Gary asnwers the question, "What do you do when you are HOME?"

With our overseas prison ministry work being intermittent and our travels only representing a portion of our time, some people ask if there is anything we do regarding the prisons here in the United States.  I am not sure if everyone really knows that our work in the prisons in Latin America was a development of what started almost eight years ago.

I think that many of you know about my involvement with KAIROS PRISON MINISTRY where along with a team of approximately 30 other volunteers we went in to prisons twice a year for a kind of “Weekend to Remember” for the inmates where we introduced a group of 30 inmates to the love of Jesus Christ.  This experience is what got me hooked on prison ministry. 

I still participate in KAIROS by attending  what is called PRAYER AND SHARE every Thursday evening where we do just that, we share experiences from the previous week, discuss challenges we have experienced in our walk with Christ and then Pray for one another.  This is generally attended by approximately 6-8 volunteers like me, and about thirty inmates from Trumbull Correctional Facility and is held in the chapel at Trumbull.

In the past eight years, I have developed friendships and a kind of mentor relationship with many of the inmates such that as they have been transferred to other prisons or have been released, I keep in contact with them by both e-mail, snail mail or by personal visit.  Currently I visit four inmates at four different facilities from prisons located in Ohio in London, Mansfield, and Marion. Diane accompanies me on my visits to one of the inmates who I met almost eight years ago. 

Every Friday, I teach a class in the chapel area at Trumbull Correctional Institution.  We have done studies on the character of God, God’s plan for our lives and how to recognize that plan, we have studied individual books of the Bible.  Generally, it is a meeting of Christian men to have an open discussion about a variety of Biblical topics. While it has structure, the inmates appreciate the opportunity to express their opinions and open those opinions to discussion, correction or refinement of those opinions and friendly debate on issues, always keeping the scriptures as the final authority in the interpretation of problems, issues and decisions that we each encounter in our walk.

I would love to be able to scatter pictures of these activities here among the text, but photographs are difficult to get in the prison.  As you enter the prison facilities, there is a sign that reads – “No Photography beyond this point.”  There is a general rule of no photography inside the prison, but we have occasionally been given permission for special circumstances or events. I have included one of these in this message.

Driving in Honduras

Check out Gary's entry below and keep in mind a few things. First notice that driving and riding are NOT the same as it might be here in the US on big interstates. Gary spent much of his life on the road in a car logging many miles of driving managing significantly sized sales territories in his sales career. But THIS driving is truly a test of his faith!! A few more of the reasons that prayer for them is so critical when they are in country. 

ITINERARY AND TRAVEL TIMES AND DISTANCES

Day 1 - Tuesday - left 6:00 AM from Santa Lucia. Arrived in La Ceiba approx 6:00pm. Overnight in La Ceiba (469 km - approx 9+ hrs driving and 12 hrs on the road.)

Day 2 - Wednesday -  Visited La Ceiba Prison. Overnight in La Ceiba

Day 3 - Thursday - Left La Ceiba at 7:00am, and drove to La Provenir, visited the prison, then drove on to Tela. Visited the prison for an evening graduation.  Couldn’t find an open restaurant for dinner.

Day 4 - Friday - Got up early. On the road by 7:00am. Drove for approximately 4-1/2 hours to Yoro prison in the mountains.  Held a meeting for graduation at Yoro.  Drove to San Pedro Sula, arrived by 7:30am Got take out pizza for dinner. Stayed at the Casa de Arcos.

Day 5 - Picked up by 7:30am. Drove to the prison at Puerto Cortez, had a meeting and graduation ceremony in the morning.  Visitation day for family.  On the road driving 4 hours.

Day 6 - Picked up by 9:00am drove back through Tegucigalpa to Santa Lucia, the home of the Rammer family.  Arrived home at 3:00pm after driving for six hours.

Total driving time since we arrived at TGU on Monday - approx. 30 hours in six days.   Averaging between 30-35 mph!!!  NOTE:  drive time included rest stop breaks and meals so we actually were driving faster than 30 mph.  Allowing time for stops and lunches, - estimated we averaged approximately 43 mph.

Driving is a particular challenge.  First, there are few hard and fast rules.  Secondly, the road surface in many areas is unreliable and potholes , ditches and natural and man made speed bumps can appear almost anywhere.  About the time you get your speed up to 50 mph there will be a ditch across the road or a large pothole and you will have to slam on your brakes in order to avoid breaking an axle or destroying a wheel rim.  

 Since there are no rules, people pull out in front of you when you are going 50 mph and they make no effort to accelerate to speed, but rather drive right in front of you at 20-25 mph.  It is a real test of your Christian principles, and I am just thoroughly grateful that I am not driving because I think my outward expressions and behavior would not reflect my faith.  Herasmo and Erasmo seem to be infinitely patient and forgiving, I like to think it is because they have grown used to these conditions and these drivers, but I believe instead that they are truly more forgiving and tolerant than me.

La Ceiba - Honduras!

Gary and Diane spent the early part of the month in Honduras. For the next few weeks we'll take a look at their visit and what God has been doing in their ministry. Let's dig in with Gary's travel log for their trip out of the mountains of central Honduras and to the beautiful coast!

