Today I went to the women’s prison. My team and I walked through minimal security to inmates with safety pins holding their laminated name tags to their matching blue uniforms. After ducking through door after barred door, we came to a courtyard where a few tents sat covering tables of prisoners as they sort through what looks like hundreds of bottle caps. They pause to watch us walk by, my smile was never met by theirs. In the center stands a concrete flat with four pillars and a tin roof. I wasnt allowed to bring my camera, that’s why I’m describing it this way now. Waiting in 3 rows of 5 are 15 women in blue seated on the floor in front of 10 white chairs and a table. 6 for my team, 1 for Liz -our squad leader-, 1 for Kwan -our translator-, and two for Pastor and his son.
We started off with a humbling round of ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes’ which then turned into Simon Says. We received some blank stares, scattered smiles, and muffled laughter. Even some proud applause from the inmates who didn’t touch their nose after I failed to say ‘Simon says.’ Nothing overwhelming, just simple happiness.
Then it was my turn to speak. Or, God’s turn to speak through me to be more accurate. I shared with them about God’s love. About how our emotions change based on circumstance and how sometimes we blame that on God. And about how that keeps us from benefitting from His unfailing love. The crowd blinks, someone coughs, and I continue. God’s love for us is not circumstantial. He doesn’t wait for us to help an old lady cross the street before giving us the biscuit. He gives them to us before, during, and after the old lady has reached safety on the other side. His love isn’t based on what I do, or what I say. He can’t possibly love me any more or any less [thank God] than He does right now. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “Long ago the Lord said to Israel: ‘I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to me.'” This time someone in the crowd nods, another smiles, and I’m finished. I sit down and watch the nods and smiles continue as my teammates share more on God’s love with these ladies.
Pastor steps forwards and begins speaking to them in Thai. I couldn’t understand what he was saying because Ive not quite mastered the language yet. But then one by one they stood and dusted off their blue skirts and folded their hands. “Phud tam chan.” “Repeat after me.” This phrase I know, as I have used it many times in my English classes. Each inmate slowly mumbles a prayer of salvation.
Before I know what is happening, I’m kneeling knee to knee and hand in hand with a teary eyed prisoner who is eager to rid of her chains. I watched them drop with her tears as Jesus poured forgiveness into her heart. And like that, the old life was gone and the new life had begun.
And what do you know, it all started with ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.’
