Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Conference 2010
1-4 November 2010. It is the 20th anniversary of our very first meeting as a task force. Our numbers have grown over the 20 years and there are stories to tell. Save the date.
Comments Regarding the Retreat
“This has been an extraordinary week of laughter and learning.” Sharon Freeto
“I was tired of padding around Patmos….here I received the nourishment – the meat and potatoes – to walk spiritually as a woman of grace and a woman for leadership.”
“This was one of the most peaceful, nurturing experiences I have ever had. I was blessed by tremendous togetherness and quiet solitude. Thank you!”
“Renewal, Affirmation, Reconnection and the presence of God were all in this place and with these sisters. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to renew and relax. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.” Gwen
“The experience was wonderful. Terri’s input was fabulous – it fed and challenged me. I loved seeing old friends and I made new ones.” Kathy Shindel
“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank WUIM for this retreat. The timing of being able to meet with fellow sisters who are making this journey was perfect! Thanks for all the encouragement, prayer, support and mentorship. Being able to share and receive has truly had a healing impact.” Gloria Bun
“I value the fellowship of this week - the opportunity to reflect on life, God, ministry and profession.”
“I gained information and encouragement that are essential to this stage of my process. As I move from the Candidate Program into my journey towards active duty, this time, fellowship and insight was invaluable. It helps me get out of stuck places.” Jessica Werner
“I was tired of padding around Patmos….here I received the nourishment – the meat and potatoes – to walk spiritually as a woman of grace and a woman for leadership.”
“This was one of the most peaceful, nurturing experiences I have ever had. I was blessed by tremendous togetherness and quiet solitude. Thank you!”
“Renewal, Affirmation, Reconnection and the presence of God were all in this place and with these sisters. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to renew and relax. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.” Gwen
“The experience was wonderful. Terri’s input was fabulous – it fed and challenged me. I loved seeing old friends and I made new ones.” Kathy Shindel
“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank WUIM for this retreat. The timing of being able to meet with fellow sisters who are making this journey was perfect! Thanks for all the encouragement, prayer, support and mentorship. Being able to share and receive has truly had a healing impact.” Gloria Bun
“I value the fellowship of this week - the opportunity to reflect on life, God, ministry and profession.”
“I gained information and encouragement that are essential to this stage of my process. As I move from the Candidate Program into my journey towards active duty, this time, fellowship and insight was invaluable. It helps me get out of stuck places.” Jessica Werner
Late Fall 2009 - Spring 2010
Promotions –
Ch Donnette Boyd to Lt Col
Ch Kristina Coppinger to Maj
Ch Rochelle Binion to Capt
Ch Michelle Law-Gordon to Capt
Ch Leigh Batts to Capt
Ch Carita Brown to Capt
Ch Brandy Brown to Capt
Deployed
Elaine Henderson
Cherri Wheeler/Rochelle Coles – same place
Sarah Schecter
Lucinda Valenti
Ch Donnette Boyd to Lt Col
Ch Kristina Coppinger to Maj
Ch Rochelle Binion to Capt
Ch Michelle Law-Gordon to Capt
Ch Leigh Batts to Capt
Ch Carita Brown to Capt
Ch Brandy Brown to Capt
Deployed
Elaine Henderson
Cherri Wheeler/Rochelle Coles – same place
Sarah Schecter
Lucinda Valenti
Prayers and Praise
From Ch, Lt Col Elaine Henderson, a praise, for her mom doing so well after having gone through surgery for cancer.
For Ch, Col Cherri Wheeler, a prayer and praise, for her deployment ministry and 7-month “Eagle” leadership.
For Rev. Sarah Shirley, a praise, for completing Intermediate Chaplain Course at Maxwell and for her mom’s hip surgery recovery. Sarah commends Ch, Capt Jamie Martin is doing a fantastic job as Pastoral Care Chaplain at NGB/HC, serving the men and women of the ANG Readiness Center and providing support to ANG chaplains and chaplain assistants in the field.
