Last night at Norwalk was an example once again of the power of prayer. We asked for your prayers yesterday morning after not being able to enter at the Futch unit the last few times we tried. When we called at 4pm we were told, "Yes come on out."
We got there and were immediately allowed to enter. Tom went with me and Susie stayed home as we are planning on going to Gibbs Unit on Thursday night. When Tom and I arrived at the unit, no one was really in the room we were led into. One of the guards said that some of them were in the showers, and the rest were just finishing up. One young guy came in and I told him it was nice to see him. He did not recognize me but he immediately said to Tom, "You used to come to the Marshall unit." Tom was delighted and they had a good conversation for a few minutes. We talked about how he got there, he said he was a little older than some of the guys and when he got out this time he planned on leaving the country and living with his family.
Another guard came out with 2 young guys and they left the area for another event in the prison. Then a young guy named Will came in. He was very calm, very focused and said he was glad to meet us. He and Tom and I sat down at a table and started talking. He told us his story. He came from a single mother family and has 3 siblings, 1 brother and 2 sisters. He was born in 1992 and arrived in Norwalk on Feb 15. He told us he reads the Bible every day. He just finished the book of Romans and is now starting Matthew. He said he reads the book of Proverbs and reads whatever chapter matches the date. He said he reads Proverbs every morning and evening. He told us he asks for understanding of the Bible and God gives it to him. He said he has a chance to be out by next March.
Tom and I both told him our stories, about our families, how many kids we have, where they all are, where we go to church. We talked about knowing God. About how we were made to know God and how Jesus shows us what God is like. We talked about some verses. He asked if he could keep the Bible that we let him use. We told him of course but he needed to write a note of thanks. He said he would do that. As happens most of the time, the whole time we were talking, he looked at the verses, he looked through the Bible, looking at maps, at index pages, at the different helps. They treasure the Bibles when they get them.
Then another young man showed up. His name was Brian, he said he believes in God, but doesn't read his Bible. He said he hadn't been to anything with religious people in about a year. He shook all of our hands and sat with us. We asked him to tell his story, he was from the San Fernando Valley and had been in and out of different jails and prisons eight times already. He was born in 1990. He went in the first time at 16. He said they sent him to Norwalk because he kept having problems in Ventura so they moved him saying he had some issues. He said he has caught a couple other cases while he was in so he has had time added. He isn't sure when he could get out. He said he doesn't get visits because gas costs too much for his family to drive from the valley. He said he has learned, and has received his diploma from high school since he has been in prison. It was about time for us to leave so we asked how we could pray for them.
Brian- please pray for me when I go to the annual board in August. Help those who see me understand that I have learned and am not a bad person. He said last time he went they told him his file made him look like some kind of animal. He said he is not an animal and he would like us to pray for him that they would see that.
William- please pray for my family that they will stay safe in south central, and that when I get out I will be placed in some type of living because I will be on probation. I will go to the board in March of 2012 and may be released then.
Once again God was able to open doors and introduce us to two young men who we didn't know. We gave out one more Bible and I know I was really blessed by God with the good work He is doing inside of prison.
Then another young man showed up. His name was Brian, he said he believes in God, but doesn't read his Bible. He said he hadn't been to anything with religious people in about a year. He shook all of our hands and sat with us. We asked him to tell his story, he was from the San Fernando Valley and had been in and out of different jails and prisons eight times already. He was born in 1990. He went in the first time at 16. He said they sent him to Norwalk because he kept having problems in Ventura so they moved him saying he had some issues. He said he has caught a couple other cases while he was in so he has had time added. He isn't sure when he could get out. He said he doesn't get visits because gas costs too much for his family to drive from the valley. He said he has learned, and has received his diploma from high school since he has been in prison. It was about time for us to leave so we asked how we could pray for them.
Brian- please pray for me when I go to the annual board in August. Help those who see me understand that I have learned and am not a bad person. He said last time he went they told him his file made him look like some kind of animal. He said he is not an animal and he would like us to pray for him that they would see that.
William- please pray for my family that they will stay safe in south central, and that when I get out I will be placed in some type of living because I will be on probation. I will go to the board in March of 2012 and may be released then.
Once again God was able to open doors and introduce us to two young men who we didn't know. We gave out one more Bible and I know I was really blessed by God with the good work He is doing inside of prison.
What a great God we serve.
Learning to love like Jesus,
Mike
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