Mario will finally be released from prison on July 28, 2025.
The Demonic Assignments
This month has been challenging, to say the least. After much reflection, everything finally came into focus — and with it, an understanding of why the attacks have been so frequent. Ministering the Word of God is my calling, and so I have been using social media as a means to reach the masses. The Holy Spirit has been most accommodating, guiding the words that pass through my lips. But guess who hates this work? Satan. He and his minions are ever-present, and they have assignments against people like me — those who are committed to bringing light into a dark world.
The Appointments
For three weeks, I have been attempting to schedule an appointment to visit Mario. All year long, this had been a seamless process — but suddenly, the system began freezing, and I was unable to complete it. Multiple attempts to reset my password proved futile. In frustration, I called the prison and explained the situation, only to be told that the matter needed to be escalated to Sacramento. The response from the facility was dismissive: “Try again in about an hour, or maybe tomorrow. It should be working.” It never did — so the only option left was to visit as a walk-in.
Getting Out is another means of communication. Through this app, it is possible to send text messages and videos to Mario, as well as schedule appointments. Despite being well-acquainted with the platform, every attempt to make an appointment was met with the same response — a message in large, bold, red letters: MARIO ******* BLOCKED. When a call was made to seek assistance, the response was about as warm as one extended to an unwanted telemarketer.
The Spectrum Account
The goal was to leave no later than 10:30 a.m. Mike was in the process of making changes to the Spectrum account — but since the account is under my name, the call had to be made personally. The service was being cancelled due to outrageous price increases. What seemed like a ten-minute task stretched into forty-five. Now the departure time was closer to eleven, and frustration was mounting.
In haste, “California Rehabilitation Center” was entered into the GPS, and the drive began. About ten minutes in came the realization: the money for the visit had been left behind. Turning around added another twenty minutes to the delay. By the time the car door closed again, the GPS showed an estimated arrival time of 11:55 a.m.
The system does not make allowances for late arrivals — that much was certain. It felt like yet another attack. So there was only one thing left to do.
Pray.
Two Choices
On the last visit, Mario expressed concern — he was uncertain whether he had been cleared for parole to Arizona. As he put it, “Sometimes, it’s not until a few weeks from our release date that we find out if we can get paroled out of state.” Even so, the uncertainty did little to dampen his excitement. After all, he only had a few more months left.
Then, on June 26th, Mario’s sister received a call — and with it, the news: he had been granted permission to parole to Arizona and reunite with his family.
Two weeks before that call, Mario had reached out seeking advice. He had been contacted by a faith-based Christian organization — privately funded, dedicated to helping inmates transition into their new lives. It is a sober-living environment that accepts residents by referral only, and Mario came highly recommended by the prison itself.
The matter requiring attention was a DUI from the early 1990s — an outstanding issue standing between Mario and a valid driver’s license. This organization had the resources and connections to help facilitate exactly that kind of resolution.
The only counsel offered to Mario was simple: pray, and ask God for direction.
Mario’s Decision
Mario will turn 50 in November. The program offers a six-month stay, along with practical support in finding employment — a meaningful foundation for someone stepping back into the world after years inside.
After praying about which direction to take, Mario made his decision. The confirmation came in an unexpected but unmistakable way: the pastor from the organization called him, and at the end of their conversation, he prayed over Mario. For Mario, that prayer settled it.
The Routine
During the visit, the heartbreak his family felt over his decision was shared with him directly. The words were candid: “Mario, keep this in the back of your head — this is your last hope for freedom. You cannot mess this up.”
He didn’t flinch. “Tia, I have it in the front of my head.”
Mario went on to explain his intention: to protect and maintain the routine that has sustained him — reading Scripture, serving God, continuing his AA work, and learning how to reenter a complicated world. Inner Vision offers regular Bible studies, and that consistency matters deeply to him. More than anything, Mario felt he needed this season of structured transition before stepping fully into life outside.
And then there is Buttercup — a beautiful golden retriever puppy he has been helping train as a service dog. She remains at his side. Mario described her simply, and without hesitation, as his best friend.
The Visit
Frazzled as the arrival was, by the time the food was finally gathered, Mario could be seen coming down the hall. Being the last visitor in, with slim pickings for seating, the guard was asked for a table in the shade.
Together, we read from Matthew 10:26–42, pausing at every verse to go deeper into its meaning. This passage, titled “Courage Under Persecution,” opens with a call not to be afraid, and the reminder that “nothing is concealed that will not be revealed.” It continues with the assurance that God knows even the fall of a sparrow — and that every hair on our heads is counted, so we need not be afraid. It closes with the promise that whoever receives a disciple receives Christ himself — and that even a cup of cold water given in His name will not go unrewarded.
Landing on this chapter was a happy accident — what had been intended was Matthew 7:21–29, but the verse reference had slipped away in the moment. What was found instead was precisely what was needed.
My Prayer
Lord, You know Your son Mario and all the suffering he has endured. I beg You, Lord, to bless him and continue to pave a safe passage for him when he gets out. I pray that Mario would excel in this program and ease into finding employment. Lord, nothing is impossible with You. Grant Your son Mario the special graces he needs to get by.
Amen.