Prison....

This last week I had the opportunity to do prison ministry once again. I knew somewhat what to expect but what I got from it was so much more than I could have even imagined.

It started out with some of the girls being apprehensive and slightly intimidated by the thought of going into a prison. I know that it is crazy to think about going into prison. I knew that they would thrive more than they thought possible.

The first night we went into the prison we got to do a drama performance for about 520 women in an all ladies prison at the Hobby Unit just outside of Waco, Texas. It was a time for mostly the first year students to perform and to share their hearts to the inmates. They were the most fun crowd I have seen to perform for.

The next day the ladies of Cadre and other women counselors from Mike Barber Ministries(pro-claim.tv) were able to go back into the unit and talk to the inmates one-on-one. It is one of my favorite things to do!

I got to talk with a couple ladies that first day. The first lady was Karen. Hmm...she had been through so much in her life. She had been in prison for 17 years I believe. What touched me most about her story was that she had 4 kids-1 girl and 3 boys. Her daughter is living with her mom but the 3 boys she had given up for adoption. What touched me the most about that was the fact that she has no idea where they are.

Aside from talking with the inmates both days I was incredibly blessed by talking to the other counselors that went into the prison with us. One lady I started talking to about Cadre and she asked what I wanted to do after. I told her I wanted to do missions either long term or short term. She began to tell me story after story of her experiences smuggling bibles and tracts into Russia and other countries that she could have been killed for taking them in. Time after time God made a way for the guards, dressed in camo carrying m16s, to not notice and go through her luggage and her sons luggage.

She assured me that God will provide for me and give me miracles to do His work.

That night I talked to another lady, Colleen, who I got to chat with while waiting to get searched to go into the prison. She said there was an inmate she talked to that day that was wailing b/c of the program we did the night before. She said that inmate said she would never be the same.

At that moment I was so very humbled. I looked at the crowd of 600 inmates that were in the gym thinking of how unworthy I am to be able to minister to these women. I could easily have been in their position but God has led me from that path. I was so humbled in knowing that because I was willing, God made me able.

November Leaves are Falling...

Fall is finally upon us in the south! It seems like it has taken forever for it to get here! I am very thankful for the humidity to be long gone! Soon enough the frosty mornings will be here. And I am sure that you are already experiencing it though. Sorry about that...

It seems as though so much has happened in the last month. Well, seeing as I am a second year student I have the amazing blessing of being over two great girls. They are: Ellane from Kansas and Kate from Michigan. I would dare to say that they are both very solid girls who have amazing hearts for Christ. They are teachable and want to soak the most out of this year that they can.

God has been teaching me so much during this year already. Most recently, as in this week in chapel, I was reading in 1 Thessalonians and something I loved was chapter 2 verse 8: We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Being a Core, second year, is hard. Loving my first years has not always been easy especially just being a first year and getting all the aspects of it. Then, I came into this year just expecting that they act the way we were towards the end of the year and that was not the case.

We have the amazing blessing of loving these students. The weight of leadership is something that is felt more than I thought it would be. My prayer is that I would love my first years so much that I would be delighted to share the gospel and my life with them. Our team verse John 13:34-35 talks about people knowing that we are Christ’s disciples because of our love for one another. That has been something to strive for as it has challenged me to continue loving them in the midst of mistakes made.

We are getting ready to go to prison! I promise it’s not a bad thing at all. We are teaming with Pro-Claim Ministries (http://pro-claim.tv/) and ministering to inmates in different prisons in Texas. I had the privilege to do it last year and it was one of the highlights of the year for me. There is something different about sharing the gospel with someone who has been caught for breaking the law. The only difference between them and me is that they got caught.

Please pray for boldness in all of us as we are getting ready to speak to the people that much of the world has forgotten about. We need God’s strength in our weakness and to be renewed daily and focus on things that are unseen.

Thank you so much for reading about what God is doing in my life. I pray that you are all being blessed!

Year 2...

The Ladies of Conway :)

Greetings All! Years ago I never would have thought that life would go by so quickly. Now I have experienced how yesterday rapidly becomes years ago. As many of you know last year I made a huge move to Arkansas to begin a leadership academy called 24/7+cadre. I had an amazing first year and God became more real to me in more ways than I could have ever thought possible for me. Because of that, and many other factors of course, I came back for a second year! The name transitioned throughout last year from 24/7 to [Ca]dre Academy. A first year is about you and your relationship with God. A second year becomes about putting everything you learned during a first year and applying it. I have the honor and privilege to get to be over 3 amazing first year girls. They are from Michigan, Kansas, and Arkansas. During the brief first month of the program I have already seen these girls begin to mature into the women of God they are called to be. I have 4 other amazing second year students that I am serving in Conway with. I know that there is no way that I would be able to make it through this year without them. I am excited to see where God brings us on our journey this year as we get to play a dynamic role in the life of these men and women of God. I know that I will be growing so much this year as I learn to become a second year first of all and then becoming a better second year. I am excited to share all the highs and lows of the year with each one of you as I update you on my life in Arkansas. Please pray for me as I seek God more today than I did yesterday. Unity is essential within the second year students as well as in the lives of the first years. Pray God continues to soften the hearts of each one of us who want to grow into the people God has called us to be. Pray for direction for the leadership of the program as they plan for the year and set the standard, become the example for each person in the program. I love you all and would love to hear from you if you would like to share what is going on in your lives! I will be sending out an email every month to update you on my busy life. If you would not like to receive it please let me know. If you know someone that may want to be added let me know as well so I can add them to this.

Thank you all!

Working together during team building exercises

Sarah Smith



Sarah's Contact information:

Facebook: smiths_12@hotmail.com
Twitter: @sarahmarie12


Cadre Academy information:

Facebook: Cadre Academy
Twitter: @cadreacademy
Website: www.iamcadre.com

A Beautiful Sunset...

Today. Wow, so last night I got home late and as I was trying to fall asleep I could not! I haven't had the mind won't stop going syndrome before sleep in years! It was amazing. And as I was laying there I knew that God was speaking to me to find rest in Him. To stop running from having quiet time with Him and simply Be.

That is an amazing thought; Just Be. Just be with God. I am now writing a paper about how receiving the Gifts of the Spirit is not earned, it is given. It is given so you can be with God. He wants you and all of you.

Just imagine that you have worked hard all day. Things may or may not have gone right at all. You may have struggled more than you ever have. You have had your uphill and downhills and the end of the day you are able to coast. Then, you look at the horizon and see the sunset. You didn't have to work for the sunset to happen, it just did.

You do not have to work to earn God's love, He just loves. He loves everyday just as the sun rises and the sunsets without worry. Without need to be noticed. But a sunset is so spectacular that to not recognize it, well that would be a tragedy in it's own. And that sunset, was painted by the best artist. The one who at the end of the day, loves. He wants your heart in return.

Maybe, seeing a sunset will have a new meaning. It will to me.

Freedom

I can't believe how time has gone by. It's crazy to think of where I was a year ago and everything that happened in my life. I am a completely different person and I know that without God I would not be where I am now. My desire is that each and every person can experience God the way that I have been able to. There is such freedom in His presence.

So many times in life, people are so stressed with life, they have so many things to tie them down whether it is time, family, friends, drug, alcohol, a boyfriend/girlfriend, unhealthy relationships. And they think that by doing more of one thing will bring them happiness. It will take away the pain they are feeling. It will not. There is nothing in life that will heal the wounds of life except for God. The One Living God. The God who is able to sympathize with us in every way. He was tempted just as we are tempted daily but looked to God who gave Him strength to get through every situation in life.

Jesus Saves! Just a thought that came right as I was writing this. I love you all!