They were always such fun and wonder filled tiring weeks! Best week of my year every year. I do miss them.
"We later found out that one of the men had taken a huge dose of the infamous drug, spice, and then proceeded to set himself on fire." I don't remember that. I think I must have become as unphased as the staff :P
"The instant coffee was past it's used by date." I do remember that being the hardest part for you 😂 and by day two one of the other volunteers was bringing in some nice coffee for you each morning. What a gent 👍
I remember the Chaplin saying that the real transformation comes when they give the bag of cookies to their biggest enemy in the prison. I would have loved to have witnessed that.
What an honour to join in with what God was doing, all those years back.
Dude I can’t believe you don’t remember that someone set himself on fire on our first day. The Governor literally printed photographs of his burned face and posted them all around the prison.
Also yes, I should have added that volunteers did start bringing me flasks of real coffee, but that was only before we’d go inside! 😅🙈 The rest of the day was instant. I should also mention that the coffee in the prison I now go into is actually fairly drinkable, so that’s nice.
So powerful! What an honor to witness such redemption and be in the presence of these wise men.
I always thoroughly enjoy your essays.
I was pondering the old hymn “the love of God” and how it describes the utter vastness of it. The line “it reaches to the lowest low” brought to mind an image of a prisoner experiencing that vast unending boundless enveloping love within the confines of the darkest places. Uff. Wow.
Years ago I did ministry in a women's prison. I met weekly with a "lifer" using a program about prayer and forgiveness. I, too, was the most changed. On graduation night, my husband and our friends, the mayor and her husband, attended as my guests. My lady had no family or friends to invite. Eight short weeks, 1½ hours each week, and I saw the same changes in our students but even more in me.
What an incredible story. As a former missionary, I have ministered to people from all walks of life, but never got involved in prison ministry. It is great to see God using you, working in places many consider untouchable, forgotten, hopeless causes. They are praying for us? That is humbling. Thank you
Beautiful!
They were always such fun and wonder filled tiring weeks! Best week of my year every year. I do miss them.
"We later found out that one of the men had taken a huge dose of the infamous drug, spice, and then proceeded to set himself on fire." I don't remember that. I think I must have become as unphased as the staff :P
"The instant coffee was past it's used by date." I do remember that being the hardest part for you 😂 and by day two one of the other volunteers was bringing in some nice coffee for you each morning. What a gent 👍
I remember the Chaplin saying that the real transformation comes when they give the bag of cookies to their biggest enemy in the prison. I would have loved to have witnessed that.
What an honour to join in with what God was doing, all those years back.
I think you have the most amazing job!
Thanks Eddie! Yeah that was super fun!
Dude I can’t believe you don’t remember that someone set himself on fire on our first day. The Governor literally printed photographs of his burned face and posted them all around the prison.
Also yes, I should have added that volunteers did start bringing me flasks of real coffee, but that was only before we’d go inside! 😅🙈 The rest of the day was instant. I should also mention that the coffee in the prison I now go into is actually fairly drinkable, so that’s nice.
Oh gosh, I certainly don't remember the photos 😳 I know my memory is bad, but... maybe it'll come in therapy in years to come 😅
Haha na it was good to be left out, don't want the main point sidelined by millennial coffee snobbery 😉
"fairly drinkable"? I thought they did barista training there. I guess they're still learning 😁
So powerful! What an honor to witness such redemption and be in the presence of these wise men.
I always thoroughly enjoy your essays.
I was pondering the old hymn “the love of God” and how it describes the utter vastness of it. The line “it reaches to the lowest low” brought to mind an image of a prisoner experiencing that vast unending boundless enveloping love within the confines of the darkest places. Uff. Wow.
I eagerly await part two.
Thanks Alissa!
Years ago I did ministry in a women's prison. I met weekly with a "lifer" using a program about prayer and forgiveness. I, too, was the most changed. On graduation night, my husband and our friends, the mayor and her husband, attended as my guests. My lady had no family or friends to invite. Eight short weeks, 1½ hours each week, and I saw the same changes in our students but even more in me.
Love this!
Inspirational.
What an incredible story. As a former missionary, I have ministered to people from all walks of life, but never got involved in prison ministry. It is great to see God using you, working in places many consider untouchable, forgotten, hopeless causes. They are praying for us? That is humbling. Thank you
I am riveted! Love stories like this, Sarah!