I love the world race but one thing that is really hard is saying goodbye every month. This morning we had to tell our friends in prison goodbye. 
I spent 4 hours with them singing, dancing, reading the Bible, teaching them uno, crying, comforting, and exchanging addresses. I never thought I could love those women as much as I do. They are so precious to me. It grieves my heart to say goodbye. I don’t want to leave them.
Roxanne and Melanie have been memorizing scripture. Every time I visit they hand me a Tagalog Bible and point to a verse. I follow along as they recite it by memory. I’m so proud of them. Roxanne has written me two letters where she talks about us changing her life. She says we taught her about Jesus and she is closer to Him now. They are very long letters that have touched me so deeply. Last week I gave her a few things out of my pack, a devotional, some chocolate, used nail polish and a game called Phase 10. It was fun teaching them to play. Today she gave me a rose made out of cigarette paper, some fruit, and a facecloth with her name in ink on it. Small, insignificant things but they mean so much to me.
I have the address of my friends in prison so if you would like to write to them, let me know. I have promised that we will keep praying for them. Benny is still hoping to have family visit her.
Teaching Bible study!
Dance party!…………..
Roxanne and I.
My friends!……………..
Female Ward
My friend Chavena cried so hard in my arms today. She turned 53 yesterday and is a mom. She reminds me a lot of my mom with her gentle, sweet spirit. We spent much of the morning talking about how much God loves her, that God has a plan for her life and that we would not forget about her.
68 women are housed at this prison on the second floor. 700 men are housed below……………………….
My heart will forever be with these Filipino women. They have forever changed my life.
