Thursday, February 28

Wednesday Thanks - We want to thank our van drivers, Carlos and Fredy. Even though they only speak Spanish, we are really starting to communicate with them AND they keep smiling through getting lost, being late, extreme heat while they wait in the van for us to finish projects, etc. Fredy drove the paint team and helped paint and both of them enjoyed time playing with the kids at Exodo orphange. They both love God and it shows!

Thursday, February 28 - For the experience at the Marino Prison this morning, you are going to want to speak to a team member. It was remarkable in many ways and this blog cannot begin to do justice other than to give a brief insight. The Scripture passage to share today, now looking back at the day, is: Psalm 18: 1-3 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Here we are, a group of 21 Americans, walking through gate after gate, surrounded by prisoners and guards as we were escorted to the main open area of the Marino Prison, which houses 3500 prisoners. This open area is for the prisoners with the best behavior, and others who are allowed in for certain periods of the day and/or worship services. If you looked above the high walls with razor wire, the guard tower, the hillside with guards, and the concrete block cells the beauty of God's creation was visible with an incredible view of one magnificent mountain framed by a crystal blue sky. When your gaze drifted back down, however, the reality of life in a prison was evident. Prisoners, dressed in street clothes, were handwashing laundry and hanging it up or laying it beneath rocks to dry. Others were playing basketball, sitting individually, or standing in groups. At times, a prisoner would go walking through this entire open area shouting out the names of prisoners who had visitors waiting on them. Our first hour was spent visiting with the prisoners, either thru interpreters or speaking with those who knew English. As it is most unusual to have visitors inside the prison, they were reluctant initially to come up. However, it did not take long until there were groups surrounding us. Most of whom we spoke with were professing Christians being prisoners who were pastors (about 12 pastors within the prison), worship leaders, or others who had come to be there for the service. The moments became even more amazing as the worship service started. Tarps strung together created the shade for the band - complete with keyboard,drums, and guitars; worship leaders; and pastors. The rest of the prisoners and most of our group sat/stood in the sun for an over two hour worship service. We were surrounded by 500 men singing their hearts out in praise to God. When pastors or members of our group spoke, their attention was focused. Many had their own Bibles to look up the Scriptures in. One of our team members had a prisoner interpet the service for him into English. At times this prisoner added his own comments to what was being said which showed an understanding of the Scriptures and a need for a personal relationship with God. His comments included that when he had lived outside the prison walls, he looked to God without relying upon God. Inside the prison, he looks up and relies on God all the time as God is his strength. The Director of the Prison, a professing Christian, joined us in the worship service. As the service proceeded, the Director felt the Holy Spirit leading him to speak. His voice was humbling as he shared, among other things, that in Christ we are all brothers and sisters.
After this time of sharing, our team split into the paint crew, which went to Iglesia Jehova Provee Church to help paint the Sunday School area, and the rest of the team which went to the Hogar del Nino orphanage. We joined together for a celebratory worship service at Iglesia where Bridges of Hope, in addition to painting, supplied basic food supplies, clothing, and for the Sunday School area had paid for five windows and four children table/chair sets.
From a cultural standpoint, remember that El Salvador has one side bordering the Pacific Ocean so fishing provides some of the income to this country. One of the members of the Iglesia congregation owns a shrimp boat. It provides the income for about five families. Every two days, they take the shrimp and sell it. The day before we visited him, they had caught 3000 pounds of shrimp!