The Story Continues

The blog has been quiet for the last four months but that has not been for lack of things to write about. In the intervening months, we had the holiday season and my husband and I (blog admin and oldest daughter, Dena Masterino) have been in the process of deciding to move to Ohio, closer to family. So as we planned and explored and now pack and prepare, the blog has suffered some silence. But for whatever reason God has motivated me to make time to get in here and post some of the backlog of stories that my parents have shared over the last four months. I don't know if it even matters that the stories aren't up to the moment. God's work isn't only powerful when it's fresh. It stands the test of time. 



*******Wednesday August 15

Today we visited the women’s prison of Tamara. They had a graduation of about 80 women from The Prisoners Journey Program. This is an evangelism program specifically designed for Prisoners. We have been involved in this prison for about three years. They have graduated many women from The Train and Multiply Program but some have moved to other prisons and some have been released. So it was determined that it was time to reach a new group of women with the Gospel. From our observation today, it was a great success. There was enthusiasm and eagerness on the faces of all of these women. They were mostly young, but there was quite an age range represented.

Herasmo spoke and then each of us said a few words of encouragement. After this the group leader read the names of the women and each one came to the front and was presented with a Bible and her certificate of completion of the program. One of the guards loaned her phone so that pictures could be taken of each of the women as they received their certificate. After everyone was done they took a picture of them all holding up the Certificates! Beautiful! Then after they were dismissed they were excited to get small group pictures together. You could see that many relationships had been built along with coming to faith.

Next they will begin the Train and Multiply Program, which is a discipleship program designed to help them grow in their new faith in Jesus. We are grateful to be a part of this program and to see the fruit of the Gospel in the prisons of Honduras.

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.

Thanksgiving for the work God is doing!

As we all settle down for gatherings with family and friends to begin this season of Thanksgiving to count our blessings, here is a reminder from Gary and Diane's recent visit to Honduras. Strung throughout is evidence of all the gratitude and thanks we have for the amazing things God is doing. This is also a time for Gary and Diane to say thank you for all of the support and prayers that you have offered them since this adventure began. All of us have so much to be thankful for during this special season.

November 7

   

Today we went to the city of Tamara to visit the National Men's Prison there. There are about 4,000 men housed there.  The day was beautiful and cool. We were taken to a very nice open air worship area. There we would participate in the graduation of about 40 men from the Prisoner's Journey Program. This is is 6-8 week program of evangelism and introduction to Jesus. Then immediately following they will be going on to do the Train and Multiply Program, which will train them in discipleship in the coming year. This will prepare them to be mature followers of Jesus. At the graduation they were given a Bible and a diploma. Most had never had a Bible before. It was a treasure to them. We were blessed to shake their hands and witness this wonderful celebration. 

Across the rest of that prison, programs are being held in Train and Multiply and the Prisoner's Journey. A total of 980 men are actively involved in these programs throughout the prison system since the program started approximately one year ago.  One amazingly beautiful thing beautiful is that the Catholic Church there at the prison is holding a class in The Prisoner's Journey! This kind of collaboration does not happen often, but as it happens more frequently we as "The Church,"will be able to help fulfill the One Billion Vision that the Lord has given to OMS - one billion lives reached with the Gospel message in the next 10 years. We are so blessed to be a small part of what the Lord and His servants are doing in the prisons of Honduras.🙏🙏

After the ceremony we were introduced to another group of volunteers who work in the prison of Tamara. One of them spoke English! He had been in prison in the US when he found Jesus! So now he is working here in Honduras to bring the Gospel to his fellow prisoners. He also wants to work together with Prison Fellowship Honduras. So the Lord orchestrates the meetings of His hands and feet! We see this often! The love of our Savior and The Gospel bringing us together.

Another special moment happened at the closing of the ceremony. They brought us pop and two small chicken burritos to eat. So sweet and generous. Herasmo said we should try to eat it because they want to share this special time with us. So Gary and I and Herasmo drank the pop and ate the burritos 🌯 with them. It was their celebration and we were honored to share in it. Herasmo knows I sometimes have problems with the foods here, but I knew the Lord would bless this food that they shared with us. Another blessing to end the wonderful morning.

