Colombia Catch Up

Gary and Diane are safely home from their two months in language school and getting all manner of things straightened up from being out of the country for two full months! While we wait for some current updates, check out the first of two installments of Diane's entries from her travel journal on their January visit to Colombia.

January 25, 2016

Location: Medellin, Colombia

                          Bella Vista Chapel, Bella Vista Prison -

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. 

Letters and Miracles from Colombia - Diane

I hope many of you had a chance to follow Gary and Diane's story this week on Facebook as they reached out for some prayer covering at language school. Last weekend, they feared that they would not have a level two class to attend after graduating from level one. With only the two of them signed up, the school needed at least three people for class. So we asked everyone to be praying. And last minute - as God often does - God provided. In the midst of their finals in level one, God provided another student. We don't even know where that other student came from but we do know that God answered the prayers of so many people. And we thank you and we thank a God who sees and loves us so much to do big things.

While they are concentrating on their Spanish language studies in Colombia, we will be sharing some of the stories we have from previous trips earlier this year. We hope you enjoy them and we hope that we will be able to soon share some of the ministry things they are able to participate in on the weekends in Colombia.

Wednesday January 25

Today we were picked up at 8am and we made our way through rush hour traffic to Bella Vista Prison. This was the prison in the video that we saw before we even knew what our assignment was with OMS. So we feel like our ministry started here, even though the program has been going on for approximately 20 years.

The first section of the prison we saw was the APAC program. This program gives the men more freedom in their areas and also trains them to do useful things when they reenter society. Jonathan, our ministry supervisor's son and our escort and driver, told us that the section of the prison they were given for APAC was in the worst shape of anywhere in Bella Vista. It has only been in existence for a year. And yet there are areas where there are sewing machines where they were making backpacks. They were very well made. They told us a supplier gives them the materials then they make them and the supplier sells them in his store. He gives some of the profit back to the inmates. They told us how this program not only gives them something to do, but gives them a sense of worth. They have hope they will be able to work when they are released. They also make jewelry. One of them gave me a necklace , bracelet and matching earrings. I was so touched. 

They all told us a little of their testimonies and how the spiritual aspect of the program is changing their lives. This program is changing the lives of Prisoners from the inside out. APAC started in Brazil and is making a huge difference in the lives of prisoners all over Latin and South America.

One other thing we saw them doing in the APAC program was working together on a project, building a large boat model. The other projects were more individual but this boat required teamwork and cooperation. This will be very useful to them as they reenter society.

We had lunch in the cafeteria and after lunch we entered the more high security part of the prison. We were led to an area where we were introduced to six leaders of the various "patios" around the Prison. This was an intimate meeting led by the Pastor Janivez in charge of that area. Each man gave his testimony, sharing how long he had been in prison and what he did to get there. Most shared that they had been murderers with no conscience at all about it. They said they would be dead if the Lord had not brought them to Bella Vista. It was amazing and touching. We thanked them for sharing their stories. Then we shared a little about our call to prison ministry. We told them that we would go home and tell the stories of the miracles that God is doing on a daily basis in Bella Vista prison . We prayed at the end and you could just feel the Spirit moving there. 

Another nice thing about today, is we had direct contact with the inmates and that doesn't always happen. Shaking hands and blessing them with a loving hands. We told them how much their stories blessed us and we would be sure to share them with everyone we meet in the United States.

Pastor Javier Mosquera, who was our guide spent 22 years in Bella Vista. Miracle after miracle.