Journal Entry: Eduardo Luis Valdes-09/23/2024-Day 1104

Journal Entry

After a few busy days of working in the chapel, we had a mid-day movie Saturday afternoon where over 50 guys gathered to watch the movie on the big screen.

Sunday morning I was ready for my visit, but through a few mishaps in the unit and my mom not being allowed in with the first few groups, I had to wait until after count.

It was nice spending a few hours with mom. She loves to feed me, and I love to eat; food makes me happy, and she lives to see others, especially her kids, happy. She bought for me a meatloaf, with mash potatoes and gravy tv dinner, a small philly steak and cheese sandwich, three bags of chips, a lemon-lime Gatorade, and for desert, a bag of skittles. You must believe that I was stuffed!!!! Thankfully it was early enough, that by 6pm I ate a Mackerel fish the we buy from commissary, and then headed to the chapel for the Spanish Christian service. Once that concluded, one of the guys offered to stay and help me clean up and organize things. Monday morning there would be guest speakers visiting to share information on Re-Entry, Probation, and Halfway-House.

We move the podium into place, perfectly centered and two feet in front of the one-hundred chairs in the chapel. The microphone is set, wired and tested, then for the fourteen visitors, we set out thirteen chairs facing the crowd. Six chairs to the right of the podium, and seven chairs to the left of the podium, all separated enough to allow each visitor comfortable seating. Directly centered behind the podium against the wall was our flag pole with the American flag to show our patriotism in the Chapel.

Monday morning, my alarm is ringing at 06:35 sharp. I turn it off, cover my head, and close my eyes. After a little whining to myself about having to wake up, I thank God for a good night sleep, and pray for a good day. I sit up in my top bunk, fold my covers, organize my bed, and step down onto the chair then onto the floor. Before 07:00 I was washed up, teeth brushed, and dressed, with tea mug in hand ready for work. I had asked Chaplain Estrin if he could advise Chaplain Hostler that if he was able to, if he could try and be in by 07:00 so we can open the chapel, and have some soft music in the background playing and ready for the “event”. So, I fill my tea mug with hot water, I look at my watch and see it is 06:55. I look up and see Chaplain Hostler walking into the unit to get me.

When you work with someone who knows how to do their job right, its awesome. But when you notice that they also care about the job they are doing, its even more amazing. (There is a Truist television commercial that says a quote very similar). I think I have said it before and I will never get tired of saying it. I am so grateful and thankful to be a part of the chapel and working for these Chaplains.

Chaplain Hostler escorts me over to the Chapel, I use the callout sheet to count how many persons are scheduled to attend, and I put out sign-in sheets sufficient enough to cover the 77 AIC’s information. It is now 08:00 and everyone starts arriving, signing in, and taking their seats. The visitors are then escorted into the chapel by our Re-Entry Coordinator, Mr. Phillips and they are guided to the front of the chapel. A lot of good information was provided today by the visitors, and everyone had some time to ask their questions.

Everyone leaves the Chapel, and the visitors head over to the Camp prison next door to us. I begin rolling up the microphone cables, and put them away along with the microphones. I lock up the cabinet, turn off a set of the lights, thank the Chaplain for his help, he thanks me for my work, and I head to the unit. As I step out of the Chapel, I see a group of officers running to the visiting room, something “went down”.

We don’t get called to lunch until after 12:00, and by the time I return to the unit, the officer does not let me go to the Chapel, and they do not open up for the rest of the afternoon, so I head to bed to take a nap. Somehow I automatically wake up at 16:00 and am ready for afternoon count. Two cubicles down from me Mr. Campos has dinner ready for me. I grab my bowl of food and head back to my cubicle to add some olive-oil, and hot sauce. Pork, rice, black beans, tomato salad, all mixed up and ready to be gobbled up. It was delicious, I can’t thank Mr. Campos enough for his attention to detail in the food he cooks. Back at home, Mr. Campos had a backyard restaurant by the name of “Patio Tropical”, and he would could his homemade Cuban foods.

I speak to my dad for a few minutes, everything is good and under control. I say my goodbye, and wait for the dinner move to be called, and I head straight to the Chapel, where I meet with Chaplain Estrin. A few of the Jews arrive after dinner to go over the upcoming holidays, and around 19:00, I walk with Chaplain Estrin as we escort the Jews to their assigned units. What a beautiful night it is, the sky has all sorts of colors, and as the sun is setting to the west, all we see is light shining behind a set of clouds that seem low from our line of sight. We arrive at the last unit and watch as Mr. Dekelbaum walks in while waving back at us. Now it’s time for my escort back to the unit. Thankfully the officer in my unit was by the door when we arrive, and I head in.

I walk over to the phone, call mom and mima. We shared the highlights of our day’s, and I later headed to my room, grabbed a few snacks, spoke with Bon-Bon, and here I am, finishing typing my journal. As I do, I am thinking about how my day is going to be tomorrow. It’s Chapel clean up day, then I have a class in the afternoon, and later Bible study in the evening. “Have I completed my assigned homework for this class?”. Time to go check but I think I did.

Thank you Dear Lord, for the push you give me each and every day. Thank you for my family, friends, and loved ones. Thank you Lord for my niece who is 17 years old today. May she have a wonderful and blessed day. Please Lord take care and watch over her. Father you know how much she needs you in her life, protect her and do for her all you can for her to live the best life she can possibly live. As every day, I pray for a peaceful night, a good night sleep, and if possible good dreams dear Lord. Thank you for all you do, and in your name I pray this, Amen.

Eduardo Valdes
September 23, 2024
21:24