Hey guys,
Hope everyone is doing well. I’m going to try to do a monthly update to keep each of you posted on updates as well as document this journey for the future to use as part of my testimony. I’ve got this broken into sections to make it easier to cover the different topics. Let’s start with the good news!
Good News!!! 🙂
I got my release date! yay!!! So I got my release date to the halfway house which is currently December 11th, 2025. Now this can change at any time (based on whether the halfway house is full or change in BOP policies, administration, etc..), but so far, most of the people who’ve gotten dates have been leaving on those dates. This is great news! On a 36 month sentence, you could get all the way up to 20 months to serve with no halfway house to 10 months served and 12 months at the halfway house. I ended up getting the full 12 months!! I’m only 1 of 2 people so far to get that this year at the camp. I share all this to say thank you for your prayers. As the Israelites cried for help to God and he showed mercy, God also heard your prayers. I had grown resolved to know it wasn’t when Trump or BOP would say I would be released, but the ultimate decision came to God. So if it his will, this date will be kept. This also the day before my birthday, and coincidentally, the same month I finish my bible in a year. But then again, I don’t believe that’s a coincidence either. 🙂
That would mean I did 10 months on 36 months, which is less than 30%. I would still need to go to the halfway house and then home confinement after I show I have a job and a place to stay. With the credits I would earn each month, God willing, it would still be approx. 20 months or less in total, but at least I get to see my family and work to serve the remainder of that time with my family and community. Praise God! He has been so good and merciful to me. I thank you again for all your prayers and give God all the glory!
Biblical Studies
I had started my degree with an outside college, International Christian College and Seminary (ICCS) last month. With this release date only 7 months away, I will need to finish 20 courses in the next 7 months. I’ve had great chats with Dr. Mccorkle, their dean of student affairs. He’s a good man and congratulated me on my date and willing to send me the courses by email so I can continue working through while they take 30-45 days to grade and return my paperwork. While he thinks it’s an ambiguous goal, he’s willing to support me in anyway he can. He always sends positive messages that are detailed with things I’ve shared with him about my family and encourages me to continue the path toward who I’m becoming. I truly appreciate that and can see myself doing the same for others in ministry. While God hasn’t called me to any particular ministry yet, I can’t imagine a more fulfilling line of work for me while knowing with certainty I’m serving God’s purpose for my life. I’ve gotten 3 courses done in a month. While these were some of their shorter courses, I’m off to a good start and hope to keep up the momentum! 🙂
Bible in a year
The biblical studies has me jumping around a bit which is good because I had to go back to the book of Numbers and read it again to do the course work and it’s given me new insights after being able to read to the book of Kings. I’ve mentioned when I prayed last year, all God kept saying was read my word. Now I see why. Overall, if I had to describe the bible in one word, it would be relationship. The bible shows how God wants us to have a relationship with him while we live this temporal life on earth. It shows pattern after pattern of his relationship with others, how he responded based on what they did, and what he commands from us during our lives and what pitfalls to avoid not because he is the ultimate judge, but because he wants what’s best for us.
I’ve been writing weekly journal reports on bible stories and what I’m learning for Ari and Rumi and publishing on the same prison professor’s site. So I won’t go into detail for all the lessons here. But it’s opened up my relationship with God where it’s so much deeper. I’ve learned to talk to him, to listen, to do what I can, and put everything else on the altar. I’ll share a few stories below, but each time I put things on the altar, he’s miraculously resolved it. It’s like he’s trying to show me, this is how I want you to have a relationship with me. I didn’t create you to be independent but be dependent on me for all the things you can’t do, which is alot, so you would reach out and build your relationship with me. I could go all day on this with one story after another, but for now, I’ll just say I’m looking forward to finishing the bible and getting deeper into this relationship with him.
Horticulture
We picked cabbages so far and then planted cantaloupes and watermelon. We been tilling the weeds to keep them from growing. It’s been hard work but also very spiritual. There’s something about putting your hands in the dirt and staring with a seed and watching God grow it into a delicious healthy piece of food we can eat. We don’t know exactly how it works, just like our bodies, but he does this by his perfect design. We’ve also been able to grow herbs like mint, cilantro, and parsley. There’s not always enough for everyone at the camp but we’re able to take some for ourselves to add to our foods. That’s been a nice blessing!
And I’m sure as Azy is reading this, she can’t wait for me to come home and do this at my mom’s house so we don’t have to spend all these gigantic prices now on groceries so she can make her pesian food, which Rumi and Ari, I’m told, are devouring right now! 🙂
Spanish
Classes have been going well. Mac has been a great teacher. We’ve gotten some vocabulary down along with conjugation of some of the verbs. I would say we’re the equivalent of a Spanish kindergarten class right now! lol! But the more I practice, the more I’m understanding the sounds and remembering the words. And not having a phone has been great. I’ve noticed I’m getting my photographic memory back! My writing and reading is pretty good and my pronunciation has gotten much better. I’m still way off from being able to understand anyone who speaks fluently but if they slow down, I got a good shot now. What’s cool is I’m starting to us more Spanish words when I communicate with Alejandro, one of my friends and brothers in Christ here, which always surprises him and gives him a good laugh. 🙂 I’m enjoying it and it’s been a great use of time.
