Greetings from Wartburg Seminary Week 5

My classes are great and I am having a wonderful time. The weather is getting chilly up here but I am really enjoying the change of the seasons. Lana and I are doing very well. Lana is finally getting some recognition as a good substitute teacher and the calls are starting to come more regular.
I was one of the readers at our Synod retreat in Atlanta, and this poem was read during the service. You may have seen it before but if not, it will be a treat for you. I can assure that for all of the candidates, it was very moving. This poem says how I feel about making this life journey and my confidence that I am doing the right thing. So I asked them to send to me so I could share it here at Wartburg and with my friends. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did during the service.

“Thoughts in Solitude”
By
Thomas Merton

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does, in fact, please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

First week of school

Have finished the first week of school. It was great, I have about nine books to read and several papers to write. I have already been exposed to many new ideas and my theology has been tested. I have read several works by authors that appear to be really out there, but it did make me think and that was what the instructors wanted. Lots of reading which I like, the teachers are very good. Weather is beautiful, I love the change of seasons. I will write more next week.

Fall Semester starting 2nd of Sept

Fall semester starts the second of September, When they told us at the open house last November this was a serious academic endeavor, they were not kidding. Lana and I are settled in and we have a very nice house on campus, it has all we need. I have a nice study in the basement, and hi-speed internet comes with the house. Lana is signed up to sub at all the local schools. She hasn’t had this much time off in years, she is bored to death. School starts next week and she is very grateful for that.
Everything seems to be happening so fast now, we were told today that we will have to choose where we want to do our CPE in two weeks. I just learned what Clinical Pastoral Education was, and just today found their web site, much less where I want to do the training. It is required the summer following your first year. Not to many choices in Alabama, Birmingham is the closest. I may stay in the Midwest I like it here very much, but Lana says I haven’t experienced the winter yet so I don’t know what I am talking about.
Peace
Charlie

Greetings from Wartburg Seminary

We have arrived safe and sound, and we have the house in some form of ordered chaos. Lana and Leela have been working tremendously hard to get everything set up before they leave. I have a study area set up in the basement, that Lana calls the “MAN CAVE”. No matter what she calls it I love it, because I have a nice quite place to study. We are going to her Fathers birthday party tomorrow and then back to setting up the house. Greek starts Monday, and while I am starting Greek Lana will be driving Leela (my daughter) back to Huntsville this weekend, and on to New Orleans next week to pick up her dog. I attended the library and IT briefing today, got my email and log-in info. My new email address is, cunderwood@wartburgseminary.edu and our contact information is below. Please keep in touch.
Charles

Charles & Lana Underwood
464 Blair Drive #3
Dubuque IA 52003
House Phone 563-589-0389
Lana Cell 256-714-9396
Lana’s email lana7149396@yahoo.com
Charles Cell 256-603-1801

Moving Tuesdaay

The movers will be here Tuesday We should leave for Dubuque Wednesday morning very early. This has been a good weekend, we have sold all our vehicles, and have almost packed everything. The garage is the last big hurdle.

Please note new address

Please note our new address to the right. We leave Huntsville the 16th of July.

Ian enters Air Force Security Forces Training

Our son Ian has graduated from Air Force basic training and is now in Security Forces technical training. He will be at Lackland Air Force Base until late September.

A fun day fishing

A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work. A good day fishing is even better.

Big bass on Lake Guntersville.

Getting Ready to Move

The good news is that I was unanimously approved by the Candidacy committee. I am on my way to Wartburg Seminary, in July.

Seminary starts July the 20th so we hope to be in Dubuque by the Second week in July. Our house is on the market, we are packing and getting ready to move.

The really big News is that our son Ian has joined the Air Force. He is in his third week of basic training and doing well. We will keep you updated.
Charlie & Lana

Beloved Mother

The bad news. My Mother passed away from terminal cancer May 2008. She will be greatly missed.

Just an Update

All my paperwork is completed and the Seminary has provisionally accepted my application. I will meet with the Synod Candidacy Committee the 26th of April for the final interview. If that meeting has a positive outcome we hope to move to Dubuque the first week on July. We have our house almost ready to be put on the market. Getting the house ready to sell was harder than we anticipated, but we are almost there. Keep Lana and me in your prayers.

I passed yeaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was a big day in Charlie's world. Much to Lana's amazement I passed my psychological evaluation, and received a positive endorsement. Wow, what a relief. :)

A new year, a year of change

This will be a year of change for us. We will put our house on the market in April and be ready to move to Iowa the first week of July. I meet the ELCA candidacy committee in April for final approval, hopefully. I will keep you updated as we progress.

On vacation in Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach

Charles and Gary

Cruise to Key West and Mexico

Charles in Key West

Crusing with our friends

Linda and Lana in Mexico

Going to Seminary

I would like to share with everyone that Lana and I will be moving in June to Dubuque Iowa, to attend Wartburg Seminary. I will be working toward a Master of Divinity degree with the intention of going into Parish Ministry. Please add us to your prayer list as we embark on this new and challenging journey in our lives.
Charles

What a happy Couple

Charles and Lana in Charleston SC

High School Reunion