My team and I had the incredible opportunity to go serve at a Juvenile Detention Center in town. The Detention Center is split into two sides, girls and boys. We went to the girls side and hung out with them for a couple hours two days in a row. There were about 50 girls ranging in age from 14-22. It was so cool getting to hangout with girls around my age again. We were only with them for a short amount of time but it was so impactful.
Before we went to Juvie I didn’t know what to expect. I thought we were going to walk into a scary building with girls yelling and arguing. I expected to enter into a mass of chaos with fist fights in each corner. I’m kind of embarrassed now that I was expecting that; my idea of Juvie was what I had seen in the movies. I now know it was very simple-minded and inaccurate. I wasn’t prepared to make friends and to love these girls. But I did make friends and I do love them. Each person was so genuine and kind and respectful. It was definitely a pleasant surprise.
Our purpose there was mainly to help teach them english and just hangout but it went much deeper than that. We also played games and danced, we sang karaoke (10/10 experience) and laughed pretty much the entire time. One of the best ways to connect with people is through music so we put that to the test for sure. I think we sang every song to exist, ever.
Most of the girls that were there had been caught with drugs, whether it was buying, selling or using. We learned that often times they had/have boyfriends who abused them and would make the girls sell drugs for them. If the boys got caught the girls would to take the fall for them and serve in Juvie instead of the boyfriend. So many of the girls were tattooed or branded by their boyfriends. The images on their arms or necks let everyone know who ‘owned’ them. It was heartbreaking seeing that but it made me just want to love on them even more.
The second day, I had the opportunity to share part of my testimony. I had never shared my story in front of so many people before and I was pretty nervous. I knew God wanted me to practice vulnerability though, so I went up in front of them and spoke. I am so thankful that I did because I learned so many things through that. One thing I learned is that sharing my story can bring healing not only to other people but also to myself. I learned that God can use anyone to further His kingdom, even someone like me. He has given me experiences in life so that I can be a light to other people and spread Jesus’s love.
I will forever remember going to Juvie and am so blessed to have experienced something so amazing. I am constantly in awe of all the things God does in my life and all the ways He shows His love to me.
