News from Lori's Parents

27 October 1999

This is day 1,428 of Lori's wrongful incarceration.

In this update:

Embassy Official and Rhoda make separate visits to Lori

Last weekend Rhoda visited Lori. It is spring in Arequipa and the somewhat warmer weather gives some relief to Lori's hands and circulatory problems. They discussed family, friends, the "status" of Lori's OAS case, and books they have been reading. Earlier in the week, Lori had been visited by U.S. Embassy Consular Officer Mary Grandfield. Ms. Grandfield spent nearly two hours updating Lori on current events in the U.S. and around the world. Given her isolation, Lori really looks forward to such discussions.

Letters of Hope: Lori responds to Vermont college students

The September 9th issue of Founders Hall, the alumni newsletter for St. Michaels College in Colchester, VT, reported that last May Lori responded to the many students in the Spanish classes of Professor Marta Umanzor who had written (in Spanish) earlier in the semester. The newsletter reports that Lori's letter, in Spanish, made it past the prison censors and back to Vermont untouched! It states in part:

"I enjoyed reading your beautiful letters over and over...Even under these circumstances I feel fortunate to know that all of you care about the people in the world who suffer injustice or who are hungry for love. We are living in a society which focuses on individuality, and where the majority of people are able to see only what concerns them directly and nothing else. Even though you live in this kind of society, it is good to recognize your commitment to peace and justice and trying to make this world a better place to live."

- Rhoda and Mark Berenson