Letter Received from Lacie May 2022

Vision of Hope - A New Beginning

 

In March of 2021, I prayed like I do every year about where my tithe should go. I know we are not supposed to talk about our tithe, however, maybe if we talked more about tithing people would know there are still people who actually do tithe.

 

This prayer was prayed in the infirmary while healing from lung surgery. It was a time of pure worship. A time when God spoke to me in many profound ways. A time with not many distractions, only God and my Bible. When he answered this prayer, he spoke very clearly. He told me to get glasses for women here in prison. Women who don’t have a lot of support.

 

I decided to name it Vision of Hope. Hope is my favorite word and God has given me the vision. It was perfect.

 

Due to the rules changing at Denver Women’s Correctional Facility, our family or support system can get glasses for us from outside vendors. The glasses given here at this facility are unisex, they are big, heavy, and not attractive.

 

In 2021, I bought six pairs of glasses for women. At the beginning of 2022, I asked God the same thing, “Where should my tithe go?” Again, He gave me the same answer.

 

What is amazing is I had tripled the number of glasses that were given in 2021 by March of 2022. I didn’t do it alone. Once people on the outside and the inside found out what I was doing, they started donating too. Two very giving souls donated $500 together.

 

WOW!

 

This was enough for 5-7 more glasses! Also, I had saved a bit of money so I could have something when I was paroled. Because because I was denied parole in 2021, I decided to donate that savings to the glasses fund.

 

After March 2022, I was becoming a bit overwhelmed. This project was becoming way bigger than I expected. Isn’t that just like God? To plant a seed and unbeknownst to me it's becoming this huge tree? So, I sat down with my bestie Jana who has more business sense than me. I asked for some advice. I wanted some more organization. So, we sat down and came up with some plans for the future of this project.

 

Not long after that, my beautiful sister and brother-in-law offered to help me make this a business and that is how it became Vision of Hope DOC. They were able to get an account set up along with a PO Box. Crazy. When this all started during my stay in the infirmary, I had no idea what God had planned.

 

What has been absolutely amazing is watching these women. Women who have been hurt, torn down, abused. Women who have lost self-worth and/or self-esteem walk two inches taller. They can see themselves differently. They have some individuality. They feel beautiful. One woman came and told me she can see. She said she was not sure if her DOC glasses were warped or wrong, but now she can see clearly for the first time in years.

 

I have asked women to write testimonies and get pictures with their glasses on. I just want to show the lives that are being changed through Jesus. What has been an unexpected blessing is the women who have received these glasses feel so blessed they want to donate. Women don’t make much money in prison. For them to want to pay it forward is a huge sacrifice for them.

 

Thank you all for your prayers and donations to help the women behind these walls.

Thank you, Jesus, for allowing me to be a part of such a beautiful project.

 

Love well, laugh often, and live for Christ,

Lacie Llama