Dec. 21 –So many looked like teenagers - Peca Prison

 

Ministry Partners, 

It seems impossible that in 23 days, I will be boarding the plane to fly home; my time here has gone far too quickly.

I believe the days have cooled just slightly and the evenings and mornings are just plain lovely. As we waited for dinner last night, Alfred took me on a walk around the hotel grounds to show me where he has been going for a run in the mornings and this morning the hotel owner saw and spoke to him. Our dinner of sweet & sour Pork with vegetable rice and broccoli (for me) and mixed vegies for the guys was delicious. The hotel has Christmas decorations up and are playing Christmas music but it just doesn’t FEEL like Christos. 

In this hot weather which would you choose, a plain metal “home” or a metal home covered with vines for cooling?

It is typical for us to see the metal homes used for solders and prison officers and some have gotten very inventive in this hot sunshine to try to cool their homes much as possible by planting vines of different types to cover the roofs and cascade down the sides.

Today was just a short drive, 20 min. to Peca men’s prison where we met by a lovely O.C. who invited us to visit in her office while the Catholics were finishing their mass. She told us they had arrived late so we waited for n hour for them to conclude. After the inmates sitting an hour for mass I was concerned that having them sit for another two hours would be a bit much. But, I do not know that I have ever seen a more attentive group of inmates, 197 men with their 7 officers including the O.C. who sat through our entire two hour presentation, although it was her day off. My inmate interpreter did a great job in Acholi but I must say I miss Alfred or Aaron interpreting for me.

I was surprised at how many of the inmates seemed so very young, they looked like teenagers. The O.C. had told us how so many were hopeless, how many wanted to commit suicide and how most had no family support because they had ben abandoned at a young age having no idea where their family even was. The hopeless I originally saw in their eyes was gone, their eyes were bright and smiles were on their faces by the time we concluded. They had received Christ as Savior, prayed forgiveness over their complainant of themselves and apologized to each other.

It was so nice to be close to the prison today and not have to drive over the bad roads, thank you Jesus for that special blessing.

I think there is time for me to get some other IRM business done before diner so I will get this posted now.

Thank you for following this blog during such a busy season and for praying for us, we appreciate each one of you.

That none would be lost,

Arlene