On Tuesday morning, we departed the home of Erasmo and Nora Ramirez at 6:00AM and drove for the entire day, arriving in La Ceiba after passing through El Progresso and San Pedro Sula and along the northern coast of Honduras to the city of La Ceiba.  We arrived at approximately 6:00PM.   La Ceiba is located on the Caribbean coast.  We stayed at an old Hotel called the Art Deco Motel of La Ceiba for two nights.  In its day, it was probably a grand old hotel, but it has seen better days although it looked like someone was trying to bring it back, but the prices were right and the accommodations, although not exceptional, were okay.  We walked out on a pier, ate a late supper and went to bed exhausted!

Today, Wednesday, March 7, we departed our hotel and went to see the Prison at La Ceiba,  it was within a short walk from the hotel and in fact was right on the beach itself.  Like most of the visits this week, it was all new territory for us, and part of the program that began just four months ago when Pastor Francisco joined our team at the coaching training we gave on our last visit in November of 2017.  La Ceiba was a developing program.  There, the inside leadership has begun the Train and Multiply Program and there are approximately 25 inmates that are enrolled in the program who will graduate in approximately 6-8 weeks.  There was a great deal of enthusiasm and wonderful music before some encouragement from Herasmo, Pastor Francisco, and they even asked me to say a few words to the group.  There was probably a gathering of 45-50 men plus the six of us, in a room not much more than 15x25, we were all crowded, but we were all there to give thanks to God and to praise Jesus as we learned what it means to live for him and serve him.

***************************

On Thursday morning March 8, we checked out of our hotel and arrived at the prison  of El Provenir just outside of La Ceiba by about 9:30AM. Unlike many of the other prisons, this was in a rural setting in the woods. We drove off the main road approximately three miles on an almost impassably rocky road, past field after field of Pineapples.  Once we knew what we were looking at, we discovered that much of this region is pineapple producing country.  

When we arrived at the prison, we were greeted by inmate leaders and were taken to the chapel.  The Chapel here was called “Christ Who Breaks the Chains Chapel” a very fitting name for those in prison.  We all had an opportunity to address the “congregation” and speak a few words of encouragement to them regarding their situation and their salvation.  This was a smaller prison, and we had only forty or fifty people in the meeting, but they were enthusiastic and every one of them is enrolled in the sequence training which includes The Prisoner’s Journey (in Spanish is La Peregrinacion de los Prisoneres, or LPJ)  This Prison Fellowship program brings unbelieving prisoners into the church or chapel and lasts approximately 6-8 weeks after which, they are invited to continue with the OMS program, Train & Multiply.  The T&M Program takes new believers from their expression of faith to a growing, following and serving relationship with Jesus.  

After an additional drive of approximately three hours, we checked in at our hotel and went to the prison of Tela.

Gary Shares Prison Ministry Outlook for 2018

Each year in our family, we pick a WORD as a topic or issue on which to work in the coming year.  My areas in need of work seem to be boundless, but this year I selected the words Focus/Prioritize.  It is so easy to get distracted by many worthwhile projects and events and fail to concentrate on where God seems to be leading you 

As I look ahead for the next year, our focus needs to be on our Honduran partners and their work in the prisons in that nation.  In the past years, they have been our focus and their work there is reaping a great harvest in the prisons in that country.

They have even been sharing the same discipleship material in the neighborhoods in Tegucigalpa and they are seeing satellite study groups starting up and entire families are being involved in sharing the good new of Jesus Christ with their neighborhoods and places of employment.

Our focus however remains on the prisons which have been part and parcel of what I have been doing now for seven years or more, starting here in the United States. God has certainly taken us on a journey - our mission work starting with a trip to Mexico in 2012 and including in that trip, (what else??) a visit to the prisons in Mexico!

It is interesting that now, almost six years later, that same trip is leading us to return to those beginnings.  The pastors and missionaries we worked with on that trip are now expressing interest in taking the gospel into that same prison and others and have indicated their interest in the Train & Multiply program that has been developed so successfully in Honduras by the faithful volunteers there.

God is good and His plan always surprises and amazes me.  He can take people and experiences of the past and bring them all together to set new directions or loop back around to include past experiences to set new paths in continued service to him.

Diane and I feel so very blessed to have the privilege to serve in what ever manner we might, wherever He chooses.  So whether it is now to include Mexico, or some other location, so long as we are of sound mind and body, we are excited to do what we can.  

We continue to thank you all for your prayer and financial support.  Without it, we could not serve with the frequency that we do.  

                                                                                            

GOD BLESS YOUR 2018!

GARY AND DIANE

A 30,000 foot view of OMS in Honduras

Last week, upon his return from their latest trip to Honduras, Gary sent in a report to his immediate supervisor at OMS. He sent a copy to me as well and it gave such a great description of the scope of the work they have helped foster in that country that I asked him if I could share it with the blog community. He was happy to share. So check out what three years has meant to the sharing of the gospel in this one Latin American nation.

A general summary of the work in Honduras is that it is growing rapidly and in ways that clearly show the hand of the Lord in how, who and where the growth is occurring. 

When we started in Honduras about three years ago, they were really only seeing and working in three prisons, at San Pedro Sula, La Paz and Marcala.  They were working with a small core group of volunteers  who worked very hard, but due to lack of training and material, were really only ministering to the inmates' physical needs and to a much lesser extent, their spiritual condition.  They were in each of these prisons approximately twice each month, and they delivered personal hygiene products, some OTC medicines and preached a short message in the chapel.  The total number of people that they ministered to was probably in the range of 30-40 individuals in each of these prisons.  This was after serving with Prison Fellowship for more than 25-30 years.  It wasn’t lack of desire or effort, but no appreciable direction or materials for growing the participation.

