Besides the orphanage the other main part of our time was spent as part of a prison ministry in Abomey.
After a lot of back and forth, when it looked like we wouldn't be granted permission on time to go into the prison, but it worked out better than we could imagine.
In the end we were granted permission to meet with the under-age prisoners in a enclosed area of the prison. 22 young men and 2 young women between 12-20. It turned out that that enclosed space and knowing that the under-age inmates lived in a closed off area was the biggest blessing you could imagine.
To explain: the Abomey prison was built in colonial times with a maximum capacity of 400 prisoners at any given time. Anno 2010 the prison houses over 1000 inmates..
To get to the walled off juvinel area we had to walk through the main prison.. wauw.. I can hardly describe it in words. SO many people, living in such small and basic conditions. The place was.. I dont know...
Working with inmates was not something I would have ever voluntarily chosen if I'm completely honest (and I usually am). But from the first words of welcome from one of the young guys something snapped. The young guys in here were nothing different to the orphans at the home. Yes they were taller, stronger and had a past I didn't even want to hear about, but all the wanted was to have people care.
Saying that the first conversation weren't much more than: 'what can you give us?' Can't fault a man from trying..
Each morning, 6 days, we went in there, each morning we did a skit (they really enjoyed the humour), each morning we shared testimonies and stories, each morning we took time to just be with them. And by the time the last days came around I walked into that prison to visit friends. I wasn't scared, I no longer saw a mass group but individual faces and personalities.
In our absence now, 3 locals pastors and our driver that week will be carrying on the visits and we have already heard encouraging stories.
And what do I do? I pray.. I beg.. I try in my arrogance to intercede with the Most Holy for these young men and woman. That God may be there, and they may know my Jesus.
Please pray with me.
While being in a place of few/no luxuaries, these men may have one of the best opportunities to take time to put life into perspective.
ReplyDeleteBut they need someone to tell them of God and guide them...
Good to hear that there are willing bodies.
In being challenged yourself, you also challenge us, Ben!