In-processing

Del Rio, as a city has been, well, exactly what I expected it to be. It is 33,000 people (but really closer to 45,000). It has one main little strip that has a few restaurants on it. There is a Walmart, and a small mall with an Applebees of all places. There are little Mexican restaurants all over the place, most of which are undoubtedly delicious. The city consists of primarily Mexicans. This fact is clearly understandable in light of the city sitting on the border. The city exemplifies West Texas, or, at least, the picture of West Texas I have always held. Drive for 15 minutes and you are back in the desert mentioned above.

Laughlin itself is not all that much better. The base is small and its amenities rather lacking. Of course, this may be exactly what is needed considering the mission of the base. With no distractions, the hundreds of undergraduate pilot training (UPT) officers here have little to do besides study and drink. I plan to do more of the former than the latter, but that is not the choice of all from what I can tell. There are three of four main streets that run parallel to each other, a state of the art fitness center, track, pool, bowling alley, BX and commissary. There is a measily aisle of beverages of the alcoholic nature, but such beverages are available in abundance off base. The people here are “nice” for the most part. Though I have been here only four days I find that people are ready and willing to be your friend. I have, in these days, made a couple of good buddies, and plenty of acquaintances. As time goes forward, I pray these buddies will become good friends.

In-processing itself is an experience. On Dec 10, 2008, I reported for duty for the first time in my career. It was a rather surreal experience. There I was, a 22 year old Second Lieutenant who had spent his life dreaming of one day being an Air Force pilot, standing on the edge of a threshold. In that moment, I stepped over that threshold and began my future. Though I was not cognate of it at the time, at that single moment in time my life changed. The change was not dramatic in and of itself. In fact, it was rather anti-climactic. I sad down for 15 minutes while a civi went over a checklist I had to get signed off. I was then taken to the transition office where I was given another checklist. After another 15 minute brief, I was on my own. Yes, I was on my own. The rest of the day was spent trying to find my way around base, getting shots and my ID card, turning in medical records, setting up dental appointments, doing computer based training, and basically feeling completely overwhelmed and alone. But God was good. While I was sitting waiting for my brief my first morning, two guys, Stephan Katz and Matt Roland, approached me and asked if I was interested in moving into a duplex with them. Though I was not interested in doing such a move, it was these two guys who would take me in and make me a part of their “group.” It was them who I would have dinner with my first night, go to three hours of briefings with my third day, and go kayaking with my first Saturday. It was also them who I went to Church with the first time. Looking back, I can see Jesus’ words in John, and I feel a fool. “O, ye of little faith.” What little faith I had. I cried with fear that I would make no friends. I worried that I would be overcome with depression and grief for months to come. And there, on that first day, God brought two good guys into my life. I cannot wait to see what God does in this place.

These early days of in-processing, though difficult, have gone by quickly. I have already begun to gain an understanding of how things work around here, and am feeling more confident with each day. Though there is still a large amount for me to learn here, having not even been given a job as of yet, I know that there are people here aplenty for me to ask. God is Good, and he is continuing to watch out for me. I do not know what the future will be holding. I do not know what this next week is going to look like, or what kind of jobs I will be assigned. I don’t know really anything except that I am here, and for now, I suppose that will have to be enough. I pray that God will continue to bring more men into my life whom I can be connected with, whether that be through Del Rio Bible Church or through my job and classmates here.