The Family Letter

So, I definitely got my treat already today. The Air Force finished reimbursing me for the trip I made in July and August. It was $1,300 (roughly), so that was a nice treat indeed.

What happened? Well, I filed for partial reimbursement at the start of August to clear the airfare off of my government visa card. They paid. Then I filed for final reimbursement when I got back at the end of August. Apparently–though between my not knowing how to read the report and the fact that I never got the report I never realized–someone decided my airline receipt wasn't legible enough. So they deducted the $1,300 for airfare from my second payment. There were three words at the bottom of the second summary, the one I never got a copy of until I begged: "resend airline receipt."

I called, and called, and e-mailed… I even built an Excel spreadsheet showing the missing money. At the time I had no idea it was because the airline reimbursement had been rescinded, so I just showed a deficit of $1,300. Finally someone caught on, and asked me to send in a legible receipt. Last week. So I did.

And LO! Today I have been paid!

Even better, they paid off the remaining $600 on my government visa card. Good timing, too, since I'd just gotten a stern letter from the Air Force about late payments and managing money. Phew!

This interview was about me and my experiences. Those of you who have been through the ordination process in TEC can think of it as part job interview, part COM "getting to know you" interview. Questions ranged from my experiences with and understanding of pastoral care, pastoral counseling, privileged communication… To how I take care of myself spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Questions like: Why do you want to be engaged in ministry in the military? How would you handle a boss from a different denomination or faith who wasn't respecting you because of your faith? What do you know about offering prayers in a public setting where you have to be honest to your faith but also respect the faiths of everyone present?

All things, thankfully, I've been thinking about for the past six years, since I first started walking this road.

I am also very thankful that I just finished the Basic Chaplain Course, for much of this is foremost in my mind.

I think it went well. Hard to tell with interviews in general, and even harder over the phone. Apparently the two chaplains I spoke with will write this up, but then they go before a board to answer questions about me. The board will have my paperwork, and now these chaplains know me a bit better and can help round out my paper-profile as well. That board can either say, "Yea," "Nay," or, "Hold." Yea would, of course, be the desired outcome. I don't know when I'll hear, but I know the chaplains who did the interview are going to be on leave or TDY for most of November, so could be a few weeks… Minimum.

Prayers for patience.

I have an interview in two minutes with two chaplains from AF Chaplain Recruiting. Phone interview, that is, 'cause they're in Texas.

More after!

So, I'm headed onto base earlier today to go run at the gym. As always, this means stopping at the gate and showing my ID to the nice gate guard. Keep in mind that the nice gate guard is usually armed. Okay, always armed.

This one takes my ID, checks it, says, "Thanks." All normal.

Then he says, "So, who do you think is going to win tonight, Denver or Green Bay?" Since I rather like Colorado, I respond, "Denver." What's going through my mind is, "So, if I answer incorrectly do I get shot, or does he just kick me off base?"

I did ask: "So, am I allowed on?" He thought that was funny.

Leopard came on Friday. I got home early evening from day #1 of our diocesan convention and sat an looked longingly at the box. I was responsible for a "PowerPoint" presentation on Saturday at convention. Since I used Keynote to prepare the presentation, it wouldn't run on the Windows-based machine they were using for most of the convention "stuff." In other words, if I crashed my Mac updating the operating system… Gulp.

About an hour later I broke down and installed it.

Not as spectacular as Tiger, but I'm glad I made the upgrade!