(supposed to have been posted yesterday, but, due to the lack of 3G service at Yosemite, had to wait until today!)
So I just woke up from taking a nap on the bus floor a little bit ago. You’ll never know how comfortable it is till you try it—honest! Now I’m writing this blog as we make the four and a half hour journey to Yosemite for a bit of a change of scenery. The landscape at Point Bonita was gorgeous, but I think the beauty is going to be taken to a whole new level when we arrive at Yosemite. Jeff Bohn just passed out maps of the park, and there are an overwhelming amount of things to see and do in the short span of time we have for exploring. I can’t wait to fill you in on everything we’re about to experience. I hope you’ll come back and read it =)
During the writing of this blog, I was told by a Shining Lighter that her father has been reading my blog and was deeply moved by my entry detailing San Quentin. I hope this one ranks up there. I gotta admit, it’s hard to find a quiet place when 60 of your closest friends are surrounding you. Then to be able to focus your mind and to relay to your readers into a short blog EVERYTHING that happened during that day…lets just say that it is certainly not the easiest thing in the world.
I truly don’t mean to sound cliché, but there really is no way I could possibly share with you the feelings I felt yesterday during our morning performance at San Quentin. This is the most notorious prison in the world, housing inmates such as Scott Peterson and at one time, Charles Manson. Before we performed at San Quentin, Teen Challenge Training Center was by far my favorite place to perform. The atmosphere was something that you just can’t explain. The guys were on fire for the Lord and expressed their most sincere thanks for our ministry. The worship was powerful and the testimonies were raw and personal. But San Quentin…wow. Just..wow. Our performance yesterday was in place of the men’s chapel service, so we included some worship songs before and after the show to allow the men to praise God with us using music they were familiar with. The men stood and raised their hands to our awesome God and I could not help staring out into the sea of blue. Into the faces of men who would easily be spending more than 25% of their lives in prison. You know what I wanted to do to these men if you read my last blog. I did not want to condemn them, or make them feel shame or pain. I wanted to hug them. Because I couldn’t, I had to ask the Lord to do it for me.
After the show, Kelly gathered a few of us together to be videotaped for an interview. Our show had been videotaped, and along with the interview questions and answers given by Shining Light members, it will be showed to the inmates at San Quentin who will be spending the rest of their lives on death row. I know what you are thinking. I could not believe it myself. Our performance is likely to be the last shred of hope for these men to turn from their sin and lay it upon the cross with Jesus Christ. I simply cannot stress the importance of prayer for these men. I ask you to please not forget the words you just read.
Their story is not over. The last word has not been spoken. God is good.
The landscape is about to get exciting…so that’s all for now.
I’ll leave you with these words, straight from the Associate Warden at San Quentin State Prison in California:
“I’ve worked at San Quentin for 23 years. We’re had the band Metallica perform here. And Shining Light…blew them out of the water!”
Woo, we’re cooler than Metallica! =)
Hey Katrina,
Your blog is great! Thanks so much for the work you are doing. I am happy to hear about your work for the Gospel and I hope the rest of your trip is amazing. Blessings to to you.
Ihave been reading the blogs and following SL’s tour pics, it is all so awesome, God is leading
this group of faithful into uncharted territory (SC)but I see no fear, Our Father is soWonderful,
continued prayers to you all. Thanks Be to God!!!