People always warned me that I would be working long hours as an officer, and they were right.

I am tired, stressed, and confused most of my long work days.

However, what people didn't tell me was how fun it can be.  Watching God open doors and tear down road blocks builds my faith in a whole new way.

I was told that Waxahachie had too many churches and that it would be tough to build-up a congregation, yet every Sunday, I seem to be meeting someone new who wants to come worship with us. God promised Kristin and I that if we remained faithful, He would reward that faithfulness. As tired as I get, that promise keeps me going strong.

I have also been reminded of how we are standing on the shoulders of giants. The officers that built the Salvation Army into what it is today have made the uniform a powerful tool for our mission. To walk down the halls of City Hall or into a Lowe's hardware store and ask for meetings, and be granted meetings, and then for people to turn around and offer to help is amazing. People treat me like I actually did something or proved myself already, all because I am wearing the same uniform as someone who once did something great.  It is a tradition I hope to continue. I wear my uniform everywhere. In fact, as I write this, it is reminding me that it might be time to get it cleaned.

It has been six weeks, and it somehow feels like six months and at the same time six days.

To describe being a new officer in a nut shell, it's exciting with a little sprinkle of "what in the world am I doing?!"