Blue Phase

Praise Jesus for the victory of Tyler making it to Blue Phase last week! He has made it eight long, trying weeks by God's powerful might! This week he has had land navigation training and a 10-mile ruck march. Next week he'll have a PT test that he must score a 60% on. The test includes push-ups, sit-ups, and a 2-mile run. He has already succeeded at getting a 60% on his 2-mile run; he ran it in 15 minutes!! He is so proud of the title he is earning of Infantryman, and rightfully so. God has amazed me during this time. He has two more difficult weeks ahead of him until he completes his basic training. So please be praying for physical and spiritual strength. I have been reminded this past week in more ways than one that it we present our requests to God through prayer and petition, that He will provide for us in ways we never thought possible. God will see Tyler through to the very end because He never leaves his child. TWO MORE WEEKS!!! I am ecstatic!!! Praise Jesus! Love you all!

Tyler really likes White Phase...

He said that they shoot off lots of bullets each day. They just recently started their Infantry tactical training. Which is learning how you stand in battle-rattle when you're firing at the enemy, ARM (advanced rifle marksmanship), and moving to various barriers for cover. They have to wear something called an IBA, which is their body armor. He said that it's really cool, it's just really heavy, and bulky. "Imagine standing with your legs bent, back straight, bent at the waist, wrapped up in a 20lb-25lb body armor vest; including your flick which is another vest with bags and pouches that hold gear, ammunition, grenades, and canteens." Not to mention, they are also wearing a helmet to stop the bullets. "We choose what we want to eat, the Drill Sergeant goes home at 5:00 PM and we march ourselves to chow; there's a lot more freedom than Red Phase." His platoon won BRM so they received a streamer for that, and they won their battle march and shoot, so they received another streamer for that! He asks for prayer as he enters into the last phase of basic on Friday. Pray that God gives him strength and energy to pull through! If we call on God in our weakness then He will make us strong. Praise Jesus! Love you all!

I talked ON THE PHONE with my honey Friday night!

On Friday, Tyler's platoon excelled in their expectations for the day, so they were rewarded with a few minutes of a phone privilege. I cannot even begin to express what it was like to hear his voice. It was a true blessing from the Lord. Tyler had had an extremely difficult week, and I had really been struggling as well. We were struggling at the same time, and God blessed us with hearing each other's voices. When I answered the phone, I was at my grandmothers house, and what I was hearing with my ears took a few seconds to connect with my brain :). Once it connected though, I cried, he cried, and then we talked as fast as we could to get every little thing in that we possibly could. I never realized how much we really do take for granted something so simple as talking to someone on the phone. God gave us exactly what we needed, exactly when we needed it! My lips will forever praise Him! Tyler is doing wonderful. It's physically straining, but he said over and over how he has seen God's provision through it all. He is loving all of the letters he's receiving from everyone! They have kept him encouraged! So, he sends his love and his thanks for thinking of him to keep him encouraged! And Billy, the picture you sent of your grandfather in uniform has blessed his heart more than you could possibly ever know. So thank you. Pray hard for four more weeks, and then we'll be celebrating over him crossing over the finish line as he completes his basic training!! If we are faithful to serving the Lord, he truly does provide and bless us! And sometimes it's something so unexpected that it literally brings us to tears. Love you all!

Scarce week of letters.

The only day this week that I've received a letter was yesterday. He said that it's been an incredibly busy week, and he's been sick. The majority of their time has been spent shooting guns, and he's been doing very well with it. Last Friday they had a ruck march to their range. That totaled in six miles so that was physically straining, because it's not just walking, it's striding in formation at a quick pace. His words were that as tough as things may get he will not quit. He said that God has really been working where he is. Tyler has had several opportunities to witness to many different guys, and a new guy comes to church with him every Sunday morning. He has also been given permission to go to his Bible study on Wednesday nights ever since he transitioned over to White Phase. God is seeing him through this time. He is providing and answering prayers! We serve an almighty God! I am so proud of Tyler for putting God first in his decision to leave and serve our country. That gives me such great respect for him. He has faced his fears and God is blessing him for it! God bless you all!

A quick update!

He is doing very well! He is extremely happy to be out of Red Phase, aka "total control," and into White Phase. It's funny how little things make you happy after having your every move under some one else's control. Prime example: he can now CHOOSE what he wants to eat! :) That made him very, very happy because he loves the french toast in the mornings! I had a moment of pure excitement whenever I read that he completed their 3-mile run at the front of the line, AND he kept his juice DOWN, which for those of you who do not know, this is a big accomplishment for him! haha! He could never keep anything down after running, but he has finally built up enough stamina to run with ease. He is hoping that now being out of total control, his drill sergeant will allow him to attend the Bible study. So please, please pray for this! Being in a Bible study is so important, and this will be such awesome encouragement for him from fellow believers! Pray also that God continues to carry him through, as He has been doing for 5 weeks now. God is good! Your prayers are felt. Thank you. God bless you all!

Tyler got to see deer!!

All last weekend Tyler had a Land Navigation course. And then Monday night at 2 AM they were woken up to begin their course in "night-time" land navigation which lasted through Tuesday. He said that it was fun to walk around the woods and see DEER (which everyone knows that this is Tyler's domain)! He is getting lots of letters, and is staying encouraged! He said that everything is getting a lot better there, but that he'd still like prayer for the PT tests. On Wednesday they shot simulation ranges. And for those of you like me who have no clue what that means; it's an M4 hooked to an air compressor and shows you on a screen how you shoot. He said it was really cool, and that he was doing pretty good until his broke :)!
Bull and Teresa, Tyler received the post cards that Mrs. Loretta sent of the tropical paradises y'all visited and he said that it made him sick ;) haha!
He said that the food really isn't that bad (that is, of course, in his opinion :)). He has learned new ways of doing things like with folding clothes, eating, walking, standing, dressing, etc.! "It's going to be weird eating like a human again!" Thank you all for your constant prayers! With the Lord, he has made it this far already...he can do it!! God bless you all!

Red Phase is OVER!

I am so proud of him! He has made it through three of the most difficult weeks. I haven't heard from him for two days now so all I have right now as far as prayer requests is the PT test that he has on Monday. He said that he needs to show significant improvement on his score, so pray that God gives Tyler the strength he needs to complete every task, and to complete it well. Thank you all so much for your prayers! There is nothing stronger than a body of believers praying over another! God promises in His word that where two or more are gathered, there He is also! Please have Brian in your prayers as well as he is now officially traveling back home to Tori. Pray that he will safely arrive home on Monday.

God bless you all! Thank you!