In China, people are now counting down to Chinese New Year. Last night, my dad finally got the phone call that we've been waiting for months. Three days before New Year's Eve, my mom called from prison and told us she was fine. Most importantly, she told us her “strict management” was lifted. This is the biggest surprise of new year for us. In Nov 2017, we were notified that my mom was placed under "strict management". We didn't receive any phone call or letter from my mom since then. And the prison denied our family visits time after time with the same explanation: "She is not allowed to make any contact with the family unless she agrees the 'transformation'." Transformation means renouncing one's belief and plead guilty. Our worries about my mom’s s safety escalated as time went by, until we received this phone call. My mom didn’t talk much in the phone, but she told us we can visit her after the holiday. We will learn more about her status when we see her. I want to share this great news with all of you immediately. Thank you for your care and support. Happy New Year! Sincerely, Iris Lu