I was in prison and you came to visit me...

If you ever want to see me sob, then put on some Les Miserables. It doesn't matter if it's the book, on stage, the movie or the soundtrack.

There is one scene that tugs deeply on my heart that the result is sobbing. Every time. You can watch it by clicking here.  I won't because I need to get this post out and I won't be able to type with blurry eyes.  It is the part where the Bishop welcomes Valjean into his home, knowing he is a prisoner and treats him like an honoured guest. 

I am 36 and have never been to a prison.  (Except as a tourist attraction.)  I also don't personally know anyone that has been in prison.  It is so far out of my comfort zone and my ability to relate that I haven't even tried.  But there it is in black and white (although now for me in colour) that verse in the Bible.  Matthew 25 

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

So with that intro I want to introduce my gorgeous friend Rachel and her husband Glen to you.

I asked her to write something for my blog about what they and her parents are doing because it excites me so much and challenges me.  This is what she wrote: 

I’m always amazed at how we are prepared for the next phase of our lives by the experiences we have had in our past.  The prison is not a place many would think you would meet your future husband, but I did!  

My Dad was the prison Chaplin and had been asking me to attend a Restorative 

Justice course called the ‘Sycamore Tree’ for some time, and so to keep him happy I said yes.  I went along as a community participant along with 5 others, and met with 6 inmates. The aim of the course was for the inmates to hear our story of how crime had impacted our lives (I had been burgled as a student studying at University), so they could begin to understand that there are real people whose lives are affected by their actions.  

Well the aim of the course was fulfilled, but the bonus was that on first night I met one of the other community participants, Glenn, who was to become my future husband!  Glenn had asked to be a community participant as he was so impressed with the course that his son had done as an inmate the previous month.  

That was 8 years ago now, and as from this week our home is now a community house where people can come who are reintegrating into society from prison.  We moved into our beautiful villa four years ago and finished doing it up and have enjoyed many get togethers with friends and family, but we were feeling really challenged to use our home, and the resources we have, to support and help others.  We both prayed and knew that God really wanted us to use our home as a reintegration home for people coming out of prison, so we began the process of finding an organisation who could use our home for this purpose.  

‘Life Restoration Trust’ now run the home, with Glenn’s sister and brother in law 

being the house mentors.  People needing support in reintegrating come to the home and get mentoring on budgeting, maintaining a home, cleaning, general life skills and are supported in a loving environment before they move into more independent accommodation.  We have moved into a flat on our property, so are there to support and be part of the community.  We know how hard the reintegration process can be and the statistics show that the recidivism rates are high, as people find it difficult to function in society and so reoffend and end up back in prison.  

In March this year, a guy who my father had been mentoring in his capacity as Chaplin, for 18 years in prison, was released, and the only place he was offered to be released to was my parent’s home. We, as a family, have known Andre for many years as I taught his son at kindergarten, and so he quickly became part of our extended family/whanau.  Andre is determined that he will not return to prison which has been his home on and off for 22 years, but he knows this will only happen with a huge amount of support from people who believe he can turn his life around.  

He has been attending our church and recently moved into his own flat which was furnished and kitted out by members of our church family.  Andre wants to provide an alternative for his family, to stop the cycle of crime and punishment happening within his own family.  He knows that if he can continue to turn his life around, he will be able to support his family to live a life free of crime, and a hope for the future.  

My husband Glenn goes into the prison once a month with a group from our church and runs a church service and has fellowship with inmates who want to learn more about Jesus.  A heavily tattooed guy shared with him “I’m scared of what the outside holds for me, look at me, I intimidate them and they intimidate me”.   When Glenn looked at that guy, and when we look at Andre, we don’t see another tattooed face, we see a life of opportunity and purpose, but we know this is only possible with God at the centre of our lives, and a lot of love and support from ourselves and those in the community.  

We feel stoked that we can help others, and in the process we are releasing the unimportant ‘stuff’ that we so often hold onto – material possessions.  We are realistic that not every person who comes into our home will be a ‘success story’, but we’re willing to give it a go, and we know that lives will be changed in the process!  As I wrote at the beginning, our past experiences help prepare us for our future – it’s exciting to think about what is around the corner!  What are you being prepared for?