Ladies,
One of our wonderful volunteers was given a letter from a lovely lady in 33rd. She asked that the letter be shared with each of you. Please take a moment to read her words, and be encouraged. What you do matters! Whether you are a one on one mentor, a pen pal mentor, on the reGROUP team, getting ready to launch the women's worship service, pray for the volunteers and 33rd residents, or serve in some other way...what you do matters and makes a difference!
Thank you!!!!
Blessings...
Abbie
"Words cannot even express how thankful I am and how truly blessed I have been to be a part of the faith based program. You women have truly helped me change my life and are prime examples to me on how to live as a woman after God's own heart. I give God all the praise and the glory because it is He that has truly saved my life. I also have to give all the volunteers of this program praise and glory as well, because of your love and obedience to your Heavenly Father. It is through you I was able to receive His word that changed everything for me. For this I am forever grateful.
I believe God has always known my desire to seek Him and to love Him but I just didn't know how. God has definitely blessed the broken road that lead me straight to you. When I first came here I was broken, lost, self-absorbed and angry. I knew I needed God more than anything at this point. In such a short period of three months I have learned so much about God and who I am in Him and what He wants for me in this life and most importantly in the eternal life with Him.
I can't say its been easy, it hasn't. I've had to learn to surrender things I didn't want to let go of and have faith in God when all I wanted to do was give up. This program and the one on one mentors and others have truly taught me to express myself in all ways, sadness, anger, and joy and that all of it is okay. God wants all of me so he can help me in everything in my life. I can honestly say this has been the best therapy I've ever had, and I've had years and years of counseling and therapy. I came into this program with a broken and contrite spirit and the Lord has filled me with love and hope. He has forgiven me of my past, given me peace in the present, and a hope for my future.
I know now what it means to have an intimate, loving relationship with my Heavenly Father. He has shown me more ways than one to just have faith and to believe in Him and He will take care of the rest. Because of my faith and spending time with Him reading His word, prayer, and fasting He has moved mountains for me. When I didn't think there was any hope, He found a way! But God! Powerful words! But God!
Thank you so much for loving me enough to take the time to share with me God's word and His promises. You have truly changed everything for me. I can honestly say without a shadow of a doubt when I walk out the doors of Orange County Jail that I am a different person physically, mentally, and most of all spiritually and I have all the tools to take on the world. My prayer to you all is that God continues to bless all you ladies and the ministry here. You women are truly blessed. I am forever grateful. I love you and may God bless.
Your Sister In Christ - Shannon"