Our first visit

When I got word from the Warden that I could come and visit Tanya, I thought about ways that I could get word to her that I was coming today, but could not and what a surprise it was for her. She said that when they came to get her she thought they had the wrong person because she had not had a single visitor since she had been at St. Gabriel (one year in April).
The only pictures that I had seen of her were the ones on the Gangland Series on the History Channel. I figured that almost three years in solitary would have ad adverse affect upon someone. But when she walked in the door I knew right off it was her. She recognized me from a picture of my family that I had sent to her.
I was blown away that she appeared so young, of course she is only 26 years old, but seeing her really opened my eyes to that fact. She was dressed in prison blue shirt and blue jeans, and had the biggest smile on her face.
Only 10 minutes into our conversation she began telling me her tragic life story, abuse as a child, addiction to meth and pot, one bad decision after another. She really never had a chance in life.
She began to cry when talking about her love for Dennis Clem despite how badly he treated her sometimes. Tanya has never really experienced real love before from anyone, so I am not sure she would recognize it.
We had a long discussion of what "agape love" was which she heard about this last week. I explained it to her. I noticed that when she asked questions, she really wanted an answer, she would turn her head and look right at me waiting for an answer. Friends, Tanya Smith is really seeking.
She can only have visitors every other weekend so mark and Charlotte will go two weeks from today and then we will alternate from there.
Please continue to pray that God will help Tanya to see truth, and to see His love for her, that agape love.
In closing, Tanya said several times in sentences that, "when I become a Christian.....", it is going to happen, God has not brought her this far only to desert her.
I'm beginning to wonder if her jail sentence will turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to her!!!