Sue’s Journal from New Mexico

The opportunity to travel to New Mexico as part of Prison Fellowship’s Operation Starting Line campaign was a blessing to all. The campaign marked a new beginning for Faith Seeds, as it participated by providing its discipleship program on prayer and intercession to a group of women at a correctional facility. Below are some observations from the trip.

Sept. 14th – This day was spent both preparing for our Prayer Seminar on Saturday, as well as interceding for the prison ministry teams who were out that day. Two Scriptures were very strong as part of my prayer time. They were Psalm 133, which reads, “How good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.” The unction was quite strong to pray for unity, even the beauty of unity.

The other verse cam from 2 Corinthians 11:3 – “But I am afraid just as Even was deceived by he serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” Time in prayer was spent calling for sincere and pure devotion, clarity of minds, and binding of deception!
Sept. 15th – I awoke early in the morning to the image of a hole being bored through a very thick cement wall. As I prayed into this, I could see the boring process had gone on for an extended period of time – perhaps years. Chips of the cement would fly off the boring tool. This process continued until there was finally a tiny opening and crack of light on the other side of the wall. As is the case often times, I knew nothing more about this picture in my mind other than what was revealed. We then met up with the volunteers and chaplain at Camino Nuevo, the women’s facility in Albuquerque.

The day, (it was a full day!) began with tears and ended with joy. The chaplain was very gracious, as was his wife, who led us in worship. Camino was housing 40 women, and we had ten women attend the Prayer Seminar, along with four faithful volunteers. During the day the women had the opportunity to work on exercises, write out prayers, and discuss situations in their own lives where prayer had played a vital role. There was also conversation about the importance of praying for our families and loved ones, especially our children. Right before lunch, I shared with the women my prayer time in the morning, and image of the boring of a wall. One woman listened intently and raised her hand to share. Just two nights ago, she had received that same image in a dream!

Some of the women left during the day, as they had visitors. Most were eager to return before we ended the day at 4PM. As we were preparing the wrap up the day, I began to share the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. As one woman was reading the parable, five women walked through the door! Some had been there earlier in the day, and others had just arrived, with a few minutes left. It was a powerful God moment – as in the room were all the “laborers”: those who were there all day; those who had been there, left, and returned; and those who came at the end. The three groups were called up one by one, until all the women were standing together, as if to receive their “compensation” for the day’s work. Just like the parable, which says “the last shall be first and the first shall be last,” all the women received the same reward. Each woman is equal in the Kingdom, and precious in the sight of God!