January 25, 2016
Location: Medellin,
Colombia
Bella Vista Chapel, Bella Vista Prison
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This morning upon
arrival at Bella Vista prison, we were processed through security and quickly
led deep into the prison where we entered the Chapel area, up a flight of
stairs and into a brightly lit corner office where we sat down with five or six
inmates and one volunteer from CCC who were chapel leaders among the
inmates at Bella Vista prison.
They each in turn
offered their testimony regarding where they had come from and how God and the
work of Jesus Christ had changed their lives.
Their stories were
all deeply moving and inspiring because faith in Jesus Christ had changed their
lives completely. Each of their stories would be a
fascinating tale, but the one story which seemed to stand out was that of
Javier Mosquera Mosquera.
Javier was one of the
largest and blackest men I have ever seen, with a booming voice and an unquenchable enthusiasm.
Javier, who now
oversees the chapel ministry, visits the prison each and every day.
As he walked around
the prison yards he greeted each and every inmate and correctional officer by
name in that booming voice and a large smile.
As he passed,
almost without exception, he left smiles in his wake.
It was only later
that we heard that he "was a very bad man " in his youth and was
feared by many. He had spent 22 years in Bella Vista
prison before being paroled because of the dramatic change in his behavior and
outlook on life. All of this according to and loudly
proclaimed by him to be the result of Jesus Christ filling his heart and changing
him from the inside out.
Thursday January 26
afternoon
After a long morning
at Pedregal prison we were told we were going back to the Prison Fellowship
office. There we met Monica again, who has been a translator for us in the
past. She is in charge of the Micro Loan programs. This program is for women
whose husband or family member is in prison. This makes it difficult for them
to earn a living. Prison Fellowship has partnered with the local government of
Medellin to provide this money. It is a low interest loan to help them begin a
home based business. This way they can raise their families and still earn a
living.
We went with Jason, the government representative and
Monica, and a driver who was capable of driving where we were going because
where we went it took special driving expertise. We traveled almost to the very
top of the poorest hillside communities of Medellin. The roads are paved, but
very steep and narrow. And only single lane!! And there were people walking on
the road too! Then big busses and trucks would be coming the other direction!
It was very scary! They said not many drivers would even go up where we went.
The view was amazing. But it was very scary!
The first woman we
saw had a sewing business and was thinking of also starting a beauty salon
business. She was asking for advice on what to do. The government
representative was someone who was trained in business so he could advise her.
She even asked Gary for some advice. I think people think with age comes
wisdom!
The second woman was
younger and lived with her parents. She had a baby but wanted to open a beauty
salon in an area of her house. We were able to be there when they signed the
papers for her loan. We prayed with her at the end. It will be very interesting
to follow up with these two cases to see the results.
This is another aspect
of Prison Fellowship's community programs that help people in their everyday
lives.
