This has been another quiet day. I did get out of the house today but didn’t go far.
Kathy wanted to open a new checking account at the local bank here. She went to do so but they wouldn’t let her write an out of state check to make the initial deposit. She came home and got me and they allowed her to write the check out to me and then they were able to deposit it as her initial deposit. I have an account with them. What a circus! Oh well, mission accomplished.
A guy from NPR called me today. He is from St. Louis but covers KS as part of his territory. He is working on a story about the 300% rise in deportations that have happened in KS so far this year. He was looking for a family that had a member deported and somehow got my contact information. I referred him to the father that I transported last week. We talked about the Afghanistan man I transported in February. He is going to call the father and see if he will talk to him. He did tell me he wanted to do a story about Love in Action in the future and would call me again. That would be cool!
I went to Jacalito’s for lunch today. The food was good as usual and the service excellent.
I went to the Dollar General store as I needed a couple of cards. They had what I needed. I was also looking for two other things but they didn’t have those. I will attempt to remember to look in Emporia next time I go.
I am finally figuring out the Pen Pal program app that we have to use to communicate with the Detainees. I think I have it set up OK now and the Pen Pals should be able to fairly easily use it. I went to add some more dollars to the account so we would have plenty of emails and remembered I don’t have my debit card. I can use a credit card if the balance gets too low before my new debit card comes in. I think it will be OK for another week or so.
It hurts my heart that the detainee families have to pay to send their loved one an email. I understand that there is administrative time involved to monitor and track all that but it adds another financial burden to families at a time when they are already under stress and financial worries.
The system has not been easy to learn how to use. Not sure how the families get it all figured out. Those that don’t have extra money can’t communicate with their loved ones. Wish there was a way to reach the families and help them out. Not sure how one would accomplish that though. I need to remember we are there to bear witness, not necessarily solve problems.
One of my Pen Pals stopped by today and I got her set up and ready to go. Wish I could personally visit the others and help them through the process the first time. Maybe I can make that happen.
We got our first response to a note a Pen Pal sent. It was good to get confirmation that the system works. It took them a day or two to approve the message. I trust both sides of the Pen Pal program will find this program valuable and of some service to each.
I got another letter from a Detainee requesting to be part of the Pen pal program. I still have several people that have volunteered that haven’t been assigned a pen pal yet. I will get that connection made later today.
It has been an absolutely beautiful day out. Light wind and bright blue skies with temperatures in the 70’s. Perfect spring day. Kathy has spent most of the day outside puttering in her gardens. She is counting down the days until she can plant her flowers.
The new neighbors that moved in across the street brought by a flyer. Their young son runs a dog grooming business. For $6 each he will brush out the dogs. He would give them a bath too but I can’t ask him to do that as these dogs hate water. I think I will hire him to brush out the dogs weekly. The dogs are getting their summer haircuts in May so not sure they will need brushed for a bit after that but I bet they would enjoy getting brushed out between now and hair cut day.
I may go to Wichita tomorrow or Wednesday to make a run to Costco. I am almost out of a couple things and I really need to get out of the house. I don’t have anything on my calendar until Saturday this week and need to find some place to go.
Nicole and Geoff are in China. They went to the Great Wall of China today and walked over 2 1/2 miles of mainly steps to go to a lookout and then came back to their starting point. Add squatty potties to the day and ouch!!! I trust they will have a wonderful time and see some incredible sites and create memories that last a lifetime.
Feeling a bit isolated today. It was good to see the Pen Pal person that came by today, I do better when I have interactions like that during my week. Need to make some calls and get something’s on my calendar.
Grateful Kathy got her bank account open, grateful I know the Pen PAL program is working, and grateful for NPR and the reporting it does.