April 14, 2008
The Prince Family
Herald
April 14, 2008 Volume 1 Issue 3
Lots of Letters!
We have received so many wonderfully descriptive letters from some of you, and had good, long phone conversations with others, that this newsletter is going to be primarily focused on sharing excerpts from the news you all have given.
Good News!
We are very thankful to report that both Adeline and Andrew are much better and have been or will be transferred from hospital to areas where they can fully build up renewed strength in the Lord. It was very helpful and encouraging to us that they were able to talk with home and with Joanna in New Hampshire and in Andrew’s case, with Diana in Vermont as well, while under the Lord’s care in hospital. They shared with us how He was showing Himself very present and strong. George and Joshu report the same in their letters. A “very present help in time of trouble” as Joshua received.
Joshu Lays Some “Ground Work”
In one of his letters last week Joshu reported on the day his company left reception for BCT and he found himself alone in an empty bay, and rather a messy one at that after an earlier than expected departure of the company. So, being sure that he would also be moved to another building where “holdovers” as they are called, stay, he packed up all his things to take over there. Then, with no one there to give any other instructions, he just happily busied himself doing a thorough cleaning of bathrooms and bay before he left it. He was assisted by another holdover who didn’t quite clean up to Joshu’s standards, but was some help. Shortly thereafter he learned that a General was coming to visit to inspect a new building on the base. The laying of the sod for the grounds of the new building had not yet been completed and the sidewalks were a muddy mess, so Joshu and helper were assigned by the Drill Sergeant to sweep those walks and lay sod. Sweeping wouldn’t do it, it was so mucky, so Joshu looked about and saw a board that could be used as a scraper and that did a much better job. Next thing he knew a group of recruits was brought over by a major to help lay the sod, but had no idea how to do it. So, “General Prince”, a sod layer from way back, stepped up to the plate and began showing them how. He says they were so glad to be told how to do something in normal tones that they responded well and the sod was laid. This did not go unnoticed by the major, a woman, who came by and expressed much appreciation.
He was, of course, very anxious to see Fred if he could and was able to go to the place where the new recruits were piling in on Tuesday night at midnight, forgetting that Fred would be spending Tuesday night in Houston and not arrive until Wednesday night. He called here Wednesday morning to tell us Fred hadn’t come and we were able to tell him he would be there that night. BUT, that didn’t happen either! And that was Fred’s story to tell when he called from a Days Inn in Atlanta on Thursday morning.
Fred’s First Assignment!
Fred received his first “Command” before he even left Houston! There were 6 in the group from MEPS that were going to Ft. Benning. Fred was made group leader over them. When the plane arrived in Atlanta however, and the bus came for the recruits it didn’t have enough seats for all of them. They asked for volunteers to stay overnight in Atlanta and be picked up the next day. They were exactly 6 seats short. Because group leaders shouldn’t break their groups up, and Fred’s was the only group of 6, he volunteered his group to remain. This greatly upset one of the group members who was very anxious to get to Benning and he was very verbal about it. In Fred’s group there was an older recruit who was joining the Army to make a career of it. He had a very mature attitude. Definitely the Staff at work to be a support to and to be used as a “teacher” for Fred. He told the complaining recruit that if he responded to a situation like this where he was perfectly comfortable with food and good lodging provided, how was he going to respond under stress in a battle environment? He was being very foolish. He should look at the advantage of having a good night’s rest, a good breakfast and dinner before the bus came, etc. The recruit backed down under this “wisdom from the Lord” and they all stayed overnight. This put Fred in a situation where he had to be sure they all stayed together, got their meals and passes and were on time at the airport so they could have dinner there and be ready for the bus. When some of the group exhibited inappropriate behavior at the Inn in their choice of reading material and wanted beer, again the older recruit advised Fred how to handle it and that was very helpful too. Thrown into a completely new and strange situation, The Lord was there with the necessary help showing again that He always will be! Fred was very thankful. As of this writing we don’t know if he and Joshu have been able to get together but hope they will and we can tell you before this is mailed.
Too Much of a Good Thing
We had another letter from Joshu today relating how the Lord has overcome a situation that almost overcame him. One of the drill sergeants, determined that Joshu is too thin and needed to eat more, was forcing him to eat so much at meals, even to going back through the line, that it made Joshu very ill to his stomach. Joshu is on reduced activity (much to his distress as there is little he is given to do) and not allowed by the dental surgeon to do much in Physical Training for fear he may break his jaw before surgery! (Well, she said a recruit did fall asleep doing push ups once and broke his so this is a “valid concern”. Hrumph!) But we know all that is happening is in the Lord’s hands and for His reasons. To paraphrase the title of an old TV show, Father DOES know best! Naturally Joshu doesn’t need huge meals right now. Finally, sure that there must be something wrong with Joshu, said DS sent him to the doctor, refusing to believe that Joshu weighed as much as he said he did. The doctor (Staff) was quite understanding of Joshu’s situation, found he did weigh 153 and sent him back to the DS with a clean bill of health. The DS, still refusing to believe it, went to see the doctor himself and when he returned he was quite different and did not interfere with Joshu’s meals any more and, in fact, became friendly and helpful to him. Joshu was quickly restored from the ill effects of the “forced feeding” and is able to enjoy his food once again. We are VERY THANKFUL for this deliverance and the very clever way it was orchestrated by the Lord! Deliverance comes daily, minute by minute, and in ways only the Lord can do!
