I just came home from four days at Kairos Prison Ministry at Pulaski State Prison in Georgia. I and 29 other women volunteers went to the all-female facility to bring the hope of Christ to 36 inmates. The weekend was a life-changing experience for me as a volunteer.
Many things struck my heart this weekend and I’m still processing a lot of what happened. I know I’ll be writing more about it over the next few weeks. I’m having a difficult time thinking about what exactly to share in this post, as the entire weekend was so full.
I think the main thing that struck me was at the closing ceremony when I saw a few of the women inmates gathered around one that was about to speak in the ceremony. They were praying for her. It was amazing to see the women supporting each other in the community.
I heard a lot of testimonies of God’s grace, love, and forgiveness. I saw women who were struggling with the consequences of their choices. I saw women who were given fair sentences, and women who were given seemingly unjust sentences.
I think the women that stood out to me the most were the ones that were so sweet and kind. It’s hard to imagine them doing anything to be put in prison. But something happened.
We don’t know the women’s charges or sentences unless they share them with us. We do have access to look them up in the system, but I didn’t want to look anyone up this weekend. I wanted to just be with them, not knowing what wasn’t shared in natural conversation.
I have come home and looked up a couple of them that are on my heart. I will be praying for them, and I plan to go back in to visit them with the Kairos team, Lord willing.
So much to think about and pray about. God is moving in Pulaski State Prison, and He’s moving in the hearts of the women, and in my heart.
Rachael Kathleen Hartman 