Beauty For Ashes Ministry

Yesterday Beauty for Ashes Ministry had the privilege of hosting IFI’s 1st Annual Spring Picnic at the Lansing Penitentiary Minimum Unit, and if testimonies and numerous, heart felt thank you’s are any indication,  it was a huge success.

Kathy and Robert Reyes, accompanied by 6 other Beauty for Ashes team participants, fed over 100 inmates and nearly 200 family members hotdogs, pork & beans, potato salad, and potato chips, followed up with what turned out to be the highlight of  the event, home-made cookies and ice cream.  The men were totally overjoyed by hospitality, many of which just couldn’t thank us enough.

One team member said she just couldn’t believe how these big, grown men just sat there, almost like antsy little boys, just looking and waiting for their parents. Team member Geri Hord remarked witnessing one gentleman who saw his son come in, and when the son saw daddy, he ran into his arms, and she doesn’t think he put him down the entire 3 ½ hours of the visitation!

Jeff Hord and Brother Love had many laughs throughout a 45-minute long ice cream & cookie eating contest.  Though Jeff devoured 4 bowls and several handfuls of cookies, Brother Love came in the big winner at 5 bowls and over a dozen cookies!

It was truly a day of fun had by all including rekindled relationships, and in Godly terms, restoration.

The quote of the day, and probably of the year so far was given to Derk Hanna and Jeff Hord when one of the inmates came up to them after the event was closed out and said “I just want to thank you guys for putting together and bringing this event to Lansing for us.”  “This was the first time in over four years that I have seen my family.”

WOW!!!  God is TRULY a God of restoration.  PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!