I never realize how difficult it is to keep a blog up-to-date. Despite the fact that I haven't written anything in the last month doesn't mean that there's nothing to write, it just proves that I'm lazy.
We have visited Tanya a number of times since my last post, and to say the least she is doing well. There are some issues she is working through that I'm not at liberty to share here. She continues to attend church on Sunday mornings at the prison and seems to be enjoying it. I received a letter from her last week with another letter in to to me from one of her friends, she was really excited about the change that Tanya has made since becoming a Christian. Budda and I and the Rainwaters are so incredibly proud her and grateful for God allowing us to be a part of her life.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Birthday Girl
The 6th of August was Tanya's 27th Birthday so Budda and I met up with Mark and Charlotte at St. Gabriel and the 4 of us visited Tanya. She was so happy to see all of us there and it meant so much to her. We bought her a cinnamon roll and some M & M's and she put the M &M's all over the cinnamon roll acting as if they were candles.
Not only was she excited to see us but she was also excited to go to the Kairos retreat, which was to be the next day. I guess this is like a revival which last all day. She went to it last year and really got alot of it. I hope things went as well at this retreat.
Great news about college. She will begin taking college courses through the LSU system there at the prison. If I recall correctly, she'll take a Math and an English course.
Some of her friends made her a bracelet and another decorated some sunglasses for her birthday and they were to have a "party" that night in honor of her Birthday.
Budda and I loved being with Tanya, but being with Mark and Charlotte was also special. Since I'm not serving in the Monroe area, we don't get to see them as much as we'd like. They are such awesome people and we will cherish their friendship forever.
Not only was she excited to see us but she was also excited to go to the Kairos retreat, which was to be the next day. I guess this is like a revival which last all day. She went to it last year and really got alot of it. I hope things went as well at this retreat.
Great news about college. She will begin taking college courses through the LSU system there at the prison. If I recall correctly, she'll take a Math and an English course.
Some of her friends made her a bracelet and another decorated some sunglasses for her birthday and they were to have a "party" that night in honor of her Birthday.
Budda and I loved being with Tanya, but being with Mark and Charlotte was also special. Since I'm not serving in the Monroe area, we don't get to see them as much as we'd like. They are such awesome people and we will cherish their friendship forever.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
When we pulled up to the guard shack today in my son's car, we had forgotten to take out some bullets and shotgun shells he had in the car, needless to say that really didn't go over well. We had to leave and find a place to throw them away, but then they let us in upon our return.
Budda and I found Tanya doing really well and upbeat. She told us that she did not get into the Seminary there at St. Gabriel which is to begin in September. Thank you to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for beginning this same program as at Angola for the inmates. She was disappointed but knows that her time will come.
She shared with us how other inmates could tell the difference in her, that there was a "glow" to her, and wondered what had happened. She told them that she had accepted Christ.
Toward the end of our two hour visit Tanya said something that I will never forget, "I have lost everything I ever had, but am the riches that I have ever been, cause I now have family and a relationship with God." Needless to say, all 3 of sat and cried together, absolutely amazing.
Mark, Charlotte, Budda and I will be returning to the prison on August 6, to celebrate Tanya's 27 Birthday, she is so excited.
Be praying for Tanya, as August is the 3 year anniversary of the shooting which put Tanya where she is today. This is a very hard time for her and she really struggles.
Budda and I found Tanya doing really well and upbeat. She told us that she did not get into the Seminary there at St. Gabriel which is to begin in September. Thank you to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for beginning this same program as at Angola for the inmates. She was disappointed but knows that her time will come.
She shared with us how other inmates could tell the difference in her, that there was a "glow" to her, and wondered what had happened. She told them that she had accepted Christ.
Toward the end of our two hour visit Tanya said something that I will never forget, "I have lost everything I ever had, but am the riches that I have ever been, cause I now have family and a relationship with God." Needless to say, all 3 of sat and cried together, absolutely amazing.
Mark, Charlotte, Budda and I will be returning to the prison on August 6, to celebrate Tanya's 27 Birthday, she is so excited.
Be praying for Tanya, as August is the 3 year anniversary of the shooting which put Tanya where she is today. This is a very hard time for her and she really struggles.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Part II
Now that Tanya has become a Christian, our responsibility does not end there, God is in no way finished with incredible work. Her salvation is only a chapter in her book of life with many more chapters still to be written.
The only way for us to disciple her is through the mail. St. Gabriel has a new Chaplain, and I pray that Tanya will allow him to be a part of that process. We are currently working on her baptism, which she desires. The Rainwater's and Budda and I would love to be there when she is baptized but because of the strict rules of the prison that may not be possible.
I know that God would not lead her to this point and then stop opening doors for her. I also know that evil will do everything possible to pull her away from her decision to accept Christ. Join with me in praying that she will remain strong and committed to her Savior.
