"When we work, we work. When we pray, God works."
(Reese Kauffman, Pres. Child Evangelism Fellowship)
(Reese Kauffman, Pres. Child Evangelism Fellowship)
"It Made A Difference For That One . . . "
11-25-19 . . . Do I Really make a difference?
So . . . when God calls and you make/take the time to listen for Him and then you answer His call – you go on with your days, listening to Him as He leads and guides. You no longer worry – “how is this going to happen?” because HE is MAKING IT HAPPEN. When you can truly give “it” to Him and NOT TAKE IT BACK, He will be soooo faithful to you. When you think you can’t go on another moment or take another heartache, HE strengthens you and wraps His loving arms around you. When your heart is so filled with love and joy for those He puts in your path, HE smiles down on you and shows you His continual everlasting love in ways you could never have imagined. When the world around you (neighbors / strangers / critics) condemn you for serving “the least of these” you remember “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40
But, sometimes . . . just sometimes, you get that thought in your head . . . “Do I REALLY make a difference? Am I really doing what He has called me to do?” I know this is the human side of me and that is just the enemy whispering in my ear – to make me doubt myself – because, in my heart, I know that EVERYTHING and ANYTHING I do for Him makes a difference. Because it’s NOT ABOUT ME!!! It’s about fulfilling HIS PLAN. I don’t always get to know the outcome He is looking for, but I continue to follow in faith.
Then, every once in a while, when I am down or hurting and grieving – someone whose life you have touched in a way you can’t even have known, comes along and touches yours in a way you could never have imagined. THAT’S when you get to see that, yes, you made a difference! When you see your unconditional love shining back on you – that’s when you get to see how God has used you as HIS VESSEL. That’s when you get to see the love you have shown reflecting on you like a mirror. That’s when you get to see, that yes . . . you REALLY do make a difference.
Recently I have watched my Dad pass from this world to his Heavenly Father. It was hard to watch, but at the same time it was a blessing to have spent this last seven months with him on a daily basis. This last month, I heard him pray to Jesus everyday “I’m ready to come Home Lord. I’m ready. I’m just waiting for you to come and get me – to take me home.” November 12th, I watched him go Home to His Father – I watched his prayer come true.
Opening grief cards have always been hard for me. I have watched my sister, Joy, then my Mom, Joyce, followed by my brother, Don, all return Home. Sometimes it took me months to open the cards – to hear the condolences – to feel the love of those who cared. This time with my Dad, my strength from the Lord has been so much greater that I was able to open them today (11/25/19). Every single card was so beautiful – filled with wonderful words and love. I have felt so blessed by each and every person who has been by my side and those who have also been praying for me from a distance.
One card especially touched me. It was from a woman I first met in jail in April 2018. I had the privilege of mentoring her there and watching her grow from a skeptic to a believer and lover of the Lord. I continue to mentor in prison where she transferred in February of this year. So, from inside prison, when she learned of my dad’s passing here’s what she wrote to me:
11/16/19 – Hello my friend. I am truly sorry for your loss. As you know, the loss of my grandson was extremely devastating. I have since found many Scriptures that’s given me comfort.
Ecclesiastes 9:5,6 mentions the dead know nothing. No love, hate or jealousy
Psalm 146:4 says their spirit departs – they go into the ground – they no longer have plans (thoughts) .
MY FAV John 11 – Lazarus (Jesus’s friend) dies. He relates death to sleeping. Matter of fact even those around him thought he meant Lazarus was sleeping. I know it had to bother him. They were Buds. What’s really touching is when he seen Mary break down, he broke down and cried too. It’s comforting to know that Jesus feels like we do and he can understand our pain.
Another favorite Revelation 21:1-4 – there will be a new heaven and a new earth. No more death – NO MOURNING, NO PAIN AND NO MORE TEARS!!!
It’s a blessing that Dad had such a caring and determined daughter. Because of you, he got to spend his last days in a home with his wife. You’re amazing. I hope you realize that. You have such a loving and kind heart. I thank God you have become an important part of my life. Thank you for being fervently determined in your faith and in following the #1 Commandment “TO LOVE Others as you do yourself – to love God. And to show your faith by your works.
