Reenlistment

When I first arrived to the island, RP2 was an RPSN who had a not so stellar reputation. After two years of working together, he has made RP2 and decided to reenlist for another 6 years. This is good for the Navy and especially good for the Chaplain Corps.

I hand the privilege and honor of being his reenlisting officer. 

I could not be prouder of this sailor!

Acculteration

What does it mean to be acculturated?

Successfully eating pasta with chopsticks because I can not find my fork.

Not Just A Park Clean-Up

Since I am stationed on MCAS Futenma, one thing I focus on is creating volunteer opportunities for the Marines and Sailors. The first reason is because it helps instill in them the intrinsic value of helping others. The other aspect is that the relationship between the Ginowan community and the MCAS has been strained for the last couple of years.

So when given the chance, I created a joint project with the environmental team to clean up all of Ginowan Park and Tropical Beach.

Who would have guessed that 166 Marines and Sailors would willingly clean up other people's trash ?? On a Saturday ?? At 10am ???

These Marines and Sailors are awesome!

CO/Chaplain team work - Cookie Drop

How do you show your Marines and Sailors that you care?

Bring them cookies and a birthday card (chaplain) on their birthday and give them a meritorious day off (CO) just because they were born.

That's what this team does to show every Marine that though they do not have blood family on the island, they have family on the island. 

Mission accomplished.

Hong Kong - Part II -Big Buddha and Path of Wisdom

You can not go to Hong Kong and not visit the giant Buddha.

It is hard NOT to be impressed. 

I high-fived Buddha.

 

And I stood under the tree that Siddhartha sat in order to reach enlightenment. 

Whether this is in fact his tree or not, I felt spiritually moved. 

A request, like leaving a prayer in the Western Wall.

And we walked the path of Wisdom. 

The carvings on the wooden posts are of the Heart Sutra.

 (Kris gaining wisdom.)

Hong Kong - Part I

Since I HAD 4 days off for July 4 ^th , I Celebrated the Independence of Our great Country by visiting Hong Kong.

I was joined by Kris and Chris (left to right).

We saw the lights of the Causeway Bay from Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade).

Shavuah Tov by the way.

4th of July - Military Style

We celebrated July 4^th a week Early at Kadena Air Force Base (KAB). We do that Because these types of fairs / block parties require additional personnel, it's long hours, lots of logistics and cleaning up afterward and so no-one loses their four day weekend to work the block party.

During the fireworks display, they played "I am proud to be an American," and maybe that's a military thing. I do not know. I choke up every time I am surrounded by personnel and their families as they sing along to the song.

Thank you KAB for taking care of all military personnel and their families with a great block party. 

Thank you Gavin Degraw, for putting on a solid 1½ show.

Elizabeth, Ben and I.