cannot wait to see them at graduation heart
To aunt Hannah, I think about her mapping me around the base and smile when I am standing in line at the chow hall. Tell her I love her lots and ask her to wrap Basil up for me. And! If she has time, tell her I would love another letter! About how daily life is going and how the new school year starts out.
When does school start on the island this year?
I haven't received any letters from Macrina, I'm not sure if she just hasn't sent any or if they are getting lost in the mail. I need to write her. Please let her know I love her lots and can't wait to see her at graduation if she still chooses to come heart I would love to see her :) here. Please make sure she has the correct address just in case she is trying to write, but tell her I know she is busy so if she hasn't had time that is okay heart.
Tell the boys I need more letters from them! I love ben's little updates, and I miss them like crazy. I can't wait to see them.
Over all, I am doing good. This week we did the combat fitness test, you can look up the specifics, but I scored like a 272 on it, the score is out of 300! I got 85 ammo can lifts in 2 minutes, and the cans weigh about 35 lbs. That was a record for me. The max is 66!
I am nervous for the upcoming week. We have all our tests coming up as well as final drill, then North. I am one of the 10 "confident testers" selected from my platoon to take all the test early, DI Sgt Bijerano has picked up on my brains. We have a 100 question knowledge test, then a rifle disassemble test as well as a rifle functions check (all easy) and then a scenario (deadly injury scenario) with a dummy. They mimic a combat zone for us in a room and we are required to aid an injured dummy while suppressing the "enemy". Overall it takes like 3 minutes.
But! I will do all of that a day early, then be a prat of a helping party on the actual test day. Me and 10 from each platoon will help administer the tests. That will be cool!
What is the reference "ring man" come from? I did the weapons function check really fast the other day for my DI, and she said, "okay schei, get back on line Ringman." Then she smirked and said, "I bet you don't know that reference." I am so curious what it means. And! What is the price of gas?!
There are some things I would like you to send me when I get back to the depot after north! For the last 2 weeks and graduation we are allowed to wear contax! So I would love for you to send me 2 weeks worth then, but not until then I will keep you posted.
Tomorrow is church. And! We get an extra 30 minutes of sleep tonight (every Sunday) and I don't have fire watch! So a full 8 hours of un-interrupted sleep is awaiting me. I will add onto/finish this letter tomorrow. For now, goodnight heart
Sunday (27th?)
I love you guys so much. I slept well last night, with all 8 hours! I am currently sitting in church, crying of course. Sunday are the only days for us to decompress. You look around and even the guys are crying openly. We are all in the same shoes, all experiencing the same difficulties.
Today I am praying again for peace. I am also praying for strength, physical & mental strength. All our DIs are saying that probably 20 o fus will break up North w/ the hiking and the weight. I know I am more physically prepared than most girls, but I am still nervous. I am just praying for strong hips and bones and lots of stamina. I am very nervous for this week, all the tests, but I know that I will be okay. If this week goes by as fast as the last few weeks have... then in the blink of an eye I will be on a bus to Pendleton.
I love the pastor I'm listing to right now. He is very engaging. We are talking about Mark ch. 5.
I love you guys so much. I have completely decompressed. My mind is empty. I don't have much more to say. Please pray for this week and the upcoming weeks. The next letter I write will probably come from Pendleton! My address stays the same.
I am halfway through. I love you.
- Your daughter & sister, Katie heart
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