Family and mugs

There are things on deployment that help make the separation from family and friends a little easier.

In the moments when I miss my family, it helps to have something that I can hold, or pictures I download from my family when we are in a port.

And sometimes, it is a mug with pictures of my family on it.
Because my brother is awesome, he sent it to me.

Keeping Things Fresh: Welding Class 101

So, what do you do to keep things fresh on deployment?
Learn a new skill.

Why not learn welding with HT1?

Groundhog's Day

Yep. This is where we are in the phases of deployment.

It literally feels like every day is the same. 

I looked at the Plan of the Day (POD), and realized it was Friday. 

Wasn't it Friday yesterday?

Sea Legs and Sea Service Ribbon

It has only taken about half a deployment to finally get my sea legs.

I still feel the ship moving, but I also don't get sea sick and haven't taken any medication.

I am jealous of those who were like this from day one but I am really glad I finally got to this place.

What's interesting, is that I acquired my sea legs at the same time that I earned my Sea Service Ribbon (at least 90 days at sea).

Busan COMREL

We made a port visit to Busan, and while there, we got to do a COMREL (volunteer event) at an orphanage. We got to play with the kids and then clear a space that will be repurposed for the community.

Baby Dolphins - see, I am on a cruise!

I always come up to the bridge about 15 minutes earlier than necessary to give evening prayer. 

Tonight, I got to see a school of young dolphins. It was breath taking. Something like 25-30. 

At first, I did not know what I was seeing but the longer I stared, the more amazing what I saw became. Seeing this group of baby dolphins simply reminded me about how amazing the world is that God created. 

Mah Rabu Ma’asecha, Adonai! How beautiful are your creations, O Lord.

Driving the ship

It's July 4th and we celebrated with cake.

I celebrated by being allowed to helm the ship for a bit.


I know they told me there is nothing to hit out where we are but that's what they said on the Titanic!!!

Staying in my lane (Why I am here)

Aboard ship, so much of what goes on has nothing to do with religious ministry. And sometimes, it feels like I do not do enough, because I do not stand the watch. My job is not to make sure that the wrenches get turned, but that those holding the wrenches are good to go. 

I want to make a worthwhile contribution to the ship, and at the same time, stay in my lane. 

I have had to learn that it is okay to work the hours I need to, to accomplish what is in my area of responsibility.

Which means, making sure services are running smoothly, building on services, like a meditation service and the like.

It means walking the deckplates at night and therefore, finding time during the day to workout, and even catch a nap.

And I have to be okay with my limited scope of responsibility. I am not a SWO (surface warfare officer). I should not then, try to emulate their schedules or what they do.

I chaplain. Period.

That is why I am here.

Chaplain Snack Time

Due to the generosity of care packages from people I know and those whom I do not, I got to hand out candy and snacks to sailors around the ship. I told them all that it was “Chaplain snack time.” We are all tired, hot and busy. Their smiles were such a reward. I may need to institute this on a more consistent basis.

God Willing, the future chaplains are already amazing

I have been working with two students who, God Willing, will become Navy chaplains when they are ordained from JTS. They have been asking me questions about how I handle different aspects of chaplaincy, other religions, being Jewish on a ship… and so these two amazing people put together a care package that specifically included stuff for my Muslim sailor. 

They sent him Halal jerky.

Because they cared.

Because they understood that being an observant minority is hard everywhere, and especially on a ship.

'They are the embodiment of what every chaplain should strive to be – one who cares for everyone, period.

FWWD – fresh water wash down

Consistently, throughout the deployment, we use fresh water to wash off the salt deposits on the exterior of the ship. Basically, we do a car wash for the ship. I should have worn civvies, rather than my coveralls. Just like a car wash, you get wet. But it was a great time to spend with my sailors.

The blessing of a Liturgical tradition

This past week, when Shabbat came, I felt at peace. I closed the Siddur (prayer book) and davened (prayed) with more appreciation for our liturgy than I have ever had before. I watched the sun set from the 4^th level deck and recited the words I knew by heart. I was comforted by the words I know so well. 