Enter Train & Multiply.  The combination of the material and the funding of their ministry has changed the face of their ministry and isdramatically changing the face of the prison system in Honduras. 

Now their volunteer base consists of pastors from several different denominations, Nazarenes, Church of God, and even Roman Catholic, seeing the people in the prison several times each week. These are people who are graduating multiple classes from Train & Multiply each month and are providing the manpower and follow-up that Herasmo, Erasmo and Nora were unable to do because of the distance and time requirements to travel in Honduras. 

Where three years ago there were three locations, now there are 12-15 including:

La Esperanza, Comayagua, Tamara National Prison for Men, Tamara National Prison for Women, a third Tamara Prison, San Pedro Sula, El Progresso, Marcala, La Paz, Danli, Tela, Choluteca Prison, Nacaome Prison.  The ministry has grown and has made an impact to the point that the ministry has now been involved with Samaritan’s Purse to deliver Shoe Boxes to the children of prisoners.  They have an expanded participation in the PFI Angel Tree Program - again providing gifts for the children of prisoners. 

I have included a map of Honduras for you to get an idea of the scope of where they are working.  The country is about the size of Tennessee, but to go a little over 80 miles as the crow flies, it requires a drive of almost 4 hours even in the non-rainy season, which is better known there as construction season.  The volunteers are currently working in a large number of the departments or states in the country and are already planning on serving more. 

They are still doing all the things they used to with regard to preaching, personal hygiene and medicinal items, distributing gifts for the inmates children, but more importantly, they are developing a core group of 25-40 men and women that are trained as trainers who are spreading the program even when our volunteers are not on site. 

We have found that some of the inmates, primarily the gang members, while making a real change in their lives, still desire to be taught by an outside volunteer rather than by fellow inmates.  I have actually experienced this preference in the prisons I work in here in the states as well.

The program has been somewhat slow to grow outside the prison, but there is some activity in the city of Tegucigalpa with people participating from various barrios in Train & Multiply. Some of the remote pastors serving in the prisons have discovered that the Train & Multiply Program provides great material for developing the discipleship in their own churches and communities.

The program has developed to the point where it could almost be self-sustaining!

If you would like more detail, that is certainly available, but this gives you an idea of what and where things are happening.  On my next visit in November, it will be after the rainy season and before the construction season gets rolling and Herasmo promised that we would once again be running all over the country seeing the growth of the program throughout Honduras!

A God-Sized Vision for OMS

In June we were invited to be a part of the International Missions Conference and the Worldwide Coordinators Seminar that were held at Ohio Wesleyan University in Marion, IN.  Since not all of our time is spent in Latin America, I wanted to give you an overview of what we accomplish in these other activities, both as an organization and as individuals and share some of my experience {Gary}.

The Missions Conference was primarily focused on sharing the vision of Bob Fetherlin, President of One Mission Society.  Bob explained his desire since being named president to cast a vision for the next decade.  He said he kept coming up with goals, but kept feeling God saying “bigger!”  Bob spent long prayerful negotiation with God and came up with what he said was a GOD SIZED GOAL.

“One Billion – One Opportunity Vision”

“We’re asking God, by his power and grace and for his glory alone, to enable OMS and our partners to give one billion people the opportunity to hear, understand, and believe the Good News of Jesus Christ over the next 10 years.”       

    Robert Fetherlin – President One Mission Society

This first half of the conference was to share the vision and discuss how this God Sized Goal could reasonably be achieved.  Not by OMS or other organizations, but by God. After all - with God all things are possible. 

We heard outstanding speakers share how their placement in worldwide mission gave them a critical position to see that the people are primed for receiving the good news.  Attending the conference were prayer supporters, financial supporters, missionaries and ministry partners from approximately 60 countries where OMS has an ongoing ministry presence.  This first half was the inspirational part of the meeting and everyone got tremendously excited for the opportunities that God is opening for us and Christians around the world to spread the Gospel.

The second half dealt with the mechanics of the implementation of the vision - the “feet on the ground” aspect of what God was calling us to do.  This was attended by ministry leaders from all over the world:  Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, South and Central America, the Caribbean, and from North America as well.  Here each group and ministry provided a short update on their activities, successes, setbacks and their plans for the future.

   

There were seminars and workshops presented that discussed methods and practical steps to more effectively spread God’s word. They pressed us to be looking at the challenges and the creative methods each group had found to overcome and share those with others that may currently be encountering similar obstacles.  The first three days of this portion of the Symposium were packed with good practices that have worked in other areas and how to avoid pitfalls and errors and follow Biblical principles in the spread of the Gospel.  

On the last day, each national group met individually with others from their respective countries and together they worked to determine what portion of the One Billion – One Opportunity goal they could be responsible for.  During the final session, the results of the tally were presented to the assembly.  Now remember this is just what OMS ministries feel they can be reasonably held accountable,  ...….. The number came to approximately 400 million, forty percent of the stated goal, without allowance for the contributions that come from other agencies, organizations and evangelistic-missionary groups.  That is an impressive goal in and of itself, if combined with other partners are able to do, the One Billion – One Vision concept appears reachable. Indeed, with God, all things are possible. 

The Conference ended on a very positive note and we all headed home inspired, encouraged and challenged.  When we look at the big picture, we can all see that it has to begin with each and every one of us sharing our faith on a daily basis and letting the power of multiplication work to give the opportunity to billions to know Jesus.

AMAZING NEWS and request for fervent prayer!

