Hugs Goes to Jail | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Hugs Goes to Jail | Previous Challenge Entry
By Judy Ewald
09/05/17
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“I don’t have any money, but I am an entertainer and would like to volunteer to deliver presents for the prisoner’s children.” I was calling Prison Fellowship.

“What do you do?’ the director asked.

“My name is Hugs the Clown and I perform a magic show and I paint cartoons on kids hands and arms.”

The director said, “We could use you for Family Day when we distribute presents to the children as they visit their relatives in the Baltimore Penitentiary. Most of these guys are lifers, would you be willing to go there?”

I said, “Yes, what do I need to do?”

He said, “We need to do a background check and get you on the ‘count out.’”

I had no idea what a ‘count out’ was but I agreed. A few weeks later on the weekend of Family Day I put on my costume, packed my show and paints and went to the Penitentiary. I had to go through security, they went through all my things and did a body scan, looking for drugs or any contraband. I passed. There were a lot of women waiting to visit prisoners. Years later I learned that some women like to date and even marry men that are in jail. That was a surprise to me.

I was finally escorted to a little round rickety very old elevator. After a few noisy minutes, we arrived in a very large yellow auditorium with many seats and a stage. The inmates had painted very large paintings attached to the walls, depicting pretty scenes, cartoon characters, and positive sayings. The prisoners that were considered trustworthy were in charge of the activities. They made popcorn, hotdogs, and gave out chips. Some wore costumes like Spiderman, Barney, and other characters, even Santa. After a few years they had to be ‘politically correct’ and could not have Santa, so sad.

I set up in one of the seats to do my face and hand painting for the kids and several of the adults. I did not do a magic show too many other things going on. In the early years for the Christmas and Fathers Day events, I was allowed to stay in between the two-hour visits. I began to get to know several of the men and had some great conversations. Also started a writing ministry sending articles and things to encourage them in the Lord.

One inmate, Sam, had learned to paint by watching Bob Ross TV shows. We had many talks about faith and art. He wrote poems and essays. He struggled because he wanted to go to heaven but his American Indian culture was also very appealing to him. We have been friends for over twenty years. A few years ago he shared in a letter how through the Kairos Prison Ministry he got saved and is now a new creature in Christ. Praise the Lord. God also used Sam to encourage me to pursue my artistic talent and that is why I am a painter and artist today. I will always be grateful to Sam.

I gave out some of my poems and writings to encourage the men, I would bring them in my Face Painting bag. It was against the rules to give anything to the inmates, but God had angels protecting me and I was never discovered. Several men asked me to come to their church service and give my testimony. Pleased they asked so I went through the system to be able to go. After I completed my talk several men came to thank me.

To my surprise, a very rough looking Hispanic fellow said, “My name is Johnny, I write poems too.”

I said, “I would love to read them.”

He said,”I will send you some. I got saved soon after I got to prison and was given an English bible. I could not read or write English. But the Lord and His Holy Spirit taught me and I love to share the word.”

Johnny writes the most beautiful love poems to the Lord. And lovely cards for friends and family, and even essays about the Lord. God was teaching me not to prejudge people by their outsides. God works in mysterious ways even in prisons. There is no limit to what God can do to change any heart to Glorify Him.

non-fiction true story

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