The difference is, that each night I write evening, and I have to be creative. Each night, I have to come up with something new and meaningful … something.

Sometimes I struggle to come up with a prayer. The ideas do not always flow so smoothly.

But Shabbat came and I did not need to create or write. My mind rested as I recited the words we have be reciting for generations.

Post Yokosuka - Getting back into the rhythm

We pulled in to Yokosuka for a second port visit, and though it was a working port, I got to go to my family’s home every night we were there. For three nights, I slept on a bed that did not rock, the phone did not ring at all hours, and chains were not being dragged across the deck due to late hour flight ops. 

I got to shower in a shower I did not share with 14 other women, shave in the shower without falling over, without having to wear shower shoes, that did not rock back and forth, and that drained normally.

I got to sit with my family at dinner and talk late into the night. I was loved and supported.

And then we went back on deployment. It was harder than I thought to get back into the rhythm. 

Reinlistment: Not on the Main Mast (Semper Gumbi)

It is an honor and a privilege to be asked to reenlist a sailor. So, having only been on the ship for 10 months, I was incredibly honored to have HT2 Abercrombie ask me to reenlist him. 

Though we were supposed to do it on the yard arm (the top of the main mast), the weather did not cooperate, and we completed the reenlistment in the pilot house. 

BZ Abercrombie! You are the embodiment of what the Navy standard for all sailors should be.

First Qual: ALOFT

In the military, you work to get qualified in your area of expertise, as well as additional qualifications that help keep the ship ready to make mission at any time. 

Unlike in the Marine Corps, where there is a chaplain version of the FMF (Fleet Marine Force) qualification, the Navy does not have a chaplain version of the SWO (Surface Warfare Officer) qual.

That said, it does not mean I do not go for any qualifications. It means I go for ones that are non-weapons based.

In this case, I was asked to reenlist a sailor at the top of the main mast. To go up the mast (aloft), I got my aloft qual. We were really high up, but the weather was cooperative, the seas were calm and my instructors were supportive.

Evening Prayer: leading from behind

I had the privilege of sharing the responsibility of evening prayer with a SN (E-3) recently.

He sent me his rough draft and together, we edited it to reflect the message he wanted to share with the crew.

I have never experienced the kind of joy I felt, when I heard him give his prayer over the 1MC.
He lifted up the crew and myself.

When he was done, those on the bridge congratulated him for his inspiring words.

Immediately after, he asked to give evening prayer again and soon.

This is healthy leadership.
He was praised and I was proud - - - not defensive.
When he does well, that DOES NOT detract from me and my ministry.
Quite the opposite, it adds to it!
It is one more voice the strengthens the connection of the ship to the divine.

BZ, SN Davis.

Nagasaki

I got to visit Nagasaki during a recent port visit.
It was somehow not what I expected and yet, exactly what I expected.

There is a proud history of survival and desire to not have war or nuclear arms.

The fountain of peace was put there to symbolize the water that people cried out for as they were dying, and there was none to be had.

 These are the tunnels dug into the hilltop upon rests the memorial park.

Countries around the world sent sculptures to the memorial park to show solidarity. This one came from New Zealand and Australia.

 The center statue of the park, is a man who is sitting in meditation, ready to act, praying for heavenly support and action that no one should ever experience the devastation of a nuclear bomb ever again.

A shrine, common at memorial sites, especially with the remains of the dead buried underneath the memorial park.

The hypocenter of the bomb.

A clock that was found to have survived the blast and stopped at the exact time the bomb hit 11:02, August 9. I took this picture at the Atomic Bomb Museum.

On an upside, we went to the Nagasaki ropeway, to an observatory at the top of Mt. Inasa.

If you can see the baseball field, move your eyes to the right and see the green patch, you can see the memorial park.

Thank you! Thank you!

People have sent care packages for the sailors.