As we have explained over the last years, we have been blessed to be able to participate in this ministry to the prisons in Latin America.  The success is God’s and the major workers are the volunteers in each of prisons who are there week to week instructing and encouraging the inmates in their discipleship and growth who deserve the credit.  Our role is one of encouragement, counseling and coaching of the trainers and to a much lesser extent assisting in the actual training of the individuals.

The results that are being achieved in Honduras by the volunteers have been significant enough to draw the attention of the leadership of both Prison Fellowship International and One Mission Society.  Through a series of meetings and communications it was decided to work toward a co-operative program between PFI and One Mission Society to go to the prisons of the world in a broader but also a deeper level to make an impact on this people group.

 

Agreements have been reached and the development of this program is taking place even now for targeting 10-12 countries in the World for 2016. 

Training Coordinator for TPJ-T&M Project 

With that said, we have been approached with the suggestion that we consider a role as the training coordinator for the project for all non-Spanish speaking nations targeted.  At this time it looks like those nations might be Philippines, Cambodia, Bangladesh, India, South Africa, Kenya, Bulgaria and Spain, Burkina Faso, Togo. 

As training coordinators, we would be expected to attend each of 2-3 Regional Training sessions to participate in the training of the First Generation of Trainers from each country in that region.  We expect to train at least 2 people from each country in this Generational Cycle.  Then subsequently, we would attend and assist in the training of the next generation of trainers, expected to be 10+ individuals that will then go throughout their nations sharing this program with both believers and un-believers that are interested. 

Assisting in the training of both the first and second generation of teachers would be probably two to three other trainers from OMS.  The suggestion is that I would –co-ordinate the training and Diane would be the Facilitator/Coordinator to handle the logistics for the program in the first generation training sessions.

A few other projects have been mentioned for our attention and consideration as well:

1)      Training Data Base Development Coordinator – OMS has trainers worldwide with many ministry partners for a multitude of different Church Multiplication Programs.  There has never been an established data base that could be accessed to find resources regarding the availability of trainers and materials based upon location (geography), languages for teaching, languages spoken, possible availability for teaching a week long class as well as by program, like T4T (Training for Trainers), VCP (Village Church Planting) and T&M (Train & Multiply.) We were asked to serve as coordinators for this project offering a “big picture” and “user friendly” oversight to keep the project focused on usability of those accessing the program.

2)     Interim Church Multiplication Facilitator to Colombia for the Prison Ministry – Working with Lacides Hernandez and his staff at Confraternidad de Carcelaria de Colombia  (PFI-Colombia),  In the absence of the present CMF due to health concerns, we have been asked to fill in for the next 6-9 months at a minimum to assist this co-operative ministry to achieve long and short term goals with regard to their work in the Prisons of Colombia.

3)     Continuing responsibilities as Church Multiplication Facilitator to Honduras – Existing roles

These represent a very large scope of projects that have not 

been totally firmed up yet but should be within the next 60 

days.  We are asking for prayers for wisdom to assist us in 

evaluating these projects and our capabilities to meet the needs 

of the project.

Miguel - A Man and His Ministry

Miguel (left), Erasmo Ramirez (center left), Herasmo Ramirez (center right), Gary  (right)

During our January 2016 visit to Honduras, we had the privilege of meeting Miguel C. who was a recent graduate of the Train & Multiply Program that Herasmo Ramirez, our National Coordinator, had trained in Tegucigalpa.  Miguel heads up the volunteer organization for prison ministry. not only in the church he attends, but for the entire denomination of the Nazarene Church in Honduras. 

Miguel told us his story. which began in Honduras where he was born.  When he was ten years old, his entire family moved to the United States.  They settled down in Southern California and not long after, Miguel said he got mixed up in the gangs in Los Angeles and all over Southern California.  His parents divorced, his father had deserted them, and it was the natural progression of things that as a teen he joined his friends in the gangs.

 

Miguel said he became a very ruthless, very bad man and said there is little you could imagine him doing that he wasn’t doing.  He said, “I was a very, very bad man.”  He acknowledged he had done many horrible things and really placed no value on life.  The burden of guilt that he was carrying for all the evil he had done weighed heavily on him. He said he remembered often playing Russian Roulette, spinning the cylinder of the gun and not really caring if he lived or died. 

He was eventually arrested and convicted, and was sentenced for a very long time to the prisons of California.

Miguel said he merely existed in the prisons for a number of years when a lady visited the prison and talked to him and others about Jesus Christ.  He said the Gospel resonated for him and before he had really come to know a lot about the Bible he had come to know Jesus through prayer and experience.  He said everyone thought he had gone crazy because he was preaching Jesus throughout the prison. 

Eventually, as his lifestyle demonstrated to others in the prison that something significant had happened to him, his efforts to evangelize in the prison started showing results.  He participated in the Christian worship services and became recognized as a leader of the Christian prison population not only by the other inmates, but by the prison authorities. All of this eventually led to him being paroled after only serving 15 years of his 30 years to life sentence. 

Miguel said he felt led by the Lord to return to Honduras to serve the communities where he started out, trying to reach them with Jesus before they made the mistakes that he had made. That eventually led him into the prisons in Honduras where he serves in full time ministry for the Nazarene Church.

After taking the Train & Multiply course, Miguel recognized that this was something that he could use and work with in the prisons.  He was excited to see how he could “train and multiply” the disciples inside the prison.

