Brian and Ruth Christine Newsletter

December 2004- January 2005 Newsletter 

(2-23-05 Leonard apology- I have had this letter for at least 3 weeks and simply have not had the time to get it typed up until now)

Brian here writing #1.  Happy Holidays!  I wrote the November newsletter, mailed it and got shipped out of prison the next morning all the way down to Roseburg to the county jail where we spent 10 months pre-trial.  It was strangely good to be back, but so much has changed for the worse in that jail.  They blocked all the windows inside the jail so it is no longer a bright, colorful interior bouncing sunshine around.  Instead, they put reflective film on the insides of the glass tanks (8-man pods) so officers can see in but you can't see out, much like mirrored sunglasses.  

Leonard note: Turns out there's lots of complaints across the country about Aramark prison food. Particularly here and http://eyeonaramarkprisoncontracts.info/

The food has also gone to hell and I do mean hell. It's provided by the quickly growing company called Aramark who literally counts the calories of each meal to give you barely the 2000 per day.  You can spot their delivery trucks anywhere in the country now, white stepvans with a red star-shaped logo that's designed to look like a chef holding up a tray of food.  This company is evil and I urge anyone who feels compelled, to pray them into bankruptcy and pray for God to raise up a decent replacement.

Prison industries are getting scary in this country.

All this might sound bad (and it was) but I thoroughly enjoyed the trip down and back, despite horrible living conditions which got me very ill for my first week down there.  The best part was how God used me to witness and minister to many people along the way. I also was wonderfully reunited with the Chaplain and his wife who have corresponded with Ruth and I our whole time down.  I also saw friends who came up to visit and to sit in on the hearing.  The media was there in full force (some of you may have seen us in the various papers across Oregon) and personally interviewed me with a video team before the hearing.  

At the hearing, the Judge, DA and media commented that I was articulate and very clear on my points.  The state conceded error on giving me too many gun-minimum sentence and took all but one off my judgment.  However, they refused to run it concurrent with my robbery sentence so I didn't get the time cut I was after.

Media, especially TV, reported favorably for the most part.  

I have filed an appeal on the court's decision but it is doubtful the appeals court will hear the matter.  Unfortunately the court refused to consolidate my hearing with Ruth's so I didn't get to see her.  But all in all, it was a fantastic break from the prison life.  

The Columbia Gorge and Willamette Valley sights saturate my soul to the core, with God's creativity perpetually humbling me and leaving me breathless. God is so much better than we know and I thank Him for this difficult experience called life.

I now turn it over to my lovely bride Ruth...

Yet again the Newsletter is late!  And that's partly my fault and partly that somehow I was 3 weeks late getting to read Brian's part- either due to the mail room or my lack of organisation (I'm not actually sure which?).

But anyway here we are, and it's 2005.  Which for anyone that's counting means I am almost down to having 4 years left to my sentence.  And 4 years sounds so much more manageable than 7 1/2!

I really want to thank all the people that have helped us to survive this far through being in jail and prison.  Thank you for the money you've sent, for cards and letters and books, magazines, and all your time and effort in doing things for us and our family.  It is a huge blessing to us.  Even tonight I have received the latest National Geographic and am excited to look at it.  Mail from Brian and mail from my Mother-in-law Teri (who is like a rock!)  Praise God.  You know He provides for us so bountifully taking care of all our needs.  Than you for all you prayers, without those I cannot imagine how bad things would be- Brian might not be alive to write to you today!  I do not know what 2005 will hold, but I am hoping for some good things.

Yesterday I was scheduled for time in the Law Library but the computers weren't working, so that didn't happen.  I find legal research to be frustrating at the best of times.  Tonight, thank God, I received part of the trial manuscript (in direct answer to my prayers).  So now hopefully, I can move forward with the research.  The big burden with the legal research is to know God's direction and how to walk in it.  Please pray for us to have that.  I know that one day God will open the door, but how we get to that point and when it will happen I do not know.

Tonight I felt drawn to the Psalms and opened to a scripture that spoke powerfully to me.  It was Psalm 34.  There is so much to say about just the first 10 verses.  Verse two talks of how "my life makes it's boast in the Lord".  Wow, isn't that awesome to think of our whole life being a boast unto God?  Verse 4 tells us that David sought God and God heard him and delivered him from all his fears.  God delivers us from all our fears (which is powerful to me because I have many sill fears!).  Then verse 5 says they (the righteous) look to God and are radiant "their faces shall never blush for same of be confused".  Now that is something for me to remember.  I desire that, not to feel shameful or condemned, not to struggle with confusion, but to live in freedom and clarity of mind.

If you continue to read the rest of this Psalm, it is wonderful  "The Angle of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and each of them He delivers".  God delivers us!

"O taste and see that the Lord is good!  Blessed is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him".  Wonderful promises from the Word of God!

Well there is more to say, if I had the time, but this needs to get sent out to all of you.  So may God's grace and peace keep you this year.

With Love,

Ruth Christine