This past September, one of our NOLA volunteers, Ernest, took Dave, a NOLA dynamic member, on a camping trip.
“Dave had mentioned how much he liked the outdoors and camping,” Ernest recalled, “so we played with the idea. We drove up to Cultus Lake and I showed him some of my favourite places to camp.”
When the pair saw the cabins at Maple Bay, they circled a date on their calendars. Two weeks later, with approval from Dave’s parole officer, they packed their bags and set off.
“In prison you have to be at the doorway of your cell several times a day for a count… It was a little weird but freeing not having to do that last night.”
Dave is almost 65 years old. He’s welcoming and talkative, and has a deep laugh that spreads easily. These days, he uses a wheelchair to get around. Dave has spent almost every night of the last 41 years in either a prison cell or halfway house. For many, staying at a lakeside cabin is a reflective and refreshing experience. Imagine how that’s magnified for someone who has spent decades looking at concrete, wire, and steel.
“He was beaming from ear to ear,” said Allyson Johnson, a NOLA Case Manager and the leader of Dave’s circle. Allyson visited Dave and Ernest at the cabin. Dave showed her around the campsite and beach. “At any opportunity he would walk while holding onto his wheelchair,” Allyson said, “I was incredibly blessed and encouraged to see Dave like this.”
Allyson recalled their conversation: “Dave said, ‘In prison you have to be at the doorway of your cell several times a day for a count. Sometimes you have to stand and smile for a very long time. It was a little weird but freeing not having to do that last night.’”
“We poured a cup of tea,” said Allyson, “and Dave continued to speak: ‘NOLA receives me as I am today, and not as I was in the past. I want to be remembered and known for me today. The person of the past is gone! It’s true joy being here with my friends. I feel divinely touched by God.’”
Dave enjoyed watching the birds dancing in the trees, and laughed as crows played and fought nearby. The two days were filled with conversations, smiles, and much needed reflection.
The camping trip was memorable for Ernest as well. “It’s like we’ve been friends for years,” he said. “The beauty of the outdoors is very healing.”
The two shared stories, a few meals, and a view of the lake. In the process, they deepened their friendship. Through that one-night camping trip, Ernest blessed Dave with a chance to simply be a person—not a prisoner—and relate honestly with another human. Ernest gave Dave the chance to remember his humanity, which behind bars has a tendency to fade.
Ernest and Dave’s story illustrates the daily connections and influence that occurs through M2/W2. Your support helps us share our humanity and God’s love with people in prisons, as well as those reintegrating into our communities. Please help us with your financial support to grow our programs and connect with more prisoners.