Update

I know I said I was going to write a lot on here, and it was good intentions. I haven't really found the time to. That's my excuse any ways. It's really just procrastination. This is the most stressful job I think there is on earth! But I also see it as being one of the most rewarding jobs. A lot has transpired sense I last wrote, so I will summarize all of it.

Week 1.
This week was the prep week. I got to chamberlain-Hunt at 0730 and by noon that day I was back on the road headed to ALERT. We went to ALERT to give those who have not had military experience a chance to see what it's all about. While there I got to see a lot of my friends who were there when I was.. So that was a lot of fun for me! For some of the others it was not fun at all!

Week 2.
After we got back from ALERT we spent a week preparing our hearts and minds for the arrival of the cadets. We also prepared the compound for basic training. We put together our goals. What we expected of each cadet and what we wanted the school to be like. This was a very long week. It was mostly talking and meetings! It was hard to stay awake, and I think it was the most stressful week so far. Mainly because we had no idea how to do our jobs or what to expect from the cadets!

Week 3.
This was the first week of school ( last week). Things were fairly chaotic. We were trying to act like we new exactly what was going on while knowing nothing about what was going on. We must hide all of the stress and confusion from them, or they will not take us seriously. And when they don't take us seriously bad things start to happen. This week we had three fights and one student try to run away. The strange thing, is that come time for break they will do everything on their power to stay here. They want to go home because they don't like the rules here, but they want to stay here because they are loved here.

Week 4.
Things are starting even out and calm down now. They starting to understand that when we say something we really do mean it. They are also starting to realize its not worth it to fight us or argue with us. It's now the second week of school and they should be getting their first test soon. I believe they are going to be doing just fine. We offer a lot in terms of getting them up to a high academic standard. There have been no fights thus far this week. And I dont think we will see many more this year.

I have the younger kids in my dorm, grades 7, 8, and 9. These kids are not as stuck in their ways as the older ones are and therefor don't get in as many fights/arguments as the older ones. The majority of them are feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment. The rules are being upheld a lot more strictly then they have been in the past. It is now a lot more militaristic. Which some like but most hate. My guys are responding very well to my authority and have shown signs of wanting to grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ. I have had the privilege of witnessing to 4 of them so far! I do have two students who believe their is a God but denies Jesus Christ and the Bible. I am finding it very difficult to explain why they should do what they are told when I can not refer back to the Bible. I think that is the hardest part of this job. Trying to refer absolutely everything back to the Bible. Guiding every conversation back to Christ.