Another PS to this story! As I was writing this I neglected to share that Gary was able speak a word of encouragement to the graduates! He told them how much of a blessing the success of this program is to us and to both OMS and Prison Fellowship International. They woven into our lives,hearts and prayers.🙏

Another entry from Diane's Travel Journal

Below is one of the journal entries Diane sent from their last trip to Honduras. It gives us another glimpse into their activities when they are out of the country. At this moment, you are probably aware that they are in Medellin, Colombia. Please be praying for vision and direction as they take on a new role for OMS in that country.

Thursday

A visit to El Progresso prison and then return to Tegucigalpa to pack for the trip home tomorrow.

First some observations about El Progresso the town. It is very poor. We saw some of the worst conditions of any town. Much poverty and very sad conditions.

Before the prison we went to Sister Lillian's house. We did not know why. Then it was explained to us that  they were presenting her with the equipment necessary to run the The Prisoners Journey, or TPJ program, in the prison. They provided her with a TV, a DVD player, and the necessary things to run the program. This was given to her at the house so the prisoners did not misunderstand that it was for them. It is for them, but it is on loan from Prison Fellowship to run TPJ. This will be exciting to hear how many become involved by it's use.   Sister Lillian's house, while nicer than many in the area, is in disrepair and there are only rafters for a ceiling. And yet she spends many, many hours working in the prison and for the prisoners of El Progresso. She has been very dedicated for many years and had a wonderful group of T&M disciples. Many of them plan to be baptized in the coming months. We look forward to sharing in that with them. if not in person then on Facebook.

I have said before that El Progresso is the worst prison for conditions of all the ones we have seen here. But I realized today as we drove back the road to get there, that as the community goes, so goes the prison in that community. That had not struck me before. There is construction going on both inside and out of the prison. And  that adds to the turmoil of the place. It may make it better inside in the future, but now it is just a mess. Very difficult to even walk to the room where they meet. The floor is torn up and there are holes and trenches everywhere. You really had to be careful not to fall! Also, we got our feet all muddy and then tracked it all over the car. [Anyone who knows Diane will know that this must have driven her nuts to get that dirty and track it everywhere!! :)]

 But as I have stated before about El Progresso, the Lord is doing a mighty work there! These men are very dedicated to the program and to the Lord. They thanked us for coming and many wanted to shake our hands. The head man then spoke a few words and then Herasmo gave a short message. Gary also spoke and told them how happy we are about how well the program is doing. He said we bring blessings from the United States and prayers. While we were shaking hands with them, one man came up to us and was telling me something about his wife. (That was all I could understand of it). Then when he knew I was not immediately understanding, he went to get a man who could speak English to translate. The man said that this inmate had a wife who was pregnant and needed a test. He was asking for money from us because he had none for her to get the test.  It was sad. I told him I would pray that the Lord would provide the money for her to have the test. I guess that is one reason they don't want us to take money in. There is always a story, some may be true and some may not, but we would certainly be tempted to give them what they asked for.

It is a very sad place to visit but the spirit of the Lord is there and they are rich in love for Him. They really have to believe that this world is not their home. 

Diane also adds:

As always when we visit the prison, we are blessed to be a small part of what the Lord is doing in the prisons of Honduras.

From the pages of Diane's travel journal.......

Sometime during their last trip to Honduras, Diane writes.....

Today we got up early and the four of us went to the National Prison of Tamara. We were meeting Pastor Miguel who came on his motor cycle and one other pastor there who facilitated our entering the prison. They said they might not let me in being the only woman, as Nora did not go because of her knee. There was  a lot of walking to get to the chapel. 

The weather was dry, pleasant and sunny  but a little cool first thing in the morning. But at the prison, unlike most times when we visit, there was a nice breeze and very pleasant. We were in an open air room surrounded by much activity. Lots of laundry being hung out, people wandering about, roosters crowing and other noises from other parts of the prison. But in spite of all of these distractions the 10 men who were the volunteers participating were  very attentive and participated very well. Herasmo did the first half of the lesson(24), while Miguel did the second half. The men did an excellent job of reading the scripture passages and most stood when they read, showing respect. There were others who stopped by or sat down  but did not stay and they did not receive booklets. But they may be interested enough to participate in the next session of T&M. The potential is great in this prisoners because of the high number of inmates 2,000-2,500. Divided into 4 or 5 sections, we were only seeing one section today. It was wonderful to be present in the early stages, so we can see the growth when we return next time. All of the volunteers came and shook our hands and hugged us. Saying blessings to us. And we in turn blessed them. 

