I just wanted to update all of you on what's currently going on in my life. My younger brother (who is only 17) was arrested in Shelbyville IL about 2 to 3 weeks ago. We live in a different county so it is hard to go see him at times and he is only allowed one 20 minute visit per week. Yes, per week. We went to court today (27th) thinking that he was going to plead guilty and try to get out on probation. However his attorney decided to say the he plead not guilty. Devyn, my brother, said that he understood what the judge was saying when in reality he didn't. He has ADD and is also dyslexic. So naturally it is harder for him to understand things, and I personally don't believe that the judge or the attorney would have been able to explain what he was agreeing to. After we got out of court, he called my mom bawling because he is so confused and scared. I am going to visit him on Friday morning and am hoping to be able to explain what is going to happen to him.

His pretrial date is on June 1st and we are hoping and praying that they will have a plea bargain ready for him. He is scared in jail and is one of the youngest people in there because he is legally still a minor, but is being tried as an adult. And his bond is $15,000 which makes bail $1,500. None of us can afford it but the only reason that it is so high is because the states attorney didn't do her job and look over his files properly. She said he had a felony from 2008 when in fact he doesn't because he was found innocent because at the time of the alleged crime he was physically unable to do it.

Anyway, while he has been in jail he called my mom and did some serious talking with her. She kept telling him to pray and read a Bible, and his only response was that he tried religion and it didn't work. She eventually got to the point that she said "fine, then try God." He has been praying a lot and really hard, and has been reading a Bible and says it has been working. Since he has been in jail he has called me a few times to say hello and see how things are going, which is highly  unlike him. Normally he doesn't care what is going on with anyone. He also called after we had a really severe system come through the area about a week ago, which is also unlike him. He also has been asking if we were taking care of his dog, and I don't know if he realizes it, but Henry does miss him. He runs to Devyn's room and sleeps on his bed every night he comes inside.

A little background on my brother: he was on fire for God when he was younger, but things have happened (to both of us) that has turned him away from the church. Growing up we were told by numerous people in positions of leadership they we didn't matter. That was told straight to our faces. So that plus Devyn was always blamed for things that he had nothing to do with caused him to dislike people in the church. When I decided to go to another church, he decided to give up on it. My mom finally told God to do whatever it takes to draw Devyn back to Him, and within days Devyn was arrested. We have no doubt that God is using this time to change Devyn, and it is showing already. So now what we need is prayer, and lots of it. My mom's pastor is going down to see him on occasion and he doesn't realize it, but he is touching Devyn in a mighty way. I worry for Devyn every day and pray that he gets drawn closer to God during this time instead of being discouraged. I know that Satan is attacking him so I am waging war against Satan for my brother's soul. Jesus already paid for Devyn's soul so Satan has no claim. So if you could all agree with me and my family in prayer we would greatly appreciate it.

Now, despite all that is going on, I am still going to Peru. It was a hard decision, especially since I don't want to leave with my baby brother still in jail, but I have decided that I still need to go to Peru. If he is still in jail when we leave for Peru, yes it will be hard for me, but all I can do is pray anyway, and there is always skype so I can get ahold of my mom and find out what is going on, but I truly believe that he will take a plea bargain on the 1st and hopefully get probation.

Thank you all for bearing with me and reading all of this. I know that it is (very) long, but I couldn't just give you half of the story. Again, please keep us in your prayers, and I will be keeping the entire team in my prayers as we all prepare to venture into the unknown and follow God's call on our lives. God bless you all and good night!