During our week-long visit, we were privileged to be there and participate in the first class for Train & Multiply in a new prison, the National Men’s Prison in Tamara Honduras.  This prison has approximately 2,500 inmates.  The prison authorities gave him permission to begin teaching in the Casa Blanca Cell Block, one of ten blocks in the prison.  They also asked for a commitment from him to go into each cell block and do the training so the program can grow throughout the entire prison.  

Ten men began the training and an additional six individuals listened from the periphery of the open classroom area and were offered the opportunity to join the class if they wanted.  It will be exciting to see how God grows the body of believers in the prison.

We are so blessed to be able to participate in this ministry to the lost.

Sharing the Gospel in All the World AND in OUR BACKYARD

Happy New Year! Gary provided the following as installment one explaining some interesting developments the ministry in the last few months. 

One morning late last summer, I found myself asking why I thought it was important to take the Train & Multiply program to the prisons of Honduras, but not important enough to take it into the state prison where I went weekly in Trumbull County, Ohio.  It seemed a good question and I can only think it was provoked by God. 

There really was no good answer, so I immediately began preparing a proposal to present to Trumbull Correctional Institution.  Based upon my experience at the institution over the previous several years, I expected a lot of red tape and truly expected it would probably be 3-4 months before the proposal was either accepted or rejected.

After calling for an appointment with the chaplain to initiate the process regarding the approval, I got an appointment for the next day.  Chaplain Kostenko listened and asked a few questions and asked me when I could start.  When I seemed confused by the question he asked if I could start the next week.  I was almost speechless and I explained that I was going to be in Honduras doing prison ministry work there. He asked when I would return and when I told him he said then we can start that next Tuesday after I returned. 

We determined to have two separate classes, one on Tuesday evenings, the other on Wednesday mornings.  I thanked him and left his office stunned by how easy it had been to get to this approved.

By the time of the first classes, I had 6 students for the Wednesday class and  8 for the evening class.  At the end of two weeks, the class size and attendance showed that we could condense the class to just the Tuesday evening and there would be 10 students.

From that point on, the attendance was almost perfect exce

pt for a few bureaucratic mix ups leaving students without passes to attend. The classes were well received and my decision to be a director and moderator instead of a lecturer resulted in some very good discussion at each class.

The depth of the familiarity and level of study of the scripture by these inmates was impressive.  They knew their Bibles and well and could quote chapter and verse with far more skill than me.  When I remarked on this to them, they explained, "All we have is time and what better way to spend it than reading, learning and memorizing God's word."

Keep a look out for the next segment of this amazing story of what God has been doing!

So!! What's happening in the prisons of Honduras???

Gary writes about what is going on in Honduras as a result of the investment of OMS, Prison Fellowship, the people of Honduras and the mighty work of God. You might recognize this conversation he described for the post from OMS a few weeks back.

What kind of results are you seeing in the Project your are working?

God is truly working in Honduras.  We are blessed to be a part of what he is doing through the group of volunteers and the faithful Christians in Honduras.

Regarding the success or growth of the program, I can tell a story that occurred the last day we were there on a recent trip.    

I asked, ”What do you think this program will look like a year from now?”  At first I got a confused look, so I said, “How many trainers do you now have?”  They answered – “17.”  I followed up, “Then how many do you expect to have in a year?”

Again I at first was met with a blank look and then Nora said, “In three weeks we will have a total of 63 because several training classes for trainers are going to be completed.”

“Ok, how many will you have in a year?”  It was then that it really dawned on them that this program was just about to explode. 

They replied, “Well, we could probably have over 100!”  to which I added, “probably closer to 200-300. Today, with only seventeen trainers, we have about as many groups studying and each of those has 5-7 trainees, but the groups in the prison that are worshiping as a result of the program are already approaching 200-250 in the four prisons we are now active in.”

God is right now in the process of opening all the prisons to our program which will result from meetings held that week with government officials, ministry partners and individuals who will aid, support and lend a supporting hand in the introduction of the Gospel into Honduran Prisons.

Let's add that to the list of things we are thanking Him for today.

"Aren't you afraid?"

Hello family and friends - Gary here.

People often ask us, "Aren't you afraid?"  I am apt to reply, not without thinking, but genuinely comforted by the fact that we are only in the prisons because that is where God has almost irresistibly directed us. I answer, "No" and I feel that way while doing prison ministry both here in Ohio when we are home and while we are in Latin America. 

That said, we are not unaware of the possibility of dangers in the Latin American prisons.  You might have seen a recent post here about the Women Prison in Tamara, Honduras that we visited during our February/March trip.  Just up the street from that prison is the National Penitentiary for Men in Tamara. There was a report of trouble  reported by Catherine Shoichet at CNN in August of 2013. 

"After 15 people were injured and three people were killed after clashes at a National Penitentiary prison in Tamara, Honduras, on Saturday.  Honduras' president said he was sending in troops to take over.  In a written statement, his office said that the government has taken steps to disarm prisoners and instituted other security measures at prisons nationwide.  But they haven't been able to stop the "criminal reign" within prisons," the statement said.

At another prison in San Pedro Sula, it is reported, "Internal control of the prisons has been ceded into the hands of the prisoners themselves" per the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. They claim that the situation has spread through all 24 of the nation's prisons to one degree or another and is one of the most serious problems the country faces.

So..... there are dangers, but our local volunteers are aware of the problems, and had been able to resolve the issue by selecting those prisons where the harvest is ripe and those incarcerated are seeking.  We have not been in either of the two prison mentioned, but we have been at the National  Women's Prison in Tamara.

