When we first arrived in Peru we were told about all the different ministry opportunities we would have while there. When Pastor Jose told us that prison ministry would be an option many on the team got really excited. Personally, I was wary about going to a prison. What would I have to say to them? How could I relate? What would we do? It would have to be the Holy Spirit that spoke through me.
Sarah was our contact person for the prison ministry. She was a member of the church and had a passion for the women and their children. Our first few days in Huanico we asked about visiting the prison, but there was such a process to getting approval. We had to give our passport information, tell them what we would be doing there, and pray that it would be approved by the warden. Later on I learned that the prison had a number of administrative changes and that this was the third warden that Sarah had known while doing her ministry there. The first two were open to Christianity and having her there but this one was not happy to have her. In the past, Sarah had visited more often than she was allowed now, but something was better than nothing and we were grateful to have the opportunity to go. Even if it was only a few hours twice a week.
Eventually we found out that we were approved, but there were conditions. We had to bring something for each of the women (roughly 200). What would we bring, I thought. Pastor Jose assured us that the church would be able to help and not to worry. He wanted us to be concerned about ministering to the women and the church would worry about what we would bring.
The first day that we went we took a taxi about 30 minutes out side of the city. We handed over our passports, got a stamp and went through security pat downs. Once in the prison we walked though the halls outside the men’s quarters to a separate section where the women were. We had another check-in in the women’s section. As we gave our names a second time a woman walked by with a small baby and handed him to Alyssa. We then walked into a large outdoor area where there were women doing laundry, sitting and talking with each other, and many had small children with them. The scene that we walked in upon was so far from what I had originally imagined a prison would look like. We were led into a small room with pews, a drum, posters of scripture, and a few random fake flowers. It certainly looked like a small chapel. We sat down with our bibles, guitar, drum, and excitement about bringing the word.
We were introduced by Sarah to the thirty plus women that were squeezed into that small room. After a few songs in Spanish we performed a few in English. Sarah and Marta (a missionary from Brazil) did an object lesson with folded paper planes becoming a cross. Sarah then preached and Marta shared a message as well. Afterwards we were asked to pray over the women for specific concerns. As I stood to walk to the front I was filled with excitement and nervousness but decided to ask for the Lord’s words and peace. I prayed over their children.
The children who were left to caretakers that were feared to be unfit.
For the children who were on the streets back home with no one to take care of them.
For the children searching for shelter and food.
For the children who may turn to stealing or violence just to survive.
Listening to the prayer requests my heart ached for their needs and my spirit filled with desperation and anger for the injustice. These were CHILDREN! The Holy Spirit brought the scripture about lilies and birds being cared for and how much more will he care for us. As I prayed for food for their little bellies and safety I felt an assurance from the Lord that they were not forgotten. By the time we were all done praying there were tears and smiles and restored hope.
The second time we visited we brought bread and coffee. THAT was fun getting through security. Industrial bags of bread and coolers full of coffee. We had to meet in the courtyard because there was such a crowd. At one point I counted 80+ people. We opened with prayer and songs. They sang a song in their native language, not Spanish. It was soul filled and so beautiful. If you’ve ever heard a group of 80+ people singing from the depths about their raw pain and the promise of hope you’ll know what I mean. We served all of the women coffee and bread and held some of the children and prayed with individuals. It was such a blessed time.
As we left they asked about the next time we would visit. We were sad to say we would not be able to return. We gave so many hugs that day. We left grateful that the Lord had opened doors and softened hearts. Though we only went those few hours twice it made a lasting impact.
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:26
we were not allowed to have cameras or phones in the prison so I snapped a photo of my stamp after visiting.
