Have you
ever wondered where some of the smartest and nicest people? I’m guessing you think of people at mission
organizations or people in volunteer work or maybe teachers…but a certain
people come to mind; most likely the prison
isn’t the first place you think of.
Thursday
morning Danny, Caitlin, Jackie, Molly, Jenn, Seth, Renee, and I headed off to the bus
stop to take a bus to Gamboa and realized we had just missed our bus. God quickly provided help by bringing us a
guy who was going to the same town.
After riding for awhile, we saw that the bus we were supposed to be on
happened to be right in front of us so we had the opportunity to get off as our
new friend directed us, and hop on the correct bus. We were on our way again. It wasn’t long before we had many new friends
wanting to help us find our way and asking questions to get us there.
We made it
to the church where we were meeting Pastor William Wilber and what welcomed us
was a note saying he would be there in a few minutes and juice and
cookies! It was quite exciting 🙂. After meeting
with him, our wonderful amazing translator Ricardo, and a few others around the
church, we each shared a little of what we had in mind for the day, prayed, and
gave it all to God.
(Pastor at his radio station studio)
As we
approached the prison gate to enter, we were stopped, and questioned. Eventually, after careful study and
observation, half of us were permitted to enter and wait and pray for the
others to be approved. Apparently you’re
not allowed to wear red, white, blue, or black shirts into the prison and two
of them had black shirts on. Danny was
not allowed to bring his guitar in which was our source of music. Eventually we all made it in, maybe only an
hour and a half behind schedule giving us less time than we had needed or hoped
for. When we got into the little chapel
area, there were many men voluntarily sitting
waiting, which was encouraging to us.
We started
off introducing ourselves and then presented the drime (Seth, Molly, Jenn,
Caitlin, and I). Seth played Jesus,
Molly played satan, I represented drugs and alcohol, Caitlin symbolized greed,
and Jenn signified suicide. We started
off in bondage to satan and each time Jesus came to free us from the sin, the
men in the prison would cheer! Many have
come to know Christ since they have been there and know what true freedom is
even in prison-just like Paul was.
Afterward, Renee explained the drime briefly. Right after that someone walked in with a
guitar! I don’t know whose it was or
where it came from or how they found out we couldn’t get our guitar in, but God
provided and Danny got up and we sang ‘Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord” half in
Spanish and half in English and a lot of them seemed to know it already. Then Danny gave a little bit about his story
and explained that he wanted to sing a song he had written during a rough time
in his life. He read the words to them
and then sang. It seemed to impact the
men and make them think a little.
(Jenn speaking on the radio)
Caitlin got
up and spoke of what freedom in Christ really is from Romans and Galatians and
Philippians. She talked about how satan
had wanted to keep us out of the prison, but God had victory. She spoke of Paul’s journey; about his life
before Christ and his life after; How he
persecuted Christians before and then was persecuted after. She explained how God uses everyone…the
weakest, but those who are willing. She
encouraged them and prayed for them.
Afterwards, we were able to talk to some of the men, which was amazing! (even better when I had someone with me who
could help translate) They were some of
the nicest guys I had met and so hungry for God! Several of them brought a Bible up to me and
asked me to show them the passages Caitlin had talked on and thanked me with
big smiles. It was encouraging to see
their hunger and some of them asking us to pray for them. They were also interested in what we were
doing and where we came from; what God was doing in our lives. It was an amazing opportunity! They are real people, some of the nicest you
may meet, and God has a plan for them. I
praise God for this opportunity as well.
We went back
to the church with Pastor and got to hear his amazing testimony, how God has
been working in people’s lives all around him and his wife for many years. They were so open and welcoming to us, even
meeting us for the first time.
Fellowship with them was a huge blessing to us. He has a little studio and they have a
program that is aired for half an hour everyday. So, six of us were able to interview with him
and explain some of the things God has been doing throughout this year. I pray that when it is aired, many will be
encouraged and know that we serve a living God!
Search
me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23,24
*Sorry I don’t have pictures from the actual time at the prison…cameras were not allowed.
*Since we
arrived in Panama, we had the chance to have a ‘family’ fun
day (with the whole
squad) including visiting the Panama Canal Locks and watching a large cargo
ship and a small travel boat go through as the locks were opened. It was pretty su-weet!