One of our second tier volunteer leaders and his wife  have experienced a problem in one of the prisons about an hour and a half from Tegucigalpa  where he and his wife were threatened with harm by an inmate if they didn't start bringing him in money for admission to the prison.  Operations at that prison have temporarily been suspended until the issue is resolved.  God will prevail and we must wait upon his timing. 

At the recent KAIROS event at Trumbull Correctional in Warren, OH, I spoke on Christian Action. One of my main points was that no matter what you do, the safest and best place to be is "smack dab in the middle of God's will for your life."  Diane and I think maybe we have identified that place and that is why we do what we do.  I acknowledge that four years ago, I would have thought that anyone that did this was insane, but that transformation is yet another sign of who is in control.

Blessings,

Gary

Gary on Kairos

Some of you may not be familiar with the prison work that Diane are involved with here in the US with a program called KAIROS International.

Twice a year, 40-50 volunteers go into a local prison, in our case to Trumbull Correctional Institution - a medium to high security facility in Warren, OH.  At that facility there are usually between 1500 and 2500 inmates serving time for a variety of crimes up to and including rape and murder. 

Most of these individuals have some sort of background in their families with regard to faith, but the vast majority of them have rejected or drifted as far from a relationship with God as is possible. 

The KAIROS program leads approximately 36 inmates through a series of talks, interaction with one another and introspection to recognize the Love of God and the work of Jesus - to offer them an alternative to the condemnation that they experience each day. 

We introduce them to the concepts of sin, condemnation, repentance and forgiveness .  They are able, sometimes for the first time, to experience forgiveness, both given and received and it makes a significant impact. 

It is a very moving experience as you see 36 convicted felons come to a realization that they can't make it on their own, that they need God and community to carry on their life, and most importantly that they need Jesus Christ. 

They arrive hard, frowning, proud and antagonistic and by the end of the four days, only 36 hours, many have been brought to tears, have forgiven family members, friends, police officers, judges and recognize their own responsibility, having turned to Jesus.  They are encouraged to participate in an ongoing Prayer and Share experience every Thursday night where a few of us volunteers go into the prison and continue the process. They are further encouraged to build a community of believers to help support one another.  All of this to reinforce and help establish them in their new relationship with Jesus. 

At the last event in March, Diane served on the kitchen team where we provide them with home cooked meals for the four days of the event along with all the cookies they could want  

We had a total of 28 of the inmates step up to the "open mike" at the closing ceremony and explain what the program had meant to them.  They explained briefly their history with regard to faith and how the program had brought them back to Christ.

This is a continuing and regular part of our call to serve, even while we are at home in the United States.

"     I was in prison and you visited me."   Matthew 25:36

Gary shares a story of victory in Christ through a changed heart!

This celebratory story appeared in the March 18,2015 Prison Fellowship Prayer Letter from OMS's Every Community for Christ and tells an exciting story of a softened heart.

Gary shared a wondered story of God answering prayer while they were in Honduras. “A chaplain in a woman’s prison received us on our first visit with a great deal of hostility and anger. She repeatedly said, “Palabara, Palabara, Palagara, pero no accion, ” which translates “All talk and no action.” She viewed our Train & Multiply as just another case of people coming into the prison, preaching, leaving with no involvement and no continuing commitment. She agreed to allow us to come five days later, but without any enthusiasm or support. We left a little discouraged, but we all committed to pray about her attitude.

When we returned and began teaching the first lesson from Train & multiply, the story of Noah and the Flood, she and the others in the room were attentive, involved , asking questions, and very positive about the material. When asked at the end of the class how they liked it, the others all answered positively and were excited to continue to study. Then we asked the chaplain, her opinion. Almost in tears, she apologized. She had only recently received her “certification” as a chaplain while she was serving time as an inmate in the prison and was now continuing her time required in prison and serving as a chaplain there. She said she knew well that she had much to learn about the Bible and a relationship with Jesus. She said she had been praying for something that would help her learn more about the Bible and would help her to be a better Chaplain, teacher and counselor. She said she could see that the Train & Multiply Program was an answer to her prayer. We recognized that her change in attitude was an answer to our prayers as well. That was the first lesson for the first time in that prison, and we are looking forward to the program expanding rapidly in the prison.”

Aren’t you glad you prayed for Gary and Diane and for their trip to Honduras?

Continue to pray for that prison, and the other prisons in Honduras  where Train & Multiply is being used to share the Gospel of Jesus.

Pray for the Chaplain as she serves the Lord with a glad heart. Pray the Lord gives her the desire of her heart to learn more of the Bible and to be a better Chaplain.

Pray for the prisoners in that prison to come into a relationship with Jesus and experience the love of Jesus.

Pray for Gary and Diane as they serve the Lord with Prison Fellowship in Colombia and in Honduras.

Herasmo and Nora - How did these passionate people get involved in prison ministry?

I (Gary) asked both Herasmo and Nora, our Honduran support team, how they got into the prison ministry and/or how they got involved in this program.  It's good stuff  - God stuff. Here's are their stories.

Herasmo's Testimony

From the age of 14 years or earlier, Herasmo Ramirez had worked alongside his mother and father and sisters in their work in the prisons of Honduras.  Both his mother and father were the leaders of the Confraternidad Carcelaria de Honduras (Prison Fellowship) work in Honduras.  He explained that it was almost a family calling if not obligation.  

