Pepe

Dear Jan,
My name is Jose (Pepe) Sanchez.  Your husband Bob and I share the same
room and the reason I am writing you is because Bob asked me to tell
my story to your grandchildren and tell them about his days here in
prison.
A few months ago Bob was moved into my room and I liked his pleasant
personality.  As time went by we got to now each other day by day and
at the same time I could see people from other dorms coming to visit
him and talk to him for long hours.  One day he asked me about my case
and I told him I got involved in a drug conspiracy the year before and
that I had also lost my beloved son.  Suddenly, on that year and I was
still dealing with my loss.  I thought I could never recover from
that.  I told him I've had after death experiences because I had been
resuscitated 4 times and I wished I was dead instead of my son.  I
told him about the most beautiful event that ever happened to me when
I was being brought back to life on one occasion.  I got to see and
talk to God himself.  It was the most beautiful experience any human
being can have.  I can remember him hugging me and telling me I was
one of his favorite sons and He asked me to tell everyone about Him
and to tell people not to drift away from Him and I kept saying I was
not good for that.  I recall everything so vividly.  I was gone for a
few minutes but it to me was like I spent a long time with the Lord.
Some people may think I am crazy but I am not afraid to tell my
experience nor ashamed of it.  One day Bob asked me if I had ever read
the Bible.  I said never, not even one paragraph.  Bob then asked me
how come I knew about some passages from the Bible and I said that's
because of history and the Discovery Channel.  Then He asked me if I
would be interested in learning about the Bible and reading it.  I
said I would love that because by then my interest was growing but I
could not read because I can not see too well and I need eye surgery
and then get glasses.  After I said this Bob looked at me and said,
"You are going to get a Bible."  After this we talked more and more
about the Lord and one day Bob said I reminded him of a passage of the
Bible in Acts 10 where Cornelius had a vision from God and was told he
was to meet Peter and at the same time Peter also had a vision from
God where he was supposed to meet Cornelius.  Bob always said I
reminded him of Cornelius because he was a powerful and wealthy man
who had given his life and family to God.  Bob said he was always
helping people and he compared me to Him because I am always feeding
and helping people here.  I work in the kitchen here and I have access
to lots of things and here we have people who are alone or have been
forgotten and do not have anything or cannot get any food besides what
they give us.  After talking to Bob I told him we will be a tag team.
I will fill their stomachs and he will fill their hearts by teaching
them the way of God.
Not long after I was at work one day and suddenly one guard called me
on command and asked me who had sent me a very expensive Bible.  Not
wanting to get Bob in trouble I said I did not know.  Then the guard
said I could not have an expensive Bible and I should get one from the
chapel.  I told him the letters were too small and I could not read
them.  Then sarcastically asked me in front of all the officials
around if an "expensive" Bible was going to take me to heaven. I said
I wasn't sure but wherever I was going I was going to go first class.
Everybody laughed and we left it at that.  When I went back to my room
after work I found a beautiful Bible on my bed.  I will never forget
the feeling and it was the most beautiful present anybody had ever
given me.  It had amy name engraved on it.  It was sent by Bob's
nephew Mike and I will cherish it for as long as I live.  I am
counting the days until I have my eye surgery and can start reading it
and start my future life.  I believe it is never too late to make a
change in your life, especially for something positive.
When Bob found out he had terminal cancer he took it like a man in a
way anybody would be envious of.  He took it with dignity and
resignation and his love for the Lord grew even bigger.  It did not
stop him from doing the Lord's work.  When I asked him about his
transfer to another institution he said God wanted him to work over
there.  To me it was so hard to see such a good man go through all
this.  To be without his family in times like this.  I asked him every
day if he wanted to escape out of this place.  I would go with him,
and he just smiled.  Everyday I would ask him, "Are you sure you don't
want to do it?"  He would smile and say the same thing, "The Lord will
take care of me".  Tonight, 3/18/13 we are going to get together with
Bob to say goodbye.  He thinks he is leaving in the morning.  We are
loosing a great friend and teacher but we have gained the way to
eternal life. Thanks to him  our lives and families will be able to
live better by following the Lord.  When I was outside I used to laugh
at people who came out of prison.  Many would be or had become
Christians and with sarcasm I would say, "Sure, the Lord is doing time
in prison. He must be doing life." (Because everybody finds Jesus in
prison.)  Look at me now.  I am eating my own words.  I told Bob we
should not wait to hit rock bottom to search for God's hand.  When we
are free we forget about Him and it shouldn't be like that. The Lord
is always by our side and we should give Him his rightful place in our
lives.  Now I realize coming to prison was meant to be to meet Bob and
I thank the Lord for that.  I will never forget my teacher and friend
Bob.  He will always be in  my prayers and I hope he comes out of this
fire and continues with his work.  I myself want to  continue where he
left.  I will be out in two years and nothing would give me more
pleasure than to meet his family, especially his grandchildren.
That's why I want the grandchildren to know through your veins runs
the blood of a unique man and He will live forever in you.  "God bless
Bob Goris".
Pepe
PS If anyone wants to reach me, you can write at:
Jose E SanchezReg. #16179-041Federal Prison CampPO Box 1000Duluth, MN 55814