One inmate who was not part of the volunteers to be trained came and spoke to us in English. He had a sad story. He lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota and married an American girl - he also had a daughter. Then something happened, he didn't tell us what, that they made home come back to Tegucigalpa to jail and he has been there ever since. It seems so sad. But we do not know the whole story.

We decided to give Pastor Miguel one of our Spanish Streams in the Desert books. Gary signed it and everything but we did not get to give it to him. We got there first, he was on his motorcycle and when he got there we had forgotten about the book. We had to leave before he did so we did not see him after at all.  Things get complicated sometimes.

After we left the prison, we went to a mall for lunch. We had Subway and they let Gary pay. With only a little grumbling. 

This is just a sample of one of our days when we are in country in Honduras. We love going and are blessed to be a part of this prison ministry. This was an account from our last trip in January of 2016.

Train & Multiply - Gary Tells Us How This is Just the Beginning

As I have explained to some of you, in addition to the work we are helping with in Latin American prisons, God has laid it on our hearts to take the same Train & Multiply material to the local prison in Leavittsburg, OH at Trumbull Correctional Institution.

I had explained last year that a class of 10-15 disciples were regularly meeting where they were provided instruction, materials and encouragement to go out in the prison compound among their fellow inmates and begin talking about Jesus and inviting them to begin participating in small Bible studies.

That Train & Multiply class finished up and we held a graduation ceremony in December of 2015.  These inmates had become brothers in Christ over the period of 4 months when we were studying together.  These gentlemen have been meeting together now for about eight months and asked to keep the group together discussing Biblical issues, life problems and how to walk a Godly life in the prison. 

We recently started another class.  This time around, the members of that first class are teaching the material to a second generation of “church planters” for the prison.  Eleven men are now being taught the same principles by the men they responded to when asked if they would like to learn about Jesus. 

Each graduate was asked to submit 1-2 names of individuals that they thought were good candidates for the leadership training and those gentlemen were issued invitations.  Thirty one men were invited and at the first meeting 15 responded.  The attendance has leveled off at 12-13 and the enthusiasm and interest of these men is even greater than that of the first class.  I believe they are responding so positively because they are being  taught by a fellow inmate - someone who has walked in their shoes and has the same life experience as they have.

It is a slow start, but we were talking on Tuesday evening about saturation ministry  - where you contact every single person and offer them the opportunity to come to know Jesus Christ.  With a population in that facility of approximately 1500 inmates, one of them quickly calculated that between the present class and those from the previous class that if each one talked to one new person every day and they talked to a new person every day and so on, they wouldn’t have anyone new or unreached to talk to by the second week.  He has grasped the concept of multiplication and how that is the only way to reach the world for Jesus Christ.

It makes me ask, what if each of us did that ev

ery day, what would the world look like.

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.

Quick picture of the area outside the prison

Diane found this one photograph of El Progreso - the area outside the prison where they park - and thought she could share after the post on Friday.

Just to clarify, they are not permitted to take photographs inside the prison - at least not that prison. Others in their party have permission and they often get usable photographs later on. That's one of the reasons that you may see a lot of pictures of Gary and Diane's time with their hosts at lunches or downtime but much fewer pictures of the actual work they are doing inside the prisons.

We also don't get to see any photographic evidence of the difficult traveling that they do. A snapped photo here and there doesn't do much justice to the hours of road travel they do to reach these prisons. And don't be fooled. This is not like a few hours on the turnpike. This is Latin America and travel is much rougher. And my mom is rather famous for her car sickness. She brings a long plenty of motion sickness medicine but unfortunately has to leave the travel cushion at home. Maybe Gary can film some video next time to give us an idea of what travel is like.

