God is ALWAYS Working...

From Mike:

God is ALWAYS working - even when men get in the way.

A lot seems to be going on at Norwalk right now, people being turned down access, guards being a little closer in their observance of what is going on. But last night as always when Susie and I were in, it was a blessing. The young guys were finishing up mopping the floor when we arrived and chairs were being moved. Susie and I sat for a few minutes and talked while they finished up.

The group finally gathered and for the first time we had a guard actually sit out in the area with us while we talked to the guys. As we had them tell us how the last two weeks had gone one of the guys reported he had lost his chance to get A phase. He had just pulled the paper work together that day and had done something that violated the rules so lost the chance. A few of the other guys were kind of laughing at him about that and Susie and I told them that as Christ followers we need to encourage each other. The guy who lost his access left and didn't come back. It is difficult sometimes watching them being unkind to each other but all we can do is help them learn how to love, to love with God's love.

Kyle came out and did not look very good. He had kind of dark circles around his eyes and was uncomfortable. He is also struggling with not getting treatment. He is frustrated that in the last couple weeks nothing has really happened. Please keep him in your prayers and that he will get effective treatment soon.

When we got done going around the whole group we asked if anyone had questions about the Bible. One young man, Kevin who was introduced to us a few weeks ago and called himself a Buddhist wanted to talk about the news about the end of the world and Jesus coming back. He talked about several different passages in the Bible and how it talks about no one will know the day. He had bookmarks all over different pages of the Bible, and even the guard got involved with helping him clarify which section he was reading from. God is SO good, we talked about how in the passage in Thessalonians there was a lot of false teaching regarding Jesus already returning.

I love standing in the middle of the drab, locked doors of the prison talking about the Bible. I had wanted to talk a little bit about Romans 12:1-2 so we started out talking about how the word of God can change people. How it is a urging from Paul to take the world of God and transform yourself into what is described by the first 11 chapters. We talked about how God provides a way through His word that we can actually be pleasing to Him. I reminded them of the discussion earlier about supporting each other. That is what God wants from us, to love each other, to focus on the good things God does for us.

Finally it was time for the Prayer Circle. Much prayer for Kyle, for Michael's grandfather who suffering with Cancer. Michael doesn't even know the latest status. We prayed for Louie, who is Kyle's twin and asked for him to have strength. Many of them prayed for Mike (me) to continue to support Susie in her struggles with arthritis. We prayed for the people in authority to treat them with justice and kindness. We prayed for the young guys to give them respect. The prayer circle is SO good, such a loving touch.

Loving them like Jesus is such a blessing. Thanks for the prayers, we get to see them in action.

From Susie:

The highlight of the evening for me was when Juan asked if he could have another Bible for a friend on Drake unit.  I explained (in my broken Spanish, as Juan doesn't speak much English) that the Bibles haven't yet been approved for Drake unit.  Juan smiled, and said he'd already given his Bible to his friend on Drake.  Alrighty then!  Have another!!  :-)

While searching for various resources for the boys, I found a Bible correspondence course offered by Crossroad Bible Institute.  So last night I took sign up sheets in with me.  I am sending in sign-up sheets today for Stephen, Wahye, Juan, Sterling and Kemone.  This will be so good for them!  Others took the sign-up sheets and will be mailing on their own.

Kyle sees the doctor again on May 24 and may have the lymph node in his groin removed that day.  Please pray that our friend Kathy will be available to support Kyle and that Kyle will be surrounded with kindness, compassion and gentleness.

Their prayers during the prayer circle moved me to tears last night... they always thank God for getting them through another day.  Almost all of them prayed for Kyle's treatment and healing.  And last night, many of them prayed for my struggle with arthritis. 

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support.  We are ready to start collecting items for this year's holiday care packages for the boys.  Their FAVORITE item last year was white socks!  They are still thanking us for the white socks.  I will be sending out a list of approved items in the next couple of weeks so that you can participate if you would like to.

Learning to love like Jesus,

Mike and Susie

Here are this weeks' prayer requests:

I go to my last annual board review some time in May or June.  Hopefully I'm getting a six month time cut which will push me to get out at the end of this year.  Please pray for my boards.

~ Scott

I am going to my last annual board to get out in August.

~ Kyle

Can you pray for my brother because he's doing drugs right now.

~ Christopher

I leave here (DJJ) to go to prison on July 27 and I would like you to pray over my family and Kyle and Scott, Louis, Lamour, Mike and staff here at Gibbs and the Institution, and Renee's family and Mike and Susie's family.  Thank you.  P.S. - and Juan and his appeal.

~ Kemone