I had the honor to distribute them.

It means the world to these sailors, getting a piece of home.

Finding your own fun

This is what happens when we are bored.

Water Hours and clean laundry

We are on water hours. 

This means, we are unable to make enough potable water to maintain a certain percentage on the ship.

We have set shower hours and are not able to do our own laundry. We have to send it down to the ship's laundry service. 

During the RAS, we took on water and today, the best gift occurred. I got to do my own laundry.

The smell of the fabric softener... clean sheets... it does not take much to brighten up this sailor's day.

Amelia Earhart

We are doing a replenishment at sea (RAS). This is where we come alongside another ship and they pass us stuff secured on palates as well as people. They are not on palates, they are coming over by helo. We all get into a massive congo line as we pass ice cream, chunks of frozen meat, cases upon cases of tuna, parts for repairs and of course, mail. The fuel transfer is more tricky and we've added a little extra something to keep it fun. They are transferring not only fuel for the ship and for the helos, but in our case, water as well.

And the name of the oiler, you might ask? None other than the Amelia Earhart.

That may not be a good idea. 

Are we even going to find her???? 

(I know this joke is not original, but it's new and funny to me!)

The Infamous Steak and Lobster Dinner

The steak and lobster dinner can only mean one of two things – either a refer (fridge) is broken, so we get to eat everything in it before it goes bad... OR you are about to receive bad news.

Guess which one we got?

That's right, we are not going into port as we planned.

Well, we're sailors and it's our job to be out at sea so... here we are.

(As one who keeps kosher, I had a tuna and cheese sandwich.)

Evening Prayer: Crazy Rich Asians

I got my hands on the book Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwon. While reading it, one of my sailors asked if she could borrow the book when I was done.  Then I found a sailor who was reading the second book of the series. Tactically acquired that one too.

So, today (Sunday), we watched the movie version in the classroom. All together, about 10 sailors came up from berthing when I called down to say that it was playing on the TV.

Not only was it a great bonding moment with my sailors, but I added it to evening prayer.   

Successful week

In CPE, we focus on our failures so that we become better pastoral counselors and chaplains. However, right now, I need to pat myself on the back. I have had multiple counselings this week that were intense. And in each case, the sailor reaffirmed my abilities to counsel and lead them to a better place of understanding and thoughtfulness.

I need to celebrate this week to offset the times that I fail  - - and I will, or suffer from SWO guilt.

No-one bats 100%. As my father reminded me, some of the best hitters in baseball only get a hit once every three times at bat. I'll take this week as a win, celebrate, and go back into the trenches. 

A counseling first

It is not often I counsel on topics I am not familiar.

Tonight was a first. I prepped and researched and hoped to God I was ready.

I was actually nervous for the meeting. I did not want to let this sailor down.  On this little tin can, there is no where else for that sailor to go for support.

Thank You, God that it went well.  

Praying on the Bridgewing

I decided to go up to the bridge early and pray the evening service, welcoming in the Sabbath. That was my plan. And then, the SN on lookout started a conversation with me about religion. That's how most conversations start. They just … happen. And they happen anywhere and everywhere. Usually, it is what they don't believe or how they are no longer religious.

I think that those are the people who miss God. They miss the connection with the divine, something bigger than themselves. I want to engage with these Millenials and Gen Zs starting where they are, based on what they themselves say. I hope that they find their way – and whether it is to organized religion or not, that does not matter to me. I want them to have the tools and language to speak about their spirituality in a way that is organic to who they are right now and not where they came from.

OC Spray and Game of Thrones

Tonight's evening prayer was dedicated to everyone in SURF Bravo who got OC sprayed this morning.

I may have invoked Game of Thrones. It seemed appropriate.

The Power of Evening Prayer

Two nights ago, my prayer was dedicated to Nav/Admin, as they were finishing up their DITS (division in the spotlight) week. In it, I made a point of focusing on the 3MC. My words were heartfelt and his job is hard, especially when it requires others to do their part in ship preservation. I found out that he brought it up in the Chief's Mess – and his positive outpouring about it. It made me feel good to know that my prayer brought him joy.

