Lately, it appears as if the Lord is making sudden changes in my life...
Yesterday I wrote about my move to a different cell, which came as a surprise. However, on the same day that I moved, in an unrelated matter, I was summoned to the "Program Committee" to see if I wanted to make a change in my work schedule.
Every prison in New York has what's called a Program Committee. As in this facility, the committee consists of a senior counselor, another counselor, a secretary, and a correction's sergeant. Their task is to assign inmates to a program. And this program, as it's officially called, could either be a work assignment, or a school assignment. For example, some prisoners have a job working in the kitchen, like me, while others may be assigned to either an academic program to help them get a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), or to a vocational training shop such as carpentry.
Usually, unless an inmate is confined to his cell for breaking the rules, or is too sick to work or attend classes, he's expected to have a program. Idleness is discouraged, or at least it's supposed to be. Yet, many of the jobs which are available do not require more than 30 to 60 minutes of time per day, thus allowing for lots of idleness and boredom.
Thus, my getting called to appear before the Program Committee was unexpected. I hadn't applied for a change of jobs. So I saw this as the hand of God. Therefore, after speaking to the four member panel, I opted to change my program from being a full-time kitchen worker (see my journal for August 2008), to going part-time in the kitchen, and returning to my former job in E-North, as well.
Now, instead of working in the kitchen from morning till evening, I will only be there from 8 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Then, after a quick lunch, I will have to go to the facility's Intermediate Care Program to work as an aid. ICP houses the men who have emotional problems and coping difficulties. I'll be working with them each weekday until 3 P.M. However, E-North's ICP is more than just a job. To me, this is a ministry of love and compassion toward inmates who need tender care.
Yesterday I moved to a different cell. And on the same day, I also received a change in my work assignment. It all happened suddenly.
D.B.
Every prison in New York has what's called a Program Committee. As in this facility, the committee consists of a senior counselor, another counselor, a secretary, and a correction's sergeant. Their task is to assign inmates to a program. And this program, as it's officially called, could either be a work assignment, or a school assignment. For example, some prisoners have a job working in the kitchen, like me, while others may be assigned to either an academic program to help them get a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), or to a vocational training shop such as carpentry.
Usually, unless an inmate is confined to his cell for breaking the rules, or is too sick to work or attend classes, he's expected to have a program. Idleness is discouraged, or at least it's supposed to be. Yet, many of the jobs which are available do not require more than 30 to 60 minutes of time per day, thus allowing for lots of idleness and boredom.
Thus, my getting called to appear before the Program Committee was unexpected. I hadn't applied for a change of jobs. So I saw this as the hand of God. Therefore, after speaking to the four member panel, I opted to change my program from being a full-time kitchen worker (see my journal for August 2008), to going part-time in the kitchen, and returning to my former job in E-North, as well.
Now, instead of working in the kitchen from morning till evening, I will only be there from 8 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Then, after a quick lunch, I will have to go to the facility's Intermediate Care Program to work as an aid. ICP houses the men who have emotional problems and coping difficulties. I'll be working with them each weekday until 3 P.M. However, E-North's ICP is more than just a job. To me, this is a ministry of love and compassion toward inmates who need tender care.
Yesterday I moved to a different cell. And on the same day, I also received a change in my work assignment. It all happened suddenly.
D.B.
