THE ENGLISH CHRISTMAS EVENT

From Rebecca's sister, Barbara...

As many of you already know, Rebecca has been teaching English to some of the other prisoners at the Puente Grande Women's Prison where she is confined.

Rebecca told me about her English Class' Christmas Event held on Friday Jan. 21st.

Unfortunately, the Director and Sub Director of the prison were an hour late and the Certificates hadn’t been signed by the Director.

Rebecca mentioned to Marie Louise, her mentor, the situation and Marie sent one of the Byzantine women to collect them.

The program then began. The students sang 4 Christmas songs in English: Jingle Bells, Little Drummer Boy, Santa Claus is coming to Town, and The Alphabet Song.

Next they presented 3 sketches complete with props and stage settings.

One was a Library sketch, another a Restaurant and the third was a Doctor’s office. They were presented very well and the students displayed exceptional skills.

Later, one of the women recited 3 poems in English and another recited Rebecca’s poem in her first published book of Poetry.

Another woman did a recitation from the Bible from memory.

The last woman who doesn’t do well thanked everyone for coming and counted to 20 in English.

Then Rebecca handed out the certificates and the Education Coordinater was most appreciative of the fine performance of these Mexican women and their teacher Rebecca Roth.

The Director and Sub Director don’t know English, but they told Rebecca they were impressed for it seemed that the women in her class did a good job and knew what they were saying.

This is just another example of the way that Rebecca has conducted herself, in spite of the unfair treatment she has received by the Mexican government. Rather than giving up and bemoaning her plight and her physical ailments, she continues to give to those around her.

Think of the things she has accomplished there and you can get a true sense of the character of this woman. She is not the criminal that she has been unfairly portrayed as by the Mexican judicial system, nor has she ever been.

To those that have reached out to her and to those that have made efforts to bring her plight to their elected officials and the State Department, we thank you.

Barbara Moodhe
for Rebecca Roth... Prisoner in Paradise