Prison - Day One

Weekend of Champion Friends
What an incredible day! First, I got to reunite with an old 'WOC friend'. Donna was on her fifth weekend when I was on my first one to Austin in January 2005. She and I were instant friends - actually, we were more like instant sisters. During our long van rides to the prison, she listened and then counseled me about a very deep wound. We continued our friendship over the next year through email and three more prison weekends. Unfortunately, I haven't been on a prison weekend since December 2005, and so I have missed seeing Donna and other friends. Today, I was able to tell Donna face to face what her friendship has meant to me ever since our first meeting and how that deep wound has now healed so beautifully in a way only God could work.

Another WOC friend is Lori. Lori's first weekend was also my first. We were freshman together. Like most freshman, we were both scared. I was afraid of entering a prison as a first -timer, but she was afraid of entering it as an ex-con. I got the joy of hearing her story - how drugs caused her to risk not only her life, but the life of her young son. And how her mother never stopped praying for her - even praying her into the prison which saved her life. She had so much to overcome, but through Christ, all things are not only possible, but are VISIBLE in the life of my friend, Lori. Tonight, I got to see Lori and her mom again!

Awards
Tonight, Mark and I, along with many others, got special awards at the banquet! After five weekends, Bill Glass presents you with a cross made from real prison bars. The inscription on it reads, "I was in prison and you visited me." After ten weekends, you get a 10 pin. What an honor to be thanked for obeying God. Other awards given were for 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 weekends!! Wow!


Why I Will Keep Going to Prison!!!
I got to talk to several ladies at the Dawson State Jail today. They were extremely interested in what we had to say, and so as soon as my group of five teammates entered the pod, we split up and several inmates came to talk to us. One really cool part of my day was when a young lady came to ask me a question about the Sabbath. My family just happens to be memorizing the 10 Commandments right now, so I was already prepared by my Heavenly Father to answer her. I showed her where the commandments are located (Exodus 20) and zipped through the first three to get to the fourth, which is about the Sabbath. After that, she asked me to please read the rest! Then, she asked me if it was easy for me to become a Christian. I said, "Actually, for me it really was, and I will show you why! That is here in commandment number two, about idolatry." I proceeded to read to her: 'You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.'

She was crying when I looked up at her. I explained that it was easy for me to become a Christian, because my family has been blessed for a thousand generations because I have a heritage of loving God and keeping His commandments. I told her that as we were memorizing this, my girls said, "Mommy, it is not fair that God is punishing the children for the father's sin. They are innocent."

By now, tears were streaming down her face. I told her it isn't fair that her children are being punished for her sin. They are innocent too. She agreed. I told her that is just how sin is. It's terrible. BUT... the good news is right there!! It can stop with her generation! Her children can be blessed by God starting with her right now!!! And not just her children, but her children's children, and their children, and theirs for a thousand generations!!!!!!!!

This is why I must keep going to prison. Not for an award and not to see old friends, but because there are hurting people out there who need the truth. And they not only need it, they are ASKING for it. Jesus said it Himself in Luke 10:2-3, 'He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves."'

II Timothy 1:7 was prayed over me this morning, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." Not only did God give me the words to say today, He also took away that spirit of timidity that I was feeling last night! I guess I was a lamb among the wolves - but I was never in fear, because I was always in the hands of the Lamb who is worthy to receive honor and glory and power.