Sisters, Stephanie
Yes . . . we REALLY do make a difference when we answer God’s call and serve Him as He leads and guides us. THANK YOU, JESUS!
But, sometimes . . . just sometimes, you get that thought in your head . . . “Do I REALLY make a difference? Am I really doing what He has called me to do?” I know this is the human side of me and that is just the enemy whispering in my ear – to make me doubt myself – because, in my heart, I know that EVERYTHING and ANYTHING I do for Him makes a difference. Because it’s NOT ABOUT ME!!! It’s about fulfilling HIS PLAN. I don’t always get to know the outcome He is looking for, but I continue to follow in faith.
Then, every once in a while, when I am down or hurting and grieving – someone whose life you have touched in a way you can’t even have known, comes along and touches yours in a way you could never have imagined. THAT’S when you get to see that, yes, you made a difference! When you see your unconditional love shining back on you – that’s when you get to see how God has used you as HIS VESSEL. That’s when you get to see the love you have shown reflecting on you like a mirror. That’s when you get to see, that yes . . . you REALLY do make a difference.
Recently I have watched my Dad pass from this world to his Heavenly Father. It was hard to watch, but at the same time it was a blessing to have spent this last seven months with him on a daily basis. This last month, I heard him pray to Jesus everyday “I’m ready to come Home Lord. I’m ready. I’m just waiting for you to come and get me – to take me home.” November 12th, I watched him go Home to His Father – I watched his prayer come true.
Opening grief cards have always been hard for me. I have watched my sister, Joy, then my Mom, Joyce, followed by my brother, Don, all return Home. Sometimes it took me months to open the cards – to hear the condolences – to feel the love of those who cared. This time with my Dad, my strength from the Lord has been so much greater that I was able to open them today (11/25/19). Every single card was so beautiful – filled with wonderful words and love. I have felt so blessed by each and every person who has been by my side and those who have also been praying for me from a distance.
One card especially touched me. It was from a woman I first met in jail in April 2018. I had the privilege of mentoring her there and watching her grow from a skeptic to a believer and lover of the Lord. I continue to mentor in prison where she transferred in February of this year. So, from inside prison, when she learned of my dad’s passing here’s what she wrote to me:
11/16/19 – Hello my friend. I am truly sorry for your loss. As you know, the loss of my grandson was extremely devastating. I have since found many Scriptures that’s given me comfort.
Ecclesiastes 9:5,6 mentions the dead know nothing. No love, hate or jealousy
Psalm 146:4 says their spirit departs – they go into the ground – they no longer have plans (thoughts) .
MY FAV John 11 – Lazarus (Jesus’s friend) dies. He relates death to sleeping. Matter of fact even those around him thought he meant Lazarus was sleeping. I know it had to bother him. They were Buds. What’s really touching is when he seen Mary break down, he broke down and cried too. It’s comforting to know that Jesus feels like we do and he can understand our pain.
Another favorite Revelation 21:1-4 – there will be a new heaven and a new earth. No more death – NO MOURNING, NO PAIN AND NO MORE TEARS!!!
It’s a blessing that Dad had such a caring and determined daughter. Because of you, he got to spend his last days in a home with his wife. You’re amazing. I hope you realize that. You have such a loving and kind heart. I thank God you have become an important part of my life. Thank you for being fervently determined in your faith and in following the #1 Commandment “TO LOVE Others as you do yourself – to love God. And to show your faith by your works.
Sisters, Stephanie
Yes . . . we REALLY do make a difference when we answer God’s call and serve Him as He leads and guides us. THANK YOU, JESUS!
11-20-19 what it means to someone for you to"Be There"
"It was such a relief to talk to you. I have been fighting back tears all day and I don't even really know why. It's like someone is sitting in my chest. I've been feeling like something is missing and I think it's you."
06-26-18 - Are you in the boat or in the water?
