Hubs' third week and first jump

Below is Hubs' synopsis of week 3. But first an update: Hubs had his first jump today and it went perfectly! He said that it was a lot of fun, but not so much fun that he wants to make it his new hobby. One down, four to go! He also had a good Father's Day yesterday, even though we were away from him. Here's the summary:

By the grace of God, the second week of Airborne School (Tower Week) is over. While offering some fresh challenges, this week was considerably easier than last week. The temperature was ever so slightly cooler (mid-90’s instead of high 90’s) and my body seemed to be a little more acclimatized to the pace of training. Plus, somewhere around half of the training we conducted was done in the shade under covered training areas! Although days went consistently longer than last week (we got out between 6-7pm each evening), we only worked until lunchtime on Friday! My hands are a little sore from numerous opportunities to lift my body weight off the ground by nylon straps called risers that connect my harness to the parachute above. Likewise, my midsection is bruised from jumping about 35 times off a 15-foot platform and having the harness catch me by the two straps securing my legs to the harness. After each of these jumps the instructor would let me swing a few times back and forth before dropping me like a sack of rocks to help me practice falling the right way. As a result, my bum is not very happy with me. In all, I praise God for keeping me safe and helping me finish the week well.
I was privileged to share my faith with a young Sergeant who said he’d been searching for God ever since seeing the movie Passion of the Christ. He asked me to take him to chapel on Sunday and I, of course, obliged him. We’ve had some great conversations since. Pray that Otis will continue to ask questions until he makes a decision.
Next week we have to jump five times from either a C-130 or C-17 Air Force jet from 1250 feet in order to graduate. It goes without saying that I would appreciate your prayers for the intestinal fortitude necessary to follow through with intentionally exiting a perfectly good airplane while in flight. The Airborne School Chaplain has called the C-130 the most intense house of prayer ever built and he may be right. Lord willing, I’ll graduate at the end of the week with Christie and the boys present at the ceremony.
As a second matter of prayer, I’d ask you guys to intercede regarding the Active Duty Chaplain Accessions Board being convened on the 24th and 25th of June by the Army Chief of Chaplains Office. The officers sitting that board will make a decision for or against my application to become an active duty Army Chaplain following graduation from seminary in December. Christie and I feel that Army Chaplaincy, while not an easy road by any means, is the ministry context for which God has called us to prepare. The Army’s decision is obviously a key factor in this journey. Thanks in advance for joining us in prayer regarding this matter.
For God and Country, Hubs