Tuesday morning, July 1st, 2025.
Out of bed at 5:30am.
Dressed and ready, grab my laundry bag with a set of uniform I need to exchange at laundry.
I wait by the door, and an emergency happens, officers seen running, I take the time to use the restroom.
Chow is called, I pull a laundry cart over to the laundry department, and wait, until I am able to drop off the uniform and pick up a hygiene kit.
Over in the dining room, I have some of the morning cereal with milk they serve, then head back to my unit.
I change into my class-A uniform, and head up to see counselor Elenberg, make sure we are still on schedule for my 11am legal call, and recommend some room moves for a few guys in the Glasshouse who are not comfortable with their current roommates. Elenberg was happy to help with the moves, and I let the guys know they could move rooms.
I take the 8am move over to the Education department to meet with Nicolas. He has a department head meeting at 9am, so I grab what I need from his office and go to the orderlies office to put the paperwork together.
10am, I head back to the unit.
One of the LT’s enters the unit and notices several guys not in uniform, and begins to lock room doors, make sure no one is able to get their uniforms in a rush, then has a few words with those not in compliance. Counselor Elenberg enters the Glasshouse, and asks me to go with him, to wait until 11am while he does a few things.
My legal call went well. Time to keep my hopes up and continue to pray. I head to the phone to call dad and update him, then head to the computer and email my attorney thanking him for taking the call and helping me with my case, and chow is called.
I press SEND in the email and get up, turn around and see Rivero waiting by his room. I rush over, get his wheelchair, place his donut pillow in the chair, and he sits.
We are wheeling down over to the dining room. It’s chicken patty day.
Today they gave us a piece of baked chicken breast, bread, lettuce, tomato, two packs of mayonnaise, some macaroni, and apple sauce.
We finish lunch and we head back to the unit. I grab what I need and take the 12pm move over to work.
I wait a little and Nicolas arrives; I walk with him over to the chapel to meet with Chaplain Hostler regarding an event they have for staff in September. I wait outside the office as they speak until Nicolas steps out to go speak to his supervisor, and he has me go back to Education to wait for him.
As Nicolas gets back to his office, I remind him I have a callout in the chapel at 2pm; which was okay because he had to step out as well.
In the chapel, I setup the ALPHA course DVD, and help the chaplain with what he needs. This is the Spanish Christian Bible Study time. Once the DVD is over, the guys gathered into their groups, and went over the discussion questions. At the 3pm move, we headed back to our units.
I get to the computer, check if I have messages, then head up to the counselors office. Once inside, I thank him for being patient with us, and thank him for the legal call from earlier. I ask him if he is doing okay, and if there is any updates, or anything I am able to help him with. He looked at me with a confused face; I told him, I was just checking up, see how things were going, make sure everything was okay. He shook his head a bit, and this time tells me he is confused, he does not understand what I mean. “Mr. Elenberg, I am grateful to have a unit team including you and Mr. Kost. I just got back from work, and wanted to say thank you and follow up in case there was anything you needed I could help you with.” To which he responded, “Thank you, I am just not use to someone in your setting being the way you are with us”. “I hope that is a good thing sir”, I responded to him. “Yes it is, have a good rest of your day” he tells me.
Back to the Glasshouse to wait for count. AIC Skaggs, who recently self surrendered stopped me to thank me for helping him move to the room with Rivero, he says he is so much happier than the room he was in. The other guy, I noticed was settling in to his room, and is doing okay.
Count clears, shoes are on. Tonight is the English Christian Alpha course, Session 11. I take the first move to the chapel, set out the sign in sheet, get the DVD ready and head to the dining room for dinner as soon as I see others walking to the chow hall. Tonight was ground beef, mixed with cheese, onions, peppers, and not sure what else but it was pretty good. I added the green beans into it, and left the rice off to the side, then quickly head back to the chapel.
It is still early, I grab the floor sweeper and a broom. I clean the floors of the chapel, and prepare for the guys to arrive.
Once we complete the Alpha session, we head back to the unit, and I am stopped by AIC Anderson, who is preparing a play and wants me to sing, Miles and Mike to play the music. I grab a request form with our names on it, to give it to the recreation officer to put us on practice schedule, but we were too late today. Tomorrow is another day.
Back in the unit, I read my daily devotionals.
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”
[Proverbs 12:25]
I love this verse. Here incarcerated, you mostly hear negativity and several guys full of anxiety. It is so nice when there are those who stay positive even in these situations, and cheer others up with simple words of encouragement, and I try each and every day to be that positive light for others.
I grab my things to shower, then call mom.
Willy and Romania prepare a small meal of chicken and rice and share with me. I wash the bowls, and prepare for the 10pm count.
Thank you God. You are everything I need, You give me everything I pray for, and I wait patiently for You. Please Lord, remind me of the power you have given me. Make me more and more humble every day. Help me Lord to choose never to hurt others and give them strength to uplift them. Amen.
Eduardo Luis Valdes
02499-506
July 1, 2025
22:57
