It was my last day in Kenya and first day ever stepping foot in a prison.

It was an answered prayer. Pastor Gideon, the Pastor of Deliverance church in Busia has been praying for an open door to help in the prisons.  Finally, the Lord answered his prayer and we were the first team to visit this prison. 

Pastor Gideon, 3 of my teammates and I were escorted through the gates, passing 30 men that were lined up in their tattered striped uniforms.  Instantly my mind started questioning and wondering… What was their crime?  What were they charged with?  What brought them here? Wishing I could hear their stories.

As we were walking I didn’t know what to do. Do I smile? Do I look down or look away?

We walked passed cold cement buildings and more stripped men working the field, digging holes, and carrying buckets of water. Unexpectedly, I heard singing in the distance and it was getting louder and louder.

We walked into a building with over 150 men dancing and singing their hearts out to Jesus.  The room was filled with love and joy. The Lord’s presence was so thick. We jumped in and started singing and dancing with them. I quickly forgot I was in a prison.

Verses started flooding my mind…

“Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the other prisoners were listening to them….the prisoners doors were open and everybody’s chains became loose.” Acts 16:25

 “Where the spirit of the Lord is- there is FREEDOM.”

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness… I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 11:8-10

I started getting butterflies in my stomach and a knot in my throat. I knew the Lord wanted me to share something.

If you could just picture it…a seemingly young naive white girl with blonde hair speaking in front of 150 rough African men. Seriously, God? Why Me?

I could just picture God laughing…

But the Lord started reminding me of who He chooses to use to show His power and His glory.

Paul was a MURDERER
                                                      Rahab was a prostitute
                      Noah was a drunk
                                                                                        Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
                                           David had an affair and was a murderer
                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                             Elijah was suicidal

 
God uses people who are foolish, weak, despised, nobodies, failures… To show His power & His Glory.

And that’s what He wanted me to share with those men…
       His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness. 

He has a plan and future– despite their past. 

He uses the foolish things of this world to shame the wise & the weak to shame the strong

6 men accepted Christ.

I thank the Lord for that day…it will be one I will never forget.

Even in a place surrounded by barbed wire and chains-the presence of the Lord abounded. And joy & FREEDOM.