Chaplain Corps Ball

This past Thursday was the Chaplains Corps Ball.

I got to be a sideboy, a member of the cake detail and gave the first toast.

A Sideboy is member of a group of seamen that are posted like a gauntlet on either side of the red carpet, as an honor guard for ceremonies on or off the ship. We are the ones that salute as the captain and/or dignitaries come aboard.

Cake detail are four people who escort the cake into the ceremony. As you can see from the pictures of the Marine Corps Ball, the cake is important and those entrusted to escort the cake in and out can't mess up.

Ice sculpture with the Chaplain Corps symbol on it.

Me with LT Gen Clark (the only other Navy female chaplain on Island), who is rocking the tiara in her dinner mess dress.

Chaplain School Class B12010 reunion! Me with LT Steve Hervey.

Me with RADM Kibbon, the Deputy Chief of Chaplains. Oo-Rah!

Me with Tammy, the CO's amazing secretary.

An Adventure in Movie Going

As this is my first active duty tour, I have many "firsts."

For the first time since coming to Okinawa, I was early to the movie theater.
When the instruction regarding standing when the National Anthem is played, I was confused.
Then people started standing up, coming to attention and the National Anthem (with a motivating military video playing) played.

I was so proud to be standing there, surrounded by fellow sailors and marines - making something mundane, like going to the movies, become a sacred moment in time.

I almost wish this was something done at every movie theater in the country. But then, perhaps the significance would be lost.

First Night of Chanukkah

Chanukkah as fallen onto the night before Thanksgiving. Thanksgivukkah, as some people are calling it.

All I know is that I am hosting the first night. There are 14 people coming and I, in my infinite wisdom, decided to make sufganiyot (doughnuts) from scratch. To be amazing, I decided that I have to make jelly doughnuts.

 Turns out, it wasn't so hard. Thank you Rachel Rappaport for the recipe.

• 3 cups of unbleached flour (sifted)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 Tablespoons sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups low fat sour cream
• Canola oil for frying
• Jelly of your choice
• Powdered sugar

In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, sugar, eggs and sour cream. Mix until well blended. Heat the oil, and when very hot add 1 tbs. of batter to the oil. Fry until doughnut puffs and becomes light brown, then turn and cook on the other side. Repeat until all doughnuts are cooked. Set cooked doughnuts on a paper towel to cool (the paper towel will also absorb the excess oil). To fill the jelly into the doughnut, use a syringe, or you can poke a hole with a skewer (do it slowly) and carefully fill the doughnuts. Sprinkle the doughnuts with powdered sugar and serve immediately. This recipe makes 25 doughnuts.

 Thank you to Madeline and Jason Epstein for helping me decorate.

Global Day of Jewish Learning

I have mentioned the challenge of feeling like we are connected to the greater Jewish community while in Okinawa. The "Global Day of Jewish Learning" was a great way to feel that sense of Amcha - peoplehood.

We met at Starbucks and studied the concept of friendship for about an hour. 

Caffeine and Torah = amazing discussion

Thank you to Mike, Jed, Lara, Shoshana, Naomi and Yoni for the wonderful discussion and Chavurah (friendship).

Alpha Company Marine Corps Birthday Ball

I had the honor of giving the invocation at and attending the Alpha Company MC Ball.
Aside from the wonderful company, I finally got a picture with some of the RPs I work.

The height difference is laughable.
From Left to Right: (now) RP3 Cormier, myself, RP3 Iverson, RP2 Browning.
Missing: RP2 Vasques and RP3s Sablatura and Sisson.

More bars in more places.

Me and RP2 Browning. I can't wait to swear him in at his re-enlistment ceremony.

Me and COL Estes. The CO Battalion Commander.

Marine Corps Birthday Post Script

We may have celebrated the Marine Corps' birthday on Friday, but the actual birthday is November 10th, the same day as my father's birthday. 

Semper Mishpacha.

Yom Huledet Sameach Abbah V' Marines!

Marine Corps Birthday Pageant

On Friday, we celebrated the Marine Corps 238th birthday.

We did so, with a ceremony that honored the Marine Corps' past and its future.

The JROTC dressed in the different uniforms of the MC.

And as is customary, the oldest and youngest marine get to eat cake.

As the H&S Battalion hosted this year, I got to give the invocation.

And this is what I said:

Let us pray.

Supreme Commander,

We thank You for watching over the Marine Corps, standing witness to its birth in Philadelphia 238 years ago.

In your infinite wisdom, You provided the divine inspiration to Captain Samuel Nicholas to form the continental marines to defend our freedoms and liberties in the hope of gaining our independence. You knew that we would need to continue this mission for years to come.  

We are honored that You have chosen us to be not only riflemen but responsible for so much good in the world - helping those in need, protecting the innocent and bringing hope in tumultuous times.

You have blessed our symbol, the eagle, globe and anchor, reminding us of our commitment to defend our nation—in the air, on land and at sea.

We are Your selected few, ever ready to continue our mission, as Isaiah teaches us, “until all swords are turned into plowshares and this world knows not war anymore.” (2:4) Until then, we ask that You continue to stay with us, Your hand on our backs as we endeavor to move forward.

Semper Fi!

Amen.  

R2-D- Postal

While out making rounds to Torii Station, Camps Kinser and Futenma's postal workers (they are H&S Battalion, even though they are on other bases than Foster), I saw this.

I totally geeked out and I don't care!

Ethical Leadership

This week, I taught the Corporal's Course a class in Ethical Leadership.

