Birthday cake and forgiveness...

Hello!

Birthday cake was enjoyed by all last night, including Copeland, the guard.   We arrived a little early and had some time outside.  It's always interesting to see who we end up talking to us when arrive early.  This week it was Sterling and Wissam.

We met Caz last week.  He gave us a prayer request because he was scheduled to be released on 9/13.  When we arrived last night, Caz was still there.  They had revoked his release due to his violent history.  At this time, he thinks he'll be there another 30 days.  Please pray for him as he adjusts to this change and prepares for release. 

Writing these update messages gets harder for me each time because it's so hard to describe all that goes on while we're there. Last night was a little chaotic because school is back in session and a few of the boys had to leave for a gym class.  Michael was torn - he didn't want to leave.  Sterling's birthday was yesterday and he had to leave too - even though his name was one of 5 on the cake!  We sang happy birthday before he left.

The conversations began - we went around the room to hear how each boy was doing.  Before we could even finish, the questions about God started again.  Mike talked about Fathers and Sons and brought the story of Abraham.  I saw one boy, Osvaldo, gasp when Mike said God told Abraham to sacrifice his son.  Some of these boys have NEVER heard any of these stories. 

Devon, who has never really participated before was asking questions about forgiveness and then he said... "Shouldn't we forgive Satan too?"

What a question!!!  We talked about forgiveness, we talked about our attention being on God, not Satan, we talked about Satan fearing God, more questions started coming and the conversation was absolutely awesome!  In fact, we got a warning that in 15 minutes they would be coming into the room we were in to setup for something else, so we basically had to stop.  We gathered in our prayer circle and had precious prayer time, as always.

I would love to have you respond to this message to share how you would have answered the question, "Shouldn't we forgive Satan, too?"  The answers we're getting from others will help me as I write to Devon this coming week.

It's always fascinating to watch God work.  At the prison, we started out just asking them to talk about themselves, letting them know God cares.  We made our beliefs clearly known and have always prayed with them, but now they cannot WAIT to start talking about God when we're there.  It's so exciting to watch God work right in front of our eyes like this!!!

Here are the prayer requests that were dropped in the ziploc bag this week:

I would just like for you guys to say another prayer for me to get out soon.  And if possible, can you send me the Footprints in the sand poem.

~ Wissam

Please pray for Scott's friends and family and if you could keep a special eye on his father and his friend Melissa for their going through a hard time.  Thank you.

~ anonymous

I just wanted to ask please pray for me, my family and a friend - Gian Carlo "Santos".  Everybody stresses and wants me to get out and enjoy life with them but I need to get prayer because i got to do another 30 days but I look at it as a sign to get myself ready for the streets but I go up back on october so we will see what happens.  Thank you and God bless you guys.

~ Caz

Please pray for Kyle's son, and his girlfriend, and his grandma, and his uncle, and his girlfriend's mom.  Thank you.

~ anonymous

That my appeal goes good.

~ Steven

To pray for my family. And my nephew that he's locked up in LP (Los Padrinos).  And thank you.

~ anonymous

For my family to have good health and for Kyle.

~ Sterling

Can you pray for my family and financial problems for family and friends girlfriend and her daughter.  Thank you.

~ Kemone