Thursday, February 21, 2013

Moving to Ninevah


Yesterday morning Michael called and said he'd received an email that our next assignment was listed on Virtual MPF (Military Personnel Flight). This was odd. In all our years this is NOT how you find out about assignments. It usually comes through your command Chaplain, to your Wing Chaplain (WC). The WC lets you know to expect orders and tells you where you will be going.....

But, we got an email saying the assignment was online. Imagine our shock, anger,  stunned disbelief, surprise to find out we had "no preference" on our retirement assignment. The "common thought" (hope really)  is the Air Force listens to your desires for your retirement assignment....mainly as they have to move you when you retire and it's cheaper if you are close to where you want to be. We had turned in our Dream Sheet (ADP) in December. We DID  have preferences. We assumed we'd either be going back to AK (our home of record) or something near one of our requests. 

The new assignment? BEALE AIR FORCE BASE - in CA. 

For 17 years we have always commented, "Due to homeschooling laws please do not send us to CA."  For 17 years we've not been sent to CA. 

We finished our part of the ADP in December and yet Assignments says they did not receive our preferences until 1 Feb - and assignments were made earlier than Feb - and they really don't care. ::snort:: 

For the first time in our career, when told where we were going, I was angry. I have always thought, "Well, that will be an adventure." BUT this time the injustice of  having no say in our retirement assignment really bugged me. Michael had gone to the office on convalescent leave to take care of his part of the form.

 I was tasked to get documentation on the homeschool laws of CA. While doing this I discovered recent court cases (2008) have made CA one of the EASIEST states in which to currently homeschool. We felt better.

Throughout the day our chapel chain of command tried to talk to assignments about honoring our preferences as stated on our ADP - but it is not to be. Yes, we're going to Ninevah  California.

I posted "Prayers please" on Facebook and knew many were praying as I was starting to see adventure after just a couple hours. A dear friend messaged me to see if I was o.k. She messaged me minutes after I got the news.  Through the course of the day she helped me get perspective and reminded me of Jonah.  I posted, "Jonah and me are soul mates" on FB. Several encouraged me. Anna, cracked me up and encouraged me by saying she'd spent many days in the "proverbial belly of the fish." ::snort:: 

Last night we talked as a family. Michael has been reading Jonah in his quiet time. Isn't God funny? Just yesterday a.m. I was reading about Abraham and Isaac and had written/prayed about surrendering my plans of what our future should look like. ::snort::  When I shared Anna's comment with Michael he encouraged me by saying, "I don't think you're in the belly of the fish. I think you're at the ticket station checking fares to Tarshish." Stacia sang veggie tales Jonah all.day.long. I got the message. 

We prayed together and agreed - if God changed it great - if not; we'd adjust and not harbor anger. 

Acts 2:17 (in the sidebar) is our family verse for 2013. I was thinking more like "figurative dreams" - you know a dream for the future. But I woke up early this a.m. with a thought so loud in my mind it was, to me, undeniably a "message from the Loooorrrd" (ala Veggie Tales Jonah). " 

"I use injustice and uncomfortable circumstances to prepare my Josephs (Josephines?). Will you follow?" 

It was so strong I woke Michael up and told him. He greatly appreciated this. Before he left this morning we'd decided if the balls already in motion led to us receiving a new assignment we'd take it as a miracle. Otherwise God was telling us to go to Ninevah...and to do it with joy and the knowledge that this time is a tool for our preparation - for what I have no clue. 
File:U-2 (2138865443).jpg
Beale AFB is the home to the U2 Surveillance planes and Drones. In 2011 Beale AFB Chapel was the AF Medium Chapel of the year. The Wing Chaplain is an Orthodox priest. Michael will be the Sr Protestant Chaplain as well as the Deputy Wing Chaplain. 

Positives to this assignment: 

  • 5 hours to Michael's oldest sister's 
  • 6 hours and 10 min to Mom G's
  • 7 hours to the Girls, Mom and Dad T, Michael's sister, and my brother and his family
  • 24 hours to the boys - not so great
  • It's warm (Arielle's request)
  • I think an ocean will be within a few hours? (My love)
  • Seems to be lots of camping nearby (family favorite)
  • There is an aero club and it will take 1.5 hours to fly to Mom G's
  • Hope to be able to network with local pastor's for fellowship
  • This will keep us focused on the step AFTER the Air Force
  • Our decision about buying a retirement home now or waiting is easy as we're no where near any of our considered retirement locations. ::snort:: 
  • It will be easy for those who want to attend our retirement to attend
Really, I think God wants us to see regardless of the paperwork - HE knows the desires of our heart, He will meet them - in His way.....And the whole irritation of missing paperwork? There's a lesson there too.....Man meant it for evil (though I don't believe there is any evil intent here at all) but GOD meant it for good. There will be good from our two years in California. I look forward to discovering what it will be. 

If you've lived in Beale, we'd love to hear from you.

Note I apologize to all who love California for my attitude. I'm sure I'll come to love it as well. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

11 comments:

Kristine said...

Well, I'm smiling here for you. This is such a DeEtta story, and what a wonderful testimony! Love how your heart changed as you continued to see God here. And fwiw, it looks like it's in a beautiful location. <3 Such a great encouragement for us reading this morning!

Roy Z said...

I was hoping for Japan or somewhere in America. But you can be a blessing wherever you are planted.

Deja said...

So Ninevah is is...glad you're already seeing some benefits. Praying NOW for an uneventful PCS! Maybe we should have a corporate fast on your behalf LOL.

Ev said...

What a blessing to me to read how you worked through this. May God's Shalom rest on you & your family as you continue to move forward in His plan. As you said - He knows best for you and His Kingdom plan. Also, thankful CA home school laws have changed.

Linda said...

I can certainly relate to God taking us where we thought we didn't want to go. :) Can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Jen said...

Thank you for sharing. I haven't been on FB much lately, but caught your pleas for prayers and comments about Jonah late yesterday. I have been going through my own personal struggles the past few days with ministry issues and it is encouraging to see how you walk through this. A good reminder to get get my own attitude on straight!

knmkendall said...

What a BEAUTIFUL and wonderful story! And such a testimony of surrender to His plans. I'm excited that you will be in California! We MUST meet in person. :) You will be near where my in-laws live. Love and prayers!

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Oh Roy, we were hoping against reality that we'd stay in Japan two more years....but we never imagined CA as they've always honored our request not to go there. LOL

Renee said...

God has interesting plans all the time. We are waiting and wondering what is in store for our eldest. She had felt called to missionary work with FOCUS but was not offered a position so now she sits and wonders and looks for what else God might want from her

Anonymous said...

Sis etc: Once again......... we are amazed and pleased. God has really had his hand on Mike/you and your ministries. Bet and expect this unplanned for, unwanted ministry window is going to flourish and be so uplifting to you. We remember a couple of other places where you folks were so needed and when you left the blessings to others had be great. THEN, the blessings to others is just a start......... on-on-on. love/prayers - mom t. Tell Rene I will add her daughter to a prayer list so I will remember to pray for direction as to just where she goes. love/prayers

Sanjay Patwal said...
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