"For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD" Jer 29:11

   Today we had my ordination and farewell ceremony at New Life Authentic Christian Community Church (yes I was ordained a year ago by WCICC, but today was a special occasion as my church laid their hands of approval upon me).  For those who have never seen an ordination; it is a reflection of Acts 13 where Barnabas and Saul are set apart from the church by the Holy Spirit - called to leave them do go and do God's work.  The people prayed and laid hands upon Barnabas and Saul and sent them away.  During the service today the elders, deacons and members of the church laid their hands upon me and my family to pray for us as they sent us away to serve in the Army Chaplaincy.

   It was 6 years ago this month that God called us to this new plan in our life.  I can still remember it clearly, we were seated in the third row back on the right side of the church.  Pastor Steve was preaching on answering God's call, according to Denise - I do not remember this as I was overcome with emotion.  I remember feeling God's presence and there were no words but I knew he was calling me to ministry and at that time I was sure it was to the Army Chaplaincy.  Denise told me later she saw the tears coming down my face and felt nervous, but when we got out to our truck I just broke down and cried, I told her and the kids what was going on and that began it all.
   A few days later Steve came by the house and we spoke, he agreed that this was truly a calling from God.  Three weeks more I was in school -an example of God's incredible ability.

Pastor Steve Clark - My Mentor and Friend

   It has been a long 6 years - a BS in Religion and two Masters Degrees.  Many lessons learned and the experience of discipling our next generation of leaders in a Christian High School.  I have seen the good and the bad of American Christianity and I have seen the love that can only be from God present in friends and family as we have endured the trials and tribulations that have molded us and prepared us for this incredible ministry we are about to enter.

   We will miss Catawba County NC and all the friends we leave behind, thank you for being there for us and for allowing us to grow as we have over these years.

   I read a quote this week by Charles Spurgeon: "The Lord gets His best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction"   What a blessing to read such words and reflect upon where we have been and where we are going.  I pray and ask you to pray that God will continue to lead our lives and we will be able to serve Him as faithfully as He has been with us through these years.

Encouragement

As Jan 10th gets closer and closer I have been asked the best way to stay in touch with us.  Living so far away from family it will be hard for our local family to stay connected.   Knowing that we will be in great need of prayer over the next year with all the changes and separations I wanted to take a moment to share our "social networks" with everyone.  For the most part they are connected

Blog:  chaplainjim.blogspot.com
          chaplainwifearmy.blogspot.com

Facebook:  jjmitchem
                  dmmitchem

twitter: jjmitchem
           dmmitchem

For an update on what is going on.  I took my oath last Saturday so I am now officially in the Army again.  We are also moving up the timeline for our big move this spring.  Knowing that I will be deploying this summer we want the family to be all settled in as fast as possible in Hawaii.  With this, we are scheduling to have our household goods along with one vehicle picked up the last week in Feburary so they will be waiting for us when we arrive.  Denise and Cody will move down to Ft Jackson and we will leave from there.

We are finding homes for our animals, way too expensive and too dangerous for them to go through the long process of getting them to Hawaii.  This is the hardest since they are part of the family.

As I prepare personally for all this I was led to post the following to my future Chaplain School classmates:

ENCOURAGEMENT: The following is what I have come to know as the Ranger Verse: 

"I don't say this out of need. for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content, whe...ther well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who stengthens me." (Php 4:11-13)

We will be taken care of and I am comforted in knowing how many will be praying us through this journey.

"For God and Country"

 

My Published Wife!

Just a quick post here because I am going to provide a link to an article written by my beautiful wife for Army Wife Magazine.  It is on page 18  I am so proud of her!!

www.armywifemagazine.com

Once there, click in the middle where it says "Click Here"

Tropic Lightning

Well, our official orders have finally arrived.  We are being assigned to the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

We are very excited about this news and feel incredibly blessed to both have the opportunity to serve in such a front line combat unit as well as to live in Hawaii.  It will be a small consolation to know that Denise and Cody will be in living in paradise when I inevitably deploy, which I was told is now a "high probability"

We have also been blessed with getting to know my fellow classmates through a facebook group page.  I can already see some close and long lasting friendships forming.  It is amazing how most of us have similar views on our calling to this ministry and how we are to serve God in such an environment and still be a witness for Christ.  I know there are many that question our abilities in such a position and even ask how we can subject ourselve to such limitations. But, I believe that evangelism can take place in many forms, especially in living out the life of Christ by loving others the way that we are loved by God.  A chaplain is in the midst of the soldiers, he or she is embedded in their lives, their work and their brotherhood.  By just being there and loving them as God would have us we are evangelizing through the example of living a Christ-like life.

Next on the agenda: taking my oath.  We are still hopeful that we will be able to travel north to do my Oath at the Lincoln Memorial with our good friends, Dave and Michelle from Ft Meade.  They are in the midst of battling a houseful of sick kids -possibly H1N1 so please remember them in your prayers.

Hurry up and wait

It has been almost a month since my last post.  Once again we are in the waiting cycle of the "Hurry up and wait" process so long associated with the military.  I found this today as I was surfing the net looking for inspiration for a paper I am currently writing:

"Hurry up and wait"
"It's an expression long associated with life in the armed forces: the endless lines, the delays while an assignment is being readied, the long night before a major battle, and finally, the anticipation of final orders. For some who serve during war, the sounds of battle remain tantalizingly distant, as they are left waiting stateside for the duration."

We are still awaiting orders, paperwork to tell us where we will be stationed after Chaplain school as well as the paperwork I need to take my oath as an officer of the United States Army.  We are still excited but this anticipation of the unknown is killing us.

Dear Lord, grant me the patience to endure this wait and the comfort knowing You are still in charge and will put us where it is Your desire.  Amen

Time to get ready

This weekend my gear started to arrive.  I took the advice of an active duty Chaplain and started ordering uniforms so I would not have to deal with it the first week of school.

4 sets of ACU were on the doorstep on Friday, trying them on really brought back memories and I could see the reality of it all in Denise's eyes when she saw them on me.

I have been really blessed with some of the purchases I have made on Ebay from some retirees.  Got the ACU's  (new) for half the price, a Gen III goretex jacket, PT jacket, shorts and t-shirts.  Today my nametapes and other ACU items arrived and my dress uniform is supposed to be here tomorrow.

Still waiting on my paperwork to arrive so I can swear in, but the timing is looking good as now we may be able to travel to D.C. to do this with an old army buddy of mine and a Chaplain from his post.

Just need to focus on being physically ready now, running is feeling good and doing an ab and push-up routine every morning.

On a side note, watched an incredible movie this weekend, "Taking Chance".  It is the true story of Lt Col Stroble who volunteers to escort a fallen young marine home to a small town in Wyoming.  Heart wrenching, but a reminder of how America came together after 911. 

Well, continue to pray for us as we get closer to our start date, and for Denise and Cody to do fine in my absence

School Date

Well it is all coming together.  I received an email with confirmation of my school enrollment for CHAPLAIN INITIAL MILITARY TRAINING and CHAPLAIN BASIC OFFICER LEADER.  I report for duty on January 10th and I will be done with chaplain school on April 9th.


We are excited about it all happening.  At the same time we are looking at all the things we need to do to get ready.  So much junk to get rid of for the move.  I also have to start buying all the gear I will need for school; uniforms, boots, etc.  


We are also realizing that in our 14 years of marriage this will be the longest that we will be apart.  Yes, Denise and the kids can come and visit on weekends but I have been told to expect to be very busy.


Running is going well, my plan is to increase a 1/2 mile every week with a goal of 6 miles at a 9 min pace before school starts.  


Will post again when I get my actual orders and swear in.