Eastern State Penitentiary

 

Learning is such a gift!

 

 

 

 

Your voice and footsteps will echo down the empty corridors.

 

Cellblocks are windy with thousands of untold stories of people who lived or worked here.

 

 

 

deserted cell

 

 

Benjamin Franklin and several others designed this complex.

 

Eastern State Penitentiary opened as solitary confinement in October, 1829.

 

Because the number of prisoners kept rising, solitary confinement was quickly abolished.

 

 

 

 

All five of  the Buzzard brothers, from the Welsh Mountain area 

between 1800 and 1900, served time at Eastern State.  

 

Alphonse "Scarface" Capone, Chicago’s most famous mob boss, spent eight months here.

 

There were many women prisoners at Eastern State.

 

In 1961, one prisoner stole the guards keys and opened a corridor of cells,

creating the worst riot in prison history.

 

 

Prison's Greenhouse

 

 

We saw barber and dentist chairs. Prisoners helped with maintenance.

 

They eventually had a baseball league.  

 

 In January of 1970, the last prisoner was transferred and Eastern State Penitentiary closed.

 

 

One thing is for sure: history proves that human nature has not changed.

 

But Jesus Christ is also the same yesterday, today, and forever.

 

And as long as we keep making mistakes, Christ offers healing and redemption for our hearts.

 

 

 

 It was such a gift to learn about some of the people who lived or worked here.

 

 

 

 

 



He walks before us...

 

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you..."

 

 

Meet Dennyza!

 

She is a beautiful 16 year old girl whose smile is absolutely precious.

 

She has so much energy!

 

She moved in April 14th and will be living with us until the middle of June.

 

She is incredibly intelligent and has a heart for kids!

 

Her story is painful and sad.

 

But she keeps choosing Jesus and we are so excited about what God has in store for her!

 

Our lives revolve around her right now...and we are so blessed to have her here.

 

Yes, she really did climb the tree for a picture!

 

 

 

We had a surprise 17th birthday party for Sierra!

Dennyza, Zia, Serria, Dorcas, and Roselle

 

 

 

Tristan has spent so many hours in Stale Air Basement. And the project is finally complete!

 

He painted everything a beautiful sky blue!

 

It serves as women's lodging for Summer Bible School.

 

Things keep getting added to his project list...but at least he can cross this project off! 

 

 

 

 

We took a short trip to the country for a greenhouse!

 

 

Dennyza helped me plant the flowers in the window boxes.

 

 

 

 

Since the weather is warm, Tristan spends many hours fixing bikes!

 

Kids and adults ring the doorbell, "Can I get some air?"

 

It is a great way to meet new people but also teach kids how to fix their own bikes.

 

Chatting about life after his bike was fixed

 

 

Tristan & I took a day off last week.

 

It didn't turn out quite the way we expected but flexibility is more important!

 

It was a much needed break and each others undivided attention.

 

We had fun exploring the city and found some beautiful getaways!

 

 

Life has drastically changed in the past month.

 

It is only temporary...the court dates, social workers, school, and the many appointments.

 

But God is walking before us each step of the way.

 

And we choose to place our trust in Him.