Tuesday

More of the same as yesterday? Not quite. We had our morning classroom session with the students and at the start we gave them the opportunity to share about their placements on the previous day. One student, with tears in her eyes, shared about the impact her time in prison had had on her. Others spoke of the surprise they had that the prisoners were, in many ways, just like us. Challenging and encouraging.

After Andy, with Sorin translating, had developed the Biblical perspective on our failures and God's mercy and grace, Florica Dudas came to speak to the students about the prison's approach to reintegration and how a ministry like Path of Life can help them. Florica used to work in the prison but has now retired but works just as much in the prison as a volunteer. She is an important part of our work and it was really good for the students to hear her and ask her questions.

In the afternoon another group of students visited the prison to have time with some prisoners. After some songs we split into two groups to talk together about things that mattered to us. Many conversations began to develop between students and prisoners. Talk about family, things that had happened in the past, feelings and emotions, all spilled out. Lovely to see prisoners faces light up as someone showed interest in them. One prisoner sat on the edge, not wanting to engage in the session. He did not want to talk and hid under his hood. But gradually, as others chatted away, one of the students kept including him and slowly he began to join in. Before the end he was a different person, smiling and chatting away. As he left, hood down, smile on his face, he reached out to shake hands with Andy. Wonderful to see students reaching out in Jesus' name. 

Then we went to the night shelter again. More songs, more food but tonight, more individual conversations. Great to see students sitting in amongst the homeless and chatting away. 

We have a wonderful group of students and thank the Lord for the opportunities they are taking in these days. Please pray that the Lord will lead and guide them into the areas of ministry he has for them to do.

Until next time.
Goodnight.