Budda and I are going to visit her this Friday followed by the Rainwater's visit on Saturday, so she will have a good weekend. Continue praying for us as we continue to follow the leadership of Christ.
The only way for us to disciple her is through the mail. St. Gabriel has a new Chaplain, and I pray that Tanya will allow him to be a part of that process. We are currently working on her baptism, which she desires. The Rainwater's and Budda and I would love to be there when she is baptized but because of the strict rules of the prison that may not be possible.
I know that God would not lead her to this point and then stop opening doors for her. I also know that evil will do everything possible to pull her away from her decision to accept Christ. Join with me in praying that she will remain strong and committed to her Savior.
Budda and I are going to visit her this Friday followed by the Rainwater's visit on Saturday, so she will have a good weekend. Continue praying for us as we continue to follow the leadership of Christ.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him
I again apologize for not posting anything lately but I had knee replacement on June 8 and the recovery has been difficult to say the least. I missed my visit with Tanya two weeks ago but thankfully the Rainwaters were able to go.
I got a letter from Tanya a couple of weeks ago and she was really down and frustrated. She found out that the Prison Chap. was sent to Angola to be a Chap. there. This really hurt her cause he was a bright spot in her life. The Rainwaters and I were very concerned about this and wondered what would happen concerning what God was doing in her life. Would she become angry and bitter? Well, no need to worry for God is in control.
So here is the amazing news! I woke up yesterday morning to head to St. Gabriel to see Tanya and honestly I almost backed out, I was in a good bit of pain from my Physical Therapy the day before but I knew she was excited to have company.
I finally got into the gym for the visit and I sensed such a peace in the room. There was probably 10 other inmates and their visitors at the tables, but it was unusually quiet. Something was different, very different. I wasn't sure what it was but I soon found out.
Tanya came in and gave me a big hug and we sat down and visited for a few minutes about my surgery and how she was making it. About 30 minutes into the visit she became somewhat distracted and looking elsewhere while we talked, this was not normal. I asked her if she was ok, and she said that she wanted to talk to me about something.
She shared with me some things from her past and the bad decisions she had made, and that despite all those things she has come to realize that God loves her and does indeed have a plan for her life. She told me that when the Rainwater's and I began to write her, she would get angry and cry when we made the comment that God had a plan for her life, she just couldn't believe it. We talked about all the ways that God had expressed His love for her, meeting the Rainwaters, constantly putting people in her path to help her. People like Chap. Sumerall and some of the Christian inmates that she has come to know.
She said that she had made so many bad decisions that it was time for her to make a good one. She has had this idea that becoming a Christian meant that she would be "perfect" which I explained to her that that was not the case. SHE told me about Moses, that he killed someone yet God used him, I told her about David, that despite his imperfections God stilled used him.
I looked at her and said, "Tanya, its time." She looked at me with a tear in her eye and said, "I know, I want to, I want to be a Christian, I want forgiveness, I want to be in heaven."
I reached across the table and took her hand, right there in a Maximum Security prison, Tanya Smith prayed to recieve Christ. She looked up at me with the biggest smile on her face and said, "I think you were shaking more than I was." We got a big laugh at that and then she made this comment, " I am a Christian now, I am saved, I will go to Heaven, right." I assured her of that fact but informed her that God still has alot of work to do in her life and that the McCullin's and the Rainwater's were going to walk with her all the way.
WOW! Absolutely awesome.
I will post Part 2 in the next couple of days.
Again, Praise Him!!!!!
I got a letter from Tanya a couple of weeks ago and she was really down and frustrated. She found out that the Prison Chap. was sent to Angola to be a Chap. there. This really hurt her cause he was a bright spot in her life. The Rainwaters and I were very concerned about this and wondered what would happen concerning what God was doing in her life. Would she become angry and bitter? Well, no need to worry for God is in control.
So here is the amazing news! I woke up yesterday morning to head to St. Gabriel to see Tanya and honestly I almost backed out, I was in a good bit of pain from my Physical Therapy the day before but I knew she was excited to have company.
I finally got into the gym for the visit and I sensed such a peace in the room. There was probably 10 other inmates and their visitors at the tables, but it was unusually quiet. Something was different, very different. I wasn't sure what it was but I soon found out.
Tanya came in and gave me a big hug and we sat down and visited for a few minutes about my surgery and how she was making it. About 30 minutes into the visit she became somewhat distracted and looking elsewhere while we talked, this was not normal. I asked her if she was ok, and she said that she wanted to talk to me about something.
She shared with me some things from her past and the bad decisions she had made, and that despite all those things she has come to realize that God loves her and does indeed have a plan for her life. She told me that when the Rainwater's and I began to write her, she would get angry and cry when we made the comment that God had a plan for her life, she just couldn't believe it. We talked about all the ways that God had expressed His love for her, meeting the Rainwaters, constantly putting people in her path to help her. People like Chap. Sumerall and some of the Christian inmates that she has come to know.
