It's been awhile since my last update, but I just had to share this story. Last time we went to the jail we asked for the women first as always. We knew God was up to something when we got the men first, as that has never happened. Rick and a former inmate Victor witnessed to the Spanish inmates, and my mom and I took the remaning 6. Fran had been the week prior and asked me to share a Bible verse from Galatians with this guy named Byron. She was worried about him. 2 minutes in, and this guy piped up and said, "I was talking last week to this lady named Fran. She asked me if I wanted to accept Jesus and I told her I wasn't ready. Well, I've been reading the Bible and praying, and I'm ready now." Already off to a great start. You know it's gonna' be a good day when someone opens with that. So I asked him a bunch of questions and explained the gospel to make sure that he undrstood the decision he was making. He didn't want to be baptized in the jail at first because he was holding out for the river. But as soon as I told him that he could be baptized twice he was on board.
After the men left, we had the women. My mom and I had 3 women: 2 who come all the time and know Jesus already, and one who they dragged there named Michel (pronounced Mi-kel) who didn't know where she stood with God. She is a PK so she knows the basics, but didn't feel she "qualified" for heaven. I decided to share my testimony, which I haven't done in awhile. The Holy Spirit hit them all at the same time, and at a point in my story where I wasn't expectng tears. It was at a point that was hopeful. It seemed the idea of hoping was what rally stirred them. All at once all three of them were crying. The PK began to get really emotional as she began to explain that she felt she wanted to accept Christ and that she was ready, but was afraid. She explained that her husband was not a Christian and he was addicted to drugs. "I'm so afraid that if I become a Christian, he won't. I just know that he'll leave me," she explained. It was heart-wrenching. I could literally feel this woman's agony. She admitted that it was a lousy excuse, but that the fear was too great. I could tell by the way the other women reacted that this was a deep-rooted and long discussed topic. "He's even in jail right now. We got arrested together," she sobbed. I reached over and took her hand. I asked her what her husband's name was, thinking that I should begin to pray for him. "Byron," she replied. Instantly, my eyes filled with tears. I reached out and touched her hand and said, "Your husband just accepted Christ 30 minutes ago." This woman began to wail so loudly that Pastor Rick turned around and said, "Look, we're having trouble hearing each other talk over here." All of us were crying at this point. I asked her if there was anything that would keep her from accepting Christ, and she laughed through her tears and said, "I guess not!" I led her through the sinner's prayer as she echoed in barely a whisper, her emotions choking out her voice.
A few minutes later it was time to leave. Before we left, she asked us if we knew where in the Bible she could find that verse about enlarging your territory. None of us could locate it, though we searched through our extensive concordances. Her brand new Bible in hand, she opened her Bible at random, and landed on the exact page with the verse she was looking for. I looked at her and smiled. "Do you think God is trying to get your attention?"
It was such a fun Holy Spirit appointment, that obviously wouldn't have been possible had we not seen the men first. Michel was transferred less than a week later, before we had a chance to see her again.
Byron on the other hand, is still there every week, with Bible in hand, thirsty for more.
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