Nesting

Nesting means lots of things.
For us in the Navy, that's when one ship is connected to another by creating a brow (gangplank), which you walk through to get off the ship.

Watching the guys remove the brow was incredible. It was like a ballet, where the use of physics, brute strength and serious communication came into play.

I have missed Japan

I have missed Japan! The first thing I did was buy an apple tea!

I gave the mandatory port visit brief and taught them some of the polite Japanese terms. I even made copies and put them all over the ship. I can hear them practicing in the p-way (hallway).

The best part of the trip, was sailors coming up to me and telling me I was right about the food, the drinks.. all of it. They can't wait to visit again. I hope we get the chance.

I will admit, that seeing Mt. Fuji again gave me a sense of peace.

Blue Star Family

Blue star families are those whose loved one is deployed.

I sent stickers and magnets to the family so they could show their solidarity with me AND not forget me. It meant so much to see pictures of the kids with their stickers and magnets.

RP2 driving lesson number 1

My RP2 is learning to be a helmsman and hopefully earn master helmsman.

(This picture was taken through the night vision goggles.)

Broken locks

We are required to lock our stuff up. That's the world we live in. One of my sailors' lock broke and I joked with him over it for a while. Now he as a lock that works and kept the broken one... and collected a few more.

What's Hawaii without a little SPAM??

While in port in Hawaii, Passover ended and I was taken to “SPAM JAM.” Yup, everything spam. I felt the need to take my Kippah off. I didn't. I thought it was funnier that way.

USS Missouri / USS Arizona

As we pulled in to Pearl Harbor, a silence fell over the group, as they realized they were passing the markers for all the ships that were destroyed on December 6^th.  As we passed the remains of the USS Missouri and Arizona, the whistle blew to indicate everyone manning the rails on the port side, and coming to the position of attention. We rendered the dead their honored salute until the whistle blew again. Even after this act of honor was completed, a subdued quiet fell over the group. We were on hallowed ground.  

Deployment: Day 0 - Passover Alone

I finally was able to fulfill the Mishna's teaching that even if you are alone, you must ask yourself the four questions. I had good company with the different voices of the Haggadot and another great thanks to those who sent care packages. The goodies they sent had the taste of home, adding to my MRE.

Deployment: Day 0

While sea and anchor is going on, we are manning the rails.

In our whites.

Last minute phone calls.

Definitely a few tears from the group.

Our timeline may seem like nothing to those who have deployed before, but it is a long time for first time deployers.

To add humor to the moment, when the Ensign (flag) was flown, it was raised upside down – a sign of distress. CMC came crashing past us to stop the mistake from being noticed by everyone. I hope that this is not a sign for the deployment itself.

Pre Deployment prep: Kosher MREs

Keeping Kosher during deployment will be difficult but doable.
One thing to help me out, is having Kosher MREs available.

I was reading a book recently that the characters were coming up with funny things the letter MRE (meals ready to eat) could stand for.

“meals rejected by everyone”

“meals rarely edible”

“Meals rejected by the enemy”

“morsels, regurgitated, eviscerated”

Yep, that sounds about right.

Padres and Rabbis

First Padres game.

Padres...Father/Priest...and the rabbi is cheering for them.

Nature is cruel, but we don't have to be

Temple Grandin has a quote that I want to embody.

“Nature is cruel, but we don't have to be.”

Purim with the crew

I served Hamentachen to the crew that were donated to me from someone. I do not know who they were. The crew loved them. I have found, that when you are the only Jew on the ship, the best way to celebrate, is to invite people to join you.

Stop and smell the roses

So, on my way to the Sunset Cliffs, I walked at a relaxed pace so I could stop and see the flowers on the way.
It was worth it.
Ma Gadlu Ma'asecha Adonai, How amazing are your creations, O Lord.