Preparations for War

Still have a lot to cover before exams, but I'm making good progress.
I won't be blogging much, but do pray for me, my brothers and my sanity.

Godspeed to those taking exams as well.

Glück ab Kamerad!

Fallschirmjager

Exams around the corner, studying really, really hard. A lot hangs on the results of this ordeal.

Here are lyrics to the new song in the cbox. Courtesy of ingeb.org (Deutsche Volkslieder)

1. Hinter den Bergen strahlet die Sonne,
glühen die Gipfel so rot,
Stehen Maschinen, die woll'n mit uns fliegen,
fliegen in Sieg oder Tod.
Hurra, wir starten, hurra, wir starten,
wenn die erste Morgensonne scheint,
Fallschirmjäger, Fallschirmjäger
gehen ran an den Feind!

2. Hoch in den Lüften fliegt unser Vogel
stolz und frei durch die Luft,
Standhaft und ehrsam sind unsere Herzen,
wenn das Kommando uns ruft.
Hurra, wir fliegen, hurra, wir fliegen,
wenn die erste Morgensonne scheint,
Fallschirmjäger, Fallschirmjäger
gehen ran an den Feind!

3. Hoch aus den Wolken stürzen wir nieder,
tief in die feindlichen Reih'n.
Gegner, wir kommen, habt ihr's vernommen,
bald wird der Sieg unser sein!
Hurra, wir springen, hurra, wir springen,
wenn die erste Morgensonne scheint,
Fallschirmjäger, Fallschirmjäger
gehen ran an den Feind!

Ardua

This is not good. My drill standards have been questioned. By arrogant people no less.

Cheerfulness in the face of adversity.

Have to train more even though exams round the corner.

From here, the only way is up.


PER ARDUA

AD ASTRA

To the stars

Baptised already. It is a new beginning.

The ceremony itself was pretty much usual, but kinda funny though. I really need to get my glasses fixed XD

After coming out of the water, the situation was what I called "the time when you feel most accepted and encouraged." In the space of 5 minutes, I had shaken more than 10 hands, possibly 20.

Then came encouragement cards.

Frankly, I wasn't expecting such things. I get the occasional encouragement note from the friendly YMM Barnabas every now and then, at random times, but usually, I never get encouragement or congratulation for anything I personally do, anything I have gone through, passed out of, things that mean a lot to me. When I passed out from UDI, FGB, SNCO, all the congrats I got were from my DG and my coursemates.

Never anyone else.

I was shocked. I felt rather uncomfortable for the next few days.

And I realised how much I had missed for years.

And I realised how long I had survived without it.

You can go a long way without encouragement, but when you realise it, it hurts real bad.

That's where hope in God comes in. P.U.P. has taught me a lot about trusting in the Lord no matter what happens, even when all the world betrays you.

Only He can save us from our despair.

God defend us.

I am reminded of a song that I used to hum throughout UDI. (Man, you can never get enough folk music on this blog, aye?)

The Minstrel Boy

The minstrel boy to the war is gone,
In the ranks of death you'll find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him;
"Land of Song!" cried the warrior bard,
"Tho' all the world betrays thee,
One sword, at least, thy right shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!"

The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain
Could not bring that proud soul under;
The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,
For he tore its chords asunder;
And said "No chains shall sully thee,
Thou soul of love and brav'ry!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free
They shall never sound in slavery!

Oh yes, and 633 Squadron will play in the background when you visit. What joy.

Commissioning Ceremony

Tomorrow is Baptism. It is a symbol of being dead to sin, and alive in Christ. It is the sacrament of justification by faith, bringing us in the closest union with God as a result.

It is commissioning.

It is commissioning to do the Lord's work.

We get no sword from this 'commissioning parade'.

But we get so much more...

We are God's Sons and Officers.

The End

The last hurdle is over. Gone are the days of slogging tired butts to the Police Academy. UDI Course is OVER!!!

And I have successfully passed out as a full-fledged UDI (Unit Drill Instructor). Thanks to God for getting me through this physically and mentally demanding course.

Getting baptised in a few days time. Lots of major events in the space of a few weeks.