CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

Please read "Civil Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau. (I will continue the Martin Luther King, Jr. sermon on addictions next week.)

Helping the Mentally Ill

I spent much of last week being a friend to Gregory-my schizophrenic friend I wrote about last week. I called the Schizophrenic Foundation about him and requested they send me any helpful information. They were very helpful and recommended I contact the National Association for the Mentally Ill also. I purchased and read "Autobiography of a Schizophrenic Girl" and was deeply moved by her story. It has helped me greatly in undestanding Gregory and mental illness.
Gregory is occassionally making bizarre statements such as: "All the people on tv in suits are trying to get my money." The Foundation said he may need an adjustment in his medication.
Please pray for Gregory and all the mentally ill Jesus wants us to help.

Gregory-My Friend

I met Gregory five years ago at the Walmart store while doing my Christmas fund raising. He lives nearby and I would see him nearly everyday and we would visit. He is hard to communicate with because he is nearly deaf. He has a neat appearance and is very alert and intelligent. I was surprised when he told me this year he is schizophrenic and on medication. Even after learning this I do not think of him as being mentally ill-I think of him as my friend, which he has been now for over five years.

Helping a Prisoner-Mary Rivas

Please pray for Mary that she will not accept a plea bargain and plead guilty. This week I wrote Mary the following: "... Mary-you have to promise me you won't give in to their pressure and plead guilty. I'm so proud of you for standing up to them and wanting your day in court."
Think how hard it must be for Mary-she is a drug addict and suffers from mental disorders like depression and is under the complete control of the drug corrupted system. The jail which is part of this corruption is now being investigated by the FBI because inmates lives are at risk. Please pray for Mary's safety and freedom.

Mary Rivas-Prisoner and Butterfly

The following is from a letter I just wrote Mary Rivas about my Christmas fund-raising at Walmart: "...I got to know all the homeless in the area and tried to help them everyday. They were trying to help me get a young girl away from her pimp and into a shelter-she is pregnant. She got beat up real bad by one of her clients or her pimp? This was after I had said I would try to help her. Please pray for her. Her name is Butterfly and she really is that pretty and delicate. Pray for my safety from her pimp..."