More Mail from George!
We received two very good and greatly appreciated letters from George on Wednesday 4/9. We are thankful his pink eye from the tear gas is cleared up. He did report that he has also had a bad cold. The past couple weeks have been filled with training in Battle Ready Gear, and that really is heavy for him, especially when he is under the weather so to speak. Three mile marches and runs, impossible for him but the Lord brought him through each time, and not only made him able to keep going, but caused him to be able to help others with their gear and in other ways where needed. He says that he finds himself coming out of his “reclusive self” and being involved with noticing and helping where he can. They were taken to the PX one day where he purchased some needed items. He took a very practical view and said, though there were many things that might be nice to have, this wasn’t the time as they would only have to be dealt with when being transferred. He did, however, settle on one “luxury” item; he bought a box of very attractive stationery which has the Army insignia with eagle on the pale blue shaded pages and on the corner of the envelopes. He said he felt it was “fit for a King.” The letter he wrote on it did look very nice indeed and, the paper, being a bit larger than the small yellow tablets, made the writing easier to read. We are very thankful the Lord provided that for him, it is very thoughtful. (Though never fear, no matter what you all have to write on at any given time is FINE with us! Birch bark can work well if that is all that is available!) At the end of his last letter, George reported that he did a Battle Ready 4 mile run and it was not a problem.
It is Sabbath today, and you all are here though far away, and Sabbath blessings are being sent to you!
Joanna gets a Lap Top!
Joshua’s laptop was sent to her and quickly set up on the Sunapee Cove Assisted Living Center’s wireless network where she is consulting. She is able to use a very nice Lexmark printer/color copier/fax/scanner Diana purchased a year ago for her LT but it never worked quite right with hers. So Joanna is all set in the email department now and enjoying immensely having the privacy and convenience of her own computer, and her messages home are even more detailed now they don’t have to be hand written for faxing!) We are so thankful for that solution!
We wanted to be sure to tell you all that the snapdragons Joshu planted last year out front are making a beautiful multi colored display at least 2/3rds of the way down that bed. A bouquet of them was picked for C. on Friday and He commented on how much He liked them and what pretty flowers they are. (Maybe they need some snapdragons planted around the new building, Joshu, you could volunteer for that!)
Sabbath Evening, April 12: A call from Adeline today related that she has been released from hospital and reported to sick bay at her unit. She is being given a 30 day rest and recuperation time to get back on her feet and then start training all over renewed and well. All agree this is the best course as she has only had a week and a half of BCT. She may be able to come home during that time but that has not been definitely decided. By tomorrow it might be!
George Sets His “Sight” on the Lord
George called tonight and he is in sick bay now. He was sent because his cough at night was still severe. He didn’t know how long he would be there. We are glad he was able to call. He told us that on his marksman test he was not hitting the target well at all until he realized that he was afraid that if he failed it he would have to return to BCT and start over, as the DS kept warning. Once he determined that the Lord was in control and whether he passed or not was in the Lord’s hands and either way would be for good, immediately he understood the instructions on how to use the sight and then he started hitting the target and passed the test!
The weather reports for each of your forts show cold nights in the 30′s or lower for the next few days. Our days and nights are cooler too, low upper 30′s and low 40′s, this weekend and early week so we are making good use again of the firewood Fred had stocked us with! The days though are a very pleasant mid and upper 70′s, and we know you will be glad for warmer weather as it comes too.
Sunday April 13: Joshu called this morning. He does know Fred is there and was able to say hello to him in chow line one day and smile and nod at another time at chow. Joshu is in A Company and Fred is in C Company. However, this weekend, when the DS’s for A Co. were off duty, Joshu got switched over to B Co. so perhaps if he keeps moving he will get to C Co. yet! Joshu also said that, though the inactivity is difficult for him at times, the Lord has been making good use of his freedom to observe the reception and processing of large numbers of troops as they come and go and that has been very educational and worthwhile to see. Looks like the Huntsville Hustlers aren’t alone in hustling new recruits, though they do a really good job of it!
We did read on the ARMY/MIL news two days ago that President Bush has made it official now. Beginning in August, troop deployment to Iraq will be 12 months and no longer 15. He says this has been made possible by the success of the “Surge” operation that was put into effect when Al Q and other insurgents had gained the upper hand there. That operation has gained the objective of subduing the insurgency, making Iraq safer and making Iraqi troops more capable of handling their own security. Hence deployments can be shortened and the order also states that leave time between multiple deployments to Iraq will be 12 months.
Fred was able to make a 10 minute call (8 minutes talk time!) last night and we were very glad to hear from him and for his safe arrival. The delay had the benefit of his group being processed in just one day so they would be caught up with the rest of the company! And he got a good night’s sleep before it all began.
Monday April 14: We will be mailing today. We realize some of you have already heard some of these stories over the phone, but hope there is some news for each of you here. If there are any major inaccuracies in the reporting we will be happy to print corrections as we receive them! However, we are very, very thankful that, because He is in control, all these “war stories” in the Lord have a “happy ending” and that is the main thing being learned there and here!
We still have a little space here for late breaking news, but in the event there isn’t any, we are so glad for each of your contributions to this report J. Signing off for this week with great thankfulness for all we have seen and learned in it!
A Garden Update from contributing editor, B. A. –
The tomato plants, (Cherries and Romas), are setting little fruits and summer squash is sprouting in the garden. The new pepper plants are doing very well also. Thank You, Father!
