Michael, is that you?.....

I first met Michael several months ago. Under the sponsorship of Church on the Street, we ran a daily breakfast program for women living on the street. We fed them, offered warm clothing and blankets, and shared a message of love that we prayed would sink deep enough to provide a life line when they were cold and lonely. Although we met women from diversified backgroungs, they had one common thread. They were alone and they were scared.
One morning, as they formed a waiting line in front of the kitchen, one woman approached me in a confidential manner. "Sister Carol, there's a man in here!" I looked around, but did not see an obvious male figure, until my confidant pointed towards a tall woman near the end of the line. "This is a women's breakfast," she said. "Get him out of here." I looked closer and concluded that my confiding friend was right--there was a man in the house. "I'll tell you what," I replied. "Since its difficult to tell from casual observation, if you really think it is a man, take him into the restroom and check him out!" "Oh, no, not me!" she replied. "Well, then, lets just serve him breakfast!"
Every day, the same woman arrived for breakfast. She accepted her plate quietly, kept to herself, and after the devotional held after breakfast was served, would slip out the door without speaking to anyone. There was no doubt that she was not a "she" at all, but a transvestite (a man who prefers to dress and act as a woman). As I watched her and became more familiar with her, I could see changes in her appearance. One day she would be clean and attractively dressed; the next day, disheveled. i saw the skin sores under the makeup and the thinness of her arms and legs; at times I would see brueses on her face, needlemarks on her arms and a sadness that seemed to permeate her very being. She would be a faithful attneder for a few days, then disappear, eventually returning and then repeating the cycle.
It was evident she was sleeping on the street, so we provided blankets to keep her warm. She called herself "Regina." One day, I asked her real name. I wanted to know the name her Mom had given her when she was born. "Michael," she said. From that day forward, I refused to call her "Regina." She was Michael. Michael didn't like that very much--Michael had every intention of living his life as "Regina," and had, in fact, been taking hormone supplements to enhance female features. But, he allowed me to call him "Michael," and "Michael" he was to me from that day forward.
We lost Michael. He just simply disappeared one day. We continued to pray for him and questioned others from the streets about him. Had he been seen anywhere? Was there any news at all? But nothing more was ever heard. And slowly, Michael slipped from our remembrance. How human we are, and how grateful we are that we never slip from God's remembrance.
Four months ago, we arrived at Perryville State Prison for our regular worship service. We stood at the door to greet each man as he entered the chapel. On this particular morning, my attention was drawn to a figure walking slowly from the housing units. As the man drew nearer, I noted that he had a particularly feminine nature to his walk and to the way he held his head. There was a familiarity about him. He stopped in front of me and as I held out my hand to greet him, I wanted to shout. "Michael, is that you?" The young man lifted his head and stared at me. "I know you! The breakfast! You gave me breakfast!" And he began to weep.
Because Michael still has many feminine features, his road at this men's prison is beyond imagination. The night befre, as he had been about to engage in a sex act he heard a voice speak to him. "Stop, Michael. Don't do this!" Michael was confused and scared. He went back to his cell and spent a sleepless night. That morning, he felt a compulsion to attned a chapel. He tried to ignore it, but the drive was too strong, and he began the walk to the chapel. When he saw me in the doorway, he was stunned. As we talked about our previous relationship, it became clear to both of us that God had a plan for Michael, and it had started long before Michael heard that voice the night before.
Each time I see Michael, he looks more as God created him to be. He has no access to hormonal medication, so his feminine physical characteristics are being replaced; he is attending chapel fairly regularly; he has a Bible. What Michael does not yet have is a full understanding of his place in christ. Michael still feels that he is more female than male. He says God made a mistake. Michael still yearns for a sex-change operation that he believes is necessary to make him whole. He hopes for a miraculous cure of his 'mixed identity.' Michael does not understand that God does not make 'mistakes.' We are created for a special purpose, each one unique. The Holy Spirit is working in Michael. God will not stop until the work is complete. Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6 NIV).

Ministry Updates

	Another teaching session has been added to our schedule. Jim began ministering once a week at the men's discipleship program at Tempe First Assembly of God, a 90-day program that will expand to a 12-month program soon.
	More volunteers have been trained and are now working with Jim in the Teen Challenge weekly worship service at Madison Street Jail in Phoenix.
	Jim recently completed a 13-week program as a facilitator for the Alpha Program at Valley Cathedral in Phoenix. Alpha is a home cell group ministry aimed at reaching the unbeliever with the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. After attending a two-day Alpha leadership conference, we are hopeful that the program can be used effectively within the Arizona prison system.

Letters

	I am in a new program called the Innerchange Freedom Initiative; the first one in the State of Iowa; 275 men signed up and only 100 made the first group. Thank God, I was blessed to make it........Iowa State Prison
	Your bible studies have been a blessing for me. i am learning so much. Please send the next course ASAP!........Louisiana State Prison
	Truthfully, I have been struggling. things ain't goin right at home and I felt my prayers wasn't being answered, so I kind of lost my faith for a moment. But now I've got a handle on things........Arizona State Prison
	Hello. I was taking your bible study while I was locked up in Madison Street Jail. I am now locked up in prison down in Tucson and I was hoping you could send me the next book........Arizona State Prison
	I finished my lesson, but it was difficult because I don't have a Bible. I flooded the chaplains office, but so far nothing has happened. Could you donate a Bible for me?........Arizona State Prison

Thank you for your financial support.
Prisoners of Hope Ministries, Inc.

P.O. Box 428
Youngtown, AZ  85363-0428
Tax ID: 84-1330573
Jim Carper, Sr., Director
623-583-8481