En route to the prison, we stopped at the dump to pick up some tile to work on the mosaic at the prison. Unfortunately, the people needed to open up the workshop weren't there. But that meant we got to get out of the van during the search for keys to the workshop and play with the kids--a few that we recognized from earlier in the week. Then, we were on to the prison.
At the women's prison, we had to check in through security, then got a tour. The prison is divided into sectors based on social class and gang affiliations. The justice system is reversed here in that you are guilty until proven innocent. So, many women have been sitting for a year or more in prison awaiting trial. Even those guilty may spend an excessive time in jail for relatively small crimes, and some owe huge fines for their crimes which they must pay off before they can be released. There is a section for mothers and their children. The children can remain with their mothers until age 4 when they must either live with other family or go to an orphanage.
The first stop after our tour was to a small isolation cell where 5 women were living. We got to hear their testimonies--all revolving around changes of heart which brought them closer to God and their faithfulness that He will provide for them even with very long sentences and no hope to be released. We prayed with them holding their hands through the bars and a few of them cried. It was an emotional experience.
After that, we went to the screen printing workshop where women have volunteered to take accredited courses on making shirts and can get a diploma without mention of their incarceration. We sat with a group of ladies there and shared a bit about ourselves. Most of the women own up quickly to their bad decisions, but miss their families terribly. Most have other family in jail. Money laundering is a common offense. After we shared, we prayed with them and then ate lunches with them. We had some fun conversations with lots of laughs. Many knew some English and I even tried my hand at some translating.
After lunch we headed to the recreation area to hang out and play games with the ladies. This area used to be a mix of the men's prison on the other side of the wall, and the women. Understandably this set up the opportunity for rape and other horrible things. 2 years ago, HRI had a wall built to allow separation of the two groups. HRI also improved the conditions of the court and basketball hoops.
Up to this point, I had still not been feeling so well, but after lunch I prayed God would give me the health to play games with the women. I jumped into a volleyball game with everyone and amazingly started feeling instantly better. We also played basketball and soccer. Every once in awhile, a ball would go flying to the other side where the men were and we had a good time shouting for the ball ("¡la peloooota!) until the men would throw it back.
A few of us sang with the ladies and I sang a solo for them in exchange for a solo from one of them. We just had an awesome, awesome time. Not your expectation of inmates whatsoever. The highlight was getting to give a gift to one of the inmates, Jessy, from Liz Franzen as they had connected on the college trip in June. Jessy asked if I would deliver a letter in return and, at the end of the day, she gave me a beautiful bracelet and a gift for Liz (Liz, we have to meet up soon!). What a wonderful heart! I was actually much more emotional leaving there today than the orphanage.
An interesting end to the trip was that Monica-our intern for the day ended up checking out one of the boys, Jesse, for the weekend. The children can leave the prison to visit family, but Monica has developed a relationship with Jesse and his mother and he is staying at the house and seeing the sights with Monica this weekend. I leave you with an angry face from Jesse.
We are having our final debrief tonight and we leave for the airport at 10 tomorrow. We have a quick layover in Houston where we have to go through customs, so prayers that we make our flight to Chicago on time!
¡Buenas noches!
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