Home for christmas

Hello everyone. im home for christmas and i will be in town until jan 2. thanks to all that wrote to and please continue to write. i love hearing from everyone and i enjoy getting letters from friends and family. thanks for all your support.

Mom and Emily went to visit

We didn't think we could visit, since Sarah was on "medical profile". (So much lingo to learn!) She called Tuesday night and said she would be able to get an on-post pass, and could visit with us after graduation. Since we didn't think we were going, we cancelled our vacation requests. David (Dad) couldn't get off at the last minute, but Mom was able to, and Emily was out of school on Thursday, September 11. She and I went to Missouri and were able to spend some time with Sarah.

Her foot is doing better, and she will be assigned to another group to complete the three weeks she missed. She looks great, and has "buns of steel" for real! We don't know what her address will be for the remainder of her basic training, but will let you know as soon as we have it. We took pictues and a video. Will be posted in the next day or so (depending on Emily's schedule - since she has the pics).

I am thankful for all the young adults who have chosen a career to protect our country! They are an amazing group of soldiers!

Keep her in your prayers!

Graduation

Hello everyone. Today was our graduation for Alpha 2-10. I unfortunately was unable to graduate because of my cruches profile so I am being restarted to day 1 week 1. I will be doing all my training over again but I know that I will graduate next time around. Thank you to all of you that wrote me during my time in basic. Please continue to write me, I'm always looking forward to getting letters and it makes the time go by faster. For those of you that don't know what my job is , I am a 74D which is a chemical, biological, and nuclear specialist and I have one of the most dangerous combat jobs out there so wish me luck. I will still be here at fort Leonard wood so don't worry. I'm almost certain I will be shipped to Iraq at some point, but don't worry I've been highly trained in my job so I know what to do in case something does happen. I bought pictures so if you would like one, please let my mom know. I will keep you all updated until my next cycle starts. until next time. Private First Class Mastin.

The latest

We are all on alert ----- Sarah is off crutches, and will be on traffic duty this week when the rest of her group graduates. When we talked to her yesterday, she said a number of women and men are repeating part of Basic Training.

She has new inserts for her shoes, and new running shoes. I hope it helps! She will find out Friday where she is going next week. I think she will join a new unit, and make up the work she missed while she was on medical (something). We may know by Friday where she will move, and a new address.

i am disappointed that we are not going to MO this week. Will update everyone when we learn more.

Michael Stansbery, her friend (sometimes boyfriend) left for Kuwait Friday (maybe Saturday). Please pray for him. He is in a combat unit.

God Bless!

On crutches

Sarah called Wednesday, August 27, 2008 to tell us that she is not going to graduate with her unit. She has an undetermined injury to her foot, and is on crutches! She explained these options: (1) She will have a good prognosis on her next checkup and join another unit to complete basic training or (2) she will be sent home for 30 days to recuperate. She is in a lot of pain, and cannot participate in the physical training, which is why her gradution has been postponed.

When we hear more, I will update you! Keep her in your prayers!!!

Sunday phone call August 17, 2008

Sarah has successfully completed her first five weeks of Basic Training. She has qualified in marksmanship, and is working hard on PT. In order to pass the physical training portion of Basic, she has to be able to do 13 pushups in 2 minutes, 47 situps in 2 minutes, and run 2 miles in 19 minutes, 42 seconds. I got these numbers from the Army website, and these are minimums. She said she is improving a lot from where she started! I know she can do it!

Her graduation is on Thursday, September 11, and she moves to her new location for AIT on Friday the 12th. She told us she will be able to come home after AIT for a short leave! She is looking forward to a little more freedom during AIT. They will be able to go off base some, and will have much better accomodations. She mentioned having a refrigerator in her new quarters several times during our call - I think she misses being able to eat when she wants!

She is past the half way mark and needs encouragement more than ever! Please continue to write positive letters to her. She really appreciates hearing from everyone.

Sunday conversation

Sarah is really staying busy now, with very little personal time for things like writing letters. Your letters mean a lot to her, so please don't quit writing to her if you don't hear back. They are in the first phase of Basic training now, and soon will enter the second phase know as the White Phase.