Approximately a year and a half ago, Herasmo was in a period of testing.  His mother and father had this ministry to the prisons and he participated but it was not his own. One day, when he was really not in a state of prayer, he felt or heard in his mind, Jesus asking, "When I stand before my Father and all the angels and the saints and ask why didn't you serve me, what will you say."  Herasmo said he replied, "Before you, Your Father and the angels I will answer, because Lord, You never gave me the volunteers, the tools and the direction."  

Shortly afterward, he began hearing about the possibility of the Capacitacion y Plantacion program from OMS and that Honduras might possibly be the target country for introducing the program outside of Colombia.  Herasmo feels certain that this program was a direct and specific response from God regarding that conversation and represented God challenging him to serve faithfully.

Nora's Story

Norah recalled that on her first trip into the prisons, she was very frightened - not only of the prisoners themselves, but the whole idea of prisons.  She went in with another group of volunteers and stayed in the background and tried to avoid involvement at first.  One inmate, noting her discomfort, slowly came up to her and he told her, "I can tell you are afraid to be here, but you have nothing to fear, I know that God has brought you here today and will bring you back again and again."

Nora said from that moment on, the fear was gone. She, of course, is very aware of where she is and acts appropriately, but she knows that she is serving God exactly where He wants her. She wants to be there for Him.

Good Q/A while they are in Honduras!

Mom and Dad are in Honduras as I type this and experiencing the realities of this right now.  Maybe reading this will give you some perspective on their posts.  I know it did for me.

Also please check out the link below and please be praying!
Travel warning for Honduras

Why is being an American so

mehow helpful in this situation (ministry and leadership with OMS's Train and Multiply in country)? 

Gary - Most of those we meet and work with in Honduras feel some kind of affinity with the United States. Whether it is mostly through pop culture like movies and television, the abundance of American fast food restaurants or from the abundance of missionary and humanitarian work done in Honduras, I can't tell. But apparently from the time of President John Kennedy and his visit there early in his term, there has been a strong tie.  Historically, Kennedy was working to prevent the spread of communism in Latin America following the events in Cuba. In the city of Tegucigalpa, there is even a neighborhood that is named Colonia de Kennedy.  Apparently, at the time, a great deal of American funds were put into building up our relationship with the Hondurans.

Their cable television services carry American television shows and until very recently, English was taught and spoken in the better schools to the extent that many of the young people that have completed high school are bi-Lingual in Spanish and English.  

As one might expect, since most of their impressions of the United States are based upon television, they have some misconceptions.  I believe one of the many of these is that we have a society that is fairly volatile and violent, just watch all the police and action shows on TV.  Also, they believe that even the average American is quite wealthy. Of course, it is fair to say that the average American is far better off than the average Honduran and the conclusion is valid on that basis.  On the other hand they think that Americans have a lot of disposable income and discretionary spending which of course is not always true but again in comparison to Honduras is probably more accurate than we would like to admit.

Ultimately, our mere presence adds credibility to the program and for us that is good because we are not sure what else we have to offer, we are still learning and if our following where God leads us helps accelerate the program, we are blessed to be a part of it.

Gary shares his perspective on Latin American prison

Describe the prisons.  We hear that Latin American prisons are terribly dark scary places.

I recognize that the prisons of Latin America are generally considered very dark and scary places, but we haven't experienced that to a large degree.  First, I want to explain that we have not been into the cell block area so we can't really comment on those living conditions but in the general population areas things seem fairly good.  Because of the climate, they do not have or need windows, the open yard areas are bright, clean and the inmates have flowers and /or vegetables growing in the available areas.  There were open areas where the inmates were playing soccer, and the inmates seemed fairly contented.  They do not wear uniforms but instead wear clothing supplied, I assume, by their friends and family, with most being dressed in jeans and soccer shirts or tee shirts.  Almost without exception, they are meticulously clean.  In each of the prisons we visited, there was a hand laundry area and what seemed to be miles of clothes line with clothes being hung out to dry.  When considering a comparison of the living conditions in the prison with the way they live in their communities outside the prisons, I believe the prisons are well kept.   They have very adequate chapel facilities equipped with musical instruments including sound system, guitars and a drum set.

How receptive are the prisoners to the Word of God and Jesus?

My general impression, and one which is supported by the growth of the program, is that the men in the prison are open to the Gospel and hungry for any and all "outside" attention.  They are all enthusiastic worshippers and the chapel really rocks during the services.  They participate in the Bible classes and offer not only questions, but answers and suggestions to one another in support of their faith.

Having an active rather than a passive faith seems to be a new experience, part of this because of their cultural ties to the Catholic Church and the obvious formality of that type of worship experience.  I believe their enthusiasm is in large part due to realizing they can know Jesus, not just worship him hanging on the cross.  Both are necessary, but neither to the exclusion of the other.

Gary answers a challenging question about Honduras

Do the people seem happy in Honduras?

That is difficult to say.  I don't see a lot of laughter and there doesn't seem to be a lot of joking around. The people do not seem sad or unhappy, so much of what I am experiencing could be cultural, or my presence may make them behave differently.  

They do seem significantly more reserved than the Colombians we have worked with. While happy may not be the word I would use, the people generally seem contented.  They all seem very family oriented and they are a loving and caring people.  Even those in prison demonstrate a kindness and consideration to us as outsiders and at least while we were there for one another.

HOT SEAT!!! - Gary takes a turn at some bigger questions!

Thanks to those of you who have sent questions!  We might have to do this more often!

