FOCUS Navy Sea Trials

Every year the plebe class does an intensive workout called sea trials.  It is usually about a 16 hour workout they have been preparing for all year.  This year, the FOCUS team decided to do a mini sea trials to take a glimpse into the life of a freshman midshipman's.  OK, so when I say that we decided I really mean that the midshipmen thought about it, planned for weeks on the best way to torture us, and we agreed to show up and do our best.  They did not think we would last 30 minutes, but we showed them!  We finished their little FOCUS Sea trials after three and a half hours of ... fun.  Ha ha.  No, it was actually great.  Here is a little preview of the event.  I will post the ten minute video later.  I hope you enjoy. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErOg9XzCl44&feature=youtu.be


P.S.  GO TEAM NAVY!!!

Rome Part 2

Assisi

The day after Pope Francis was elected we went to Assisi.  If you did not know it, this is where St. Francis of Assisi was from and started his ministry.  We planned the trip to Assisi before we went to Rome, and it was the only time we left the city.  The amazing thing was that our new Pope picked his name Francis after St. Francis of Assisi, so that night, when the Pope was elected, we all realized we were going to Assisi the very next day.  It was another one of those little things that the Lord planned for us. 

When we got there I found out that Assisi had two parts to the little town.  There was an old Assisi and a new Assisi.  New Assisi was down the hill by the train station, and old Assisi was on top of a hill, so a few of us started our hike up the hill like real pilgrims while the rest of our group took a cab.  If you ever get a chance make sure you walk.  It was amazing!  It looks like a long walk, but it really was not that bad, and the weather was great. 

 Assisi is one of the most peaceful towns I have ever been  . No, it is the most peaceful town I have ever been to.  Yet, there seemed to be this electricity in the air.  I don't know how to describe it, but I loved it, and at the very top of the city is a castle that was owned by St. Francis' father (The castle is on top of the center hill).  Captain Smith and I wanted to get to the castle, but we could not find the road to get there, so we ended up climbing the hill as if we were invaders. 

 When we finally got up to the castle we found that there was a few from our group already there.  Apparently there was an easy path to the castle. 

When we got to the top of the castle we looked down the hill, and realized why the castle was there.  If Captain Smith and I had been invaders there was no way we would have been successful on our attack.  We would have been easy targets. 

All that work was worth it, because the view was amazing!

Vatican Tour

This was the best tour I had ever been on.  The tour guide was amazing, and so was the Vatican.  I never knew that the Vatican had so many ancient artifacts.  Then again it makes sense that the church would help to preserve pieces of cultures.  It did the same thing in Europe during the Dark Ages.  It was also a great testament to how Christianity conquered all of these great nations.  They were not conquered by force from the outside but by love from the inside.  Here are a few of my favorite pictures. 

This is the vehicle that John Paul II rode when he was shot. 

Rafael's challenge to Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. 

 

Where's Rafael?

 

Trick question.  He is over here. 

 

Proof I was there. 

I had studied this in high school, but it was much more impressive in person. 

 P.S.  There will be a Rome Part 3. 

ROME Part 1

Waiting for the new Pope!

I still cannot believe that I went to Rome.  It had always been a dream of mine, but I thought I might go someday after I retired.  Of course, I thought the same thing about going to Walt Disney World, but I was able to do that on a band trip my junior year in high school.  This year I was able to go to Rome on a pilgrimage with about twenty-five midshipmen.  It was amazing, and so many great things happened.   I felt as though the Lord had personally planned my trip and made it perfect for me.  We planned the trip months in advance, and we never expected to see the conclave or a new Pope, but that is just what happened.  Let me take you through the highlights of the trip. 

 

The Flight

First, let me give you some advice.  If you ever fly to Rome make sure you sleep on the way over.  I know all  of those great movies are tempting, but you can watch them on the way back.  You are going to need your sleep, because when you get there it could be the morning of the next day, and if you did not get any sleep...Oh man.  I got some sleep, but more would have been great. 

This was my first trip over seas, and other then the eight hours it was a pretty normal flight.  We flew out of Philadelphia, and to my surprise there were people from San Marcos, Texas.  My home town church was taking students to Rome too. 

St Peter's Basilica

This was my dream!  This is what I wanted to see, and it was the first thing that we went to see.  It was huge, and when we walked in, yup it's true, it took my breath away.  It was beautiful.  Here are some pictures. 

 

 

 

My favorite had to be the Pieta. 

White Smoke!

That was the smoke stack (Actually, it is a large screen in the middle of St. Peter's square that made it easier to see the smoke.) on the first night of the election.  We waited for almost an hour, and to no surprise the smoke was black that night. 

This has to be my favorite part in the entire trip.  Imagine this...You are a catholic missionary, and it is your dream to go to Rome and see a Pope.  You hear that the midshipmen are going on a pilgrimage to Rome and you decide to go.  The trip is planned months in advance, and as the trip is getting closer you hear that the Pope is abdicating.  In fact, you realize that there will not be a Pope when you get there.  Someone else might think, "Well, at least it is still Rome, and I can still see the Sistine Chapel and the rest of the beautiful city."  NOT ME!  This was a dream of mine, and who knows when I would get another opportunity to go to Rome?  I knew this could be one of the greatest trips ever, or one of those times when I could say "I was so close...yet so far." In fact, I later learned that the Sistine Chapel would be closed, as they prepared to use the chapel for the conclave.  I never got to see the Sistine Chapel, but that is fine.  It is still the greatest trip I have ever been on, because I was there on the second night when that white smoke came out. 

 



Everyone was so surprised when the white smoke came out, and as soon as it did the Vatican bells began to ring, and all of the bells in the city followed.  Everyone in the square rushed to the front to get a good view.  While the rest of the city rushed to the square (I mean not the entire city, but the square was packed.), and we all waited for our new Pope. 
 

It was perfect!  The rain even cleared up, so everyone was able to pull down there umbrellas.  Otherwise, we would not have been able to see.  We waited for about an hour, and then the lights turned on, and all of the cardinals step out onto to the side balconies waiting for their brother, the new Pope whom they just elected, to step out and meet the world.
 

 

That was my favorite part.  To me it symbolized the unity of the church.  I was blown away, and then he stepped out!  It was amazing!  Here is a little video of that night. 

 



 

I felt as though the Lord had done it all for me, and I will never forget that moment.  Thank you for everyone who has supported me, because I would not be a missionary without you, and I never would have been able to see this.  

P.S.  Hey Luke, is that St. Peter's?

P.P.S. Thank you Father Mike for everything!