For Ch Linda Olson (micktink@mac.com) and her family, continued prayer and encouragement. “We have moved to Travis (AFB, CA). We are grandparents of Livia Helen born 4 April 2009 who shares her home with 4 year old brother Caleb and Mom & Dad. It's great to be living close to them and we see them almost weekly to babysit”. Pray for her husband, Mickey, Steve (Mickey's brother with cancer) and Sadie (Mickey's mom who is 95 and just slowly wearing out) and his dad, Lou who is 9and caring for his wife.
For Amber L. M. Kiesel, prayer and praise that she came on Extended Active Duty Aug 1, 2009 & is serving in her first assignment at Eglin AFB, FL. Her husband couldn't move with her and still resides in Denver. Her elderly father is living with her and she’s caring for him. Sept 30, 2009 was her second year wedding anniversary!
For Ch, Capt Sarah Schechter, a praise for her deployment ministry at Al Udeid and prayers for her ministry in the Jewish community and throughout the military community. In May, Sarah will attend the Jewish military chaplain's conference in Atlanta! Sarah submited an article on Passover for the San Antonio Express-News; am a featured story in this month's Reform Judaism Magazine http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1566, and an article of mine on Basic Trainees and Homesickness was just published in the Jewish Journal for Pastoral Care, Zeek.
For Ch Valenti, continued prayers, Lucinda Valenti’s Dad, Col. (Retired) Rodney Cox, Ph.D, died Jan 29, 2010 – she came home early from overseas. “I am still over here in the mountains of Afganistan and will be until July. I will come home and go immediately to Arlington to inter my dad. If anyone is around the D.C. area on July 23 there is going to be an awesome funeral at Arlington-my dad was a retired AF 0-6, Silver Star winner, Chief of Security Police in Europe and one of the founders of CCAF and oh yeah-a pretty awesome Dad, too!”
Here is link to his Memorial Page: http://www.mem.com/ContentDisplay.aspx?ID=18634655
Pray for Ch Rhonda Cushman’s son, Michael's medical problems. “He is still dealing with a complex situation requiring daily care at home and frequent visits to various specialists or to the hospital for surgical procedures. My mother, Amy Foust, died suddenly on January 20th of this year. She taught me everything I needed to know about unconditional love. We miss her terribly. I just completed an interim ministry at Pughtown Baptist Church in Pennsylvania, and just began s the chaplain at the Philadlephia Protestant Home. Meanwhile, I'm finishing up my fourth unit of CPE at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. Looking forward to having a more sane schedule when that is completed. So I can breathe, and grieve, and garden. Still Wing Chaplain at the 111th FW in Willow Grove. Soon to welcome a third chaplain to our team. Thanks for keeping us connected.”
Pray for Ch, 2Lt Jessica Reynolds, a Chaplain Candidate endorsed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, who will serve at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. She will serve with Ch, Maj Josephine Pinkney this summer. Her e-mail is jrey622@aol.com if you want to welcome her to our numbers.
From Ch, Maj Leslie Janovec, continued prayer. “I’m a couple of months out from completing ACSC. Graduation will be in June. It’s been an exciting year for me in class, and I have met the most wonderful people here! Jon and I will be heading to Columbus, MS. for our next assignment. I have the honor of having been selected to serve as the wing chaplain there. I’m excited, humbled, and eager to begin this new chapter.”
From Ch, Capt Kathy Scott, praise and prayer. “Yes, we had a baby on November 18, 2009!!! Thus the reason I couldn't attend the conference last year. Sophia Maria Scott was 9 lbs 4 oz, don't worry, that large of baby didn't pass through the regular channel, I ended up with a c-section (not as planned, but praise God for a healthy baby and mom!). Also update, I will be PCSing to Shaw AFB in September. A new adventure on the other side of the continent!
