News from Chris

I just received a letter from Chris!  It has been a week since I have heard

from him, so this letter was a welcome sight!  Here are some highlights from his letter...

• He can see snow-capped mountains.  He wasn't sure what range, so he'll be excited to know he is looking on the other side of "our" mountain range.  
• He was excited to see city movement.  It has been a long time.
• The bus ride took over four hours, then he was sitting on the bus or in a holding cell for 17 hours before they could finally process him.
• The toilets are porcelain, not metal, and actually have lids.  It's the little things.
• The tables they sit at to play games or write are hard plastic, not metal.  Again, the little things.
• They get ice and have a microwave.  He was able to heat up water for coffee.
• The guys are all freezing.  It's very cold at night.  They've been walking around with their blankets around them to stay warm.
• They have sky-lights with frosted glass which lets in some nice, natural light.  They have no windows, though, which is a bummer.
• They have not been given yard time yet.  The facility has only been open for about two and a half weeks, so they don't have full staff yet.  Once they hire on more people, yard shouldn't be an issue.  This has been hard for Chris because he needs his outdoor time.
• The meals are smaller, so we need to make sure he has things for snacks or light meals (he can sometimes get bean and tortillas to make burritos).
• They make them walk the halls with their hands behind their backs like level three prisons.  He is hoping this will go away once they are truly settled in.  He said it feels weird.
• There is no electric fence.  
• They offer vocational training, so he is considering doing that instead of looking for a job.  He can be trained in janitorial, landscaping, plumbing, HVAC, and/or electrical.  This would give him a start on life outside those walls.  He has had an interest in landscaping and in electrical.
• There are no outside ministries at this point.  If anyone knows of a church or ministry in that area, please let me know and I will contact them to see if they would be interested in putting together a prison ministry.
• Their phones are not turned on.  We don't know when they will be.  Pray that it will be soon 'cause it's tough not hearing his voice.

So there you have it.  It is exciting to be a part of such a new facility, but that poses many challenges in and of itself.  Lot's of prayers for the transition would be awesome.  There are things he will be needing soon, but he wants me to wait about two to three weeks before ordering his package.  So I'll come back when it's time for that.  I will need help.  My finances for this season are going to be ultra-tight.