August 3

This morning we woke up before 8, got dressed and grabbed a quick snack because we were heading to the women's prison today and some inmates were serving us breakfast Guatemalan style!!  All of us were somewhat hesitant so we munched on some guaranteed food before heading out all morning.  Ashley came in and we had devotions at 8.  The passage today was Romans 12:4-8 which reads: 

⁴Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. ⁷If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; ⁸if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

We were sitting around the room and we had to think to ourselves what our own spiritual gifts are as well as the person's to the right.  We then went around the room sharing what we viewed the person's to the right spiritual gifts were.  Bob was to the left of me and I wasn't quite sure of his response; in fact, I have struggled with pinpointing my own spiritual gifts throughout my life.  He stated a two-fold answer of a gift of me being a teacher as well as spreading joy with whatever work or task presents.  Bob said that there is often laughter when I'm around and that it is very noticeable.  He was very gracious with his words and I appreciated his insight. Following devotions we jumped in the van and Abel, our trusted and experienced driver, drove us outside Guatemala City to the women's prison.

This prison was less strict with only one patdown and felt more like a rehabilitation center than an actual prison.  The women here have been in a stricter prison for a few years and are then transferred here when they are viewed as less violent and more conformed.  These women have already been sentenced and are serving their prison terms for crimes ranging anywhere from drug trafficking to assault to homicide.  There were 5 buildings holding 200 women and a lot of open space with tent coverings and patios.  There were stands where some women worked and cooked/sold food.  There were also a couple basketball courts for the women to use for exercise.  I wasn't entirely sure what to make of the food heading in but I tried to be open to tasting new things. The breakfast consisted of: tortillas, eggs, plantains, a cream sauce, a small block of cheese, and black beans.  It was considered rude to leave food on the plates so after I finished my plate clean, Tyler, Bob, and I assisted some other team members with their meals.  I also had some coffee for the first time in my life and it was decent . . . still somewhat bitter and I didn't make mine very strong but I managed to make it through!

After breakfast we headed to the basketball courts where we faced some former and active gang members!!  Being 6'2" in a Central American country prison proved to be advantageous!  Tyler and I had to be captains and we split up the teams but my team came out victorious!  We did meet Susan, a former national Guatemalan basketball team member who, I must admit, got me to bite quite hard on a nice pumpfake!  It was a great time to interact and play basketball with the women!  Following basketball was an arts and crafts time where we made a quite elaborate clown using foam pieces.  We met Ruby, an inmate who is teaching others English while in prison and allowed us to speak in English for most of the time!  We also met Stephanie, a young former elementary teacher who successfully stole 8 million dollars at the Guatemala City prison and has the money stored on an offshore account.  Because there is no double jeopardy in Guatemala, the money is hers upon the completion of her term . . . She assisted with the assembly of Amanda's and my clowns so the joke was our clowns were worth 4 million dollars each!  Erin shared her verse with the ladies again but we ran out of time before we could pray for them all.  

Our team with our clowns and some guards from the prison in the background

View outside of the prison

Closeups of the two $4,000,000 clowns flanking Bob's middle clown

View of Guatemala City

Bob's influence of Pella Windows knows no limits!!

 We headed back to Dorie's Promise for lunch and to prep for Vacation Bible School crafts with our kids!  Ann, Amanda, Bob and I were in charge of the younger (1.5-4 year old) craft of assembling a fish made of hearts representing Jesus feeding the 5,000 people with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread.  It was controlled chaos as the children needed help with the entire project, as is the case with almost any craft involving students of that age, and once it was completed they were hard to keep settled!  For tomorrow we will take them outside and let them play and run off some steam and interact with all the little ones.  There were 17 children in one room and it made me think of my times dealing with my pre-kindergarteners back at Earlham! 

Amanda with a classic Lester pose!

I'm reaching back to my Elementary Education days for this craft!!

Ann helping some beautiful young ladies

Amanda finishing up the VBS craft

Apparently its the rainy season in Guatemala!!

Following the VBS craft we had a little time for dinner and some conversation before heading down to the two houses to play with and say goodnight to the children.  We made our way to the younger kids' house first to say goodnight to all the precious children.  Neyali, my guilty but definite favorite, started screaming and sobbing when the special mom came to put her to bed . . . the rest of the team headed over to the older kids' house but the special mom placed Neyali in my arms so I got to hold her and talk calmly to her and sit in the rocking chair and within minutes she was calmed down and resting on my shoulders.  When I felt like she had calmed down enough I talked quietly in her ear that it was time for bed and I gently placed her into bed, like I did on Sunday, and she was perfectly calm.  Its times like that when I absolutely cannot wait for my baby niece to come into this world in September and for someday down the road for children of my own!

Baby Max stealing Darbi's heart

Even though Lester is attacking you with a clown, it is NOT alright to strike him with a sandal Bob!

Neyali is finished shedding some tears on my shoulder

Saying goodnight to the children of House 6

What looks like an innocent picture is actually Bryan poking my eye out!

 Today was an excellent day; I initially felt like I didn't get as much out of today's prison visit as yesterday jail and especially the ghetto visit on Sunday but Ashley made a very valid point that sometimes the ladies in prison just want an hour or two to forget they are in prison. That experience can be a ministry as well.  It made a lot of sense in my mind and I felt better as the day came to an end.  This trip has been incredible even if it ended tonight.  I'm so thankful for this opportunity to visit this beautiful country and the amazing individuals that inhabit it.  My team is incredible and I'm extra appreciative of Darbi, Erin, and Tyler for the encouragement and dedication to get me on this trip!  We all have bonded with this trip and I look forward to continuing and developing friendships well beyond the events of this week.