Two weekends ago, I went to prison.....and it was amazing.
I would go back in a heartbeat. In fact, I probably will next year.
Okay, that was overly dramatic but I could not resist. I spent 3 days at Angola Prison, Louisiana's State Penitentiary and the largest maximum security prison in the country. I went as a photographer on a media team with my school, Union University. Our team consisted of 3 photographers, 3 writers, and one videographer. We were there to cover the Returning Hearts Celebration, which was a day where qualified fathers got to spend the day with their children. But I not only photographed the Returning Hearts day, I also was able to make pictures of several inmates while my partner interviewed them. We were able to get to know some of these men and in the process tell their stories. I was completely humbled listening and seeing these men's devotion to the Lord. They were genuinely changed and living their lives solely for God. I could see the Holy Spirit working in Angola. How could it go from being the bloodiest prison in America to what it is today without the work of the Lord?
We arrived at Angola thursday where we ate dinner at the Ranch House, a place used for meals and meetings with guests, and then hit the ground running. We all went to a chapel service and then started meeting/interviewing inmates.
Thursday was a long day but longer days were coming. Friday we were able to tour the prison. We visited the Angolite office and met their editor. The Angolite is the in-prison magazine. With only a staff of 6, the Angolite produces an 80 page magazine bi-monthly! How incredible! The rest of our tour was not as lovely though. We then went to Red Hat.
Red Hat is the original death row at Angola. Although the historic location has been painted and we visited during the middle of a sunny day, walking the hall of Red Hat was sobering. I stood in a 4 by 6 foot cell that at one point could have held up to 15 adult men. I then turned the corner and entered the room where the electric chair once stood. Those men slept and lived in cells just feet from the very chair that would take their life. I then sat in the chair. I had heard of others doing the same and wanted to see for myself. I saw what these prisoners saw for the very last time. I thought friday was intense and long but I never could have known what saturday would be like.
Saturday was the big day. We all awoke slightly nervous and anxious for the days events. The Returning Hearts Celebration started with the fathers and children greeting each other. Most hugged, some shook hands, and some leapt. It was no doubt moving to watch children of all ages run towards their father or grandpa and leap into their arms. One child ran, started yelling, "Daddy...Daddy", and flung herself into her fathers arms; she was 14.
The day continued with carnival games, basketball, cotton candy and tons of laughter. The fathers were able to spend genuine time with their children, renewing relationships, building new ones, and adding on to relationships. I am so thankful I was able to be apart of that special day.
The hardest part of the day was by far the goodbyes. I spent much time in prayer leading up to this trip praying for detachment and focus. I wanted to do my job well and not become an emotional mess. I praise God for answered prayers. I focused on shooting during this time and choose to process later. Even so, it was difficult to watch these fathers say good-bye to their children. The scene was settling, some just stood hugging and holding one another, while some just cherished the moments left in the day. I saw one father praying with His children. He knew the time he had left and choose to spend it praying for and with his children. The day then ended and we started to work. We put together our final images, stories, and video.
Sunday morning we spent time in the Lord near the lake and then left for Jackson. It seemed like I spent weeks at Angola but really I was only there 3 days.
Overall, the weekend was incredible. I am blessed to have been apart of such an amazing team! Prison was not what I was expecting, it was more than I could dream. But this isn't about me. Please pray for these inmates that they would grow in their relationships with their children and Lord, the prison, Warden Cain, and Awana's prison ministries across the country.
