A new country, new cultures and new habits: Rebecca Brock, a native of Carinthia who lived in Germany, left her homeland behind and moved to the USA in search of her true love. Everything is new territory for her husband Kory these days – even though he grew up in the USA. The reason? After 12 years in prison, he was released in October. Since then, the couple has lived in a shared house in Michigan. The two met through a website that allows pen pals with American prisoners. The couple, who belong to a free church, are united by their shared faith and love for Jesus.
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok – these and other digital innovations were still in their infancy when Kory Brock was arrested for armed robbery. Even after being released, he can't get used to digital trends: “I like to spend time offline and live as relaxed and peaceful as possible. I am enjoying my new life and all that God has blessed us with.”
Kory and Rebecca Brock | The first few days after Kory's release were turbulent, but the couple managed to enjoy the time © KK
Accompanied by a television crew
But social media was the reason why Rebecca and Kory's story suddenly received so much attention. Television station Vox contacted Rebecca via Instagram and a camera crew later followed the 24-year-old. The cameras were also there when Kory's long-awaited release day arrived. “It was a little stressful at first and generally the time was tiring. But the intention is good, because that is how millions of people see our testimony of faith.” The first days together were characterized by organizational issues, meetings and visits. And: Rebecca surprised her husband with an addition to the family: Missy, a Bernese Mountain Dog. A kitten also recently started living with the couple.
His time behind bars shaped Kory. At the beginning of his sentence, Kory was in a maximum security prison, where he was heavily intimidated by other inmates. “They were tough guys who had nothing to lose. Life had no meaning there”, says the 31-year-old. “I saw things I don’t even want to talk about.” As the years passed, he found God, as he says: “And then I saw that I was protected.”
Prejudice against convicts
Although he doesn't miss prison, Kory notes that nothing seems to work right in the outside world: “Something is always breaking, one thing at a time. Sometimes I joke that things were easier in prison.” He also had more time to practice his faith. His criminal past also played a role in his job search after his release. Then he was immediately rejected by a gas station, “even though I was overqualified in my business training.” But his past and his path of faith also touch people, says Kory, who currently works on construction sites and wants to study computer science.
Kory and Rebecca Brock | The couple enjoys their time together before Rebecca heads to Germany to get her visa © KK
Uncertain future
Rebecca had to face completely different challenges after her move: “The biggest problem was the food.” She is not a big fan of American food, which often contains a lot of sugar. And he wasn't convinced by the German cheesecake Rebecca made for him – the dessert is much sweeter in the US. “But he likes Carinthian pasta and spaetzle, or so he says,” says Rebecca, laughing. The typical German and Austrian Christmas cookies that Rebecca is currently making also sell out quickly. Speaking of which: The two celebrate their first Christmas together in typical Austrian style on December 24th. “I also made an Advent wreath and gave Kory and her dad an Advent calendar because they had never had one before,” says Rebecca.
After the holidays, she will return to her old home on December 30th, where she awaits an interview to obtain a visa. Because even though she and Kory are married, there are some hurdles that need to be overcome before she can stay in the US indefinitely and work there. Rebecca currently does not know how long this process will take or when she will be able to return to the US. Even if the couple doesn't take the easy way out, they are confident: “God has a plan for us. In the end everything will be fine.”