It's Such a God Thing!

From Mike:
Last night was different, as is every time we go. Susie is fighting a terrible flu/cold so I went along with our friend Mel.

We actually arrived a little early and the guard was happy to let us in about 6:45 or so. We went in and the boys were painting their rooms. Many of them seemed to have more paint on them that on the walls, but that is probably to be expected. As usual the guys took a while to get settled in. About the time we got them settled, one of the guards came in and said it was library time. Another disruption. Mel was patient and I asked each of the boys to start talking and introduce themselves, and what their status was, they talked a bit about their time left, when they expected to get out, etc. A new guy named Joshua was there. He is 28 and has been in for nine years! Wow, I cannot imagine anyone doing that much time in youth prison (or actually any) but he actually said he expects to do two more years. I don't begin to understand what the story or why he would be in that long, but he seemed to be able to come to terms with it. He said both of his parents and his grandmother have died since he has been in. We finally finished going around the room.

Mel began his talk, they seemed to be very antsy which is common when something out of the ordinary like painting is going on. They were very focused around Mel's own personal experience but kind of only held their attention for a while, and they tend to wonder off (mentally) Mel sensed it and reacted really well, and was able to pull them back in. He did a good job of talking about the cross and their need to know Jesus. He did a great job of illustrating how God takes no pleasure in punishment. I thought that was very effective. I know those who God wanted to hear were touched. Mel closed his talk with a plea for them to accept Jesus.

Mel took 3 of the boys over to a table in the corner and sat and had very intimate discussions with them. I was talking to the rest of the young guys and brought up the Bibles, and Scott, who is always one of the most unfocused sat up and said, "I was surprised by getting a note from Doris." So I said, "Surprised good or surprised bad?" He said quietly, "Just surprised," and I saw tears come to his eyes. He was very touched by a card from Doris. It shows the lack of love they see from people in there, and how much they love getting notes and thoughts of love. Christopher asked if Dawn get his second letter? I sent a pitcure, others were sharing all at the same time about getting notes and sending notes and reading their Bibles. It was a blessing beyond compare.

God is doing so much good. Joshua who has been in so long actually requested a Bible and we were able to get it and he wrote a card. Before I knew it, it was time for the prayer circle. Some wonderful prayers, for Kyle and his still undiagnosed illness, he has new "bumps" this week. Prayer for families and friends in poverty, prayers for Mel's daughter Taylor, for our son and daughter and many many prayers for Susie. Lots of thanks for coming. Lots of thanks for the Bibles and the good thoughts.

From Susie:
IT'S SUCH A GOD THING!!!!  :-)

I was disappointed that I couldn't join Mike and Mel last night, yet I had precious time in prayer while they were with the boys.  When Mike returned, he shared two thank you cards with me from the boys who had received Bibles - there are now 20 Bibles that have been delivered.  I read the first thank you card from Joshua, and set it aside.  I read the second card, and listened intently to Mike's recap of who he saw, what they said, and how it went.

This morning when I looked at the card from Josh again, I realized that I already know him!!!  Josh was one of the first boys I ever met at the Norwalk facility last Spring.  I met him one Friday when there was an event going on that was provided by graduate students at CSULB.  Josh sat on the floor next to my chair and we must have talked for about 45 minutes.  He told me about his parents, his grandmother, how long he had been there, his interests and more.  He asked me if I could possibly find him a pen-pal and I wrote down his name and information and said I would try.  Within a week, a very dear friend of mine agreed to be Joshua's penpal and started writing.  They have had a constant flow of letters back and forth ever since.  Within a few weeks of meeting Joshua, he was moved to the Stockton facility.  The letters continued and Joshua even sent me a letter with his picture a few months ago, but we hadn't seen him again.

This is the same Joshua that Mike and Mel met last night.  This is the same Joshua who received a Bible last night and wrote a thank you note.  I hope to be able to see him again before he goes back to Stockton.
Please continue to pray for the boys.  They are being touched by God through these visits, through the Bibles that were provided and your letters. 

Learning to love like Jesus,

Mike and Susie
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Prayer Requests:
Pray for my daddy and my mommy and the rest of my family and friends.
~Scott
Can you pray for my  mom and Casey and my family and Renee and her family and for my brothers from another mother.
~Kemone
Pray for my family friend Renee that she continues her fight with her sickness and our families and friends.
~Jordan
For my cousin Ruby that's pregnant, hope it all comes out and Lucky my other cousin which is 13 years old and pregnant.
~Fernando