I received an email from my friend in prison. A "mate" of hers had been released in March. This day she received a series of frantic emails about bad choices and bad situations she allowed herself to get into. She immediately reached back to her "mate", still incarcerated, for help, advice and support. She then reached out to me to talk her friend off the ledge and give her some sound advice. After providing what the released "mate" needed - the communication stopped. Probably . . . until the next crisis or bad decision.
My friend and I had a long conversation about this. She observed signs of her released "mate" going back down the old path - hanging with the same people - allowing herself to be pulled into the same situations - not at all doing the things they had discussed while incarcerated together.
Here's what my friend in prison said "Hey. Thanks again for doing that for me - reaching out to her to help, comfort and guide her. I guess it's like this when it comes to friends when you first get out of prison - One of you is in the boat and one of you is in the water. You have to figure out if you're going to be able to pull your friend in the boat or are they going to pull you in the water. Most of the time you are going to end up in the water. "
This is a perfect analogy of how we allow our friends to influence us into doing what we know we shouldn't. All we can do is take these examples - learn from them and be ready not to allow others to pull us into the water.
My friend and I had a long conversation about this. She observed signs of her released "mate" going back down the old path - hanging with the same people - allowing herself to be pulled into the same situations - not at all doing the things they had discussed while incarcerated together.
Here's what my friend in prison said "Hey. Thanks again for doing that for me - reaching out to her to help, comfort and guide her. I guess it's like this when it comes to friends when you first get out of prison - One of you is in the boat and one of you is in the water. You have to figure out if you're going to be able to pull your friend in the boat or are they going to pull you in the water. Most of the time you are going to end up in the water. "
This is a perfect analogy of how we allow our friends to influence us into doing what we know we shouldn't. All we can do is take these examples - learn from them and be ready not to allow others to pull us into the water.
06-16-18 - STORY OF THE THREE TREES
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”
The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!”
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.”
Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.
The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell.
“Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest. I shall hold wonderful treasure!” the first tree said.
The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell.
“Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!”
The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven.
But the woodcutter never even looked up. “Any kind of tree will do for me,” he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter’s shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals.
The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail on an ocean, or even a river; instead, she was taken to a little lake.
The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard.
“What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God...”
Many, many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams.
But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.
“I wish I could make a cradle for him,” her husband whispered.
The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said.
And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake.
Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain.
The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun.
And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands to her.
She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.
But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth tremble with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything.
It had made the third tree strong.
And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.
That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.
The next time you feel down because you didn’t get what you want, sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.
Source unknown
The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!”
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.”
Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.
The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell.
“Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest. I shall hold wonderful treasure!” the first tree said.
The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell.
“Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!”
The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven.
But the woodcutter never even looked up. “Any kind of tree will do for me,” he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter’s shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals.
The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail on an ocean, or even a river; instead, she was taken to a little lake.
The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard.
“What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God...”
Many, many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams.
But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.
“I wish I could make a cradle for him,” her husband whispered.
The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said.
And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake.
Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain.
The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun.
And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands to her.
She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.
But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth tremble with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything.
It had made the third tree strong.
And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.
That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.
The next time you feel down because you didn’t get what you want, sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.
Source unknown
06-08-18 - witnessing successes . . .
- Today I had the opportunity to have lunch with a woman I mentored in the jail last year from April to November. I got to witness true change in a person – not just sitting at my table each week in the jail for a few hours talking-the-talk, but witnessing her dealing with everything life is throwing at her and hearing her love and devotion for the Lord who is bringing her through each and every trial – walking-the-walk. I saw this person who would have every right to say “woe is me – poor me – why is this happening to me” but instead she is praising the Lord for using these challenges to strengthen her and lead her to a place only He already knows is waiting for her. Several times she said “I know there’s still something God wants me to learn and I’m going to wait for Him to lead me and guide me to it.”
- I also recently was contacted by a man I began mentoring in 2011 while he was in prison and for about a year after he got out of prison. I hadn’t heard from him in well over a year. Of course I wondered how he was doing and sometimes feared the worst. Just recently he found me on Facebook and we’ve been messaging and reconnecting. He has successfully allowed the Lord to change his life - he is now a manager of a restaurant where he first started washing dishes on the graveyard shift. I praise God for what He has done in this man's life and I congratulate him for allowing God to step in and take charge!
