The Final Phase

Hello Kids, 
I have had computer troubles so I haven't been able to write for a long time, but as you can see, I am back on track. Mary thinks her computer should work well enough for me now. 


I have been thinking a lot about Johnny. Have you remembered to pray for him? I would love to know if you wrote to him. I know I written to him.

Johnny's in his last phase ... can you believe it? The last part. Think how much time has gone by since he has been at bootcamp. He left right after Thanksgiving. Every single day since then, Johnny has been working hard. He has been learning about the Marines and how to be a Marine.

Can you remember any of the things he has done?

As he has been working and learning every day you and I have been living our regular lives. We sleep in our soft beds, we are warm and comfortable. We eat lots of food and people don't yell at us ... to much. We go to church on Sunday, we do our school work each day. Maybe even clean your room once in awhile (Ethan) 

But Johnny, he has been waking up every day at boot camp, on that hard bunk bed ... that is - daily from Thanksgiving, all the way to Christmas and after Christmas then to New Year's Eve, even to Valentine's Day. Each day while he has been there Johnny has been working and learning, getting up while it's still dark outside. Eating with a group of men. Wearing army clothes instead of regular clothes. 

But finally .... 

This is the last phase. 

Oh my goodness ... 

Here comes his big test. 

The Marines are going to take all the recruits through a 3 day, hardly no sleep and almost no food test and see if they learned enough while in boot camp. 

Pooooor Johnny. 

I sure hope he is going to be OK. 

I wonder, if he starts having a hard time ... if things get hard for him, what do you think he will do? 

Will he quit? 

Will he yell at people? 

Will he get mad and hit people? 

Will he lay on the ground and cry? 

Hmm, I don't think he will do those things. 

Do you remember that Johnny wants to honor Jesus? 

I think, if things start to get real hard ... 

that Johnny will - 

PRAY

He will pray to our Lord for strength and wisdom. 

Because, he might need that strength and wisdom when he goes into his test called 

THE CRUCIBLE 

watch this 

I thought that was amazing. How about you? 

Did you notice they had to carry their guns everywhere they went? 

They walked for miles and miles. 

Even when they were hungry and tired. 

Do you think you could be strong enough to do that? 

7 Days until Johnny is done. 

Pray for him every day. 

Pray that he will be strong and lean on the Lord. 

Before Johnny left we took these pictures. That was a long time ago. 

We love you Johnny, so proud of you.