Our Lady of Guadalupe is very thankful for our parishioners who participate in our Prison Correspondence Ministry. Below is a letter from a very grateful recipient of that ministry. Please join us in praying for all who are imprisoned. If you would like to become involved, please visit us here: https://olghelotes.org/parish-life/organizations/prison-correspondence-ministry/.
November 15, 2020
Dear Our Lady of Guadalupe,
I hope and pray with all my heart that my letter reaches your caring hands and finds everyone in the best of health and spirits.
I’d like to start first apologizing to Anastasia and Sophia for not writing back to them when they’ve sent me encouraging letters and greeting cards. Por favor desculpenme. (Please forgive me) You are true angels sent by God to help us find our way home.
If I remember correctly in one of my last letters that I wrote to you all I had let you all know that my parole had been approved but before I was to be released I had to complete a pre-release program. I was suppose to arrive here in April but due to the Covid-19 pandemic I got held back a few months. I arrived here in Sept. and I have to complete 7 months of this program before I can be released con el favor de Dios (with God’s favor) I should be going home to my family sometime in March or April of this coming year. After almost 11 yrs away the closer I get the more nervous and scared I am. I need you alls prayers please I am scared because I’ve lost so much during this time I’ve been away. I don’t know what I’m going to do when I get out. I know that my best bet is to leave things up to God. I know I should just put all my worries and fears on His hands pero (but) its hard to live by faith and not by sight. I’m trying really hard to do whats right. I don’t ever want to return to this place again. I’ve finally opened my eyes and realized that I need to keep a daily relationship with God por que (because) He is the only One who is going to keep me grounded and out of this place. I can actually feel the forces of evil trying to pull me down and make veer off the path God has set forth for me. por eso les pido con todo mi Corazon (This is why I ask with all my heart) that you keep me in your prayers. Also if I can ask you for one more favor can you also pray for my teacher here in this program. Her name is Mrs. Miller. I swear God is using her as a tool to reach out to me. I say this por que (because) you know how sometimes God uses people to get His message out I feel He is using my teacher to put me on the right road. Our Lady of Guadalupe used you to find me in the darkness and point me the way to the light. Because before I found you all I was lost in a world of darkness. Thank you mis Hermanos y Hermanas por todo y Dios me los bendiga siempre (my Brothers and Sisters for everything and may God bless you always). Thank you for never forsaken me.
With love,
A very grateful recipient
P.S. Thank you for the beautiful birthday card. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.