From Ch, Lt Col Elaine Henderson, January 2010
Life at Dover is awful, awesome and an honor. I am happy to say that Ch Sherrol James is here. It took almost 3 weeks for me to see her though. The first week I was here, my head was spinning 360 degrees. Now I have settled into a rhythm. My primary responsibilities involve meeting the families of our Fallen at the brand new Center for the Families and then escorting them to the flight line to observe the Dignified Transfer of their fallen loved one back to American soil. If you want to check it out, the website is www.mortuary.af.mil. The other part of my job involves, of course, the staff working at the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation Center (AFMAO) – which is no longer a part of Dover now. A year ago it became an entity unto itself. This experience is not exactly like sitting in my comfy office in Springfield. Our schedule is driven by the arrival of airplanes at all hours of the night and day. Sherrol has been stationed here before and is very glad that AFMAO is not on her plate this time! ;->
For Ch, Col Cherri Wheeler, a prayer and praise, for her deployment ministry and 7-month “Eagle” leadership.
For Rev. Sarah Shirley, a praise, for completing Intermediate Chaplain Course at Maxwell and for her mom’s hip surgery recovery. Sarah commends Ch, Capt Jamie Martin is doing a fantastic job as Pastoral Care Chaplain at NGB/HC, serving the men and women of the ANG Readiness Center and providing support to ANG chaplains and chaplain assistants in the field.
For Ch Linda Olson (micktink@mac.com) and her family, continued prayer and encouragement. “We have moved to Travis (AFB, CA). We are grandparents of Livia Helen born 4 April 2009 who shares her home with 4 year old brother Caleb and Mom & Dad. It's great to be living close to them and we see them almost weekly to babysit”. Pray for her husband, Mickey, Steve (Mickey's brother with cancer) and Sadie (Mickey's mom who is 95 and just slowly wearing out) and his dad, Lou who is 9and caring for his wife.
For Amber L. M. Kiesel, prayer and praise that she came on Extended Active Duty Aug 1, 2009 & is serving in her first assignment at Eglin AFB, FL. Her husband couldn't move with her and still resides in Denver. Her elderly father is living with her and she’s caring for him. Sept 30, 2009 was her second year wedding anniversary!
For Ch, Capt Sarah Schechter, a praise for her deployment ministry at Al Udeid and prayers for her ministry in the Jewish community and throughout the military community. In May, Sarah will attend the Jewish military chaplain's conference in Atlanta! Sarah submited an article on Passover for the San Antonio Express-News; am a featured story in this month's Reform Judaism Magazine http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1566, and an article of mine on Basic Trainees and Homesickness was just published in the Jewish Journal for Pastoral Care, Zeek.
For Ch Valenti, continued prayers, Lucinda Valenti’s Dad, Col. (Retired) Rodney Cox, Ph.D, died Jan 29, 2010 – she came home early from overseas. “I am still over here in the mountains of Afganistan and will be until July. I will come home and go immediately to Arlington to inter my dad. If anyone is around the D.C. area on July 23 there is going to be an awesome funeral at Arlington-my dad was a retired AF 0-6, Silver Star winner, Chief of Security Police in Europe and one of the founders of CCAF and oh yeah-a pretty awesome Dad, too!”
Here is link to his Memorial Page: http://www.mem.com/ContentDisplay.aspx?ID=18634655
Pray for Ch Rhonda Cushman’s son, Michael's medical problems. “He is still dealing with a complex situation requiring daily care at home and frequent visits to various specialists or to the hospital for surgical procedures. My mother, Amy Foust, died suddenly on January 20th of this year. She taught me everything I needed to know about unconditional love. We miss her terribly. I just completed an interim ministry at Pughtown Baptist Church in Pennsylvania, and just began s the chaplain at the Philadlephia Protestant Home. Meanwhile, I'm finishing up my fourth unit of CPE at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. Looking forward to having a more sane schedule when that is completed. So I can breathe, and grieve, and garden. Still Wing Chaplain at the 111th FW in Willow Grove. Soon to welcome a third chaplain to our team. Thanks for keeping us connected.”
Pray for Ch, 2Lt Jessica Reynolds, a Chaplain Candidate endorsed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, who will serve at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. She will serve with Ch, Maj Josephine Pinkney this summer. Her e-mail is jrey622@aol.com if you want to welcome her to our numbers.