Gary and Diane's comfort with their work does not in any way come from it's ease. It comes from a supernatural work that God is doing in them to give them what they need to do the work. Keep praying everyone. It's about to get pretty amazing.

A View into El Progreso Prison from Diane

I have said previously that El Progreso is the worst prison for conditions that we have seen so far. And that fact was still true on this last trip. But I realized as we drove back the dirt road to get there, that as the community goes, so goes the prison in that community. That had not been so apparent on previous trips. It was there but I did not make the connection. This city seems to be quite poverty stricken. Even the nicer homes were in much need of repair. Upon going into the prison we came on construction both inside and out. That adds to the turmoil that you feel before you even go in. The repairs may make things better inside in the future, but now it is just a mess. It was very difficult to even walk to the meeting room. We had to navigate holes and mud and trenches and loose grating. You had to be very careful where you walked for fear of falling.

But in spite of these awful conditions or maybe because of them, the Lord is doing a mighty work there! These men are very dedicated to the Train and Multiply Program and to spreading the Gospel. They thanked us for coming and wanted to shake our hands. The leader of their group spoke a few words then Herasmo gave a short message. Gary also spoke and told them how happy we were about how well they were doing with the program. He said we bring blessings from the United States and prayers. Then more hand shaking and blessings followed. While we were shaking hands, one man came up to us and was telling us something about his wife (wife was the only word we understood). Then when he knew were were not understanding anything else, he went to get another inmate who spoke English. The man told us that this inmate had a wife who was pregnant and needed a test. He was asking for money so that she could have the test. It was sad and a little frustrating. We told him we would pray that the Lord would provide the necessary money for the test. I guess that is the reason they don't want us to take money or anything else in with us. 

There is always a story, some may be true and some may not, but we certainly would be tempted to try to help in whatever way we could. It is a very discouraging place to visit - on the surface. But there is also the Spirit of the Lord working in these men and they are "rich" in love for Him. They really do believe this world is not their home. It is always a blessing for us to visit to witness what The Lord is doing in El Progreso.

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!

Celebrate the most precious gift

At this time of year, we take time to celebrate the anticipation of this manger filled with the most precious gift we can imagine. He gave his Son while we sat on earth a mess. Wounded, broken, hurting or self-righteous and not admitting our need for Him. Hard to grasp. I find myself buying gifts out of obligation many years. Buying just a little more to make things even. Ugh. But the most meaningful gifts should be those we consider making to those in need. Matthew 25:36 is the namesake of this blog and in it Jesus says, "I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."  The gifts I am giving this year that are out of THAT place that Jesus has created with that statement mean the most. As Gary and Diane continue to pursue the often forgotten and neglected in the prisons of both Latin America and in our own backyard in this country with the message of TRUE HOPE in Jesus Christ, would you consider a generous gift to their ministry? They won't tell you this but they are leaned into Him in a way they never thought possible because God is moving you to provide where they are not sufficient to do so. Hoping your giving in all areas brings hope to the world, joy to your heart and glory to our amazing God in Heaven. Merry Christmas.

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Reflecting on our time in Medellin, Columbia - Diane

We were so busy when we were in Columbia earlier this fall that there was very little time for writing or even reflecting about what was happening there. Now it has been awhile since we have been home and time has flown. As I look back, I realize what an immense privilege it was for us to be a part of those meetings. There were people from all over the world who are committed to prison ministry in their own countries. We were a part of the group sharing what the Lord is doing in each country to further His ministry. We learned a lot. But one of the special things that happened there was the friends we made in that short time. Naturally, when people of like faiths and like callings come together there was much that drew us together. We especially connected with a Pastor from Costa Rica who also does Kairos! We pray that the Lord allows us to cross paths again some day. Also we became friends with a lady from Puerto Rico who has a huge heart for prison ministry. These friendships are very encouraging to us, since many people do not understand our calling to prison ministry.
   

