One of our first days in El Salvador we were told to wear loose clothing, no jewelery, and not to bring ANYTHING inside with us because we were going to a prison with a ministry called Pan y Chocolate. So, nine of us hopped in the bed of a pick up truck, along with a couple men from church, a bag of rolls, and a big thermos of hot chocolate. We pulled up to the jail and were met with other church members, all part of the ministry. Taking them seriously, we didn’t even bring our Bibles inside, which we soon realized was a mistake.
As we walked inside, I think we were all in shock as we were led through a doorway where we found 4 cells. While 3 of them held about 15 people each, there was one that held about 50 men, all rushing to get as close to the gate as they could. As we walked in the room, everywhere I looked I saw hands stretched out reaching for us. The men and women with Pan y Chocolate immidiately went to cells, pulled out their Bibles (oops!) and started preaching. Since there was only one man in our group of nine, almost everyone headed toward the one women’s cell. I was left standing in the middle of the 4 cells having no idea what to do.
As I stood there, I began praying the Lord would show me where to go and what to say, but secretly hoping I could make it through the next hour unnoticed. I watched the Pan y Chocolate people preaching, and observed the women in our group exhanging Bible verses with the women in jail. After a couple of minutes, a man from Pan y Chocolate approached me and told me he had a translator for me, so as soon as the large cell opened up it would be my turn to preach. I stared at him a little dumbfounded, wanting to say, “But I don’t even have my Bible, how am I supposed to preach? Don’t you know I’m not the preacher in the group?” As soon as he walked away I turned to everyone else not at a cell to ask if they have a word, because, “Great news, we have a translator!!!” Person after person told me they didn’t have anything and suggested I speak instead. Time after time the men from Pan y Chocolate would come over and tell me they were almost ready for me and I should move closer. When the time finally came, I froze. They introduced me to the men in the large cell, and with everyone looking at me I turned to the translator and told him I didn’t have anything to say.
When one of the men from Pan y Chocolate resumed preaching, I moved to the side and my mind began to clear. I realized I was so focused on finding someone else, I had nothing to say, and I didn’t have my Bible, that I forgot God might have something to say to those men through me. When a friend began to pray over me, I was reminded of verses that are imprinted on my heart because of how much they have spoken to me throughout the years. So many lessons the Lord has been teaching me recently came to mind, and I began to pray the Lord would give me another opportunity to share his love with these men. Just a short time later a friend was sitting down at a different cell and called me over to share. I began to speak, and as I did felt the Lord was speaking through me to one man in particular. Our time was up right as I was finished speaking, and I left the prison with a mix of emotions. I could see clearly how despite so many other people free to speak, the Lord had been asking me to. I felt ashamed I had been relying only on myself, but overwhelmed by his mercy in giving me a second chance and how clearly he had spoken to me when I didn’t think I could hear his voice.
It was such a lesson in trusting in the Lord and not myself, and proved to be an important lesson for me to learn early on in the month. So much of our ministry this month has been completely out of my comfort zone. It’s been a time where I’ve had to rely on the Lord, because I just couldn’t do it on my own. It has been incredible to see how he moves in such big ways once we get out of the way and let the Lord speak! There have been so many encounters this month that were completely of the Lord. This was the one that opened my eyes to the boldness he called us to this month.
*A new law passed in El Salvador changing the rules about visitors to the prisons. The prison ministries are now at a standstill. The men and women at the prison we went to were honestly hungrier for the Word of God then they were for the bread and hot chocolate we served them. Please be in prayer that this ministry can continue.
