After Oklahoma we headed to Denver, Colorado where it was COLD!
We started at Marvin Foote Youth Service Center - the roughest detention center we sing at. They loudly made fun of our kids for most of the concert. In fact, in the middle of this concert all but one guard ran into the buildings. We learned later that a gang fight had broken out in a different part of the center.
We were so surprised when we got back home and got news that one inmate gave his heart to Christ after hearing us sing!
We were supposed to go hiking while in Colorado, but it was so rainy and cold, that we couldn't go, however we did get to do picnic at a park in Aurora.
The other kid with Gabe and Selah is our Samuel that came to Belton with us for Thanksgiving. He is like my bonus kid. Byron and I love him like a son and the kids think of him as a big brother. We have known him and his younger sister since they came home from Haiti.
I LOVE THESE KIDS!!!!
Our next stop was Lookout Mt. Youth Services Center.
We ended up staying there for a few hours due to a flat tire on one of our buses. They were very hospitable, though!
The next day we got to perform our concert at the Salvation Army Denver Red Shield for the cutest group of children!
By the way, this is my choir tour roommate 2 years running, Gwynne. We are also adult choir soprano 1 buddies and lead worship together on the worship team.We decided to be like the teenagers and buy matching hoodies!
During the concert I was able to share a simple gospel message with the children. What a joy to tell these precious tiny humans about the God who loves them SO much that He was willing to die for them!
Our next stop was Mount View Youth Services Center. Another detention center.
That evening I was able to share a message with the students about how God can use ALL things (even the bad things) for the good of those that love Him.
Our final day in Colorado was spent in Colorado Springs (see Pike's Peak in the background?).
We sang 2 condensed concerts for inmates at Spring Creek Youth Services Center. We had two small groups attend those concerts. There is such a big gang presence there that they have to segment the groups that way to keep certain inmates separate.
At the end of this concert a few inmates were able to ask our students questions. One asked if they actually pray for him before coming. All of the kids responded an emphatic, YES! He then asked why. One of our students told him that we are all God's children and so he is our brother. Because of that we genuinely love them and pray for each of them, and pray that they feel that love. The resident left with tears in his eyes. I think he truly felt loved.
This is a picture of set up. Set up and break down is always done by the students. They get REALLY good at it!
Our final concert in Colorado was at Zebulon Pike Youth Services Center. Last year we were able to watch as one resident accepted Christ in this same gym.
As the tour went on, we saw our students connect with the lyrics of the songs and stop performing to start worshiping. And it was powerful!!! I wept at this performance at the beauty of 115 teenagers crying out to the Lord in spirit and truth.
No comments:
Post a Comment