That is right -- I recieved a phone call on Sunday from the Chaplain at the county jail I was in (for 10 months) asking if I would be willing to teach a Christian based Recovery Bible Study class to the female inmates -- Of course, I said yes.

The class will be once a week for an hour for 19 weeks -

It feels like a blessing to be asked to teach these classes - as I was an inmate there for a while and I myself have been in trouble.

My addiction was not with alcohol or drugs - it was money - and I was addicted - but after paying back over $100,000, doing 10 months jail time, 200 community service hours, 6 months house arrest time, a year of formal probation and having a felony on my record - my life is getting back on track. I was at my lowest and now working my way back up the ladder. I am blessed to have had a very good support system - so that is my goal to show the girls I will not judge them and give them support.

I am nervous though, I am not good at speaking in front of people.

Even though I don't post a lot - I still visit PTO quite frequently -- I am addicted to PTO!!!! - I wanted to share this!
Connie

Hi Peacewithin

I just wanted to congratulations on being asked to take this class. I myself dont like public speaking of any kind but when you have done it once you will be surprised with yourself and who better to take this class, having first hand experience of what the others may be feeling.

Good Luck

Claireabell --
Thank you for your kind words -- I need all the encouragement I can get!

I will post some updates when the class gets started.

Connie

Dear Peace,
Our Father does work in mysterious ways. I know if you continue to do His work and follow the path He has laid out for you many people will be Blessed. Good luck on your upcoming classes and let us know of your progress and all the wonderful things that will be happening to you in the future.

Connie - that's great!! It says alot about you that they asked you to do it!! I think you'll do a great job once you get over the initial nervousness. Congrats!! Let us know how things go.

Thank you all -- I so do appreciate the kind words --
I will keep you posted --

Connie- Congratulations!!! You should be feeling very proud of yourself to have accomplished so much- you sound like a very strong person. I am looking forward to hearing how the classes go and I am sure you will be an inspiration to them:thumbsup:

PeaceWithin
Thank-you so much for doing this awesome thing! I am so proud of you. I know you will be successful. Don't be nervous. God will give you the words to say!! I will pray for you. Keep us posted on how it's going, please.

Thats The Best Thing Ive Read All Day Hope All Gose Well And A Big Yippy For You God Bless T

Congratulations! You would not have been given this opportunity if God was not going to give you the strength to do this.

I speak about crime and how it has effected my familys and my life in front of High School classes as a whole and have many one on ones with smaller classes of Seniors each year. These opportunities are the best thing that I could have been lead too. It was difficult at first but it has always been rewarding!

What a wonderful opportunity for you! Again Congratulations!

Patti

That is great!!! Congrats

This is such wonderful news!! My husband had that same addiction. What an honor that must be to be asked that, considering how many peolple he could have asked. I will be praying for you and that He will give you the courage you need and also the knowledge. Way to go.:thumbsup:

Congrats! That is Awesome!

Hello All,
I just attended my training to teach the class at the jail. The training was awesome - Brother Larry Blue taught the class. He is a lay minister with the Church of Acts in Indianapolis and leads a successful Celebrate Recovery ministry inside many facilities. He goes to the Marion County Jail twice weekly and is going to start programs in several Indiana prisons.

This is an awesome program -
I will keep you updated - I start in 2 weeks after all of my paperwork is completed. I will teach every Wednesday night for one hour.
Connie

What a honor for you... Best of luck with it.

Hello everyone -- Just wanted to give a quick update - last week was my first class at the jail. I admit I was so nervous, but it went great. The girls were so excited for me to be there -- and what they liked was that I had been where they had been, I went in there not judging anyone, I let each one talk about their feelings.
That entire day I went over in my head for hours what we should talk about, how should I handle the first lesson - but I walked in there actually with no plan and it all just fell into place.
I am so excited for the next class.

I will keep you informed!!

I knew it would go well because you are the right person for the job. In a situation like that, you just speak from the heart and your message will come shining through. Congrats!

Hi all -- It has been a long time since I posted.. but I wanted to update - we completed the 25 week course and I have started all over again...
With the class being in a county jail, there was a lot of girls in and out. I did have one girl who was with me the entire 25 weeks and was honored when I presented her with her certificate of completion...
The class was good for myself, as I still face an addiction -- an addition of shopping, and credit cards

On another note, my daughter turns 18 on Monday, so I have been very busy trying to plan a surprise party for her......
Connie
My son is playing football.. so the games have started!!!
Talk to you all soon.. Connie