- This was a great week because I also heard from another woman I mentored in the jail and for several months on the outside when she was released. She is now in her own apartment / has a great job / has turned her life around. All because she has allowed the Lord to take charge. Praise God again and again and again!!!
February 20, 2018 - Out of the Mouths of Babes
Ya gotta love children. Their logic is often so refreshing and simple . . . Today in jail one of the ladies at my table recounted a conversation she had with her 6 year old daughter who asked her if she was still praying every day. "No sweetie, I'm not. I'm kind of mad at God right now." Her 6 year old daughter asked, "Mommy, why are you mad at God? Why aren't you mad at the devil???" 'Nuff said!
February 18, 2018 - Fishing . . .
Today I attended a talk by Dr. Harry Fletcher from Good News Jail & Prison Ministry. He shared a perfect quote from the founder of the ministry, Bill Simmer, that really stayed with me . . . "If you want to be a fisher of men - go to a well-stocked pond." Amen? Amen!!!
New year's 2018 . . .
Happy New Year!
Lewis first began writing to me in 2012 and we have been corresponding ever since. He has faithfully been studying the entire Bible through my College Cell "Open Door" where I am a Dean for Pillsbury College & Seminary International. Open Door provides studies to inmates in prison who desire to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Lewis has one final lesson to complete before receiving his Associate's Degree in Biblical Studies. His responses are very well thought out - he really "gets it" and uses his newfound knowledge to teach others in prison. Here's a segment of his New Year's letter . . .
1.3.18 Happy New Year! Dear Judi,
Everyone loves New Years because it nurtures the feeling of starting fresh with a new beginning in order to make changes in our lives. The reality is, most New Year's Resolutions are short lived, ending in failure. Why? Jesus said that "Apart from Me you can do nothing." God has to be in it to win it. Also, in order to pursue any difficult change there has to be repentance, confession, and acceptance of who He is and who we are (Romans 10:9,10; Ephesians 2:8,9).
However, I refer you to the poem recently given to me by your Bible study group whereby the woman asked "Who are you Lord?" and later, when realizing that she was in the awesome presence of God, she wanted to understand their relationship so she asked God: "Who am I?" and He replied, "You are Mine."
I had to experience this first-hand through interchange and interaction with God to understand the validity of David's claims in Psalm 139:1-18 . . . God is Love.
Your friend in Christ, Lewis
Below is the poem Lewis refers to.
While praying one day a woman asked,
"Who are you God?"
He answered, "I AM."
"But, who is I AM?", she asked.
He replied, "I AM love, I AM Peace, I AM Grace, I AM Joy, I AM Strength, I AM Power, I AM the Creator, I AM the Comforter, I AM the Beginning and the End, I AM the Way, the Truth and the Light."
With tears in her eyes she looked toward Heaven and said, "Now I understand. But . . . who am I?"
God tenderly wiped the tears from her eyes and whispered . . . "You are Mine."
Lewis first began writing to me in 2012 and we have been corresponding ever since. He has faithfully been studying the entire Bible through my College Cell "Open Door" where I am a Dean for Pillsbury College & Seminary International. Open Door provides studies to inmates in prison who desire to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Lewis has one final lesson to complete before receiving his Associate's Degree in Biblical Studies. His responses are very well thought out - he really "gets it" and uses his newfound knowledge to teach others in prison. Here's a segment of his New Year's letter . . .
1.3.18 Happy New Year! Dear Judi,
Everyone loves New Years because it nurtures the feeling of starting fresh with a new beginning in order to make changes in our lives. The reality is, most New Year's Resolutions are short lived, ending in failure. Why? Jesus said that "Apart from Me you can do nothing." God has to be in it to win it. Also, in order to pursue any difficult change there has to be repentance, confession, and acceptance of who He is and who we are (Romans 10:9,10; Ephesians 2:8,9).