She told us about her rapelling experience, and she survived, though it caused her to have a panic attack. This is a real leap (no pun intended!) for her considering she wouldn't even look over the edge of a high cliff in the recent past! She is learning to get along with the other soldiers in her unit, and sometimes it's a challenge. So much togetherness after having her own bedroom with a door!

If you want to write to her, here is her address again. Also, I learned this week that it's helpful to write the platoon number on the back of the envelope (4th PLT). It helps them sort the tons of mail they get.

PFC Mastin, Sarah 6626
A Company 2-10 4th PLT
495 Iowa Ave. Unit 12
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO 65473

Write on the back of the envelope "4th PLT"

Hurry up and wait is over!

The reception time teaches recruits how to "hurry up and wait". They are required to be in certain places on time, then wait for what comes next! This is the reality of combat. Many of the soldiers that have trained for combat go to "war central" (Iraq) just to wait some more for real action. They have to learn patience, so they don't jump the gun (no pun intended!).

Sarah is fully into basic training now, and we are not getting as many letters. She is probably going strong from sunup to sundown. We all think about her and pray for her daily. Those of us who know her best, understand that she is doing what she was born to do. I believe in my heart that she is destined for greatness, and what that is, remains to be revealed.

I look forward to visiting her in September and experiencing Basic Training graduation. It will be a proud time for all of us! Sarah is an amazing and complex young woman! (Yes, a woman!) I knew before she was born that God had a plan for her, and she may not yet be aware what it is. I just hope that God will receive all the intercessory prayers for her, and will one day enter her heart. God must be at work, already, for Sarah has a heart for humanity. Just wait and see!

Our weekly phone call

One of my friends in church always teases me about wearing my "bluetooth" during church. But I didn't want to miss Sarah's weekly phone call, and never know what time it will come! During church service today, my phone rang (only in my ear!), and it was Sarah from her new phone! I'm so glad I sent it to her, because now she doesn't have to wait in line at the pay phone, and can talk longer. She still only gets 20 minutes, but that's a lot more than she had before. She only has access to her phone for those 20 minutes each Sunday, then it is taken back and kept with her other personal items.

She has been doing teambuilding this week, climbing ropes, and really loving it. She receives her M16 rifle in the next few days, and will learn to take it apart, clean it and drill with it. The next segment of basic training will include markmanship (markwomanship?!?). If you want to follow what she is doing, click on the site under "Sites about me".

She said she really enjoyed the Buddist service last week, and was thinking about attending the Catholic service today. It really is a benefit to have all those different services right there on base. She has been wanting to learn about different faiths for a while, and now she has a great opportunity.

She said the letters mean a lot to her, and she wants everyone to know she appreciates them so much, even if she doesn't write back. She is busy from the time they are awakened at 4:00 AM until lights are out at 9:00 PM. Last night, she said they didn't have a very good drill, and had to work on it for an additional hour, so didn't get to bed until 10:00! Not so bad unless you have to get up at 4!

Keep writing!

Visit from an army friend

Tonight, Michael Stansbery, a friend of Sarah's came by to visit with us. He is at Ft. Carson, and is going to Iraq in August. He likes cigars, so I got a couple for him. He went to Florida to visit family last week. If you would like to write him, email me at kmastin@gbod.org, and I will share his address.

The last letter we got from Sarah started with "Please send a cell phone!" So, of course, I did! She said she could have access to a cell phone for twenty minutes on Sundays during Basic training. That's better than having her stand in line at a pay phone, only to have one minute to talk because they are out of time.

She starts Basic this week, so I think she will be more engaged when we talk to her this weekend. That is the hardest for us, not talking to her! When she completes Basic Training, she will be able to have her cell phone all the time and we can talk to her! She is feeling a little like, as she said, " in army high school". I think that will change this week, when Reception is done, and Basic starts.

Being the helicopter Mom that I am, I Google Earth'd (is that a real phrase?!?) her base. You can download Google earth for free, and see a satelite view of anywhere on the earth! I think we can see the top of her barracks!

Address!!

