I am Going to Jail!

Yes its true, its what I do every Thursday morning. And it very quickly became the highlight of my week.

Thursday mornings I head off to the local Burke County jail to have a bible study with the women that are incarcerated.  When I began I was going in with a friend, the Minister of the courts, when week 2 came around we were about to walk in and the guard so kindly told us that the Minister was not allowed in anymore due to a misunderstanding of what she had been asked to do by one of the judges.
I must admit my knees gave out and I about fainted.
You see I was not prepared to do anything. I am not a Biblical Scholar, nor am I a Preacher. But God always has a plan. We prayed over the situation and she handed me what she had prepared for the day. As I made the loooong walk through all the Steel doors and past the men behind bars I was truly petrified. As I reached the ladies I had regained some of my composure, at least enough so they did not know how inadequate and frightened I was feeling. We all chatted for a few minutes and I explained that it was just me today. We recapped the past week and gave little rewards for those that had read what they had been asked to. I began of course with prayer and then we began the study that had been given me. Truly I tell you it was so far beyond my understanding that I couldn't teach it. And that was just what the Lord wanted. These ladies needed my testimony.
I have not shared that in the 10 years I had been in Georgia, you see when we moved here I got to leave the ugly behind. It was a very emotional hour for all of us!  I was able to end it with  sharing that the pain of my life was not in vain. It was for this moment in this place to bring the message of Hope and Grace through our Savior Jesus that these women so desperately needed.
The last 4 weeks have truly been so beautiful as I have watched these 6 women blossom and get it! We have been studying the Gospel of John. I have bought them bibles made study sheets so they can write out what  particular verses mean to them and I have helped them understand  how to personalize the words of Jesus as if he was speaking to them. 
Every week I ask them to write in a notebook that I have what they would like me to pray for them over the week. At first the prayers were to get out, now they are for more understanding, for help with there addictions, for patience, for GOD's will to be done in there life!
I am so thankful and feel so Blessed that I am going to jail! God is Good!