REASON TO REJOICE ! ! ! ! !

We were at the Detention Center this evening........ that is our reason to rejoice.

There were approximately 10 kids tonight.  We noticed right away that  a couple of them were missing - but no one knew where they were.  Julie and Andee lead tonight.  It was a lesson on Pentecost - when the Holy Spirit was given to the believers.  We read from the Bible .......and talked about how when Jesus was here on earth He could only be one place at a time - He was limited by His physical body.   But when the Holy Spirit was given --- He could be all places all the time....and what a blessing that is.

When Julie and Andee were finished with the lesson we got the music out like we always do.  -------- Today I had decided to put together a folder - for each young person  - with the music in it and have more songs to sing.  Before we only had one sheet of music - front and back.  Well, in my rush, I left out a couple of songs.......a couple of the "FAVORITE" songs to yet!!!  Tait asked, "what happened to For Those Tears I Died"?  I couldn't believe I left that one out --- goofed up big time.  I assured Tait that I would get it in the folder for next week.   "Well, can we sing it anyway?" he asked.  I think, if nothing else, he likes the words to the song and just wanted to hear them again.     If you don't know the song you should look it up --- it is a wonderful song.  Thankfully, Julie and Andee knew the song good and Gary did and a few of the kids did ---- so it went good even without the words.

We sang several songs and then the two kids that were missing arrived (they had been at Out Patient Treatment across the road) ---  the guards knew that we were close to being done (we are always done shortly after singing)....but these two - one boy and one girl - wanted to come yet anyway.    "Could they stay and have a shortened version of the lesson," they asked?  Now Megan we understand ---- but Ransom.....he's the one we have told you about ---- "I'm pretty bored".....or "I had a little fun"......   Ransom is changing -- and it's a good change.

So Julie said - "Yes", they would go over the lesson - but why don't you just sing a song first (she was copying the prayer requests into her booklet.).     I told Ransom that now he only had one girl he had to impress -- so we would expect him to sing.    RANSOM SANG  ! !   We sang Jesus Lover of My Soul,  and   Amazing Grace  and  Ransoms request, Sanctuary.   It just makes us smile and praise God for the changes we see in Ransom.  He such a likeable young man with a friendly smile and strong handshake.  He might be getting out tomorrow and we will miss him.    Would you pray for Ransom?  He's going back out to his old neighborhood and the old friends.  He will need a lot of strength and willpower.

Megan asked for prayers that "we stay sober".  Julie asked if we could just pray a circle prayer.......  She started and we went around.....Megan prayed a very good prayer - asking God to be with her siblings and herself to stay strong and sober when she gets out.  Then it was Ransoms turn -- he actually tried --- but just didn't know what to say - so he told Gary to go ahead.   We are just so thankful that he would even try.

Please keep all the young people in your prayers.  Prayer is powerful!   Thank you!
Gary and Barb