Tuesday, April 29, 2025 today, and it is also our commissary day. Rivero has been in pain for the last few days; he said he was not getting up to go to commissary. I hate that he is in this condition; I want to do more, but in this situation I cannot do much but be there for him if and when he needs me.
Last night we had our Bible study. We saw “The Chosen” Season 2, Episode 8, and gathered in our groups and went over the study guide pamphlet. The conversations were heart warming, the time there was peaceful and well spent.
This morning, our unit went to commissary at the 7am move. We stood there for about 30 minutes before they began calling names from our unit. I was called fifth. Thank God for this; I got my things, and headed back to the unit in time to drop off my bag and head to Education, be on work on time to meet with my supervisor.
We went over information for two courses that we will be handling, and he left to a meeting in another department. I walked over to the Education Clerk’s office space, and later the Leisure Library to collect names of those who would like to participate in the Re-Entry courses. By 9am I was on my way back to the unit to check on Rivero.
He was still in bed; still in pain. I went over to my room, made myself a cafecito and sat down to read my daily devotionals. It is the perfect word today that went with our study last night. About not letting go of God’s plans for us, not falling into that “yoke of slavery” where we will end up crushed. We need to “stand firm” and remain on the path God has put us on. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”, [Galatians 5:1].
I head out to lunch without Rivero, but being Bon-Bon still has issues with his foot, and it is his birthday, I offered to push him in the wheelchair over to lunch. I wanted to make sure we were able to get a food tray for Rivero so I first went to the officer and asked if he could communicate to Food Service the situation, and he did. As soon as we arrived in the chow hall, I saw the officer in charge and she said to pick up the tray for Rivero and another guy in our unit, Cabrera. Bon-Bon grabs two trays and we head to the table to eat. From the tray I ate the chicken patty, topped with tomato, and the cold dessert treat, drank some water, and when we completed, I went up to the food line, where the officer tells me another officer from the dining room walked over the two trays to my unit. I thanked her, and went on my way. I wheel Bon-Bon back to our unit, drop him off, fold away the wheelchair, and grab my things to wait for the 12:30 work call move.
The move is called, and I stroll alongside Aquino and Garcia over to Education. A few minutes later, my fearless leader arrives, we head to the office and chat about what we have for the rest of the week. I help him through until 3pm when the recall move gets called, and I see Frank in his wheelchair, no one around to help him. I hand him the documents in my hands and begin pushing his wheelchair back to his unit, which is two units away from mine. I walk past the two officers outside the units, and drop him off in his unit, then walk back past the officers and over to my unit. They stopped me asking if I had a “short pass” to walk that way, which had me wonder, “Did they not notice I pushed that wheelchair past my unit to his own unit?”, so I mentioned it to them, and they both looked at each other not knowing what to respond. “My unit is this way, I think what I did was a good deed, please don’t make me walk all the way around the lake now”, to which they responded, “no, you can go”. “Phewww” I thought, as I turn and head to my unit.
Once in the unit, I head straight to Rivero’s room. He is still laying down, still in a lot of pain. I head to my room to change into shorts and my t-shirt, and hang my uniform. Menu for dinner tonight shows cheese pizza, but I really want to go to recreation today. Then I remember, the chief pharmacist stopped me earlier today and asked if I could take Rivero to “pill-line” in the evening so he could get his newly prescribed medication.
Rivero is up and out of bed, grabs his cane and even though he struggled much, he got to the wheelchair and I took him out to the pill-line window where he picked up his medication. As we are there, we hear several guys talking about how horrible the dinner meal was. There was no cheese pizza, they served miniature burger patties, so thankfully I had already put together a ramen noodle mix with seasonings, chicken bits and pork cracklings.
6pm move, I am headed to recreation with my lyrics folder, tablet and identification. I get in the long line of guys waiting to get into recreation, and then head straight to the music room. In there, the guys had already been practicing since the move before dinner. Today we practiced the song, “I am a friend of God”, both in Spanish and English, so we could play it in both services. It came out great, and we had a fun time but with ten minutes left before the move, the officer asks us to begin cleaning up.
Heading back to the unit walking with Bear, P.K. and Myles, we had several laughs. I hope they are able to stay in my current unit with me, they seem to be a good group of guys to be around, not looking for trouble, not involved in anything that could harm their sentence, just trying to worship and build their relationship with God, so they could live their life correctly once released. We have much in common.
Quickly over to the phone, I spend a few minutes talking to mom. Family is doing great, missing me, as I am missing them. Time to shower, watch television and end the night, maybe with a snack or two.
Thank you Father God for your guidance, please give me the strength I need to stand firm in your plans for my life, to be strong against the works of the devil. There is evil everywhere, and each and every day I know you protect me from falling into temptation, and for that I continuously thank You. Please don’t ever leave my side, please watch over me and protect me as you always have. Thank you for my family, their love and support. My life is in your hands oh God, please use me where you need me as you need me, that I may always follow your ways. Amen.
Eduardo Luis Valdes
02499-506
April 29, 2025
21:25
