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INDEX TO HEARTWORK
Introduction
How to help
Graduation report back
www.HeartWork.co.za
Read Debbie's testimony
Family Day report back
First day at a mens prison
Ursulah gives us a look in

Index
About this ministry
God's Barn
Food parcels & Dignity packs
The Haven
Emthonjeni
Sparrow Schools
Oasis - Cosmo City


MISSON STATEMENT
Heartwork provides training for people in prisons and elsewhere so that they can become more productive in their present circumstances, and on release.

This is achieved by providing resources and teaching aids and running workshops, seminars and courses, to provide life skills training and emotional support to those incarcerated and, where possible, those affected by the incarceration.

The process of Restorative Justice is introduced and maintained through all the programmes.

 
HeartWork Prison Ministry
HeartWork 2009

Ursulah talks us through the first day at the Johannesburg Mens prison.

 Debbie tells us about the first day at the Krugersdorp prison

I always believed I had a heart for broken women, a desire to serve God in this area was awakened in me when I joined HeartWork to work in the womens prisons.  My time there was an incredible experience and definitely where God had placed me.  Unfortunately HeartWork decided to stop work in the womens prison and focus on the men.  This turned my world upside down for a few days as I debated whether I would have to walk away from HeartWork with this new focus. 

After many discussions and lots of prayer I decided to try out the mens prison ministry as I’d been told that I’d never look back once I had experienced it.  So it was with a prayerful heart that I left for our opening interviews for the HeartWork course at the maximum security mens prison in Johannesburg. 

Entering the prison I couldn’t help but think of all the prison movies I’d seen.  Big, scary, tattoo covered men pushing weights in the courtyard and some running up and down the small area causing the ground to shudder beneath me.  Walking through the cells I stayed close to the team in fear of being pulled into one of the cells.  We reached the room we were to use for the interviews as it had started raining making the courtyard unavailable.  Here we packed about 80 men into a small room with pens and paper to fill out forms about themselves and why they wanted to do the HeartWork course.  I got time to just stand and watch them as they wrote. I looked at the many faces in that small room and God spoke clearly into my heart.  “These are my ‘lost lambs’”

A sense of love came over me as I realized the love God has for these men.  That they too are broken and my calling is to broken people and not just women. My fear immediately dissipated.  God has given me this incredible opportunity to reach into their hearts and work with Him as he restores their broken spirits.  How amazing to be used by God for such a huge task.  It amazes me that God uses me, even in my own brokenness, with my fears, insecurities and what I feel are weaknesses – I offer willing hands and God has put them to work.

Some of the other facilitators read the forms before they interview so that they have a understanding of who the person is and what he’s in for while doing the interview.  I don’t do this.  I prefer to chat to them first and find out who they are before I open their files and label them. One of the prisoners touched my heart as I interviewed him.  “Mma”, he called me – a form of utmost respect in his black culture.  “I want to do this course to stop raping women”.  A mixture of emotions flooded me but none that I expected.  My heart melted and I had to hold myself back from reaching out to him and just holding him, hugging him like a child that I desired to protect and find healing for.

My journey into God’s heart has just begun.  I have 19 weeks within the walls of this prison and I look forward to the experiences that are yet to come.  I feel honoured that God would use me, with all my sin – it seems He still trusts me anyway.

Thank you my Father!. I love You.

 Hi HeartWork Team Members

We had a pretty wet and cold day at prison today and it was such a hard day too!

We saw about 30 men, and found it reasonably easy to select 10 - some compromises... but ok. I will add another four names from the 'maybe'
pile of selection forms.

We are finding that the men we have seen here for selecrtion to be less educated with more violent than we see as an average grou in Jhb, and there is still a cool, apprehensive reception for us amongst the residents and a number of the staff too.

This is going to take some really hard work, and quite honestly, I feel very daunted. I went in with Bheki, who was hugely helpful, and with Victor, a man from our church. Both of them are men of integrity, and Victor is very quiet, soft-spoken and men seem to trust him and open up to him.

Another man from church, called Steve, will come along next week as well. Both Victor and Steve are unable to commit to all the sessions, and so Bheki and I will each take one small group, and Steve and Victor will help out as they are able.

I think having men on this course is going to help. Out of the 30 men we saw today, 12 are in for rape, and one is in for indecent assault of a very young child. There is no white collar crime, or drug crime, only very violent crimes with long sentences.

I know we have had previous courses where the outlook at the beginning has looked challenging, but I feel this is the hardest group I have personally faced yet.

Please pray for us through the week and on thursdays especially, as we keep the Jhb team in our prayers.

with love to you all
Debbie

 
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