Ok. So my ship goes out for a week. We don't go anywhere, just ride around. And we went back to Yoko for ONE DAY!!! It felt like someone was teasing. I love Yokosuka! I have some awesome friends there and I hate leaving them. I especially hate leaving the church. You know...I didn't really realize how important and fun church really was. Bot was I missing out when I was home! I'm so glad that the Lord picked me up early before it was too late! Praise the Lord!!!! Theank you, Jesus!!!!

Anyway, we left Yoko this morning to do the USS Blue Ridge's annual "Family and Friend's Cruise." It was kind of cool. There were a lot of people on board. I got to escort my captain's personal guests. That was kind of cool. It was even funnier because they were all JAPANESE!!!! You try giving a tour of a place to someone who doesn't speak the same language. It's really fun :). But, the tour just ended about a half hour ago. I hope all the people had a good time.

During my lunch break, Nick Canova and a few of our friends from the Light House and myself went into the ship's chaple and did a lot of praise and worship. I'm so glad that their are people who love to fellowship. That is the ONLY thing I like about being underway. Now don't get me wrong! We hit some pretty cool ports. But there is nothing like fellowshiping with fellow saints of God!!! Amen?! I mean, being underway gives me a really good amount of time to focus on God and His word. Lately, I've been reading the book of Romans. I'll read two chapters a night. The first night I'll read chapters 1 and 2, then the second nght I'll read 2 and 3, then 3 and 4. Get it? So I'm actually reading each chapter twice. It's pretty awesome! I can't wait to come home so that I can show all my friends and family what I've learned :).
Note to Friends and Family: Be prepared!

Do you remember reading about how hectic my week was last week? It was horrible!! But I would like to say that it has definitely died down a lot since then. I don't have too much to do now. Praise God!! Com=ntiue to keep me in your prayers, though. It's REALLY easy to get stressed over stupid things.

I do want to say something. All those people I have ever come in contact with back home...those who helped "raise me" in my walk with God...THANK YOU!! You have all been an inspiration on my life. You have been and always will be there for me through all that I go through. I know this because of the promise you made with me the moment our friendship was "approved by God" ;). I love you all so much. You all mean the world to me. One day we will be together again. I love you all!

To Kendra, my FiancEE :). I love you with all my heart. With everything that I am. I know that I have made some really dumb mistakes in the past. I know that I've hurt you a lot. But I want you to know that my love for you has never been so real as it is now. I am EXTREMLY blessed to have you in my life. I will forever love you, Kendra. I will continue to be your "ginger bread man." :) I love you!!!! <3

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: The closest distance between you and salvation is your knees to the floor.

Like they say in the Navy, "Haze grey underway!" In other words, I'm out to sea again! You'd think I would be excited about it but I'm not. The Lord has blessed me these past few months with some really awesome friends. We may go to cool places like Guam and Hong Kong but that cannot replace the love of a friend. I am going to miss them. Pray that our underway time would go smoothly. Thanks.

So, let me tell you about the first day out to sea. We were out no longer than an hour and my captain comes over the louder speaker and says, "Umm, we just got word that the seas will be reaching a maximum of 22 feet. So please make sure things are tied down and secure. We don't need anyone getting injured." Let me tell you what...WHOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never felt anything like what I felt a few days ago. I mean, we were tossing and turning like mad! People were throwing up all over the place and people were getting hurt left and right. It was INSANE!!!! I loved it, though. Even though my office was pretty trashed. At times, I thought it was funny. Some of the guys in my bearthing were sitting on the couch in our lounge watching tv and the couch kept moving back and forth across the floor. It was hilarious! Then I went to a little space on the ship and I would jump when the ship went down and...yeah...let me tell ya, you go high! LOL!!! I mean, if I wasn't holding on to a rail I would have jumped a good 7-8 feet easily. It was awesome!!! The good news is, I don't get sea sick so I survived.

We are in calmer seas right now. We should be pretty good until we start heading to Hong Kong. Some of the guys that have been here for a while said that the seas to Hong Kong are REALLY bad. I'm not really anticipating that.

God is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had my first Bible study yesterday and two people showed up: Paul Hays and Chris Kempf. We had a great time! We read from John 15: 1-4 and talked about being fruitful. How God, being the gardener of his produce, will cut the bad fruit (those sinners that don't want God) from the vine (Jesus). And how God will prune, or pick, the good fruit (those whom seek God) and He'll put it somewhere else so that it can nurish and be even more fruitful somewhere else. How cool is that?! We had a good time.

Well, I think that's it for now. I got some work to do. I love and miss you all!!! God bless!!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: No matter how rough the seas may get in your life, the Lord can always calm them.