Silas, Casey, and myself had a rare opportunity to do some prison ministry at the women’s maximum secure penitentiary in Bangkok. All the women we met were foreigner’s sentenced anywhere from 20 years to life for drug trafficking. Mrs. Homes has been working in the prisons of Bangkok for over 16 years. In addition to working inside the prison she and her ministry visit this particular prison once a week to do window visits. The prison gives her an hour and a half to do window visits to nearly 50 women. The prison will give her about 10 windows at a time. It just so happened that she had 3 spots open on her team, we were invited to join. So we each were given our own window for the day. I was given window 17 and spoke with three women that rocked my world!
Imagine thick glass with bars and a microphone coming out of the middle. In the right hand corner is a speaker that barely works. Between you and the prisoners is about 3-4 feet where guards walk back and fourth. Just past that is the prisoners side. Additionally there are about 40 windows with people trying to communicate with one another; the only thing separating you from them is a thin layer of glass. It gets a little loud.
Melody came to Thailand from overseas to find a job and work to support herself and her young child. Not making the best choice she began to work in an illegal casino. During a raid she was arrested and sentenced close to 30 years. She has already served 6 years and is hoping to get out on early release this next year. I asked her if it’s weird talking to a stranger, she said “no you’re a believer like me so we can just get right to the point.” We spent the next 30 minutes sharing intimate details about both are lives. What a sweet women! She exclaimed how much she misses her child and home. She doesn’t get to see any of her family. She only has limited contact by e-mail. She asked me to e-mail her sister to tell her how much she loves and misses her and to give her child her love.
Halima is from Ghana Africa. She has already served 14 years of a final 33 year sentence for drug trafficking. She’s also hoping for an early release. She is currently the pastor of the church inside the prison that is made up of 400 people. She began to pour into me. Telling me of the day-to-day persecution they face from local Thai, foreigners, and guards. They are given one hour on Sunday for church and worship. The guards have to hose them with water just to stop them from worshiping. She has been nick named by the guards as the “stubborn one.” The first thing that struck me about Halima was her Joy, pure joy, but also her passion and zeal! She said “I thank God that I’m in Prison. If it wasn’t for being in here I would have never have known God in the way I know him now.” I spent the next 30-40 minutes in awe. I thought I was going to the prison to minister to them, but I learned so much from her, and will never forget her. I was so pleased to share of my experience in Africa with her; I could tell it touched her deeply!
Vanessa is from South Africa, Johannesburg area. She has served 13 years and is expecting to get out in about 6 years. I could have spent all day talking with these women, but I really enjoyed my time with Vanessa. Our conversation was very reciprocal. I know I was supposed to talk with her. We offered each other our hearts from our very different perspectives. She poured out her faith to me, telling me of her walk with God and what He’s done in her life. She told me the past 13 years has been difficult but she’s so thankful to God for being in prison. That prison is what saved her. Like Halima she found an intimacy with God that she never imagined. I told her of the time I spent in her hometown. It seemed that much has changed since the last time she was home. I wanted to step through the glass to hug Vanessa. She was such a beautiful women with beautiful faith. She deeply touched my heart in a way I can’t describe. She was arrested when she was 21; she is now 34. I felt I was supposed to give her a book that I’ve been reading for the second time called the Heavenly Man. It’s an amazing true story of Brother Yun’s life of persecution and suffering for the lord; much of his life being spent in a Chinese prison because of his Faith. She said “I’ve been wanting to read that book but they only have it in Thai here.” She couldn’t believe I was going to give it to her. I entrusted the book into the hands of Sue who works with Lortez Homes. It actually has to be approved by the embassy before she can receive it, due to the relationship between South Africa and Thailand. I’m faithful she will receive it. In an instant our time was up. With smiles, boarder line tears, and many many words, we began to depart. We kept shouting words of encouragement back and forth to one another, and then the door was shut.
Who new you could fall in love in under an hour and a half with three complete strangers!