What does the social structure look like in Honduras?  Like the “rich” and those in poverty?

Gary 

We, of course, are seeing what we are shown, but that said, we have driven through agricultural areas on the way to prisons. We have gone on prayer walks within the inner cit of Tegucigalpa and we have see a broad spectrum of the population in the prisons. 

I believe that the families we are staying with, the Ramirez- Reyes families are in the upper middle class. They live in the suburbs, in the mountains surrounded by their El Tigre National Park.  Their homes are quite similar to ours and their life style is not so different from ours.   Their kitchens are very like ours although they don't seem to have dishwashers.  Everything else is similar in the kitchens having the standard electric or gas ovens and stoves microwaves and all of the typical small appliances. 

Likewise their bathrooms are similarly equipped to our the bathrooms.  One of the big differences in Honduras and I believe all over Latin America is the water supply.  The supply is adequate in volume, but not in quality.  The caution "Don't drink the water" should be taken seriously. 

They have radios and televisions and they are routinely on in the background.  I don't think they are as attached to their TVs as we are.  There aren't a lot of children that we interact with, but Daniel the grandson is the one we do get to see and he seems to like his television, but again not to the extent that most American children do.  Daniel is bright and interacts with adults well .  I believe he is in 1st grade and attends school each day.  The similarities in their life style and ours is far more striking than the differences.

With regard to the poor, we have only experienced the poorest from a distance, driving by in the car.  In the city of Tegucigalpa, we drove many times by dumpsters where people were going through the dumpsters looking for anything of value, to eat, or something they might barter with. Because it is  a warm climate year round, the typical dress for most of the poor is for men tee shirts and usually jeans or trousers and their shoes were often flip flops or knock-off Crocs. The women generally are in tee shirts and skirts or slacks.

The homes in the inner city were varied.  Many of the structures were very old, the construction of most buildings was reinforced concrete, or brick.  The city's middle class homes were large enough and generally included multi-generational family members which was true at the Ramirez-Reyes family homes in the suburbs. 

The homes of the poor in the mountains were likewise mostly of concrete or brick.  Roofing material is mostly corrugated metal.  They have no electricity or running water and although not seen, the only possible type of sanitary facilities would have been out houses.

Some statistics on poverty in Hoduras

Social indicators

Population, total (2010)	7,600,524.0
Population growth (annual %) (2010)	2.0
Population density (people per sq. km) (2010)	67.9
Rural population (2010)	3,891,468.3
Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land)	0.0
Rural population (% of total population) (2010)	51.2
Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) (2009)	27.1
Death rate, crude (per 1,000 people) (2009)	4.9
Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (2010)	20.3
Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000) (2010)	24.0
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) (2009)	72.5
Labor force, total (2009)	2,795,831.1
Labor force, female (% of total labor force) (2009)	33.9

Poverty indicators

Number of rural poor (million, approximate) (2010)	2,545,020.3
Poverty headcount ratio at rural poverty line (% of rural population) (2010)	65.4
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line (% of population) (2010)	60.0
Income share held by lowest 20% (2007)	2.0

Education

School enrollment, primary (% gross) (2010)	115.7
Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) (2007)	83.6

Health

Health expenditure, total (% of GDP) (2009)	6.0
Physicians (per 1,000 people)	..
Improved water source, rural (% of rural population with access) (2008)	77.0
Improved sanitation facilities, rural (% of rural population with access) (2008)	62.0
Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) (2009)	0.8

Agriculture and Food

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) (2009)	18.8
Food production index (1999-2001 = 100) (2009)	145.0
Crop production index (1999-2001 = 100) (2009)	153.0
Cereal yield (kg per hectare) (2009)	1,751.6
Fertilizer consumption (100 grams per hectare of arable land) (2008)	107.7

Environment

Land area (sq. km) (2010)	111,890.0
Forest area (% of land area) (2010)	46.4
Arable land (% of land area) (2009)	9.1
Irrigated land (% of cropland)	0.0

Economic Indicators

GNI per capita, Atlas method (current US$) (2010)	1,870.0
GDP (current US$) (2010)	15,400,319,554.0
GDP per capita growth (annual %) (2010)	0.7
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) (2010)	4.7
Agriculture, value added (% of GDP) (2010)	12.5
Industry, value added (% of GDP) (2010)	26.5
Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP) (2010)	18.4
Services, etc., value added (% of GDP) (2010)	60.9
General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP) (2010)	18.0
Household final consumption expenditure, etc. (% of GDP) (2010)	79.8
Gross domestic savings (% of GDP) (2010)	2.2

Trade

Merchandise exports (current US$) (2010)	5,741,923,698.0
Merchandise imports (current US$) (2010)	8,549,547,323.0
Balance of merchandise trade (US$ million) (2010)	-2,807,623,625.0
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) (2010)	797,390,628.3

Government finance

Revenue, excluding grants (% of GDP) (2009)	21.0
Expense (% of GDP) (2009)	24.3
Present value of debt (% of GNI) (2010)	14.0
Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and income) (2010)	7.6
Official development assistance and official aid (current US$) (2009)	457,100,000.0
Deposit interest rate (%) (2010)	9.8
Lending interest rate (%) (2010)	18.9
External debt, total (DOD, current US$) (2010)	4,167,957,000.0

Technology and infrastructure

Mobile phone subscribers	0.0
Fixed line and mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people)	0.0
Personal computers (per 100 people)	0.0
Internet users (per 100 people) (2010)	11.1

Source(s)

Source: World Bank Indicators