Have A Plan - A Message Of Hope From The New Guy

(This is a letter of Mike’s experience at one of the transfer centers where each person has 3 hours outside of their cell each day. It differs vastly from the freedom of camps. He’s waiting to be transferred to a new camp in MN and comments on the morale and emotions of the men at the center.)

I finished my shower, walked 45 minutes in the thin-soled deck shoes, and found a deck of cards. I will finish my free time with another email before I return to my cage for 21 hours. These are my days for the next 7 days or so. I can’t wait for the camp experience again. It sucks, but at least I can exercise, read, and correspond with you. My mission statement is unchanged, only modified for the next week, and I will return to a disciplined routine once settled in MN.

Truthfully, I’m not looking forward to the bitter cold winter months. I hear it starts in September, and I am certain it will be a shock to the system when my body expects 110 degrees, but I get 50 degrees instead. And from there it only goes to negative temperatures after September. I can’t wait to freeze my butt off. :) I am surely looking forward to the t-shirt and shorts that the BOP will issue regardless of the season - that’ll be a barrel of fun.

My cellie is trying to stay positive and enjoy the transfer experience, but let’s be honest, there isn’t much to be positive about in this place. I’m one of the lucky guys because I have a detailed plan with action steps I can pursue and a bride who is a joy. The stories I hear are heartbreaking, and the BOP isn’t the solution for most of these guys. It is such a waste of human capital; it’s epidemic in scope - very tragic. You know the story of the people who survive the concentration camps because they did not tie their identity to their occupation, but to something more ... like God in their lives ... well, it’s very true from what I’m witnessing in this place. The men who have a clear set of goals, take action, and have those who love them are best suited for success in this type of environment. I didn’t need to know everything about the BOP before I surrendered, but I knew enough to prepare my mind, soul, and body and help you do the same before I left.

The hardest part is right now, and the burden is on you. The preparation I made before surrender makes it much easier on us and takes a bit of the worry away from you while holding everything together. I am grateful for the wisdom and courage we spark with God that we share. This is a manageable scenario and we will come out better on the other side of it. I sure wish I could help these other guys see the light about what works, but I am still the new guy with a short sentence. They won’t listen to a guy like me - I’m not institutionalized enough.

Got to go.

I love you.