I have always had an interest in the military.  I loved to read stories about the Civil War and WWII.  I wanted to take part in the glory of a battle won, and be a hero with my chest covered with medals.  I don't know if I wanted this because I felt small and worthless or thought it sounded so exciting and romantic compared to my dull life.  It could have been both.

Let me tell you about this fascination with the military since my childhood, my time in the Navy and finally my commitment to the greatest military force that will ever exist.

I think it started around third grade.  Some boys in my classroom would play at war on a piece of paper.  They would draw circles and squares on opposite ends of the page and then with a pencil draw a line of fire through the oppositions "tanks."

I was asked one day if I would be willing to be the bad guy.  The game looked fun and I liked to make the funny plus sign on my tanks that the boys said I had to have to be identified as a German Nazi.  Being of German descent, I didn't mind.

It was beacause of these games that I started to read about WWII.  I learned what  a Nazi really was and why the boys didn't want to be one, and that I shouldn't want to be one either.

During this time I was allowed to go to Good News Club every Wednesday.  I was a faithful attendee and I was earnest in my desire to ask the Lord into my heart.  I asked Him every Wednesday.  Unfortunately I didn't go to church at all, so my spiritual growth was quite slow.  I stayed in the delayed entry program for many years.  I had signed the paper saying I wanted Jesus, but I had yet to give my life to Him. 

While growing up I had decided that I would join the Armed Forces.  The question was, which branch?  With the slogan of "Be All That You Can Be," I knew that the Army was out.  I didn't want to be anything in the Army.  The Marine Corp slogan of, "We're Looking for a Few Good Men," made me wonder how they could get anything accomplished.

I wanted to be a fighter pilot so that left the Air Force or the Navy.  I decided the Air Force was soft, so opted for the Navy.  I liked their slogan, "Join the Navy, See the World.  Go Navy!"  However, by the time I was 18, I had very poor vision.  Which turned out to be a good thing as the only part of the world I was newly exposed to while in the Navy, was Yuma, Arizona. 

Because of my bad eyesight I couldn't become a fighter pilot. I decided that if I couldn't fly jets, I would fix them.  After boot camp and my schooling I was stationed at Marine Corp Air Station El Toro, to work on F/A-18 Hornets in the training command, VMFAT-101.  The joke was on me!  To be stationed on a Marine Corp base as a sailor?  Actually, training squadrons are sometimes mixed with sailors and marines as the Marine Corp is a division of the Navy.

As I was new to the squadron, I didn't do much actual engine work.  I had to start as a Plane Captain.  This is what the Marines called the soldier who did aircraft inspections and helped the pilot get off the ground.  Have you seen any movies where a jet is about to take off from an aircraft carrier and the sailor who uses hand signals to talk to the pilot and then salute him on his way?  That was my job, only on the ground not a carrier.  I was good at it and I received a couple of awards for my good work. 

I loved my job, I liked being a part of something big.  I loved to see the Hornets take off, they looked so powerful, nothing could stop them.  It brought a lump to my throat every time.  I put my faith in objects made of metal and fiberglass.  I believed the Navy/Marine Corp would protect me, and I felt like I was somebody.

After the birth of my children, my alleigance changed from the military to my family.  I had become the protector and that job was very hard to do working 10 hour days.  I was honorably discharged, but my husband was still in the Navy, which meant I still was too!  When the Navy said, "move!" my husband said, "Moving!" and I asked, "Do you think we could move to Hawaii?" 

It was in Hawaii that my own career in the military took a new turn.  I was reading a book late one night that I just couldn't put down.  I turned page after page, devouring every word.  Then I came to a place where I put the book down.  I felt stunned, and amazed.  My eyes were opened to the truth in the pages of that book.  Jesus died on the cross for my sins, once for all because I was somebody to Him.  He wanted to be my protector and make me the daughter of a King.

Right then and there I enetered the Army of the Lord.  I had been in God's delayed entry program for 19 years before I finally decided to give my life to His command. 

Again the decision was put before me, which branch of Christianity should I serve in?  I ultimately decided to become a Mennonite.  Mennonites are known as non-resistors, which generally means they don't join the military.  This isn't entirely accurate.  Mennonites are part of the largest Army ever built, and they will gladly go to war with God as their Commander. 

Ephesians 6:13-18 says; Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with the truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation and the sword fo the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The military has always been my life.  From the war on paper as a child, to watching jet planes that I have worked on soar the skies doing the job they were made to do, to finally enlisting in the most powerful military of all.  I am proud to serve in the Army of the Lord.  Join the Lord, See Heaven.  Go Jesus!

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