Prison

One more testimony: in the church where we were on the first evening, backup batteries and equipment for a keyboard had been stolen the night before. Marien prophesied that the things would come back, and before the service was over they were back! Hallelujah.

Sunday 19 March

Spaghetti for breakfast! Oh well, why not, and it actually tasted fine. Today a visit to the prison was planned, quite exciting: what would it be like and what would we experience? It is a prison with 9,000 inmates in total, not each with a cell of their own; a single cell holds 70 to 80 men who have each built a small cubicle. They have to provide their own clothing and food, so all kinds of small trades go on inside the grounds. We were only allowed to bring our passports and nothing else. Pedro had arranged 400 bags of washing powder and soap and another 100 Bibles to hand out.

When we arrived, long rows of women with children were waiting to go in. Yvonne and Annelies were soon separated from the men for a thorough search. What did those female police officers want from us? All that jabbering in Spanish did not help either. Oh well, you just go through with it, because then you are out again soonest.... for details... just ask the women themselves. We no longer had our passports and the men were nowhere to be seen; you feel so vulnerable then.

Time to go in. The instructions were: stay close together, pay no attention to anyone asking for money or food, just keep walking. The women in the middle and the men close in front and behind. We came to a courtyard packed with men, where we sometimes had to squeeze through a narrow passage of prisoners.

We were taken to the first service, once again with loud music. There are 7 churches in the prison and there is some rivalry between them. We noticed that in the spiritual atmosphere too, and we were not given much room to say anything. After 10 minutes Marien was asked to stop after all, and we were taken to the next service. Again in single file through narrow corridors, past cells, food stalls and little families, over filthy rubbish and urine.

We were warmly welcomed in this small hall with about 120 men and visitors. Yvonne and Annelies performed a sketch about a chair that symbolised sin: how sin can stick to you once you come into contact with it. But when you confess your sins, God is so faithful and just to forgive them.

Wout gave a testimony about a prisoner in South Africa who asked the victim's family for forgiveness and received it. How much more does Jesus want to forgive all your sins.

Marien preached, and 10 men came forward to give their lives to Jesus, and even more to receive their destiny and for a favourable release. (Men who have served more than half of their sentence have a chance of early release.)

After the service we were happily released again 😉 and we all needed a moment to take in all the impressions.

After the prison we packed our suitcases again for a long, five-hour journey to San Juan.