FALL 2014 a New Life for Jorge by Kate Campbell Tion,” He Says
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Letters to the Good Behavior, Prison Food, In this issue: Editor, p.2 p.3 p.4 ® PRISON FELLOWSHIP’S NEWSPAPER FOR AMERICA’S PRISONS VOLUME 23, NO. 4 FALL 2014 A New Life for Jorge by Kate Campbell tion,” he says. “I looked for that attention outside of my family.” orge Garcia was just Jorge’s uncle opened the 13 years old his first door to a life of crime when he time in a juvenile convinced Jorge to become a detention facility. For drug trafficker. At 16, Jorge often J him, it was a badge made $7,000 a day “working” of honor. for his uncle. “It made me think I was cool,” When he was 19, Jorge mar- says Jorge. “But I was only a kid. ried his first wife, who didn’t I didn’t know where all this was know about his criminal lifestyle. going to take me.” “I knew I had to hide myself,” Jorge was born in Mexico but he says. They had four kids and immigrated to San Diego with remained married for 18 years. his family when he was 11. “I Jorge spent much of that time found out that it was a different in and out of prison, and he got language, a different culture,” he tired of his life of crime. remembers. “Deeply, I was not happy,” he says. A Life of Crime Begins In middle school, Jorge began Becoming a Child of God Photo provided by Jorge Garcia Jorge by Photo provided stealing candy, bicycles, and In 1978, Jorge was invited to clothing with his “kids’ gang,” go to church. After a life of crime, Jorge Garcia still spends and sniffing gasoline, paint, and “Before I went in [to church], a lot of his time behind bars—but not as a prisoner. glue. By 13, he was smoking I put my gun … and my bag marijuana. In high school, he of cocaine under the dash- members. “The church where transformed into an innocent Jorge continued his criminal began selling marijuana and board,” he says. The church was I used to go, everybody child again. lifestyle, spending more than pills, which made him very different than what Jorge had was quiet.” “It made an impact,” he re- two decades in and out of pris- popular. experienced before. During a worship song, Jorge calls. “I never cried like that day ons in Mexico and America. In “I grew up with seven kids, so “People at this church were began to cry, and, for a brief mo- … [but] I went back into my car 1990, everything fell apart when ment, a hardened criminal was and put my gun under my belt.” it was hard for me to get atten- singing and clapping,” he re- Continued on page 2 The Art of Looking Back by Jim Liske Repeating the Past behind for good.” We’ve all been in situations Speeches like the ones above Jim Liske is the president and CEO of like Chuck’s. Our mistakes catch are “famous last words.” Sadly, Prison Fellowship Ministries. up with us, and our apparent just having good intentions success goes up in smoke. rarely leads to a changed hen Chuck When this happens, we have life. Why? Colson, a two choices: 1) We can ignore native of the past and try to start over, or Look in the Rearview Mirror Boston and 2) We can look carefully at the Maybe you’ve heard the old a former past and learn from it before saying, “Those who don’t know W captain in moving ahead. history are doomed to repeat it.” the U.S. Marines, was invited to Often we choose Option 1. We That’s true in our personal lives. be special counsel to President make plans for becoming differ- If we try to fix our bad choices, Richard Nixon, he moved his ent, better versions of ourselves, without ever looking at why we things into an office looking over without examining why we do made bad choices in the first the White House lawn. Chuck, the things we do. place, we’re not going to be known for doing whatever it took We say things like, “Man, I successful. to win, was at the high point shouldn’t have had that last If we’re serious about chang- of his success. I wonder what drink. I’m going to be late for ing our direction in life, it’s not Grandpa would think of me now, work again. I hope I don’t get enough to be sorry. We need to he thought proudly. fired. That’s it. I’m going to be take a good, long look in the Just a few years later, facing different. No more drinking for rearview mirror. charges related to the Watergate me—starting tomorrow.” y Examine the past. Are scandal, Chuck packed up his Or, “I know my wife doesn’t things from your past driving office in disgrace. Looking over like my ‘side business.’ She’s your present actions? Have you the White House lawn again, Thinkstock afraid I’ll go back to prison. But used alcohol, drugs, or toxic re- he thought grimly, What would Sometimes to move forward, we really need to move into a lationships to numb the pain of Grandpa think if he could see you first have to look at the past. bigger place. Just one more big something bad that happened? me now? deal, and then I can leave it all Being reminded of a painful Continued on page 2 Inside Journal | Fall 2014 1 Art of Looking Back the pain we have caused, and Continued from page 1 do whatever is in our power to make up for our past actions. Letters to the Editor event can trigger an explosion Repentance is a lot more of bad choices, like stepping on a land mine. It will be hard to ‘Roy’s Long Road’ Vegan Food stop engaging in addictive be- You can’t change I was laying on my bunk and I am a vegan. It is not healthy haviors until you deal with the this old man came up to my cell or logical in the year 2014 to pain head-on. That might mean the past, but you door and asked me if I wanted eat products from animal-based journaling about your experi- something to read. I got up and foods. […] The problem is that can choose what ences or joining an addiction started talking to him, and my the DOC does not offer any meals support group. You can’t change heart went out to this man in his that are strictly plant-based. you do about it now. the past, but you can choose 80s named Dave. He slid the The DOC does not even offer a what you do about it now. Inside Journal Prison Fellowship’s vegetarian diet. On average, the y Examine your worldview. newspaper for America’s prisons, DOC serves four ounces of ½ cup than feeling sorry for something We all have a worldview, or way Volume 23. No. 2, Spring 2014 of vegetables about four days out we’ve done wrong and promis- of thinking, that drives how we under my cell door and told of seven. […] The DOC commis- ing to do better. It’s an “about- act. If you think money is the me, “You read that and you will sary is an option, however, the face,” a total change of direction most important thing in life, you find some answers.” I read that Thinkstock only plant-based products that in the way we think and act. It’s will worry about having enough, newspaper three times and was been doing this for years. […] I the DOC sells are peanuts, black a revolution of the heart. and you might break the rules touched emotionally by all of wanted to thank you for your love beans, pickles, trail mix, and pop- As he took a hard look back to get more. If status is the the articles. ‘Roy’s Long Road to and concern for my two children. corn. One cannot create a normal at his own life, Chuck Colson most important thing to you, Paradise’ is a little like my story. […] I will be eligible for early plant-based diet on what the DOC realized that his worldview was you will do whatever it takes to – C.C., Tennessee release next April 2015 and I will provides. […] If a person wants built on the wrong priorities. be on top. Ask yourself what be moving to a [transitional living to be a Muslim, the DOC provides He valued power and winning thoughts might have led up to Prisoner Wages facility]. When I get established, a non-meat-based diet. It is sad instead of humility and serving decisions that you now regret, During my times inside I have I want to help in your program to that the DOC will not honor my others. When he had a personal and what thoughts you want noticed the cost of items give to all who are incarcerated spiritual decision of wanting only encounter with God, the whole to embrace instead. If you’re increase multiple times while with children. Have a memorable a plant-based diet. direction of his life changed. He a Christian, search the Bible inmate worker wages have stayed Christmas just like mine. Thank – K.M., Connecticut pled guilty to charges that he the same. Both state and federal you for your prayers and love! (Proverbs and the New Testa- knew were true and agreed to minimum wages have risen mul- – R.S., Ohio ment are great places to start) serve time in a federal prison tiple times as well.