God blesses Diane and Gary at the end of language training

If you know Gary well, you might find yourself describing him as organized or motivated or determined. In the last handful of years, his family and close friends have also come to see him humbled by God's design and reflective about what that means to him, his life and his purpose. Here is an example of how that looks in his ministry as they finished up two months in language school.  

The last two days of our visit to Medellin have been amazing! And very much a blessing as they come at the end of two long long months filled with homesickness and bouts with doubt.

We felt discouraged after the eight weeks of school. Diane and I spent time talking with each other and wondering if it was even worth it trying to learn Spanish. But both yesterday and today in Bella Vista and Pedregal Prisons, we were speaking our broken Spanish to the volunteers, pastors, and the inmates. We were quickly reminded that these are the people we came to learn Spanish for. And they are very forgiving and helpful when we make mistakes. Many of them know some English so there is an exchange of both languages that is good for all of us. 

We have been learning about the APAC program during our last two visits here in Medellin. It stands for Association for the Protection and Assistance of Prisoners. We are very impressed with it and how it is used to help reintegrate the prisoners into society. We are still learning the details of how they roll this out in the community, but we understand  that there is a heavy emphasis on Christianity and a belieft that change of heart leads to a changed person. Other strong emphases include work ethics, moral standards, as well as learning a trade to earn money when they are released.  We hope with the help of the Lord we can take this program to Honduras.

Over the last couple of months, we have questioned why we were called to Colombia. This program here has been the model for prison reform with Christianity as the central theme for many years. I find myself thinking there seems to be nothing we can do for them. Then God reminds me that my ways are not His ways. And today, as happens each time we enter a prison here in Colombia, we were thanked profusely for coming. Just being there. Just showing up. Just showing interest and enthusiasm and support. And I am reminded that we didn't get sent here by anyone but God. His plan. His purpose.

It happens in Honduras too. It is hard for us to imagine how important it is to those in prisons that someone from the United States would visit. We now can speak a little bit to them too. And that seems to mean so much. They don't judge us if we use the wrong verb tense. They are just happy we are trying. And honored to host us and share with us.

So in the coming months we will be trying to learn more about the APAC program and praying that the Lord will use us to get it integrated in the prisons of Honduras. It seems like a big project, but we remember that nothing is too big for our God and ALL of this has been His idea from the start.

A look back at January in Colombia

Take a look back with Diane at one of the days on their January trip to Colombia. 

Saturday, January 28

This was an amazing day! As always, we were not sure what we were getting into! Monica, our translator and friend, told us it was a three hour trip and it would be hot there. That's all we knew. We did not know they were distributing Samaritan's Purse gifts until we saw them in the back of the four wheel drive vehicle. We should have had a clue from that!! 

We were told that this village was part of the restoration program that Prison Fellowship is involved in. Many villages were destroyed and people were killed by the guerrillas in the drug wars. Some of that still goes on but things are getting better, especially with programs like these. The church that we were in today was destroyed but built back up by a combined effort of the villagers and Prison Fellowship workers. This village is three hours from Medellin. At least two hours of this travel is not on paved roads. They need to use a four wheel drive and even then it is still very dangerous. These roads were far worse than any we have been on in Honduras. Because of this, a missionary family lives there to minister to the village. Pastor Edward's brother and sister in law and their daughter are those missionaries. They are very far from civilization. They do have electricity, running water, or cable so it is still very rustic. They had to get a cat, because the mice were overrunning their house! They carry a large machete to kill snakes when they go out at night!!

When we got there we drove up an unbelievably steep drive to get to the church. We had to back down that same hill when we left!!! 

While we were there, the pastor and his wife sang songs and read a Bible story to the children and parents. Then they passed out the candy we had brought. Then it was time to distribute the gifts. The children were very excited but there was no pushing or anything. They sat in their seats until the presents were passed out. Then they quietly opened them. They even loved looking at each other's presents and there seemed to be no jealousy at all. It was such a special time. 

Then when we were all done we left, backing down the very steep hill to the pastor's house. They all walked up and down, like it was nothing! Once I realized what we were doing I wished I would have walked. Then the pastor's wife served us lunch. It was amazing. They have so little and yet they were sharing with us.

Many of the people in this place do not have cars. They either walk or use horses or mules. It really was like stepping back in time. But they seemed happy and now that they have Jesus, things will be better for them. This is part of the saturation project - the goal of which is for all of Colombia to be presented the Gospel.

Colombia Catch Up

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

January 25, 2016

Location: Medellin, Colombia

                          Bella Vista Chapel, Bella Vista Prison -

This morning upon arrival at Bella Vista prison, we were processed through security and quickly led deep into the prison where we entered the Chapel area, up a flight of stairs and into a brightly lit corner office where we sat down with five or six inmates and one volunteer from CCC who were chapel leaders among the inmates at Bella Vista prison.

They each in turn offered their testimony regarding where they had come from and how God and the work of Jesus Christ had changed their lives.  Their stories were all deeply moving and inspiring because faith in Jesus Christ had changed their lives completely.  Each of their stories would be a fascinating tale, but the one story which seemed to stand out was that of Javier Mosquera Mosquera.

Javier was one of the largest and blackest men I have ever seen, with a booming voice and an unquenchable enthusiasm.

Javier, who now oversees the chapel ministry, visits the prison each and every day.  As he walked around the prison yards he greeted each and every inmate and correctional officer by name in that booming voice and a large smile.  As he passed, almost without exception, he left smiles in his wake.

It was only later that we heard that he "was a very bad man " in his youth and was feared by many.  He had spent 22 years in Bella Vista prison before being paroled because of the dramatic change in his behavior and outlook on life.  All of this according to and loudly proclaimed by him to be the result of Jesus Christ filling his heart and changing him from the inside out.

