Vergel isn’t the typical prisoner I’ve come across. When I first came back to the jail a couple of weeks ago, I knew he didn’t look familiar. When I started trying to mime my usual conversations that are somewhere between English, Visayan, and Spanish, Vergel came up to me and said, “Would you like some help?” Finally! Someone spoke English in the cell that means so much to me. The conversations to come brought such a wide range of emotions.
I’m never excited to see someone in prison, but Vergel was such an answer to prayer. I literally poured into this cell everyday for three months this summer. And everyday, we barely got past initial greetings and a couple of prayer requests. I couldn’t be joyful about Vergel being there, but it was so nice to be able to talk to these men with much greater depth. Vergel told me he had heard so much about me from the other men and was just waiting for “Sir William” to get here. His words were meaningful, but there was still something that peaked my interest.
Vergel was so willing to translate everything I said, but when it came time for singing praises, worship, or prayer, he remained silent. I asked him one day as I was leaving why he didn’t get involved with the rest of the men. He told me that it wasn’t for him. His service was just his translation skills. I was getting rushed out by the prison guards so I wasn’t able to expound on that, but I told him I’d be back.
Finally, today I was able to come and focus just on him. He started to translate messages all the men had for me, but I asked him if he and I could just talk. I could tell it took him off guard, but I needed to do a little digging if he would allow it. For two weeks now, he has translated for me and constantly thanked me for bringing the messages, but still remained silent when he wasn’t translating. I asked him the dreaded question, “What are you here for?” As I looked at this very slender guy that never stopped smiling, his whole countenance changed and his head dropped when he just mumbled, “Murder”.
With doing a lot of this ministry, I can usually peg the violent ones, even the ones most people wouldn’t expect, but this one left my head spinning. I asked him if he could tell me more. He then told me the whole story of how he was falsely accused by a very influential figure here in Mindinao. He told me how he didn’t know the man he was accused of killing and even the police admitted that all of his alibis checked out. Unfortunately for him, the wrong man was accusing him.
Vergel had studied and finished his college studies and was preparing to start his career as a chef and host aboard a cruise liner. However, a couple of weeks before his first trip last October, he was arrested for a crime that he never knew happened. Five months after this accusation, Vergel still sits, awaiting his trial. Lucky for him, he landed in one of the most encouraging and spiritual cells in all of Bukidnon.
I asked him what he thought about his accuser and he said, “Initially I hated this man and plotted my revenge. With my family and education, I knew I could get back. However, over the last few months, God has taught me about bitterness and how it only destroys us, and He has taught me how to forgive.” As he told me all about what he was learning, his chest started rising again and I could tell he was proud of what God was doing. When I asked him again why he didn’t get involved with the rest of the group he said, “Just because God is showing me so much, doesn’t mean I have to like it. I’m still learning.”
This conversation just excited me so much because this man is truly wrestling with God. Better yet, he’s come into this environment where these prisoners are calling him out of bitterness. It’s not a preacher, or an American, it’s a group of prisoners just like him. These prisoners are being the Body of Christ, and it’s hard to be unaffected around them. Even the new inmates are immediately indoctrinated into this culture of Christianity.
Vergel said he hadn’t told anyone about his frustrations yet and didn’t know why they all of a sudden came out. I do know it has nothing to do with me, but it has everything to do with the environment. When people are free to wrestle with God, then they are free to see Him face to face. It’s hard to wrestle someone and not see who they truly are. I can’t wait for part two of this conversation…
