Women's Prison

Saturday morning a small group went to the men and women's prison. It is located less than 3 kilometers from the ship. The prison is a compound containing one building for the women prisoners, and the rest for the men. There is one courtyard that the women and guards are free to roam around in, but the men are not allowed to go outside their designated area. It's sad and tragic. The whole system is corrupted. So many of the people in prison don't even know why they're there, and they haven't been given hearings. But of course, bribes are the real battle. You are set free if you can pay the right amount. I could go on and on, but let me tell you we did.

I felt extremely ill-qualified for going to encourage these women. Even the hardest things I've experienced can't compare to the smaller trials these women have gone through. Nothing super exciting that I could tell happened. We just went and sang at first, then colored or painted their nails. The women lived in a two room building. No lights or curtains or chairs or tables. Only closely placed beds. There was one boy who lived there too. He was about two years old and had been born in the prison. I have to confess that I have often thought, "there is no hope to offer these people. What do they have to hold onto?" It is still extremely difficult to accept that these suffering people won't be given instant freedom, and that for some freedom might not come in this life.

I left the prison feeling a bit empty and depressed. I know God is bigger than my feelings and capable of anything He wants. This truth is comforting, but it doesn't make the suffering go away.