From Mike:
Last night was either the next to last or the last meeting we will have with the young men on Gibbs unit. We have laughed and cried with them, read scripture with them and to them, prayed with them and for them. We now watch them move to the Stockton area.
Last night we showed a video from the I Am Second website by a young man named LeCrae. LeCrae is a hip-hop artist, who records using mostly rap music. He grew up living with his grandmother, and didn't know his father. He grew up around relatives who were gang members and learned about guns and drinking and drugging at an early age. He moved around to different relative and yet God found him and called him out. He responded and now raps about God.
We talked to the young guys a bit last night about how life stinks, but God is good. About how we are not promised one day. How in peaceful, small, serene Seal Beach California eight people left their families to either work or get their haircut and their families will not see them again. How it doesn't just happen in the gang lifestyle.
We talked about how Jesus stands at the door at knocks and waits for them to answer. He won't force His way in. We talked about how it isn't fair that some mothers have to see their children die. How Jesus paid a price that we should have paid ourselves. I asked them, "Wouldn't it have been great if someone else would have stood up and said... 'I know this young man did wrong, but I will go to prison in their place.'" I reminded them that is what Jesus did- that he walked up to the top of a hill carrying his cross for them, for me, because of my sins. I told them to not wait because God was waiting for them.
The room was very quiet last night, a lot of respect was given to each person who spoke - Rene, Susie and me. Each of them who made comments about the video or what we said. The prayer time was great, lots of heartfelt calls to God, to protect families, to the unbelievers in the room to listen to the calling from God. Those prayers came from a couple of the young guys who I am confident know Jesus. Praying for other fellow convicts to come to God. What a blessing and honor to listen to that. Many of them asking for help for their families. Many of them asking to stay out of trouble. Just a blessing to be a part of it. You are all part of it through your prayers. They mean so much.
From Susie:
I left the prison with a heavy heart at the end of the evening. There were many lingering "prison hugs" as we said goodbye, knowing that they might be the last... We had a small group of eleven boys - Some have already moved to Stockton and others were attending a special event. There were three new boys who we had never met before. We took cookies and they always love that... I used to be afraid of those sugar highs, but didn't even worry about that this time!
They were silent while the video played and really seemed to hear what LeCrae was saying... Eugene, a new boy, was very vocal about how much the testimony spoke to him. I gave him the DVD before we left so that he can watch it again.
I don't have much to say about last night. Although I know that God is closing this door and will soon open another door where we can serve... I'm sad about not seeing these boys on a regular basis going forward. I loved the prayer circle and there were many "I love yous" exchanged before we left.
I know that you will continue to pray for the boys as we will... and I hope that we will get one more trip in before they move. I plan to send them a monthly newsletter to stay in touch and would love it if you would send me snippets of stories or things you think the boys would enjoy going forward.
Thank you so much for your prayers, encouragement, support and love for this ministry. It has been such a blessing to share the experience with you and to praise God for all the work He has done.
Learning to love like Jesus,
Mike and Susie
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