I can remember the last three years in Kairos as though they were just few weeks ago. Time seems to be going faster and faster, will the Lord be here soon? Yes, and He is here now come to think of it. "Here I am Lord is it I. Lord "? I first went to CIM east and found a dark place "yes, I hear you calling in the night." I found myself going each reunion "I will go Lord, if you lead me." And through this I have found the Lord there each time using me and others to do His will "holding His people in our hearts."

K-17 at CIM east went so well. Sure there was times that got everyone a little ticked off. You know that your in the devil's camp when things get tough. It didn't mess up the schedule at all for us to exit the prison and reenter because of a security problem. We prayed every time at the counts and everything went OK. 22 residents came and were fed with the gospel truth, God loves them. We tried the 8th table and it worked out fairly well, and we learned some things too. Praise God for His wisdom and grace.

I know why I come to these things now, leaving my family, not doing the things I would like to do, visiting a bunch of guys who the world think should be thrown away and never seen again. I do this because my Lord would be there and is there. These men visit each day a grief I hope to never see, and do it in the name of Christ. Many go back after a Kairos weekend to persecution and strife in there cells. I pray for them and return to encourage them to keep on with Jesus and to never give up. Jesus is there, I want to be close to Jesus so I'm there too.

Phil Smith
Rector K-17
CIM east