Sunday - November 2

I was thinking that I had updated this concerning our return to the JDC on Sunday. But obviously I hadn't.

When we arrived and told the guard that we would like to visit with 4 of the kids.....we were told that we were not on the visitation list. Oh Boy!! But one short phone call and we were on!! As Gary said - "that was a God thing"!!

We visited with all of the kids - one at a time. Robert hadn't gotten a Bible out of the library yet (we had noticed that they had an abundant supply of Bibles when we took our tour)......so we talked about that and he said he would like one of his own. And we have one for him - so will get that to him this coming Thursday (along with one for the other 3 also). We also talked about where he lives and the wonderful pastor that is in the area. He knows David Marshall and has even played basketball with him and his sons and has gone to his church. We encouraged him to continue going to that church.

Two of the girls were rather distant. Not real good eye contact. But we had a good visit with them also....prayed with them and I (Barb) was able to give them a hug.

The other little gal - Nicole - had her father visiting her and we could overhear much of their conversation and so we knew that she would be going to a treatment center. Her and her dad seemed to have a good relationship. When we spoke with her....I asked why she had to go to a treatment center ..."for my anger". After the treatment center she will be going to a boarding school for the remainder of the school year in another part of the state. I said something to the effect that that might be scary for her.....tears came to her eyes and she said "yes and I don't want to leave my friends". We gave her our address and told her to write us with her new address and we would write back.

We gave all the kids our phone number and told them they could call anytime. We continue to see these young people in the JDC as nice kids....but kids that have made too many wrong decisions in their young lives.

We ask that you say a few special prayers for all of the kids in the JDC that we come into contact with. Ken and Sally, Rick and Carla (our company from MI) were able to take a tour that evening. They were told that the kids are given the choice to go to the basketball court or "go to church".....they chose to come to our "church". So there is a desire there.........to hear about God.

Gary and Barb