Thursday we went to the prison. We didn’t get locked up, we went to preach there. It was Claudia, myself, our translator José and Lino, an ex-convict who used to be an inmate at this prison. Lino was going to preach today. We are only allowed to be there for an hour, from 3 till 4, so we arrive a bit before 3 and wait while they get the prisoners ready.
The prison system in Sofala province works in a way that for example if you rape your neighbour’s wife you get maybe 3 nights detention at the police station, you don’t even qualify to be sent to prison…
Those that want to take part in the service are all put into one cell, sitting in neat rows on the floor – the rest are locked in the other cell. There is a large concrete courtyard in the middle of the prison where the inmates spend their days, but when they open the gate to let us in it is deserted.
We are shown to the cell where the prisoners are waiting for us, they all sit quietly and wait for us to start. José opened in prayer then one of the prisoners started the singing and we joined in. Some of the guys just stared at us and did not sing, but others had their eyes closed and their hands raised in worship. They had put a grass mat down at the front for us to sit on and I had just made myself comfortable when Claudia nudged me and said, ‘That’s you’… That’s me what? ‘Just introduce yourself, you are the new face here’. Gulp. It wasn’t that bad, I just got real nervous suddenly!
The service went well, and there were 15 guys that came forward at the end, amazing – after we prayed for them some more came forward for prayer and then before we knew it, it was 4pm and we had to leave. On the way out the guy that had started the singing came up to us and asked for a bible, there are no bibles in the prison and he is desperate for one. The Iris Dondo base don’t have the money or the sponsorship to have Sena bibles to give to the prisoners, so we had to say sorry, we don’t – this guy’s face was shining, he looked so happy, yet he was here for some really bad crime. It was just amazing to see that a life can be transformed by the love of God!
I am trying to get hold of some Sena bibles right now – I have found out that they are about $6/R35 each. If you would like to sponsor a bible for a prisoner (or two) please contact me on neekeeko@gmail.com
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