Robert A. “Russ” Russell
#V35292 / 3-N-17 Low
CSP SQ, San Quentin, CA 94974

Oct 27, 2019

I pray this finds it’s way to you and that it finds you well and able to count it all joy, knowing our current difficulties are not worthy to be compared with the Glory thé come. Amen.
Before work this morning I put together a list of those people I felt I needed to write too. The list ended up with about 10 names on it, so I decided to do a “Newsletter” to catch everybody up on my doings and hopefully inspire you to do the same for me with yours. ;) In case your not up to date with me I will back tract a bit. Back in 2015 I went through a major crisis with the passing of my youngest boy, Asheton. Now, even before then I had begun to struggle with mental health issues resulting from a lot of of unresolved issues, shame and false beliefs about myself, God, and others. In 2016 I entered a Mental Health Treatment Program.
While in that program, approx. 20 months, I was blessed with two doctors, psychologist, who were amazing! My last Dr., Maulk, well, I spent 4+ hours a week with him for 8 months. The healing that resulted has been, and continues to be, amazing. Underlying issues, roots of addiction, shame, etc. have been if not eliminated, then radically reduced. I left formal therapy last Aug., have been medication free now for months and am scheduled to be discharged from the Mental Health Services Delivery Program soon. My recovery is rock solid, my joy is off the charts, my health, WOW!! Have dropped 25 pounds-down to 182-off High Blood Pressure Meds, eating as much whole foods as is possible here. I used to be, back in donovan, known as “Keeper of the Jaw Bone”. They now call me “The Happy Guy, you know, the Recovery One.” God is good, and I am getting there, amen.
I am now in San Quentin, intergrated back into “The Mainline”, and working as a Teaching Assistant in the Adult Basic Education, Level III program. The work is meaningful as well as challenging. In just afew months I am slated for promotion to an Inmate Peer Mentor. The promotion comes with lots of advantages over my current position, more freedom to schedule my own time with students, and one of the highest paying position in CDCR. I will be making One Dollar an Hour! Currently the staes claim 80% of all deposits to my account, but only until this last 400 in restitution and 350 in court fees is paid. What this means is that, Lord willing, in about 6-7 months I will have 150 posted to my account each months, will be able to care for all my needs, some needs of others and save a bit! :)