Please Pray....

I've been informed that my friend, Rapunzel, is tired of reading the same blog post for the past week. I've had a few reasons for not posting. First of all, the cord for my laptop was missing. I just couldn't bring myself to log onto my children's ssslllooowww computer for an update. Secondly, I found that if I check out large print novels from the library, I can read while walking on my treadmill! Bad discovery. Now I walk and read in the morning....and keep reading for the rest of the day. I have a problem, once I start reading I can't stop. So my blogging has taken a back burner. (But I've read some pretty good books over the past week.) Now my cord has been found and I can get on with the posts. I plan to answer all your questions over the next few days. But for now...

Jouster called on Thursday, in tears. He was homesick and sick of being where he was. He said he wanted to leave. He had thought about running away. By the end our our 10 minute conversation, he seemed a little more upbeat, and excited to hear that I had sent two letters that he had not yet received.

When we visited on Saturday, he seemed much more at peace with his situation. He didn't share or open up much, but was looking forward to the end of March when he would receive a four hour pass, and he talked about 'just getting through it'. We left thinking things were going to be okay for him.

Until today when I got a phone call. He and another boy ran away yesterday morning before church. A staff member pursued them, which is not standard procedure, parked his car in front of them, and persuaded them to return. They returned, but not without many consequences. The hardest for me will be his loss of phone privileges for two weeks. I long to hear his voice during the week.

Fortunately he has made a commitment to the Dean of Students to stay. He has committed to dealing with the consequences of his actions. What he needs now, more than anything, is prayer. Pray for him to be strong. Pray for him to endure. I don't know what else to pray. I'm at a loss right now.

The Dean said he was certain God was protecting the boys through that staff member who went after them, especially since it is not something they would normally do. The neighborhood he is in is very rough. It's not a place someone would want to be roaming around aimlessly. I'm thankful he's back, but heartbroken that he is struggling. Will you please pray for him as the Lord brings him to mind?