Hey ya’ll!! Hope things have been going well for all of you. My squad made it to Panama!! We’ve been here for nearly two weeks. We haven’t had internet on base soooo it’s been a little difficult to get in touch with people as well as stay on top of blogging.
This month has been full of excitement so far. My team is at the YWAM Base (Youth With A Mission) in Panama City. We’re involved in numerous different ministry projects this month. Some of them include teaching the children’s classes at Pastor Bill’s church on Sunday’s, cooking meals on base for the 50+ people who are currently here, deep cleaning/upkeep which consists of different odd and end jobs from cleaning the kitchen to gardening, as well as a couple other ministry projects we’ll be getting involved with next week.
Another ministry we’ve been involved with is prison ministry. Every thursday we spend the day at the prison where we set up a program that consists of worship songs (sung in Spanish), usually two dramas that are explained with short testimonies after each, and a short message.
I’ve never done prison ministry before, so it’s definitely been a huge learning experience. Me and one other girl on our team has been leading worship, and we’ve found that the prisoners definitely like Spanish songs better than English songs. Well, seeing as how I’m not fluent in Spanish, learning all my familiar worship songs in Spanish has been an interesting challenge, but good nonetheless. Good thing we’ll be able to use these worship songs for the next three months. Besides the simple challenge of leading worship in another language, I’ve conquered some fears. I’ve been in multiple choirs in my past, taken years of voice lessons, and I’ve even been in multiple dramas… but whenever it was time for me to perform a solo, I’d almost always choke. When I was in a group I was fine, but when “all eyes were on me,” nerves usually got the best of me. I haven’t experienced that stage fright at the prison. I could stand up there all day and sing worship songs for them. The prisoners who attend the service are so passionate. They’re so on fire for the Lord, and it’s refreshing. Most of these men have found the Lord while in prison. One told his testimony the other day and mentioned how he had always wanted a child. The day he was sent to prison was the day he found out he was going to have a child. He’s been in prison for seven years, and his little girl, at seven years old, has never really known her dad. It breaks his heart, but his faith in God, regardless, is inspirational. That’s only one example.
The first week we went to the prison, the service was held in their small sanctuary. The prisoners cells were on the other side of the wall, so they could still hear us even if they weren’t present, but there were very few who actually showed up in the room. The second week they moved the service into the courtyard. As we walked in, the chairs, speakers, and microphones were set up right in the center of all the action. As we sang, we could see a few prisoners on the outskirts who didn’t want to come sit, but you could tell they were interested in what was going on. I gave a short testimony after the second drama we performed, and Bree (our team leader) mentioned how there were a couple guys behind me who were intently listening to my story. I pray that what we spoke and the songs we sang planted a seed in the hearts of the men standing around the courtyard. It definitely made me realize how often I could be saying something, and not have the slightest idea that someone is watching or listening with such interest.
God works in moments. He plants a simple seed, and hours, days, or years later that seed could grow into something beautiful. You have no idea when someone could be listening, when those moments happen, but I’m fully confident that they do. This weeks prison ministry showed me that much.
Could you be more aware of what you’re saying, how you’re acting, how it’s influencing the people around you? I know for certain that I could be. I find it to be a daily struggle sometimes. To be aware of my conversations. To be aware of the fact that God could be using me to plant a simple seed. Those seemingly useless moments can certainly change lives if God wills it.
With love,
Jaz
Stay tuned ya’ll… there will be another shortly 🙂
