There he stood, dressed in white- the typical prison uniform in Malawi, standing outside of the prison walls calmly watching a football game across the street. I walked ever so slowly closer and closer to the steps of the prison.
My heart began to beat excitedly and run with anticipation. My mind opened up with a creative passion of what could happen at…
The Prison.
Wait, Wait…I, a 23-year-old white girl from America, was walking up to the doors of a Malawi prison, specifically up to a prisoner outside the walls of the prison.
God’s voice rang:
Fear Not.
I stopped at the front doors of the prison. I ignored God’s words and gravitated towards the guards of the prison and away from the men dressed in white. My heart was still racing with uncertainty.
I reached my hand out and introduced myself. Moments later I felt a hand meet mine. “My name is Joshua.” The conversation continued forth as we explained what we were doing in Malawi and about sharing Jesus’ love. With excitement he stated that he was the chaplain for the prison. Seconds later I hear Joshua say, “Tell me a Bible verse. One that can encourage me.”
Joshua 1:9 pulsed in my mind.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
My heart finally began to slow. My safety bubble was beginning to be more comfortable here, in the most unfamiliar of situations. God was speaking this verse to my heart as well as my newfound friend.
God’s voice rang again:
Fear Not.
Love the unloved.
Save the lost.
Preach my words.
Go.
My feet started to move. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the man dressed in white. I was standing in front of a prisoner.
Gift. His name is Gift. He was a gift in that moment.
Out of my fear, God showed peace through my words. Out of my lack, God showed his abundance of grace. Out of my disobedience, Gift showed his obedience to God’s calling. He listened.
I shared my words, but really it was my heart. I began to feel for this prisoner in a way I never have before. I had no fear standing there talking to him about Jesus. I had no fear in sharing a piece of my story with a complete stranger. I had no fear, because God called me out moments before.
My heart felt full when I left my new friends. My spirit was happy to see the light shine on Gift’s face. But my joy came with a full force a couple days later when I received a letter from Gift.
These words were written in the note, “The only thing I can beg of you is only this, A Book of Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, that is a Bible in another word, a book of inspired words of God”. This prisoner could have asked this 23-year-old white girl from America for ANYTHING, and he asks for…A BIBLE!
((A little background on the Malawi prison system is that each prisoner is served a small meal about once a day. The corruption, greed, and disrespect in the prison could result in the prisoner’s one meal being eaten by their guards while they are out doing physical labor. The prisoners are allowed outside of the prison walls to farm, go to the market, play football, and even sit outside and talk to white missionaries. The prisoners who have crimes for stealing or vagabonding are the ones who can leave the premises and the ones who’s crimes are greater stay inside. Because the conditions of the prison are sometimes atrocious, many prisoners ask passersbys’ for food or money.))
With this in mind, again this prisoner could have asked this 23-year-old white girl from America for ANYTHING, and he asks for…A BIBLE!
This prisoner named Gift ended up being a gift to me. He opened my eyes to see how precious and valuable the very word of God is-more than anything! I couldn’t have been more thankful for my moments shared with this prisoner in Malawi.
I still stand on this simple phrase:
God works in mysterious ways… Always for His Glory!