However, I refer you to the poem recently given to me by your Bible study group whereby the woman asked "Who are you Lord?" and later, when realizing that she was in the awesome presence of God, she wanted to understand their relationship so she asked God: "Who am I?" and He replied, "You are Mine."
I had to experience this first-hand through interchange and interaction with God to understand the validity of David's claims in Psalm 139:1-18 . . . God is Love.
Your friend in Christ, Lewis
Below is the poem Lewis refers to.
While praying one day a woman asked,
"Who are you God?"
He answered, "I AM."
"But, who is I AM?", she asked.
He replied, "I AM love, I AM Peace, I AM Grace, I AM Joy, I AM Strength, I AM Power, I AM the Creator, I AM the Comforter, I AM the Beginning and the End, I AM the Way, the Truth and the Light."
With tears in her eyes she looked toward Heaven and said, "Now I understand. But . . . who am I?"
God tenderly wiped the tears from her eyes and whispered . . . "You are Mine."
WAHOO KIDS
12/09/2017 - Thanks to Lindsey, Children's Director, at First Baptist Church of Wahoo - the "Wahoo Kids" made these delightful Christmas cards (this is only a sampling of about 35 hand-drawn cards).
Tuesday, December 19th I was permitted to distribute them in the Sumter Detention Center to the women who attend a mentoring session with Master's Mentoring Ministry each week. There was not a dry eye in the house!!! The women were so overcome with the love they felt from these precious children. THIS is what the LOVE OF CHRIST looks like . . . from the eyes of our children.
God bless you Wahoo Kids and Wahoo Church for all you do in support of the Esther House and "for the least of us."
12/09/2017 - Thanks to Lindsey, Children's Director, at First Baptist Church of Wahoo - the "Wahoo Kids" made these delightful Christmas cards (this is only a sampling of about 35 hand-drawn cards).
Tuesday, December 19th I was permitted to distribute them in the Sumter Detention Center to the women who attend a mentoring session with Master's Mentoring Ministry each week. There was not a dry eye in the house!!! The women were so overcome with the love they felt from these precious children. THIS is what the LOVE OF CHRIST looks like . . . from the eyes of our children.
God bless you Wahoo Kids and Wahoo Church for all you do in support of the Esther House and "for the least of us."
December 5, 2017 - Changing the Way We See Fun . . .
For me this is a really important part of my recovery. So many people, especially my age group, have the idea that walking a straight path means giving up everything that we enjoy doing, everything that makes us unique, and living a boring life. We need to make new positive experiences having good clean fun. When we don't have any memories other than the bad ones from our past, we miss them simply because that's all that we know. When we think about "having fun" those are the memories that come to mind simply because they're the only ones that we have. I am really looking forward to exploring new ways to have fun and creating new memories! It is extremely hard for someone to work on recovery when their best memories are of times when they were using. I can't wait to be an example for any other people who have felt this way. To show people that you can walk a straight path and still have fun in so many different ways. We have to change the things that come to mind when we think of the word "fun."
--- Summer Nay (December 5, 2017)
--- Summer Nay (December 5, 2017)
November 19, 2017 . . . Praying for mom
"To Whom It May Concern - my name is Summer Owens. I have had a troubled life for as far back as I can remember. I never really had the guidance I needed or anyone to push me in the right direction. I never had anyone to encourage me or believe in me. I sent out so many prayers to God asking for a closer relationship with my mom. I was seeking a relationship with someone who would hold me accountable, encourage me, be proud of me, be disappointed in me. Then this person showed up in my life when I least expected it and showed me what it really means to be loved unconditionally. As much of a blessing as she was and still is, I still didn't realize that my prayer had been answered right away. She has done so many things in my life that no one else ever has. She has been a reflection of God's love. She has given me a purpose. She has been that one person that I've needed my whole life to push me in the right direction, encourage me, and believe in me. And now, as if all of that weren't enough, she is opening a reentry house called the Esther House that gives me even more hope. A house where I can heal and really find myself while developing life skills and skills that will help me cope with the things that I've been through. This is my testimony of what Judi and the Esther House mean to me and what they've done for my life so far. Sincerely, Summer Owens"