Submarine (1980-1988 Retro Journal)

I' m on my fourth call; it would make no sense to explain how He lead me here without going through how He lead me in the other three epochs. Not having much hope of writing it all in one letter, I'll at least make a start.


For two years the US Navy put me through a series of schools so that I would be qualified to operate a nuclear power plant onboard a submarine. Sort of like an Associates Degree in practical nuclear engineering. The first of those two years, I began to follow Jesus. So when I arrived at the sub, I was a new believer.


The sub had two complete crews. Every three months (twice per year) we would fly over to Scotland (from CT) and relieve the other crew for a three month patrol. My off-crew time I spent with the Navigators, on the sub there were maybe two other open believers. In the off-crew, I would often spend free time at the submarine school, where the newcomers would show great respect. Usually, I would invite a group of them out to a pizzaria and share the good news on a napkin. Many would pray the prayer. On board, fellowship was scarce. After a season, I found that most of those who had said the prayer would later forget and deny Him in the fleet. They all had the same problem as I - no nurturing fellowship once onboard. Most of my friends from other ships would have to, "come up to speed, spiritually" after coming off patrol. I started to memorize whole bible books at sea.


A few years in, I reenlisted and had the opportunity for duty on shore - positions were opened at the submarine school where evangelism had been so easy. But how could I send believers out to be crushed in the fleet? I made the unusual decision to stay onboard, and asked Him to change my boat. And just around that time, He did. A newcomer from nuke school heard and believed. Another who first believed in sub school was assigned to our boat. Another hot believer was assigned to us. A group formed on the sub itself. Others saw and joined. It got to the point where the Captain or the 2nd in command would come to every meeting- just so that they could put an ear into what was going on. A new source of authority was onboard. I knew things were turned around completely when a crewmate, who attended a good church, towards the end of a patrol did not want to go back. He was afraid of losing the "spiritual momentum" he had gained at sea.


The sub had seemed to me a monolithic satanic tomb inside of which one might, by grace, survive, but certainly never thrive. It had become a spiritual garden under His grace, planting seeds and nurturing new believers. In the other epochs it became easy for me to believe that He could turn around ANY situation, for hopeless that it might seem at the outset. I had slain the lion and the bear - any uncircumsized Philistines that might loom would just have to suffer the same fate.

Without Money, Not Snow

There is a saying, "Let my town be without money, but not without snow." Winter moisture is essential for crops in the dry long summer. Having been here for just over half the year, I'm starting to get a feel for what the weather is usually like. The summer was desert hot and dry. Lots of bugs and a cripplingly incendiary sun. When the temperature went down, it never seemed to rise again - it just dropped for the year. This winter was slightly colder than a typical Philadelphia winter, but not quiet as cold as one in Connecticut. The problems are that the houses are not well built - the temperature inside drifts towards the temperature outside (electrical power comes and goes daily). And that the snow does not go anywhere - no snowplows and very little shoveling. The sun is strong enough to turn it quickly to ice, but it takes a long time to melt. The temperatures have gone above freezing, and if the pattern stays the same, they will not return there again until next winter. Temperatures change for the year, not for the passing weather pattern. We have ice on the ground and a blazing desert sun in the February sky.

The cable for my camera was brought in from the USA and it does not work. Hence the lack of digital pictures posted continues.

Today was the closest thing I've ever had to a bad day, and it was enjoyable. I had time to grade some tests before school, until a sick friend asked me to take his morning duty. I had lost a clipboard with my attendance data on it and report cards went out today. The admin, to my chagrin, was insistant that I write in the attendance data. The report cards were delivered to me and taken away again two or three times - the office wanted to hold those who were behind on tuition and apparently could not make up their minds exactly who those people might be. I found the clipboard during lunch with the missing two weeks of attendance data. MEANWHILE the kids just followed the routine in my, "one room schoolhouse" of differentiated instruction. Got the data on the computer, then onto the report cards (at least those I was holding at the time). Those tests were graded about 30 minutes before dismissal, and the kids were done all I'd asked of them about 10 minutes after dismissal time (ooops). Ready to do it all again tomorrow, but that will likely be a quieter day. The Super Bowl is tonight (3:30 A.M. kickoff our time). (Rememeber our weekends are Thursday/Friday here.) We are having a big get together; we've got permission to run the generator since power will likely be off. Mike reminded me this morning at prayer that the pre-Thanksgiving Day explosions also happened at 3:30 A.M. (see photos). Steelers or sleep? Steelers or sleep?