Another wonderful aspect of our trip was the visit to Pedregal Prison. It is a maximum security prison in Medellin. We had to go through three different security points and a drug sniffing dog! But once we did, it was an amazing visit. We learned about a program that the women of this prison are involved in called APAC. It is a structured program that prepares them for re-entering society. They are free to move around the area of prison where there are no guards. They are trained in things like sewing, that will help them to earn a living upon their release. This area of the prison was painted white and was very cheery and bright. The girls all wore uniforms that were also a cheerful yellow and white. They shared a small part of their stories and we had an interpreter with us so we did not miss a thing! They spoke about how important their faith is in their lives and their return to their families and homes.   They seemed happy and appreciative of the privilege of being in this program.

After the meeting they all came over and gave us hugs! That is the part that surpasses all language barriers! The love of Christ unites us.

As always, with every trip we are so blessed by what God has called us to do. We are humbled each and every time too. We are only able to do this in His strength and power. We thank Him for this calling on our lives.

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.

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.

Prison Ministry to Honduras May- June 2014

Hola friends!

Diane and I are just back from our recent trip to Honduras and we wanted to share some of what we experienced.  We plan on sharing some of the story of how we got to this point in the blog later on but wanted to keep you updated as our mission really begins to pick up speed!  Here are a few excerpts/ photos from our travel log.  Please comment and ask any questions you like!!  We welcome it!

Prison Ministry to Honduras

May-June 2014

May 28, 2014 - Wednesday

Our first day in Honduras - arrived about mid-day.  Met our hosts, Nora Reyes and Erasmo Ramirez and their son, Herasmo.  Nora and Erasmo are the leaders of Prison Fellowship in Honduras.  Dollys Galindo, the trainer, arrived about 6:00PM from Medellin, Colombia.   

May 29, 2014 – Thursday

Adjustment and seeing some local color. First went to the local Prison Fellowship Int'l Church.  Worked in the office and set things up for the meeting on Saturday.  Then to two local “pueblos”  or towns to see some colonial type architecture and overlooks of Tegucigalpa.

May 30, 2014 – Friday

Early departure.  Drove 4 hours to get to Mercala to visit the local “state jail” - approximately 150-200 inmates.  We were welcomed by inmates and prison officials, alike.  I gave a brief greeting and told them how much we appreciated being there and and Dollys spoke to their hearts.  Wonderful reception and fellowship with inmates and correctional officers, as well.

May 31-June 1, 2014 – Saturday and Sunday

First day of instruction for the Train & Multiply Program…15 Students, all prison volunteers and part of the Confraternidad Carcealria de Honduras, i.e. Prison Fellowship of Honduras.  Started at 8:00 AM and lasted til 5:00 PM  

Sunday we finished with a prayer walk around the neighborhood of the church.  The people were open and receptive to prayer and listening to the story of Jesus and salvation offered by Him for each of us.

June 2, 2014 – Monday

This day was for going to the Nacionales Parque and seeing one of the most famous sites in Tegucigalpa, the Cristo de el Picacho, a 75 foot statue of Jesus Christ that stands overlooking Tegucigalpa from one of the surrounding mountains.

June 3, 2014 – Tuesday

Today we spent the day getting to and visiting two prisons about 2 hours outside of Tegucigalpa.  The first was a larger central prison, the second was a smaller prison where we were told they might not even allow us in.  We were delivering contributed medicines and sanitary and personal care items to each prison.  The prisons were located in La Paz and Comayagua. 

Unfortunately, we were not permitted to take pictures inside the prison.  We not only were able to get into that second prison, we were able to conduct a church service!  And we had great reception and were invited to come back anytime we liked!  God continues to amaze us!

June 4, 2014 - Wednesday

We had a down day and took Dollys to the airport right after noon and really didn’t do much.  I think we needed it - we were kind of worn down!

June 5, 2014 - Thursday

We were whisked off by Nora’s brother and sister-in-law who had lived in the US for 20 years but spoke only broken English.  They took us to the mountains on the other side of Tegucigalpa where we saw a very real and very old Honduran town with a mission church from 1823 still in use. We had lunch with them, returned to Tegucigalpa and had tea with them at the Mall and returned to Erasmo and Nora’s home about 7:00PM.

June 6, 2013 - Friday

We got ready and went to the airport mid morning and we were in airports and on planes from 10:30AM Friday until almost 2:00AM Saturday.  We stayed the rest of the night with our daughter Dena and then drove back to Aurora, OH and got home about Noon on Saturday.