From Ch, Maj Leslie Janovec, continued prayer. “I’m a couple of months out from completing ACSC. Graduation will be in June. It’s been an exciting year for me in class, and I have met the most wonderful people here! Jon and I will be heading to Columbus, MS. for our next assignment. I have the honor of having been selected to serve as the wing chaplain there. I’m excited, humbled, and eager to begin this new chapter.”
From Ch, Capt Kathy Scott, praise and prayer. “Yes, we had a baby on November 18, 2009!!! Thus the reason I couldn't attend the conference last year. Sophia Maria Scott was 9 lbs 4 oz, don't worry, that large of baby didn't pass through the regular channel, I ended up with a c-section (not as planned, but praise God for a healthy baby and mom!). Also update, I will be PCSing to Shaw AFB in September. A new adventure on the other side of the continent!
From Ch, Lt Col Elaine Henderson, January 2010
Life at Dover is awful, awesome and an honor. I am happy to say that Ch Sherrol James is here. It took almost 3 weeks for me to see her though. The first week I was here, my head was spinning 360 degrees. Now I have settled into a rhythm. My primary responsibilities involve meeting the families of our Fallen at the brand new Center for the Families and then escorting them to the flight line to observe the Dignified Transfer of their fallen loved one back to American soil. If you want to check it out, the website is www.mortuary.af.mil. The other part of my job involves, of course, the staff working at the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation Center (AFMAO) – which is no longer a part of Dover now. A year ago it became an entity unto itself. This experience is not exactly like sitting in my comfy office in Springfield. Our schedule is driven by the arrival of airplanes at all hours of the night and day. Sherrol has been stationed here before and is very glad that AFMAO is not on her plate this time! ;->
"F.R.O.G."
I was told a story about a woman in the hospital who was near death when an area Chaplain came to visit her. This Chaplain was a very young woman with very long hair. She listened to the woman who was ill and left her a small gift for comfort. It was a tiny ceramic frog. The patient later told her friend about the beautiful young Chaplain who had visited her.
The friend was so impressed with how much her friend had improved and felt the need to talk to the young Chaplain. In her search to find this Chaplain, she was repeatedly reassured that the chaplains who visited here are never very young and that there was never a woman that fit the description given. Upon returning to visit her friend in the hospital, a visiting nurse entered the room and noticed the ceramic frog. As she held the little frog, the nurse made the comment: "I see you have a guardian angel with you." We asked why she made that comment and we were informed that the frog stood for:
(F) Forever (R) Rely (O) On (G) God.
Ch, Maj Gen. Lorraine K. Potter
FACEBOOK Invite
If you want to join FACEBOOK, I have started a group for us. Please “Friend” me and put comment “WUIM” and I will send you an invitation to join WUIM on FACEBOOK. It is a closed group and my personal page is also closed EXCEPT to friends so I have to approve you to be my friend and join the group. You can find me by searching my civ e-mail “rehohio@yahoo.com”
Ch, Lt Col Oledia Bell
Sisters in Ministry,
I greet you with Jesus' joy. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and become more involved in WUIM. Elaine God bless you with the specialized ministry at Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation Center (AFMAO) and the comfort you bring to families of our deceased warriors. Many of us have been on the sending end of the process from the AOR, but I for one, have not walked those dreaded steps with a mother or a father receiving their child back from war for burial.
John and I are preparing for a PCS move in April to assume Wing Chaplain duties at Ellsworth. We are looking forward to working with Airmen and their families at another ACC base.
I greet you with Jesus' joy. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and become more involved in WUIM. Elaine God bless you with the specialized ministry at Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation Center (AFMAO) and the comfort you bring to families of our deceased warriors. Many of us have been on the sending end of the process from the AOR, but I for one, have not walked those dreaded steps with a mother or a father receiving their child back from war for burial.
John and I are preparing for a PCS move in April to assume Wing Chaplain duties at Ellsworth. We are looking forward to working with Airmen and their families at another ACC base.
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