The students defined leadership easily enough but wrestled with the definition of ethics and it's practical application.

I wanted them to understand that they will need to make decisions for the marines and sailors they lead. They will need to think about the difference between what is right and what is right.

I believe that ethical leadership is like training a muscle. You have to constantly work at, or it becomes atrophied. So too, they need to wrestle with and constantly think through their decisions using the lens of ethics so that, should  a situation arise, they will have the tools to make the ethical decision.

I thought the talk went well.

Needless to say, my joy over the class was short-lived as two students were busted for drinking the night before graduation.

You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the cpl's course...

Tan Belt

After a month of training hard, I have earned my tan belt.
I will wear it with pride.

Thank you, MSgt Roberts, for all the time you spent training me and explaining things over and over to me and for the patience you showed when I wouldn't stop asking so many questions. YUT!

















Grey belt, here I come!

The Right Job

I have officially taken over as the H&S Battalion chaplain.
I am now the chaplain for 1600 marines plus the civilians that share our work spaces and their families.
It is a daunting task. I have marines on every single military base on island, including on the army post and air force base. My second week on the job has gone by so fast and I wish I could keep an more accurate account.

This week, I think I got the validation for myself that I am doing what God wanted of me.

1) I visited PMO (Provost Marshall's office) on multiple bases. For one base, this is the first time they have seen the chaplain since getting to the island. I surprised him with my visit but his thanks was so heart-felt that I was so glad I took the time to stop by and see the on-duty PMO. I was going to skip the visit but something told me that this was important.

2) I have been doing counseling but this week, I had a visit from someone who has a lot on his plate and he's trying to deal with all of it. At the end of the counseling session, he thanked me and walked out with his head held high, rather than looking at his shoes as he had when he first walked in. And some people are questioning the validity of the Chaplain Corps.

Things We Take For Granted

I sometimes forget that on this very tiny rock, some small, and perhaps insignificant things make such an impact.

If the PX gets Chanukkah cards, it could quite possibly be well after the holiday is already over.

The Jewish community in Okinawa has an amazing benefactor in the US who sends us Challot and care packages for Rosh Hashannah. I don't know how she knew, but in her Chanukkah care package, she added four types of Chanukkah cards.

At Friday night Oneg after services, I laid them out and everyone's faces lit up. They just assumed that they would not have access to Chanukkah cards again this year.

Something so simple means the world when you are isolated from the rest of the Jewish world.

Thank you Marla, for your wonderful care packages that lift our spirits.

Thank you Sue and Jack, for sweetening our Shabbat Oneg.  

Evening Entertainment

Apparently, it is normal after going out for sushi for someone to provide evening entertainment in American Village.

I think my classmate, Jen, could have given him a run for his money.

Looking for Miagi

I think I am getting closer...

The sign says "Miagi Coast"

Sunset Beach

I live two and half blocks from the Sunset Beach. People sit and and wait for the most beautiful show each evening. This was one evening. Oh God, how beautiful are Your wonders.

Neighborhood Insignia

I find it fascinating at the neighborhood pride that is around me.
Chatan-Cho, my mihama (neighborhood) has a symbol and it is everywhere.
It is seen on buildings and manhole covers. My friend has it as a tattoo.

It is in the red above the three blue kanji.

In the center of the manhole cover.

At the 3 O'clock in the manhole cover.

Bayonets and Puglesticks

As a chaplain, I do not carry a weapon and I am not trained to use a firearm.
However, MCMAP requires that I learn skills of disarming and using a firearm as a method of ending a conflict.

I held what is called a mokaju (a wooden stick that you would hold just like a rifle and is as long as a rifle with a bayonet attached at the end) and learned to move, thrust, slash, smash and disrupt. The master sergeant and I had a talk about the psychology of killing and the difference it makes being 100 yards away and being 1 foot away. I believed him with my head but not my heart.

It was not until the next day, in full padding and holding a pugle stick (a stick covered with padding, imagine American Gladiators jousting sticks) when I was told to engage with a Marine. I hesitated. My heart was telling me that I cannot hurt this Marine. I went on the defensive. I tried a couple of moves but all resulted with the Marine earning the victory point.

I am not upset at how I did in the sparing session but rather that even after having the discussion with the MsSgt  about the psychology of warfare and the impact of killing someone up close, I could not overcome by basic instincts and do what I had been training to do.

Perhaps that is why I am grateful that as a chaplain, I will not have to make that decision or be in the situation where I may have to kill someone - intimately or any other way.

At the same time, choosing to take this class and learn this martial art, I hope to absorb what I am taught so I can be a more well-rounded chaplain for the Marines I am and will be serving in the future.

The Ethical Warrior

This week, I started training for my tan belt in MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program). This fighting style is designed to combine the physical with the emotional and intellectual. It is not just about how to fight but when to fight and why to fight.

It was no surprise on the first day, after we had worked on movement and angles (footwork), that we talked about honor. It is the foundation of the Marine Corps as well as the Navy - honor, courage, commitment.
We needed to understand what it means to fight honorably and better still, to live honorable lives.

There is an understanding that we who wear the uniform must understand. Because we wear the uniform, we are expected to live honorably, to serve faithfully and to do the right thing, even in a difficult moment. When we do that, we bring honor to the uniform. When we do something wrong, we bring shame and dishonor upon everyone who stands beside them.

Lesson number 1: move with honor

Shisa Dogs

In Japanese culture, as we learned in the movie 'Mulan,' dragons are guardians of the home. You find them on the roofs of homes, in front of buildings and outside of ball parks. These are just a few that I have come across.