Sunday visit day, March 2025 already.
Today was a busy day as soon as I woke up, I was rushing back and forth getting ready and dressed for visit with family. I am standing ready to go in Mr. Campos’ room, and decide to walk out to the main floor in case the officer is looking for me.
As soon as I step out of the Glasshouse, I spot the officer pointing at me. I walk over to his office, and he asks if I am “Valdes”, to which I reply, “Yes sir, I have visit?”, and he says, “Yes, you and a few others, do you know who Syfrett, Drago and Moreno are?”. “Yes I do, I will let them each know”, I respond and go look for those two guys.
I find one is just getting out of the shower, the other is putting his uniform on, and the other is ready to go. The officer walks Mr. Syfrett and myself over to the main door and calls for us to be allowed to walk over to the visiting room.
Walking into the visit room, I quickly spot my mom, mima, and Adi. They have for me an egg, sausage, bacon and cheese sandwich ready to go, and a small phillysteak sub for later.
Visit went great, it was so good to see them, but I know they have to get home to my niece, and it allows me a chance to get to the chapel in time to help the chaplain setup for the Christian services.
I am able to make it in time to practice singing a song with the guys from the “band” we have, and we get ready for service.
Today I sang the song from Evan Craft, Danny Gokey & Redimi2, “Be Alright”. I think it went well, I didn’t get any boo’s. HAHAHA. Service was lead by a volunteer from the Alpha & Omega Church, as well as one for the Spanish service.
I help the chaplain organize things, and close up before heading back to the unit for count.
Once back in the unit, I make myself a cafecito, and lay down for the next thirty minutes.
I hear the guys calling “count”, so I get out of bed and stand on the floor to wait for count. As soon as they leave, I get back into bed but I know that I need to be out of bed in fifteen minutes to call dad and prepare to take Mr. Rivero to dinner, so I get back down from my bed, put my shoes on and head to the phone and wait the last few minutes.
Dad is doing good, count clears, and as soon as they call the recreation move, I go over to the chapel to drop off a paper I had forgotten to take with me earlier, and I head back to the unit. I get the wheelchair ready, and Mr. Rivero is ready to go. Dinner menu today shows to be roast beef and mash potatoes, but when we got to the dining room it was rice instead of mash potatoes. Now that I am no longer going to be assigned to the chapel work detail I will have more time to myself and exercise, so my diet began with just eating the roast beef and green beans, and leaving the bread and rice behind.
Back in the unit, I grab my water bottle, and wait for the 6pm move, and I head to the rec yard where I walked two hours around the track with my buddy Mr. Garcia. Rec yard closed at 8pm, and I went around the lake over to the commissary area to drop off Mr. Readon’s commissary list since he is not in best of health conditions to be walking that distance on his own, so he asked me to do him the favor.
I called mom as soon as I returned to the unit, then grabbed my things to shower. I grab an envelope, one stamp, and a sheet of paper and head over to look for a newcomer, who asked about receiving a Bible from “Inside Journal”, so I offered to help him with it. I wrote the information needed on the paper, folded it, placed it in the labeled and stamped envelope, and placed it in the mailbox.
It is now 9:20pm, and I am listening to K-Love 89.7FM as I type this journal. Thank you God for the patience and love for others you give me, because the things we go through inside here are enough to drive some “crazy”, and thankfully You help me get through it all. There is nothing You allow me to go through that I cannot handle, and I thank You for that. Thank you Father God for allowing my family to be able to visit me and spend those hours with me. Thank you Lord for all you do, and I ask that you please guide us and be with us to always do what is right in Your eyes. This week I start new adventures in this place, and I ask for You to never leave my side while I accomplish all You need me to accomplish, before setting me free. Amen.
Eduardo Luis Valdes
02499-506
March 2, 2025
21:25
