First Saturday in a long time that I don’t need to wake up for work, and am able to rest through to count time. I am up at 9:45am and getting myself ready, because as soon as the recreation move is called I am speed-walking over to the yard to grab the racquets and head to the racquetball courts.
I prepare myself a packaged plain bagel with one spam, some seasonings, mayo and mustard, plus some plantain chips for a crunch. I follow that with some water and prepare myself a cafecito and sit to enjoy while I read my daily devotionals. The first one I read was perfect, it comes from the “Stand Strong 365 Devotions for Men by Men”, it refers to being comforted to comfort.
“[God] comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
[2 Corinthians 1:4]
I love this verse. I love this reflection. I try and reflect my behaviors and actions on others so they could see “the comfort I receive from God”, hoping they could also find comfort in Him and little by little change each others way of life and live peacefully amongst one another. As Marvin Williams wrote, “When we suffer, God will bring comfort to us through His Word, by the Holy Spirit, and through fellow believers. God does not comfort us so that we’ll be comfortable; we are comforted by God so that we might be comforters”. What an amazing way to put it. Now time to live by that.
The count is coming through, and we are all standing in our rooms. As the officers leave the Glasshouse, we begin moving around, I see Bon-Bon is ready to go, I get a wheelchair ready for him since he is still in pain from his sprained ankle and we sit by the main door to wait for count to clear and the move to be called.
Move is called, and we walk out of the unit over to the recreation entrance. We played a good two hours, and even though it was a beautiful morning, the sun was beaming directly on the courts, so we let out a good sweat, thankfully I had my hat on so my face and head avoided a lot of that sunlight.
At the 1pm move, we head around the lake and into the unit where I quickly grab my things to shower and mark my spot by the shower upstairs, by placing my things on the rail in front of the shower. Once showered, I put my things away and hang up the clothes I washed. My roommate is preparing a meal for the two of us, God bless him. A few days ago, I was gifted a pouch of clams, so Mr. Aquino put together a mixed rice with mackerel and the clams.
I sit to watch some television and drinking a coffee to warm me up; it’s cold in the Glasshouse. At the 2pm move, I use Bon-Bon in the wheelchair to take the short way and drop off our commissary lists in the marked bins for our unit. Our unit won first place in cleanliness this past week, so next week we are rewarded with being able to shop commissary on Monday, visit on Saturday, and being called first for chow during the week. It’s a reward for Saturday visit to have certain people visit me, but those who cannot make it on the weekends won’t be able to see me if we keep winning placing in the top four on cleanliness.
4pm count time coming around, my roommate put the food to heat up in hot water while I come to the computer and start typing my journal for the day. While at the computer I downloaded a song to my tablet which was recommended to me. “Juan Luis Guerra – Mi Jesus”, what a beautiful song. I feel a tap on my shoulder and it’s him telling me food was ready. I exit the computer system and head to my room where my bowl is waiting for me. I sit with him to enjoy the meal, and I add some plantain chips to both bowls. Once done, I take whatever utensils and bowls were dirty and head to the kitchen area to wash it. Mr. Aquino and I decide to take the next move over to the chapel and say hello to our lady chaplain.
Back in the unit once again, I am going to enjoy some television before calling home to mom. A good quick phone call made, mom and family is doing good. The evening is over for me. Going to watch some television and wait for count. Tonight the clocks “spring forward” one hour, which means less sleep, and I want to be refreshed for visit tomorrow with the mumsie.
Oh Dear Lord, thank you for this day and all that has come with it. Thank you for guiding me, please help me to always stay on the narrow path of life You have for me that I don’t end up outside of all You have prepared for my future. I ask Father God for an excellent night sleep, and a great day tomorrow. Please protect my visitor(s) on their way here to see me tomorrow, and I pray dear Lord for only good things to come in the near future. Amen.
Eduardo Luis Valdes
02499-506
March 8, 2025
21:17
