Reflection from Mom

Below Marti reflects on her visit with Chris today as he awaited his plane transfer to Chicago. It's very touching, please read!
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Dear Anne, Family and friends,

Chris' Dad and I were able to pick him up at FDC Seatac and spend some precious time with him before he flew to Chicago to serve the last 6 weeks of his sentence at a Salvation Army halfway house. It was a joy to be able to be with him during this transition. He actually got out a few minutes early and had a chance to just sit quietly in the sun and contemplate the building, the blue sky and red azaleas...Then we picked him up and took him 1 block down the hill to a park with hiking trails, trees, birds singing. After a little time he picked a spot and we had time for a family prayer along with the Eucharist we had brought (his #1 request). Then we had coffee with Dad before he had to drop us at the airport and head back to work. Chris and I had a lovely visit over a nice meal -- he chose veggie pasta and we got salad, a fruit plate and some other things he had had little of...

He expressed appreciation for all the support of prayers,books, letters and visits (and the prayer and SOA/US prisons information night that was co-hosted by the St Joseph's Sister Parish El Salvador Committee and the Spicer Family. That night May 13th, we had the co-leaders of the PacNW SOAWATCH sharing, a video about the SOA and prayers of fifty attendees).

Chris said that the letters have been deeply moving but he is overwhelmed knowing he can not respond to them all and is hopeful that people have referred to the jailhousegenesis blog for information and updates. For the next week, he will have no or limited ability to leave the facility and probably limited phone and e-mail capability. We don't even have an address yet.
Folks in Chicago can only visit when they have applied and been approved through the BOP system.

So a new phase of his prison experience begins! Thank you for prayers for his continued journey. He has been safe and learned and given along the way.

Anne, THANK YOU so much for all your work on Chris' letters and blog!!! It has really lightened his load! I will try to send a picture of Chris as he was picked up today when I get it back from developing.

Marti