“Well how did you feel?” “What was it like going back into the place you were incarcerated?”

Earlier that day I had driven down to central Florida with Pat and showed her the prison where I served most of my time. We drove on past the prison to turn around, and I showed her the swamp that I helped to cut down with a swing blade in the sweltering summer. I remembered it when I saw it grown up again. I told her how I was privileged to cut it down, because I was promoted to the “honor squad” after serving three years without getting into any trouble. I was “privileged” to get out there with the alligators (we caught one), the rattlesnakes, (we killed a few ), and the yellow jackets (a whole nest of them flew up my pants leg and stung me, but good!). I recalled wading in muck up to my hips out there. To this day it remains a great mystery as to why we did that.

As I entered the prison that night, I actually felt terrible. I remembered the cold black steel gates that I said I would never go through again when I left. As we entered the compound, I saw the window to the cell that I lived in and remembered the many lonely nights I sat on my bunk looking out that window through the double fences 30 ft high, filled with razor wire, and wondering if I would ever make it to freedom.

I was back in prison with two friends who were there when I did my time: Jim News and Rob Knack. Among the three of us we were sentenced to 85 years ( I had forty). Now among the three of us, we have 10 children (I have 5). As we were walking up the center sidewalk, we talked about our time together there. As we reached the center cross walk, Jim News said, “There it is.” There’s the tree. Out in the center of the field there was one tree, a little bigger than I remembered. A significant tree. Not the “Tree of Life”, but it was close. Many times we have talked about our times out under “the tree” where we met with each other and met with God. It was there that foundation stones were laid in our lives that helped us to build something different from what we had known in the past. Just an ordinary tree out in the field in a maximum security prison to others, but to us a memorial.. a reminder of where God brought us from and how He changes lives.

We walked on and noticed the school where all three of us received our GEED. We talked about the days we met out in front of the library on the walk way and saw God birth a church with eight inmates that grew to more than 200.

After we entered the Chapel, they released the men out to the service, and more than 100 men came out all dressed in the same state blues that I used to wear with the same state shoes. All of them needing something from the Lord. There were only two men that were there when we were there, and neither of them had ever been released. We spoke around the theme “Been there, done that. Can you get here and do this?” We spoke to them about how to live a victorious Christian life in prison, and how that will be the only way to become an effective Christian leader once you are released. We stressed being real with yourself. We emphasized the importance of being rightly related to God, to others, and to yourself. Every night more and more men came out. The last night they ran from the dorms in the pouring rain, came in soaking wet, hungry for God.

It was a tremendous time, but I was glad to leave once again. However, this time I am not saying I’ll never be back. In fact, the officials there have already asked us to come back in the Fall.

I want all of you to know that there is no way I could go and do things like that if it were not for your faithful prayers, encouragement and support. I am grateful. I wish you could have been there to receive all the encouragement that I got from the men that were there. Most of them will be out one day. We must reach them with the life changing power of the gospel. Thank you for helping me to go.

People have confessed to us that they sometimes turn to read “The Britnells” first, because that’s how they keep up with what’s going on with our family. If you happen to be one of those people, do NOT lay this newsletter down until you read Jim’s column today! It is powerful. It is the very essence of what this ministry is about and how God must have had it in mind many years ago. I wept after reading it, being ever so thankful for what God has done in Jim’s life. I am also grateful to God for bringing Jim into my own life! Although most of our neighbors don’t know Jim was ever in prison, anyone in our neighborhood could tell you we have a bunch of children. Our yard is full of bicycles, sand toys and balls. The porch is full of shoes, and most of the flowers are missing the blooms right now. (Rachel recently told me that it’s time to plant some more.) The older boys play street hockey and basketball, and daily go out to the shed to practice their music. (Great idea...the shed.) Our home is very active and sometimes even loud, but we enjoy all the commotion a large family generates. Items do get misplaced, however, and that problem has increased since Jimmy is now 3 and can reach higher.

The following is a list of some unusual places we have found things:

Chapstick – globs on the wall
Duplo building blocks – in the upstairs toilet
Five FRESHLY chewed pieces of gum - on the bathroom rug
Christmas stockings – on Jimmy’s feet
ONE chewed piece of gum (Jimmy's) – On Mom’s sweater, Jimmy’s pants, Josh’s pants, seatbelt in the van, in Rachel’s hair, and on the carpet in upstairs bedroom!
Ministry address labels – individually and creatively adhered to Mom’s new personal stationary The key to the shed – under Rachel’s bed
Ice cream scoop – on the rug by the front door
Mom’s measuring spoons – in the driveway (possibly the goal for the ice cream scoop)
Canned drink and two oranges – in a wool stocking cap by the front door

note: We keep the bolt lock on the front door locked!

It is impossible to adequately express our gratitude to all of you who help us with your prayers, finances, and encouragement. We could not do it without your help.How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you. Thessalonians 3:9