Still In Process But Looking Good

The court date is actually the 26th. However, we have made some progress finally. I went to the circuit court's office in Huntsville and asked for a copy of my case and charges and they provided it for a mere $1. Reading through it I noticed the investigating officer had actually been to our home before for our cell group bible study last year and was the neighbor of one of our professors. So, I then went to the Moberly Police station and talked to her and she ended up showing me the video footage. While you can't see what card I'm using or the items I'm buying while at the self check out lane, as I walk out the door, you can see through the bag at what I purchased... namely a bag of Doritoes. This matches what is on my receipt and does not match the EBT card's receipt so she said that it proved my innocence. She called the Prosecuting Attorney's office and reported this and I'm waiting for a call from that office that should have already happened. If it doesn't, the officer said to make my court appearance and hopefully, the case can be dismissed from there. So, while it isn't over, it is looking much more positive at this point and I'm guarding my original receipt w/ my life! 

We are amazed at how many are praying for us and specifically for those students who have been asking that it be taken care of completely so that I will not have to go to court even. We even had one student getting a crowd ready to accompany me to court!! haha! So, thank you and we will keep you updated as it transpires. 

To Jail or Not To Jail

Okay, this is a little different... two weeks ago, a student came up to me saying that he was praying and felt like I would be attacked in a strange way in the near future and it was something I had to face by myself. Another friend a week later thought that I was going to be under attack as well because of all the activities taking place around the creation of Harvesters International, a new alumni service for our student missionaries. And well, I think we have discovered what it is: 

I have to go to court on February 20 and I'm facing a minimum of 30 days and maximum of 1 year in jail for a class A misdemeanor offense. They say I stole an EBT card.. (food stamp card) and used it to buy groceries at Save More on 10/21/07 and they have video footage of me doing it. Some woman going to jail gave her purse to her boyfriend who was supposed to give it to her girlfriend. By the time her girlfriend got the purse, the EBT card and money was not in it. Then they checked w/ Social Services and it shows the EBT card being used at Save More. So they looked at the video and I'm in it buying stuff around the same time. They identified me and now are accusing me of theft of a Government device so they told me it requires that I get a lawyer. Of course, I didn't do it and I have the receipt of my purchase at Save More that day showing my own debit card being used so I should be okay... but I think it is just one of those attacks that come that are making me distracted. It's frustrating that so much time is taken up and money to have to prove my innocence when the investigator should be able to figure out that the receipt of items purchased w/ the debit card doesn't even match the video footage. The prosecutor will not even talk to me or look at my evidence. I HAVE to get a lawyer and show up in court. The lawyer initial fee is $750. It is like your are innocent until accused and no longer until proven guilty. Would you please pray for peace and a quick resolution to this attack? With the beginning of Harvesters International and the outreach week trips coming up, this is very frustrating. Thank you!