Nov. 14 - Two more prisons today

 

Ministry Partners,

We had another amazing day today. Breakfast was at 8 so we could be on the road by 9am arriving at the prisons at 10am. We found that the location was difficult to find due to a maze of roads coupled with road construction. But as we have before in like situations we stopped and procured a driver with his motor bike to escort us to the prison. It is always well worth the money ($5) so that we don't end up in some far village, loosing lots of time to get to the prison. With the help of the bike driver we arrived  just at our scheduled time, 10am.

The entrance at Kigo Men & Women's prison was interesting. The prisons are just a short distance apart and as we passed the women's section Alfred spoke O.C. (Officer-in- Charge = Warden) and told her we were scheduled to do the men's section first that we would return afternoon time. But when we got to the men's section and finally got inside they informed us that another group was there doing ministry and asked us if we would go back and do the women's section 1st and then do them after noon.

                                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Always such fun sharing a Gospel tract and scarf 

So, back we went to the women's section where we found 162 women some with babies. The O.C. was a very nice woman who actually sent me a thank you letter a couple of days ago through pastor peace for the supplies that piece delivered to her prison.I like it when the O CS gather all the women to come with no one out doing chores. We hadn't been going very long when it began to sprinkle and some of the women had to get up and go out to pick up some of their handwork that was laying open on the ground under a a tree . 

Once they begin to hear my testimony I certainly have their attention and then able to share the gospel . These women also responded to the three invitations , one for salvation , one for forgiveness and one to apologize . It is a great thing to watch and three of the women eagerly gave a testimony of what God had done in their hearts during our time there . When I finished the preaching portion I then gave the officer that was there 180 of the scarves for the women that were packaged and had been donated by my friends . But when I called for the mothers with babies to come forward it was so much fun fitting the darling children with one of the new crocheted caps that had been donated by Canby Foursquare women's crochet club.As I put a cap on the women applauded for each one.

Then it was off to return to the men's section and we were certainly in for a big surprise. Once we got inside we were greeted by a man who was a head pastor who said he had heard me speak before in 2019. He said his name was Mohamed and was originally a Muslim but now he was a Christian . He was accompanied by another man Julius who also said that he was a Muslim but was now a Christian. Mohamed said that when he had previously heard me speak that my talk on forgiveness had changed his life. Because of being disowned by his family for becoming a Christian he had had bitterness and un-forgiveness towards his mother but after hearing me talk and seeing our object lessons of being tied with a rope when you refuse to forgive, he said he knew he had to forgive his mother. He said his life was changed from that time forward.

Although I'm still having some issues with my right hip/sciatica but I didn't seem to notice anything as I preached to the men who were so intent on listening and responding to every invitation. Oh my goodness, it is such an amazing thing to be a part of what the Holy Spirit is doing here as he works on the hearts of the prisoners. At the very end of our time together it was so amazing to watch over 1,800 prisoners apologizing to each other and shaking each other's hands and then laughing with each other. What is sight!

Before leaving another prisoner who had heard me in 2019 said that when he first heard me speak years ago I came across as soft spoken and humble but today I came across as a most powerful woman preacher. I couldn't help it, it made me smile as I thanked him.

When we got back to the main office it is almost as much of an issue trying to get out as it was to when we came in. The medium and maximum security prisons here are quite different with their rules and regulations than the common village prisons.

I couldn't help it but on the way home I just had to put my seat down and close my eyes today, I was tired.

After dinner I knew I needed to get this blog done before I fell asleep in my chair. It's already after 8 so i will say goodnight.

That none would be lost,

Arlene