thedrifter
03-14-09, 07:42 AM
20-SOMETHING: Keith Russell
By Hilary Matheson
The Journal-Standard
Fri Mar 13, 2009, 07:27 PM CDT
Freeport, Ill. -
Originally from Montana, Keith Russell of Freeport has taken different paths in his life from studying pastoral ministry at Northwestern College in Montana to enlisting in the Marines.
Keith moved to Freeport where his wife, Mahala, was from. The two met online, and after a year of communicating, they arranged to meet. At the time, Keith was still attending Northwest College and decided to invite Mahala and her parents to Montana for Thanksgiving dinner.
He recalls being nervous on that night of firsts. It was the first time he met Mahala and her parents face-to-face and it was his first time cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Using the dorm kitchen, Keith cooked a chicken and all the sides. The evening went off without a hitch he said.
“It did (go off without a hitch). Well, eventually it got a hitch in there, we got married,” he said and smiled.
Keith was the first of his family to join the military and joined the Marines. Stationed in California, he did a year of training before spending six months on a ship in the Gulf Coast during the Operation Enduring Freedom campaign.
“It was a big ship but most of it was industrial space and there were little over 2,500 people on the ship ,” Keith said. “It did get pretty cramped. The quarters we were staying in, we had almost 200 guys in a small area.”
Off-times were spent exercising, swimming and playing cards such as Spades and Uno. Lifting weights took extra effort and balance.
“It was pretty nice, except for when it (the boat) rocked and you were lifting weights and had to compensate for it,” he said.
As of now, Keith said his future plans are to get back to studying pastoral ministry and specialize in marriage and family ministry.
Ellie
By Hilary Matheson
The Journal-Standard
Fri Mar 13, 2009, 07:27 PM CDT
Freeport, Ill. -
Originally from Montana, Keith Russell of Freeport has taken different paths in his life from studying pastoral ministry at Northwestern College in Montana to enlisting in the Marines.
Keith moved to Freeport where his wife, Mahala, was from. The two met online, and after a year of communicating, they arranged to meet. At the time, Keith was still attending Northwest College and decided to invite Mahala and her parents to Montana for Thanksgiving dinner.
He recalls being nervous on that night of firsts. It was the first time he met Mahala and her parents face-to-face and it was his first time cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Using the dorm kitchen, Keith cooked a chicken and all the sides. The evening went off without a hitch he said.
“It did (go off without a hitch). Well, eventually it got a hitch in there, we got married,” he said and smiled.
Keith was the first of his family to join the military and joined the Marines. Stationed in California, he did a year of training before spending six months on a ship in the Gulf Coast during the Operation Enduring Freedom campaign.
“It was a big ship but most of it was industrial space and there were little over 2,500 people on the ship ,” Keith said. “It did get pretty cramped. The quarters we were staying in, we had almost 200 guys in a small area.”
Off-times were spent exercising, swimming and playing cards such as Spades and Uno. Lifting weights took extra effort and balance.
“It was pretty nice, except for when it (the boat) rocked and you were lifting weights and had to compensate for it,” he said.
As of now, Keith said his future plans are to get back to studying pastoral ministry and specialize in marriage and family ministry.
Ellie