Ellsworth

I went with 6 TRU church members to minister to the inmates at Ellsworth Correctional facility today.

We woke up super early to arrive at 7am. I though I’d be more nervous than i was going in, like I was visiting my friend in Lansing. But the check in process felt more like an airport check and the guards were kind. And only one door slid shut behind us.

We walked several buildings over to a chapel and listened to an awesome worship band. There were three singers and two guitar players. The bass player and key boards were awesome! They scatted and improvised. Very enjoyable. Later, the keyboardist told me he did music before he went to prison and had a recording. Great guy.

We spoke at the church service. All week I prayed about what to say and God said just to tell them what He has been up to with me lately, how when I’m having my coffee with Him every day, I tell Him all I’m grateful for then lay down all my struggles. He knows me and He speaks to me deep into my hurts and doubts and insecurities. So I told the guys that God knows them too, and He sees them there, and He loves them and He longs to spend time with them. I encouraged them to let Him into their deep spaces where He can minister to their pain and loneliness.

Chad’s message was really good too. He told more of his story of being in and out of prison and how he finally figured out how to make it, by pouring into others. He gave and invitation and three guys came up to us on our side immediately. One guy said he wanted to know Christ, a first timer. So I prayed with him and told him all he has to do is surrender his heart. One of the other guys asked for a blessing so I prayed with him and then asked him and the third guy to pour into the first timer and they said they would. Another guy came up to me and Erin and asked if we were moms. He asked for prayer as his 21 year old daughter wants nothing to do with him. We encouraged him not to give up praying and trying. Another guy asked me how to get close to God like I shared so I talked with him and prayed with him. The other TRU members prayed for several guys also.

Then we handed out gifts and shook hands. The guys lined up and came through our line like an assembly line in an organized fashion. We first went into a day room and guys came out of large bunk rooms that hold 88 guys each. They were in gray sweats and shorts and looked like they just crawled out of bed. They were so appreciative of the gifts boxes that we handed out. (These were supplied by others and were heavy and filled with shampoo and food treats). Many told us Merry Christmas or God Bless you and all shook our hands. Only a few didn’t look us in the eyes. Most had tattoos, guns, names, tears on their faces (meaning they have murdered). They were old, young, all different races, a huge variety of people.

Several inmates had dogs with them. Apparently they are the trainers for Cares, Inc. that trains dogs for disabled people. I asked one guy, as I was petting his gorgeous lab, if they get attached to the dogs then have to give them up. He said they get to meet the people and that makes it worth it. He said they have a graduation ceremony every 4 months. The guys also refurbish bikes for kids. They work on leather and learn other trades. Some have jobs within the walls that train them to work when they get out.

We also went to the minimum camp where the guys live in mobile homes and apartments. There are 95 guys who live there but only about 10 were at church. We did another little church service and spoke. Their worship was one song on a TV set. I recognized one young man whom I’ve known since he was a little boy in Manhattan. He was pleased to see me.

We also went to the cell blocks where the guys were locked down and released one floor at a time. Their cells with two inmates each were so tiny. Some did have TV’s and fans. But all the guys were very excited about the gifts. In these houses, more of the guys didn’t look at us and some seemed really down. All were respectful and said thank you or Merry Christmas.

As the day wore on, I got sad. I know that most of the guys are in there on drug charges or committed robbery or other lesser crimes for drugs. They would have been better served through treatment of some kind, or quality therapy. But as I shook hands, I couldn’t help thinking that some of these guys murdered, or raped, or hurt children. There are 915 men in Ellsworth. I think he said 15% or so are life without parole. 50% have no one to visit them. Right around 10,000 men and women are incarcerated in Kansas alone right now. Most of the men we talked to, including our friend Chad, have been in and out several times. This system is very, very broken. That is no life, sitting in tiny cells with another human. Sitting around on hard tables watching one tv. Showering in an open shower. Eating and doing sleeping what you are told on someone else’s schedule. The guys in segregation are locked up 23 out of 24 hours. There were some guys in red jump suits at the church service, Chad said they were fro segregation. It is awesome that they get to have church in there. And there are Native American and other religious services. All looked poorly attended overall. And how many profess Christ while in there and then don’t follow him when they get out?

We were fed a sandwich and snack foods for lunch and handed out more gifts. We shook over 600 hands by the end of the day.

I truly hope we were a blessing to these men. If I’m invited, I will go again. I will continue to pray for them and I hope you will too.

Later: I keep reflecting and processing and returning to this blog to add more. I keep seeing the faces of the guys as we spoke, looking up to us, soaking up what we were saying, listening so intently and almost desperately to hear a message of hope. And the guys that ran up to us after, eager, open, reaching. I can’t really put it into words, but I keep seeing their faces. Erin had such good thoughts that she posted. I’ll copy it here:

A full day, a perspective changing day, a great day.

The morning and early afternoon hours of this day was spent with church friends at Ellsworth Correctional Facility. We attended 2 church services, spoke and handed out Christmas gifts to men who will spend Christmas behind bars.

As I looked at each of the 600+ men in the eye, the realization hit me that these are sons, brothers, fathers, grandpas, and husbands. These are living breathing human beings who God created and sent Christ for.

The experience of the day was brought full circle as I came home this afternoon to walk my dog, make dinner for my friends and family and spend time washing and lotion-ing their feet. We did our nightly devotion and my sweet husband and I tucked our kids into bed.

May we never take for granted our lives with those we love. May we never stop praying and lifting up those who search for hope.