We Made It!

Wow. What a day we had yesterday. Crazy. Nothing went right from the beginning. Every peiece of equipment that I had scheduled from the Military cancelled. Everything critical to me gettting the IT and office spaces from the East Side to the West side, just wasn't going to be there for me.

So as I sat in the morning planning meeting for O&M and projects I watched out the window as the IT guys disassembled the IT equipment. As I knew this was the precurser to my part I was happy, the day was mine. I confirmed that at 9:00 the PLS Systems and the RTCH would show up to grab the IT container and off it would go to the West side LSA. By the end of my meeting IT was pulling the sattelite down from the roof.

So off I go outside to clear some items from the path of the RTCH that will be showing up soon. Then over to assist the forklift in lifting the satelite base from the roof. I noticed then George pull back in but with out any equipment following him. Oh no, I thought, where is the RTCH? George explained to me thet the trucks had cancelled. It was Sunday and there were no drivers.

Now I no I had made all of the arrangements with the Military. They were going to allow my New Drivers to drive the PLS's and have an NCO with them in another truck. George, do you recall this? So off I drove over to see the Sgt. and find out what was happening. If this was true I was sunk as we now were without any link to the outside world and our business was off line. It was all resting on my Department now.

As I walked to the 183rd tent I said a prayer. God, help me work this out. I trust your will. The Sgt wasn't in. He hadn't relayed the instructions to the right people in they were in the dark. I now had the task of explaining the situation to the 1Sgt. After a few questions she called the Sgt. waking him up and he confirmed that we should have had two systems today. George go get our drivers.

Ok that problem solved. Everything will be good now. Thank you God for your Grace. I stayed calm the entire time, however my heart was racing. I was able to speak softly and explain the situation well enough for action. It is great felling for me as this, for so many years would have been counter to my nature.

As the drives walked towards me at the front of the 183rd tent I asked George if he could run down and get the RTCH from the CRSP YArd and escort it over to the West side. I showed the drivers into the tent so they could wait and I walked over towards the new LSA to see what was going on. Unfortunately, just as the feeling of accomplishment was in full force Big George called me on the radio. Trans #1, Sgt. S says we have no RTCH's today, they are in a mandatory meeting. He thought that since there were no PLS's we didn't need the RTCH's.

Boom (that is the bomb dropping). No RTCH's no lift. No lift no internet. No internet no nothing. George, can you come and get me please?

So into the CRSP Yard we go. Sgt. S is the only one visible and he is driving the RTCH picking containers in the yard. Sgt. what is going on? Your mission is cancelled, he said. No it isn't, I have a real problem on my hands. I have to move these cans today. I am sorry he replied, I sent the guys to a meeting. There is nothing I can do. You can imagine my feeling now. I stood there, gave a dramitic pause, then said well if there is nothing you can do I guess I will have to let them know. Nothing?

Then the Sgt. said that he would make a call for me and see what he could do. (Place clock ticking sound here). Within a few minute he came back and said he had worked it out. His two soldiers would leave the class. One would come with us and the other on a seperate mission. One of my RTCH Operators could take the third machine to the ENw LSA and drive it there on his own as long as he stayed in the yard. Deal! Wow, it had come through ok. We were in business.

From that point on we would be ok. A couple other issues throughout the day. Broken down RTCH for a while, some other materials that arrived and required attention. Bust day, busy day. We all pithched in from there where we could. My guys moved our office while I was out running the lifts. I dug some ditches for IT and tracked down pumps for the Laterines. It was no stop but it worked out to the good.

I kept thanking God as each thing worked out for the best. I actually thanked God for the trial that I was to overcome and in the way I handled my self through them. All these things were Good. In the end the Glory is His.

So as I said yesterday, if you were reading the same message twice in a row then something went wrong. I guess I miss spoke because something did go wrong but it got worked out. I believe that the ultimate lesson is that I treat people well here. I have not burned any bridges and I attempt to always be fair and honest. It is what God wants us to do. Through the relationships that I have formed people respond favorably when needed. They know that I am not taking advantage or trying to get over on them and in the end being as Jesus asks is what worked this out.

God bless you all. Be a light. Be a "good" person as God asks us to be. Handle your stress by giving it to Him and it will work out how he wants it to work out.

Lord bless this day as we continue to move. Bring peace to all those who believe in your name. Place a longing for peace in the hearts of those who don't. Let us be obediant to you and rcognize your plan in all these things. Amen