Tyrone - Friends of Mine

A friend of mine asked if I'd like to join him and some others in writing our testimonies and I jumped at the opportunity. My name is Tyrone Miller, and this is mine.

Last year around the holidays, another inmate asked me if I had someone looking out for me on the outside. When I told him no, he said he knew a group of people who do what they can to help out guys in my situation. I can't remember the exact conversation, but a name I'll never forget is Kathy.

Now, growing up with a pastor for a father, I was always taught to believe people are, as a whole, good and they give out the kindness of their hearts. I don't know if it was my time in the Marine Corp or the time I've spent in prison (no doubt a combo of both), but over time, I realize now that I'd become jaded. I'd no longer believe people as a whole were good. I'd somehow lost my belief in humanity. So when my friend told me about the Prison Ministry, I was not convinced, to say the least.

So imagine my surprise when the holidays came around and I'm at my lowest. Sure enough, a package shows up. When the officer first came to my door with the package, I almost told him he was at the wrong cell. I was so surprised. Later, once the shock wore off, I was truly touched. And it wasn't just the physical things, it was the fact that there was this awesome group of people out there who'd never met me before but were willing to help. Just because.

A few months later, another friend of mine, who was also blessed by Kathy and the Prison Ministry, came to me on the yard and showed me some pictures of a group of people having a bake sale. At first, I had no idea who the people in the picture were, but when he told me, I was instantly hit with this jolt of joy and pride. It was one thing to know me, Kathy and the Prison Ministry was out there, but a whole other thing to see them in action. It made the whole experience more personal. To put a face to the name made it that much more real. It made the gratitude and love we feel more potent.

I know doing things like bake sales takes a lot of time out of everyone's lives. And I'm sure at times it's a thankless task. So I want to let Kathy and everyone involved in the Prison Ministry know that I thank you all so much. With your acts of selfless kindness, you all changed the way I look at the world. You've all truly blessed me, and I'm more than sure you've change the lives of many others. God bless you all and, again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you... new friends of mine.

Tyrone Miller
#AP8908, CSP-SQ
San Quentin, CA 94974

Note to reader: Tyrone hasn't yet received any correspondence or visit. If anyone would like to write Tyrone, you can inquire with Kathy.

(for picture)
*Tyrone in June 2017
*Tyrone Miller (June 2017)