People
Last time I mentioned, before I came here, God said get ready to work. And I thought that work was on ministry to others when in fact the work was on me. He also said if you want to go to ministry, you have to lose yourself and be more like me. This last month, that’s been my main focus. I’m literally been working on taking myself out of every equation. That means not getting offended when I don’t get my way, not getting irritated when things don’t happen the way I expect them, and listening with what I call “God ears” vs. my ears, seeing how would God want me to respond. I also told God I’m so busy working on all these studies that would better serve you, if there’s anyone you want me to help, send them to me so I don’t have to go looking for them. And sure enough, that’s exactly what he’s been doing.
One of the cool stories in my roommate got out in May, so I needed to get a new roommate before they assign you one. Levi has three weeks left before he gets out on June 4th, then I have another roommate lined up where we get along well after that. Levi is a Jehovah’s witness. It’s been great having conversations and learning more about what they believe. What’ been really cool is we’ve able to cut through and not focus on the differences but Jesus and how he wants us to live our lives. Levi is 31, has 4 kids, by 3 different women, and made an incredible transformation while he’s been here. It’s interesting we ended up talking about different types of sins we’ve committed and it brought back memories of things I did in my 20’s that I hadn’t thought about because I was so focused on the sins I committed recently. One thing it made me realize is I could pretty much relate to most people because I’ve dealt with so many different things in my life. While I know it’s helped him with us being roommates, God was showing me all of my messes can be turned into a message for him. All these tests will become a testimony to glorify God and give everyone a chance to see how he truly works in our lives. This is just one of the many stories I’ve experienced this month and I thank God for letting me see things with his eyes and hear what he hears.
Health
I want to give a personal shoutout to my friend and physical trainer/nutritionist/all things I need, for all I’ve leaned last 2 years working with him. As I mentioned last month, we have a full weight room, one of the few like this in any camp, so a huge blessing. In the last 3 months, my weight has been a steady 205, yet I’ve lost 3 pant sizes. That means I’m losing fat while maintaining muscle. And that is with food that’s let’s just say “subpar” nutritious and not the most comfortable cots for sleeping. God is truly good.
Also, made a new friend, J.D., who’s in his 30s and has two kids, 5 and 4, also girl and a boy. Been working out with him to show him form and different type of workouts in the gym. But it’s turned into a ministry and talking about God and his role in our lives. JD is friendly, in the army, and will be going back home in July to deal with custody battle for his kids. But he’s a strong believer in the Lord and tried to be nice to everyone he meets, which is very challenging in here because people have triggers and go off the rail pretty quickly. What he’s done for me is intensify my workouts. He hansn’t worked out in 13 months, but he’s competitive and trying to do a lot of the same stuff I’m doing so he’s pushing me to intensify my workouts. I’ve been sore the whole last week because of him. One thing I’m learning every time I think God is putting someone in my life for me to help them, they usually give me so much more! 🙂
Visits
I’ve been blessed to have Samee, Azy, Sean, Paige, mom, and he cuties (Rumi and Ari) visit me while I’ve been here. Samee even rented an RV first few months and has now gotten a supped up SUV that has plenty of room for Rumi and Ari for long drives so everyone is comfortable. They’re coming out every 3 weeks or so, barring any holidays. I’m truly grateful to have so many family and friends supporting up during this time. I feel very blessed, even more so when I see others here who don’t have that support and I know it makes a difference.
That said, those of you that are near, I have no expectation of you to visit. If you like to come, I’d love to see you and be happy to open up my busy schedule for you! 🙂 Visitation is on Sat-Mon from 9-3 pm. Get with Samee on best way to come.
My main thing is to be able to see Azy and the twins so they remember Daddy and I can see their growth and what they’ve been up while I’m here. Again, a big thank you to Samee, Sean, Molly, Paige, Sherry, my mom, Azy’s mom, Seti, Camron, and Chloe for all the love and support they’ve given Azy and the cuties! We’re very blessed to have you in our lives and appreciated all you’re doing for us. Rumi and Ari love their amoos (uncles), aunties, granjoon (my mom), daya (azy’s mom), and their cousins. You fill their lives with so much love and fun that they’re literally bursting at the seams every time they see you! 🙂
Prayers
Last, and most important, if you guys can pray for the following, I would appreciate it!
If it his God’s will:
- Levi, J.D., and Joshua transition to a halfway house and build their relationship with the Lord
- Stay in great health for Azy, and the twins, and I
- All the people at the camp to go to home confinement. These are non violent offenders who have spent too much time here and would be much better use to their family by being home with them and working.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading!
And a blessed memorial weekend! 🙂
Alex Dee
5/25/25
