Another Christmas In Paradise

As another year passes and we celebrate the spirit of Christmas, with Rebecca Roth still in a Mexican prison, let us also pause and celebrate the human spirit. Rebecca serves as a reminder to all of us that, even in the worst of conditions, we can still celebrate life and contribute to the people around us.


Recently, I wrote of Rebecca's acheivement in the literary world. Today, we find her creativity surfacing in a less dramatic and more fanciful way, yet a way that provides a focus and direction for many of the inmates that she lives with day to day. Many of the women that Rebecca resides with in the Puenta Grande Women's Reformitory in Guadalajara are prostitutes, drug addicts or murders... sometimes all three. Most do not have much hope of a very bright future and if not given something to direct their energy towards would
simply cause more problems for themselves and others.


Rebecca has taken steps to occupy the time and efforts of many of these women in a productive manner. She has organized them and has them making dolls. And... at this point, these dolls have gone from merely being a way to focus energy in a positive way to being sold. The profits help to provide for the women's needs that are not taken care of by the prison system, like clothing, toiletries, decent food, books and such. Things that many would go without due to a simple lack of funds.


Some 60+ dolls have been sold so far, with 7-10 leaving the prison each week. Not a big enterprise by some standards, but considering the nature of this venture and the fact that the dolls sell for 2500 pesos ($25US) each, the money goes a long way for those involved.


Because it is not a large operation, they can even make custom dolls. Take a look at the examples here and let me know if you would like to have Rebecca and her "crew" make one for you. Each doll is unique. When I talked to her last, she was making "Woody" from Toy Story.


Send custom order requests to Rebeca's sister Barbara at Custom Dolls


Barbara will contact you by email with payment instructions.


The latest news regarding Rebecca's appeal is that court is out for the holidays and we hope to have an answer when they reconvine. That news, and we hope it is positive, could be as soon as mid January. So, as this Christmas blesses each of us, please take a moment to remember Rebecca Roth... Prisoner in Paradise and send a prayer her way with blessings for the New Year.

















Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all...

"Roses en Destierra"

Rebecca was recently involved in... a book signing of all things!

How can a woman languishing in a Mexican prison be at a book signing, you surely must be asking yourself. The answer to that question begins with the sheer will and power of the personal spirit that lives within Rebecca Roth.

I use the word languishing sometimes in this blog, as it has been used in articles written about her, as a metaphor for what life in a Mexican prison surely must be like for most. In reality, Rebecca has never been one to languish anywhere. Hers is and has always been a life of accomplishment and productivity based on creativity and making the best of any situation.

So, today, although she is physically confined, her spirit is still free and she is actually achieving goals that she might not have had the time to consider in the everyday rush of a busy life.

Let me explain...

Rebecca loves to write, both professionally and for pleasure. She never really made time to write poetry until now, but it has always been a lifelong dream to be published, other than in procedural manuals for the mortgage industry. Turns out that she is quite good and becoming not only accomplished but, recognized, as well.

Additionally, Rebecca has always aspired to paint and with the time she has during this confinement, she has been painting and her paintings have been received very well. We should all be open and willing to tackle our goals with such daring.

So, she began painting and writing poems for her own enjoyment but, now she is published in a new book entitled "Roses en Destierra" and one of her paintings is on the cover of that book. The painting is, appropriately, an abstract woman holding a rose. This is a major accomplishment.

The book title translates to "Roses in Exile" and it is a 347 page compilation of poetry from over ten years of writings submitted by inmates at the women's prison where she is incarcerated. It is completely in Spanish. Rebecca's submissions have been translated from English to Spanish for the book and have received high praise for her.

She assisted book editors Maestra Luisa Burillo and Arturo Ipiens with "Rosas en destierro" Vol. 1.

Now back to the book signing...

On the Terrace, a large gathering area at the Readaptacion Femenil where Rebecca is housed, a book signing was held for Rebecca, along with 4 other current prisoners and one that had been released and returned for the event. Attendees and speakers included 15 dignitaries, including the Secretary of Public Security and the Secretary of Digress, head of the prison system in the State of Jalisco, Mexico.

At the book signing, many of the dignitaries spoke of rehabilitation and re-education and the Prison Director read her forward from the book. Rebecca and her fellow inmates that had work accepted for this publication were honored. The President of the University of Guadalajara was present to pay tribute to the book and its contributors and was done in conjunction with the release of the book. When the University of Guadalajara acknowledges a book and it's contributors and puts their stamp on a book, it is a big deal in Mexico.

This book signing preceded the release of "Roses en Destierra" and the highly anticipated Expo in Guadalajara.

The opening night for the week long Expo in Guadalajara Book Fair was November 30, 2008 and was attended by many major dignitaries.

This book fair runs all this week and features 1600 publishers and 500 authors. It is considered the most important book fair in the Spanish Language. There is only one book fair that is larger and it is held in France.