Thursday January 26 afternoon

After a long morning at Pedregal prison we were told we were going back to the Prison Fellowship office. There we met Monica again, who has been a translator for us in the past. She is in charge of the Micro Loan programs. This program is for women whose husband or family member is in prison. This makes it difficult for them to earn a living. Prison Fellowship has partnered with the local government of Medellin to provide this money. It is a low interest loan to help them begin a home based business. This way they can raise their families and still earn a living. 

We went with Jason, the government representative and Monica, and a driver who was capable of driving where we were going because where we went it took special driving expertise. We traveled almost to the very top of the poorest hillside communities of Medellin. The roads are paved, but very steep and narrow. And only single lane!! And there were people walking on the road too! Then big busses and trucks would be coming the other direction! It was very scary! They said not many drivers would even go up where we went. The view was amazing. But it was very scary!

The first woman we saw had a sewing business and was thinking of also  starting a beauty salon business. She was asking for advice on what to do. The government representative was someone who was trained in business so he could advise her. She even asked Gary for some advice. I think people think with age comes wisdom!

The second woman was younger and lived with her parents. She had a baby but wanted to open a beauty salon in an area of her house. We were able to be there when they signed the papers for her loan. We prayed with her at the end. It will be very interesting to follow up with these two cases to see the results. 

This is another aspect of Prison Fellowship's community programs that help people in their everyday lives. 

Forgotten story from Diane

For this blog entry, I was looking over the unpublished pieces that Gary and Diane have submitted and I stumbled on this overlooked gem from Diane that is over nine months old. But as I'm learning, God often has reasons for even my sporadic post choosing! So enjoy!

This is a story about how the Lord is taking care of us. We are terrible at asking for contributor for funding our travel. We know some would count it as a privilege to partner with us, but still we find it difficult to ask. 

On our last evening in Medellin (summer 2016) we were staying at the hotel close to the airport since we had a very early morning flight. We were sitting having a cold drink in the hospitality area in the hotel when another couple from the United States came. They heard us speaking English and asked if we minded if they would join us. They were young successful accountants and very nice people. We were able to share why we were there and about the prison ministry in Columbia. They seemed interested but not blown away! It was a very enjoyable evening and we were able to say goodbye the next morning since they were on an equally early flight!  

This evening was unique for us because at one time we would have just never struck up a conversation with strangers let alone talking about the Gospel. But serving the Lord has changed us in so many ways. We are not only less hesitant to speak of spiritual matters but the Holy Spirit has given us boldness to do it. We are so excited about what we do we can hardly keep quiet!

But the best part of this story came just last week. Gary was checking our OMS account to see where we are with funding for this next trip. When he noticed a name of a donor that he did not recognize! We don't have that many, so we know them all! Through the power of the Internet he was able to find that it was the couple that we met that night in the hotel! And this is how The Lord is taking care of us and enabling us to do His work. He is teaching us to depend on Him. And He is providing more than we could every imagine! We are thankful to be His servants. And thank you all for your prayers and support.

Greetings from Gary in Medellin!

Gary sent this email update last week to their small group from church and I thought it was just too good not to share! Enjoy!

Hello from Medellin-

Just a note to tell you all that we are surviving here in Colombia.  It seems every time we come to Colombia we have a problem with our e-mail account. We are only able to receive e-mail on our gmail accounts.  We both miss keeping in touch with the our life groups.  

We have successfully completed our initial level one training and we have six more weeks of study. While we have done little in the way of prison ministry here so far, we have taken opportunities presented us with fellow students at the university from around the world who are here learning to speak Spanish.  They have been curious about what we are doing and have asked many questions about God and Jesus Christ and as possible we have had short conversations during breaks and before and after class.  It is interesting to discuss such issues with "post moderns" from the areas of the world where Christianity and the Church were once so strong in centuries past and see that many have drawn away or are uninformed about God and Christ.  They seem to be almost completely ignorant of the concept of God, but they are interested!

One speech we had to give was on who is the most important person or the most influential person in your life.  That provided the starting point when I explained that Jesus Christ is the most important person in my life.

Anxious to share more of what is happening when we return, mid June.

Letters and Miracles from Colombia - Diane

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

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

Wednesday January 25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Diane's Word for 2017

Each year for the last few, a small group of us have chosen a word or prayed about God giving them a word to focus and filter our life through for a year. We exchange emails every so often about how God is using that word to teach, grow and mold us. Diane gave me permission to share her last response regarding her 2017 word - OBEDIENCE.

Everywhere I turn, I get such strong confirmation that my word Obedience was truly the one for me. Recently I was part of a Priscilla Shirer study called One In A Million. It was a study about the Israelites journey through the wilderness. I realized that going to language school is my wilderness journey. It may not be as traumatic as some are called to be in, but still it is a very difficult thing for me to face. I know without a doubt that the Lord has called me to do this. So I am confident that He will sustain me through it. This study has reminded me that I cannot serve Him in this ministry on my own power. And the language learning is at the top of that list! I also realized that I must be positive and thankful about God's ability to enable me to learn Spanish. I must not be negative! And I will try to be grateful for this opportunity to serve Him. 

One of the quotes from the study really spoke to me, "If we want access to our full inheritance, we have to engage in active faith that illustrates our belief in God's ability and move forward in full confidence." 

So with His help, I will obey and go to language school as an indication of my active faith, that illustrates my belief in God's ability. To be able to do this I know I will have to begin each day with Him in prayer and His Word. Your prayers would be appreciated too 😊! 

And now, they are a week into the language studies she referred to in the here. MAYBE this was timed perfectly to be a reminder to her as well. Would you join me in praying that both Gary and Diane allow God to work powerfully within them to just make it click! He's so big, he surely can do that!