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July 2011 Prayer Letter
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Healing Hearts Ministries Internaional [LOGO]

Dear Friend,


In this months' prayer letter, I would like to feature our work at Purdy Correctional Facility for Women in Washington State. We prayed for many years for God to open the door to Purdy, and when we least expected it, He did. Not only did He open the door, but He provided us with leaders who have a heart for the women there and are working diligently to see the ministry grow. We are now praying for more leaders as, "The fields are white unto harvest and the workers are few."

Ministry at Purdy Prison, by Sue Sanford

We are praising God for the opportunity to see lives changed at Purdy Prison! My co-leader, Maria Rose, and I just completed a Binding Up the Brokenhearted post-abortion Bible study group, and we were asked to share what the Lord is doing, and to also encourage those who may have considered or felt called to prison ministry.

The prison is a "mission field" and it is somewhat like visiting a foreign country. The culture is different on the "inside". The terminology/ slang is different. The food and dress and their everyday life is, shall I say are...very different! Purdy is near Gig Harbor, Washington and is a women's facility, and all the inmates are "down" (sentenced) to more than 10 years. I was surprised to see that most of the women looked ordinary and not like the hardened criminals I expected. They wear grey sweats and tan jackets. Some have full time jobs within the prison that they apply for and make approximately .50 cents an hour. This money allows them to buy essentials such as personal hygiene items and note paper, or to pay for an e-mail or phone call to a loved one. It's not free room and board as I always thought. These ladies pay for everything, including attorney fees and cell "room" rent and therefore, they are thousands of dollars in debt when they are released from prison.

Leading a group is different on the "inside". You must be flexible because the prison can go on "lock down" at any given time if a fight breaks out or if someone is not accounted for. You are not allowed to have binders or click pens. You can not chew gum and appropriate clothing and your shoes must allow you to be able to run in case of emergency. We learned this when one of the guards pointed to Maria's , high heeled boots and asked her if she could run in them. (I'm sure she didn't think of running for safety in a prison when she chose those cute boots!)

You go through security like the airport and must remove your jacket, jewelry and shoes. It's then you place your purse, cell phone and keys into a locker. You are then wanded, stamped, given a badge and then walked through the "yard", which has tall fences with razor wire and security officers to guide you through the doors that buzz and slam shut.

We eagerly anticipated the ladies for our group to arrive during "movement", which is the 10 minutes they are allowed to get where they need to go. We welcomed the three ladies, all Caucasian, mid 30's to 40's and all with crimes that included drugs. They each had abortions at Planned Parenthood. They each realized that their crimes started after their choice to have an abortion. The choice for abortion started a series of poor choices. They suffered past hurts, divorce and family separation. Maria and I would feel guilty when we would have to miss our group due to holidays and Mother's Day, because we would get to spend these with our families. At the first night of Bible study, the ladies were quiet, but through the weeks the trust developed and we all became great friends. As volunteers, we are not able to contact them with a card of encouragement or phone call, so praying for them is very important.

There are approximately 700 volunteers who visit Purdy prison each year. They acknowledge all religions and groups. One Sunday every month we shared the chapel with other groups, including the wiccan religion. (They allowed them to remove the cross from the chapel when they met.) We prayed for them :)

We were so blessed to meet these three sisters in Christ. We love them dearly. They were very committed to the Bible study and they each had a strong relationship with Christ and would encourage us every week. When Maria and I would make the 40 minute drive home from the prison, we would recap all the wonderful things God was doing in their lives. We were hopeful and thankful for our freedom in Christ.

Please pray for Renata, Jonee and Charlotte. Renata felt called to create a special ministry within the prison called the "If" project. You can meet her and some of the women at Purdy by visiting their website, www.theifproject.com. You will see the need for Healing Hearts within the prison.

As a result of what they experienced through Christ and the Bible study, these ladies are spreading the news! We already have 8 inmates signed up for the next Bible study in June. We are going to need help! Thank you Jesus!

Blessings,
Sue Sanford

Please keep the prison ministry in your prayers. As Healing Hearts ministers to women in the prison and to some as they transition out of prison, we see how very important it is that they deal with past hurts and bad choices so that they can be successful as they pursue a new life. Some of these women had parents in prison, and they truly desire to break the cycle. Your prayers and financial support will help us help them.

Please prayerfully consider helping us with a financial gift this month. Any amount is greatly appreciated. Credit card donations can be made via our website, www.healinghearts.org, by clicking the Please Donate button.

In His Love

International Director



Ways you can help



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You may use the donation form on our website to make a donation, or you may also submit your check to the address provided below.

Healing Hearts Ministries is a federally registered non-profit corporation, all contributions are tax deductible. One hundred percent of all contributions made to Healing Hearts go directly toward supporting the various aspects of our ministry no "administrative fee" is collected by a fund-raising service. All donations and expenditures are internally and independently monitored and audited. Annual financial statements are available upon request.

We thank you for considering contributing to our ministry. Your contribution will enable us to reach out and touch individuals who need the hope and healing message that only Jesus has to offer.

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https://www.healinghearts.org/donate


Send checks to:
Healing Hearts Ministries
PO Box 44670 Rio Rancho, NM 87174

phone (505) 355-6922