Leonard, I know it's been a long time, but at long last, here is an update if you don't mind typing it.  Thank You, we appreciate it.  Ruth (=

Brian and Ruth Christine Newsletter

April 2006 Newsletter 

Dear all, 

I know it has been a very long time since we have written.  How are you all? Brian is doing very well.  A couple of months back he had to have surgery to reattach one of his retinas to his eye.  It was a major surgery.  God moved on the hearts of the medical staff to enable him to see a specialist to find out what was wrong with his eye, and then He moved them to allow him to go out for the surgery. Just in the last couple of weeks the last air bubble that was left from the surgery was gone. And he can see.  Praise God! 

He is still working in the computer lab and really enjoys his job, although it seems they may close the program down.  So please be praying for him with that.

They have a new chaplain over at his prison, a man who used to come in as a church volunteer himself and is a positive asset, so that is an answer to prayer.  Brian has joined a committee that has been set up through the chapel to help the men of the prison work on areas of their lives that they need help with and Brian is really excited about having input in that.

As for me, I am still working at DMV answering the phones.  I am currently training some of the new girls how to do the job, which is fun and a challenge and an opportunity to get to know people a little better and have an input in their lives.

Things were a bit crazy here leading up to Passover and the season of our Lord's death and resurrection.  There was a fight in my unit and one of the girls was hitting her cellie, which was sad.  It also upset a lot of the women since this section of the prison is usually pretty quiet.

The following week, one of the women on intake died of a heart attack.  And everyone was irritable and on edge.  Around the same time, a group of  the women here were sent to live in one of the county jails due to overcrowding and a shortage of prison beds.  So, it has been a difficult time for the women generally.

At our Tuesday night service we have just started a new Beth Moore Bible study on the Patriarchs ad it looks really promising

A good Christian friend of mine, Tammy(?) may be leaving to go to the minimum section soon, we are not sure.  It is hard when someone goes over there because although it is right next to our section, we have no contact with the women over there, except by mail!  One of the things about prison is the isolation, you live in a whole separate world in here and that can be really hard to deal with. Even family and friends when they come to visit are only here for a few hours and then they are gone and we are alone.  

I tell you this not for sympathy, but simply to explain how life in here is, and to encourage you that if you have family or friends that are in prison, or in jail, then please take the time to go visit them.  I have a friend here who is so sad because not one of the elders of members of her church has come to visit her since she's been here, and they don't write to her either. 

Please pray for the peace of the prison.

There are women who are starting to turn their lives over to God, please pray for them.  Pray for us all to have the strength and energy to get through each day.

Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you for your letters and the books you have sent.  It is so good to know that although we are in prison, we are not alone.  Thank you and God Bless you.

Ruth