After living life behind prison walls, the first taste of freedom can be mighty sweet.
And so it was on that 20th day of September 2012 when Dana found herself climbing out of a prison van with such excitement that she let out a jubilant, “I’m free!” Supplied with the traditional $200 from the Department of Corrections and a genuine “good luck” farewell from the correctional officer, Dana was on the road to freedom with Janice Little, Prison Fellowship’s field director, in the driver’s seat.
Her first destination? Dana had already made plans to be driven to her childhood church so she could take communion. From the jail house to God’s house, Dana was getting her priorities straight. She was determined to do things right this time.
Dana had come to know the Lord in 1988, just a couple of years into her prison sentence. To prepare for release, she took advantage of every class and group possible, including earning her Certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor (CADAC) degree.
When they arrived at the church, Janice said, “Dana walked into the sanctuary, got on the stage, and began to sing praises. Her first hour of freedom was spent in God’s house, praising Him, and taking communion. Considering that Dana served 27 years in prison, it was a joy to witness this transformed life on His stage.”
With pure joy in her voice, Dana then called her son, now 27 years old (and who was just months old when his mother was incarcerated), and reached out to other family members, friends, and a pastor from her childhood church.
After spending time at the church on that first-freedom-day, Janice drove Dana to the Prison Fellowship Reentry Center where she was greeted by Marta, another returning citizen, who provided her with clothes, shoes, and other necessary items. Dana could hardly believe they were all for her and couldn’t wait to get dressed into some girly clothes and shoes.
Now it was time for lunch. When asked what kind of food she craved, she answered, “Ribs, please, ribs.” So her friends drove to a local barbeque. When the plate of ribs came to the table, they took a picture of Dana biting into a rib as sweet, smoky sauce dripped from the bone.
Then her friends took Dana to a shelter where she met familiar faces from prison. Janice ended, “We’re so proud of Dana; this is a new beginning for her.”
For Dana, her firm decision to go from the jail house straight to God’s house helped her get off to a successful start. Now, with the ongoing support of family, friends, and a solid Christian reentry program, Dana is on her way to building a new life.