Navy Life: Chapter 2

While Rodney was still out on deployment, we entered the "window" to start negotiating our next orders. He had spoken with the detailer (location assigner) and had made a Top 3 list. He called me from the ship to get my input--- we could move up to Camp Pendelton where he would deploy again, soon; we could stay here and he could be part of the Operational Ministry Center and deploy again, soon; or we could stay here and he could do shore duty (NO deployment!) at Naval Base Coronado. Hhhmmmm, tough decision----stay here for shore duty!!!! So, plans were made: Rodney would be a base Chaplain at Naval Base Coronado.

Our tour on the ship was to end December, 2007, but in August, we received a call from the detailer letting us know the current Chaplain at Coronado was having to leave early for his next assignment. Could we leave the ship early? Rodney spoke with his comand and approval was granted. Therefore, as of September, 2007, our second chapter of Navy life began. We said good-bye to our USS Dubuque family and moved Rodney's office across the bay to Naval Base Coronado.

Now, Naval Base Coronado (NBC) is actually made up of a handful of bases. The largest and main being Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) which is where his office is located. One of the smaller bases is the Amphibious Base, where Navy Seals train. Each of those bases houses its own chapel and each held services, both Protestant and Catholic each Sunday morning. And so, this is what our Sunday mornings started looking like: 9:30 Protestant service at the Amphib Base, while Catholic mass is going on at NASNI; then we play switch-a-roo---we head to NASNI while the Priest heads to the Amphib Base for 11:00 services! So, I get "preached to" twice every Sunday morning! Usually I get to make little critiques on the way to the 2nd service :0)

Both of these beautiful chapels (pics to follow) have lovely attendees. Many are retired military, while we have those visitors in for training or really on vacation! At the Amphib Base, we also see some of those young sailors just starting their Seal training. It's exciting to get to encourage them as they start such an adventure!

Then, during the week, Rodney is kept busy with counseling, doing prayers for ceremonies, weddings, funeral honors and memorial services, etc. We say there are times it seems like we actually had more quality time together when he was on the ship!! But, we get/make time when we can......