We got a letter in the mail yesterday from Sarah, and she now has an address where we can write letters to her! We are allowed to send pictures and certain news articles. No food or packages. We can shower her with goodies when she comes home on leave.

You will need to address your letters exactly as follows:

PFC Mastin, Sarah 6623
A Company 2-10 4th PLT
495 Iowa Ave. Unit 12
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO 65473

She misses everyone, and is looking forard to receiving mail from home. Please send her words of encouragement!

Our Sunday Phone call from Ft. Leonard Wood

We (Mom, Dad and Emily) just got off the phone with Sarah! I have never gone this long without talking to her. She only got to talk a few minutes, and she talked fast. She is in her barracks now, and just mailed us her address. I will post it when we get it. She is making friends, and said they are like a family.

They got "smoked" the first day, just because. That means the Drill Sergeant got mad at them about whatever, and made them drop and do pushups. This apparently is a common thing, and the recruits try to figure out what sets them off, to avoid getting smoked. I don't think they ever do!

She sounds great, and seems like she is happy there. She still misses us and oh yeah, her IPod!

Thank you for visiting!
Kathryn

Bear in uniform

Mom found a Beanie Baby named "Salute". She is a bear in an army uniform with an American flag over her heart. In the tag reads,

Answering our nation's call
I'll stand in line, so brave and tall
I serve for life and liberty
And the pride I have in my country!

Needless to say, the bear now sits on Mom's desk!!

Letter from boot camp

Mom, Dad and Emily were excited to get a letter from Sarah on Tuesday, June 24. She said all the recruits were taken shopping with a list of things to get. They got running shoes and personal items. Pay days are on the 1st and 15th. It sounds like she is happy to begin her new profession! http://www.wood.army.mil

The scenery is awesome in the Ozarks, according to her. We are looking forward to finding out when graduation is, so we can plan to visit her in about 9 weeks. Not sure the date, yet. When she gets her unit and class assignment, we will know when she graduates from Basic.

It sounds like she is making friends, and staying busy. She was scheduled for fire watch at 1 AM to 2 AM. Sounds kind of boring to me. She is missing all of us, including the pets. She is worried they will be mad at her for leaving. I'm sure they will all be glad to see her when she gets a leave to visit home!

Her friend, Michael Stansbery, is home for leave this week, and will come by for a visit before he returns to Ft. Carson. He and Sarah are sad they didn't get to see each other before she left for Ft. Leonard Wood. He is scheduled to leave for Kuwait August 1. Maybe they will be able to coincide leave time during the holidays. He gets one leave while he is deployed.

We have so many friends and family members who are supporting Sarah and us during this time. We are so grateful, and thankful for everyone's calls and prayers. Thank you!!!!

Send off to Ft Leonard

On June 17, 2008, Sarah met Sgt. Moore in Lebanon to go over some last minute details. The Sgt. drove her and another recruit to the Maxwell House Hotel to stay overnight. Mom and Dad met her there, and had a little time with her, until the other recruits started arriving. She made new friends at the pool, and didn't get much sleep. Breakfast was at 5 AM! Then the recruits were all picked up and transported to the MEPS in Donelson. (For all of you non-military folks, this is the Military Processing center). She left with 5 other recruits for Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri at 19:35 (Oh, that's military time for 7:35 PM). Since she was the highest ranking at a PFC (Private First Class - level 3) she was made a group leader. She was responsible for herself and the other 5 recruits, all the orders and 6 blank checks for dinner! She did a great job keeping up with everyone and everything.

There were rumors that they may have to be re-routed to another location because of the flooding in Missouri, but that didn't happen. In the airport, the news was showing St. Louis with flooding, and we wondered how the conditions would be at Ft. Leonard Wood.

Sarah made her first phone call home on Sunday, June 22 at around 3 in the afternoon. She said the flooding hadn't reached them, and it wasn't raining. Sounded like she was getting through the orientation just fine, but missed family and friends.

We will not get her mailing address for a few more days, when she moves from the orientation barraks to her Basic Training housing. I will post the address for all friends and family and hope you will show her your love by writing! She needs our support!