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Mission Creek has a harder time getting bands to come in to do music and concerts. They are in Belfair, a more remote location and tougher to get to.   But I love this prison.  The women here are grateful for us to come and the schedule is such that there is more time.  Time to do a full concert, share and hang out with the women before and after.  Time to really connect.  

 It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon when we arrived.  As some of the women came in while we were setting up, I saw that they were sunburned.  I found out that you get in trouble in prison for getting sunburned!  But when the sun hasn't shined much until recently, they enjoy getting out during their free time just like we do. Only they can't go anywhere...Mission Creek has recently added to their population from another prison that has closed it's doors.  This creates a changing dynamic and more crowded conditions, so pray for this.

After the concert, I had a chance to visit with a couple of the prisoners.  One in particular wept as she had recently found out her son was in prison too.  Her two younger kids were with her parents but they were unable to control her oldest son.  She feels bad that her parents are having to do her job in raising her kids.  She has learned so much inside...

 Pray for the women of Mission Creek.  That they would be faithful to reach out to their families, even if some won't respond to them.  Pray for their growth and the protection of their children.  Sunday night, 23 women prayed to receive Christ.  Pray for them that God would help them as they start their journey with Him. 

Hope House is the transition home for women prisoners after they have been released. Here we are, stuffed after a great home-made meal... What's really cool, is that ACM has been given an entire cottage at both the men's and women's prisons where they have complete responsibility and opportunity to move young believers in the prison system through a very balance program that works on their spiritual AND emotional growth, where genuine behavioral change is evident.  Once they've been released from prison out of this program, they are able to transition directly into these homes.  The success rate is so much higher because they have already been working toward health before being released.  Pray for the women at Hope House.  To stay the course, find jobs and work through the hard re-adjustment period where people are learning to trust them again.  They have to earn it and it's not easy...

We got to Palmer, about an hour out of Anchorage around 5 p.m.  As the men began to file in, we scattered into the crowd to meet them personally.  We played to a packed house : ) and many who hung outside, their hearts intrigued, their minds uncertain.  We talked honestly about finding God in the midst of our real and often painful circumstances.  I shared my story and let them know I hated God at one point for allowing hurtful things to happen to me.  I wrestled with Him and was honest with God.  He showed up for me and I knew He'd do the same no matter where they were at.  Several men prayed to receive Christ that night.  Several others didn't and that's okay too.  But they moved closer to a God who does care...This week, 68 men, women and teens made a decision to give God a try and asked Him in.  Pray for each of these people - that they would see and experience Jesus as a reality and ever faithful presence in their lives.

We have been in AK now since last Saturday, working with Alaska Correctional Ministries and two other amazing churches that have helped to sponsor us to come and make a difference!  Our first concert was at Muldoon Community Assembly (see picture).  What a wonderful group of people!  Kent, Brian and others, thank you SO much!  We then had a couple of youth events and did concerts in McLaughlin Juvenile, and the men and women's prisons (Palmer and Highland Mt.)  The big benefit for ACM was last night and tonight and tomorrow we are leading worship at Faith Christian Community.  We have been so humbled by the generosity of people here for the poor and marginalized! It truly takes a community to restore the wounded to health and these churches are really doing exactly that.