Freedom

Phil had a long time friend in the prison at Dixon. They had Bible studies together, Chris began a journey of faith, and he was the one that called to let Jon know that Phil was dying.  There were some people from church that had been corresponding with him per Phil's request.  Chris was informed that he would be released from prison before Christmas if they could find a place for him to go.  He has to wear an ankle monitor, so there are only a few places he could go.  He could spend 90 days in a halfway house with the ankle monitor or another year and a half in prison.  The inmate advocate found a halfway house for him in Decatur.  So on the day before Christmas, Jon and I drove to Dixon and picked Chris up.  As he walked out of prison after 19 years of never stepping foot outside of the prison walls, he looked totally overwhelmed.  He hadn't ridden in a car for 19 years, let alone a compact SUV.  He hadn't held a smart phone, GPS was new, he didn't recognize the car models on the road, and was amazed by the wind towers and wind farms as we headed south on I-39.  He has no ID, no bank account, no drivers license, no credit cards, no clothes of his own, and no job.  We stopped at the local bank in Dixon and they wouldn't even cash the small check the prison gave him that was drawn on that very bank!  We had to teach him how to use the new gas pumps when we stopped to fill up.  He felt very conspicuous and wasn't sure how to order when we stopped for lunch.
We found the house in Decatur in the bad part of town and it was a dump.  We felt bad leaving him there.  The guys running the place seemed nice enough and helpful, so we hope he does OK there.  We reminded him that if he could handle 19 years behind bars, he should be able to handle 90 days here.  It was a 350 mile day for Jon and I!

Chris seemed repentant for his past life, he took full responsibility for his crimes,  he doesn't want to repeat his mistakes, he was humbled by our willingness to help him, and he shared his desire to become a baptized Christian.  He has another chance to make his life honorable and upright.  We hope and pray that he will be successful with this new beginning.

Nephew Ned took a teaching job at a music academy in Singapore.  Today his parents put him on a plane for the grueling flight to Singapore with a stop in Korea.  He has never been there and doesn't know a soul there.  I'm sure it will be a real adventure and perhaps a challenge.  We pray for his physical and spiritual safety as he moves to the other side on the world.  We will miss having him in Central Illinois, his concerts, and his late night visits.  Maybe this will be our opportunity to take an exotic vacation!

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
Psalm 142:7