She said that she had made so many bad decisions that it was time for her to make a good one. She has had this idea that becoming a Christian meant that she would be "perfect" which I explained to her that that was not the case. SHE told me about Moses, that he killed someone yet God used him, I told her about David, that despite his imperfections God stilled used him.
I looked at her and said, "Tanya, its time." She looked at me with a tear in her eye and said, "I know, I want to, I want to be a Christian, I want forgiveness, I want to be in heaven."
I reached across the table and took her hand, right there in a Maximum Security prison, Tanya Smith prayed to recieve Christ. She looked up at me with the biggest smile on her face and said, "I think you were shaking more than I was." We got a big laugh at that and then she made this comment, " I am a Christian now, I am saved, I will go to Heaven, right." I assured her of that fact but informed her that God still has alot of work to do in her life and that the McCullin's and the Rainwater's were going to walk with her all the way.
WOW! Absolutely awesome.
I will post Part 2 in the next couple of days.
Again, Praise Him!!!!!
Friday, May 28, 2010
So good to see her smiling
After my last visit with Tanya I was somewhat discouraged and really worried about her (see my last post for details), today she was a totally different person. Today was the first time she got to meet with Budda which really excited her. It was so cool to see them hug each other like they had known each other for years.
She went to church the past Sunday and stayed for the whole service which is a miracle itself. To be honest, Tanya talked for a solid two hours and Budda and I just sat and listened. Tanya has no really meaningful converstation about the us and the Rainwaters and she really takes off, haha.
I would have never dreamed that someone like Tanya would come into my life and change me as much as she has. Let me rephrase that, change that was brought about by God through Tanya. Little did she know, she would be used in all our lives to teach us to love the unlovable.
I am having a knee transplant on June 8, so I will not be able to see her for a month or so, which is disappointing, she is such a breath of fresh air for me and my ministry.
I hope you enjoy the picture taken this afternoon of the three of us, can you see the pride in our eyes.
WOW! God is so good.
She went to church the past Sunday and stayed for the whole service which is a miracle itself. To be honest, Tanya talked for a solid two hours and Budda and I just sat and listened. Tanya has no really meaningful converstation about the us and the Rainwaters and she really takes off, haha.
I would have never dreamed that someone like Tanya would come into my life and change me as much as she has. Let me rephrase that, change that was brought about by God through Tanya. Little did she know, she would be used in all our lives to teach us to love the unlovable.
I am having a knee transplant on June 8, so I will not be able to see her for a month or so, which is disappointing, she is such a breath of fresh air for me and my ministry.
I hope you enjoy the picture taken this afternoon of the three of us, can you see the pride in our eyes.
WOW! God is so good.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The past
I spent the weekend in ministry at Angola at the prison revival that the Louisiana Baptist Convention holds each year, which is one of my favorite places to be and to minister.
On Saturday we had lunch in the cafeteria with all the prisoners and I had the opportunity to eat a meal with the Inmate Chaplain by the name of Steven. He's been in Angola for 25 years and only had 90 days left. While he has been in Angola he received his 4 year Seminary degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
The reason for my mentioning him is that I shared with him about Tanya's experience and her sentence. He told me that Tanya is the type of person that is going to change the world, and that her story would lead many people to Christ.
I told him of a concern that I have about Tanya. Tanya has racist tattoos all over her body including her legs. Since it has been hot and this being her first summer to get to be in general population, she has been wearing shorts and some people have asked about those "tats". She has commented about it several times to me, that she is no longer like that and that some don't understand that.
Back to Stephen, i asked him about the tat issue with Tanya, and he said that she couldn't change what she was but God can change what she is to become. He also stated that one day she will look at her tats and be thankful for how far God has brought her.
Budda and I will be going to see her again this Friday. Please pray for her, please, please, pray for her.
On Saturday we had lunch in the cafeteria with all the prisoners and I had the opportunity to eat a meal with the Inmate Chaplain by the name of Steven. He's been in Angola for 25 years and only had 90 days left. While he has been in Angola he received his 4 year Seminary degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
The reason for my mentioning him is that I shared with him about Tanya's experience and her sentence. He told me that Tanya is the type of person that is going to change the world, and that her story would lead many people to Christ.
I told him of a concern that I have about Tanya. Tanya has racist tattoos all over her body including her legs. Since it has been hot and this being her first summer to get to be in general population, she has been wearing shorts and some people have asked about those "tats". She has commented about it several times to me, that she is no longer like that and that some don't understand that.
Back to Stephen, i asked him about the tat issue with Tanya, and he said that she couldn't change what she was but God can change what she is to become. He also stated that one day she will look at her tats and be thankful for how far God has brought her.
Budda and I will be going to see her again this Friday. Please pray for her, please, please, pray for her.
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