By Krista Burkholder
Alyssa looked at the younger girl across the table. Her eyes were full of tears as she said, “Nyesha, you were really brave when you called the cops. I wasn’t brave enough to do that.” The other girls around the table were quiet and tuned in to Alyssa’s story. As tears slid down her face, Alyssa recounted seeing her dad beating her mom and how she hid with her sister.
“I wasn’t brave enough to call the cops. I was too scared,” Alyssa whispered, the memories of those moments still marked on her soul.
The room had a hush to it. Each girl’s face reflected their own painful memories and an understanding of what Alyssa was sharing. During the girls’ week at Camp ARK (our summer camp), an afternoon group time allowed the girls to discuss the hard questions that children of incarcerated parents might ask. Each girl around the table was affected by incarceration, and Alyssa’s story was one of many that were shared. It was heartbreaking to hear what they’ve experienced.
Maddie shared about how her mom was in prison but is doing well now. Ali talked about how her dad is in prison in Minnesota, but because of the distance and the cost of travel to see him, she hadn’t seen him in a couple of years. “He’s supposed to get out next year if he would stop getting in trouble in prison,” she said in an annoyed tone.
One of the questions the girls were asked in the group was, “Have you ever heard that you look like your mom/dad?” Leah talked about how her twin sister, Ana, will often hear about how she looks and acts just like her dad, who has been in prison most of their lives. When asked how that makes Ana feel, Leah quietly said, “It makes her really mad because kids at school will bully her and say that she’s going to go to prison just like our dad.”
Ana shared more of her story during another group session. She shared how she went to prison to visit her dad, and during her visit time, her dad had a medical emergency. He was rushed from the room. Ana said that she was then accused of giving him drugs during that visit. Her eyes were fiery, and pain showed on her face as she said, “I’m a kid! How could I give him drugs?” Ana went on to say that was the last time she had seen her dad and that she was no longer allowed to go to prison to see him.
Hearing these stories without knowing Jesus’s love would be a dark place. In those moments of hearing brokenness, we reminded the girls of their preciousness and that they are known by a God who sees and loves them. Will you pray that the seeds planted will bring fruit? We know that God will continue to work in their lives and bring to completion the work that He began!
You Can Support Children Throughout the Year
The summer camps are just one way to offer a safe place for children affected by prison to have fun and experience God’s love. You can support boys and girls throughout the year with events such as kids’ clubs and family events.
