Well, though we’re still in Kentucky, we know it’s because the Lord has us here. It’s been an amazing 8 months since we’ve first arrived with the cross early in the year! We are rejoicing in what God has been doing and how he has directed us. Watching Him work is always amazing and it is such a joy when in His will. As we have shared, we started visiting the Boyd County Jail here in February. In July, we started visiting the jail weekly. We have been working mostly with the women lately. All the cells can come together because usually the women are behaved. The men, on the other hand, have to come in one cell at a time. Sometimes they try mixing two cells. Anyway, since we have been visiting the women regularly, we have developed a beautiful relationship with them! Often, they come in to the room after Rick and I have set it up (putting chairs out for them), and greet us with hugs or just great big smiles and express their gratitude. These last two weeks, God has led us to teach on Isaiah 61, “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me….to give unto them beauty for ashes…” The Lord even gave me a melody to go with it! He wouldn’t actually let me go until I sang it into a recorder, I guess so I wouldn’t forget it. Of course, it is engrained in my memory now! Anyway, the girls received the message well, with many tears of sadness (remorse) and joy!! Many wanting to receive Christ for the first time. As usual, we had them bow their heads and asked if anyone who had not yet asked Jesus into their heart, would raise their hand if they would like to ask Him in, 11 girls raised their hands!!!! Praise you Jesus!!!! It has been like that almost every time we go in. Of course, there are always new girls every week so we get to witness to different girls each time, besides the ones that will be there for a while. In our last post, we shared how we started a Christian library in there. The girls were sooooo excited! This past week, we learned that they actually can get baptized in the jail. They bring in a big portable horse troth and fill it with water as needed. We were so excited about that opportunity being available. Two girls raised their hands wed. and asked to be baptized!! So needless to say, we are extremely excited to be able to do that (of course, after we have a chance to counsel with them), a week from this Thursday!! Please keep us all in prayer!
Wonderful things continue to happen at the First Baptist Church of Flatwoods, where Rick has been supplying quite regularly. We have recently begun putting together our very first coffee house at Flatwoods. Everyone is very excited about this since they have never done anything like this before and since they really have hearts for outreach. October 8th is the date of the coffeehouse so as you can imagine, we are scrambling! There is sooo much I could share about the amazing things God is doing to bring this together but there is just too much, right down from Danny (who has such a wonderful heart for the Lord, and is a gifted musician as well), who is helping us, to Devin Williams, who has volunteered to come play from Nashville!
Then later this month, Dianne (my singing partner from Mass., see www.HISongs.com), will be flying in to do a few concerts. We also will be doing a concert in the jail for the women. Of course, I will be so happy to see her! We have such an amazing unity of heart. We are always thrilled to get together and discuss the things that the Lord is showing us, we hardly talk about anything else; well, of course, going shopping at our favorite place,” Salvation Fashions” (Salvation Army)! Ha, ha!!!! No, really, we share regularly what He is doing in our lives over the phone and ALWAYS pray together, seeking His will first and foremost for our lives.
Beginning the second week of Nov. (after Dianne goes back home), we will be departing what has been our home for 8 wonderful months (and our wonderful friends ) at the” KOA campground” in Ashland, Ky! We cannot express our gratitude enough!!! We will be heading toward the Dallas, Texas area, where we will be staying and carrying the cross until right before Christmas.
Keep us in your prayers, and please pray about supporting this ministry,( you can through Paypal), as it is strictly a faith-based ministry working on the “Front Lines” reaching the unreached. (see our Donate page)
Thank you so much and God bless you,
Rick and Doreen (from the side of the road)
