Letters from Boot Camp - Episode 2

Here is the latest installment of excerpts from David's letters - just received yesterday, but written March 13.

This week has been pretty crazy! Yesterday we were at the pool half of the day doing our swim qualifications. I passed everything, no problem. I actually had fun in the pool, it was a good change of pace from our normal activities. So swimming is done for me, but some of our guys failed and have two more days to qualify or else they get dropped back to Echo Company. Today was pretty nuts. We did all of the high obstacles. Two of the harder ones we did were The Slide for Life and the Stairway to Heaven. You should look them up on YouTube. Mom, I'm sure you would love to do these obstacles, LOL! (Note: I'm terrified of heights. Here is a YouTube link to Recruit Training - Week 4.) 

We had initial drill on Sunday, which is a really big deal. We got 4th place but our Senior Drill Instructor thought we did really well and thought we should have gotten 1st or 2nd place. The Day before that, to motivate us for initial drill, they had the Commandants Own Drum and Bugel Corps along with the Silent Drill Platoon put on a show for us on the Parade Deck. It was awesome!

Being here is still kind of sureal for me, but it is starting to kick in that I am going to become a United States Marine, and it's a great feeling. Sometimes at night I have dreams that I am back at home hanging out with all of my friends and then I wake up in my rack and it takes me a few minutes to realize where I am. The first time it happened I was soooo confused for like 5 minutes until I realized it was all a dream and then I got pissed for a few minutes, LOL! But I'm all good - you don't need to worry about me :)

By the time you get this letter I will most likely be up at Camp Pendleton. We leave on Saturday (March 17). Now that we are officially Phase 2 recruits we get to unbutton our top button and blouse our boots. One step closer to the final product! It is crazy to think that in less than two weeks we will be half way done!

I've decided that the first meal I am going to have [when I am on leave] is HyVee Chinese, and the second meal is going to be El Rodeo.

So here are some things you guys can pray about for me:

1. The last prayer leader meeting we had on Tuesday night the chaplain encouraged us to start sharing the Gospel in our platoon. I have just been praying every night that God would give me that opportunity.
2. I have been sick for the last two weeks and it hasn't been too bad, but the last two days it has gotten significantly worse. I don't want to go to medical because then I will miss at least one training day.
3. Please pray for my Drill Instructors - they need it the most!

I have about a million more things I want to tell you, but it is time for me to wrap this up. Keep updating my Facebook please.

Love,

David