Nov. 16 - We cannot allow the prisoners to come out a listen to you!

Ministry Partners. 

Well today was one interesting day. Our morning schedule remained the same but we were not rushed as we only had one prison to do today, leaving home at 9. 

But if I tried to explain the roads we went over today I would not truthfully be able to. It's one thing to dodge potholes, speed bumps and strips of missing roadways but today was the roughest road I have ever been on as we went from pothole to pothole just trying to find even the smallest strip of actual road. Up and down, up and down while also dropping left then right and again dropping left and right. I was thankful for the special cushion Alfred purchased for me as I tried bracing myself by grabbing the handle over the door with my left hand and with my right hand bracing my right side on the center council. It took an hour to get to the prison and because of all the jarring I had concerns about my right hip that was doing pretty well and my neck that was burning and felt like I had whiplash.

Stormy skies, rough roads and lots of red dirt in the air and everywhere. 

At one point Alfred called the O.C. to make sure we were on the correct road and taking the correct turns. We arrived at the prison about 10 and found that the O.C. was not there but had left to get breakfast. This was a small prison of 120 An officer took us into the courtyard and up to a wall with a 48"X48" opening that had a metal grate instead of glass. We were told they were not going to allow the 45 prisoners who were at the prison to come out to hear me speak and that I could just talk through the grate to the 6 or 7 inmates I could see. 

 Alfred had quite a talk with the officer but he held firm. There were two other men there from another religious org. singing with the men through the wire grate. WE PRAYED and asked Jesus to open the doors no man can close and waited an hour for the O.C. to arrive. I am not sure who was more surprised us or her. We knew each other from last year at Luzira Women's prison. She even relayed some of my lessons. We kept talking, kept talking, kept talking. Never in over 350 entrances have I ever been refused to speak directly to the prisoners. 

The object lessons the Holy Spirit has given us is what makes my teachings " hit home". Prisoners will forget everything I say but they remember and comment on what they see. FINALLY, the 45 prisoners were allowed to exit their rooms and sit on the veranda between Alfred and I standing on one end and 2 guards standing on the other end. There was one prisoner in the middle of the group that caught my eyes as he never took his eyes off me, never looked down or away. I felt like his gaze was almost demonic and his eyes were an odd grey color. He responded to all three invitations and when he gave his testimony he said how at peace he was. I told him that I noticed him in the beginning and that his eyes appeared hopeless but now they were soft, peaceful and another color. 

The two other men that were there stayed and listened to my entire message and when I gave the salvation invitation both of them stood up and responded with the prisoners. 

All and all, it was a most interesting day with LOTS to give Jesus praise for. Tomorrow we have 2 prison crusades to do. 

Please pray for open hearts for the Gospel and for a fresh anointing on Alfred and I as well uneventful travel. Also, please pray for Pastor Aaron who will be traveling from Rwanda tomorrow night to be with us.

 Thanks for praying for my painful right hip, with all the rough roads today Jesus is still holding my hip without pain. Praise His name!

That none would be lost,  

Arlene