Rwandan Prison

Went to my first visit to a Rwandan prison on Friday. I am pretty tuckered out but I wanted to zap some musings and memories on here before they faded away. I imagine I will revisit this experience some other time... especially because I think I will visit another prison next week and will double-culminate my thoughts.

First of all - wow. I was completely blown away from the moment I entered with the unbelievable ministry of Prison Fellowship International. In about 118 countries, there are PF ministries all over the world, ministering to the most rejected and neglected members of society, when they are the ones that most need rehabilitation. The idea that prisons reproduce productive members of society is crap -- but it's so important... You want safer communities? You better realize that prisons are the place to start because most prisoners are re-released into society and most offenders always repeat crimes. Prisons must be rehabilitative and while most prisons all over the world are in frighteningly bad conditions, there are still people to care enough to try to bring glimmers of hope to the hopeless... and many of these people come through Prison Fellowship.

I accompanied a PF volunteer who was going to speak to the prisoners. Hands down must say that the most hope I have ever seen in Rwanda was in the prisons. About 1000 prisoners were crowded around the podium where we were .... all singing gospel songs, listening to sermons... and also the prison director was a Christian and was so committed to encouraging the inmates. Over and over and over again would he say to myself and the other Prison Fellowship folks "this is my calling, this is one of the most important ministries" with such pride.

Then we saw the mothers with children. There were about 12 babies and toddlers who have grown up in prison. They had never seen a white person before because they spent their whole innocent lives in prison walls. They positively shrieked when they saw me. ALso, we brought the babies some yoghurts. In Rwanda, all kids LOVE yogurt.. I mean it's the #1 treat sweet food of all time. But these kids have never seen, tasted, looked at a yogurt in their whole lives...because their whole lives were spent in prison. Their mothers were chuckling at serving their kids yogurts.

Walking away from the prison was painful, because I wanted to stay with the mothers, I wanted to hold the children and feed the children, and I wanted to continue to encourage the male prisoners (most of whom are genocide perpetrators). But as I walked away, I felt a pat on my back from God telling me it was okay. He had His hand guiding the Prison Fellowship Rwanda staff. In fact, all the mothers were asking "Where is Pastor Deo?" And the prison director explained, "everyone just adores Pastor Deo... He brings life to them and love."

That's when I realized this isn't about me. God uses me wherever He wants to, if its for some months or even just an hour but I don't have to be afraid of walking away from a situation. I trust that if God needs me to obey in a specific act of service He will tell me, and if He doesn't need me to act in that way then He finds a way of letting me know He's got His other servants doin' a pretty good job already. He's in control. Not me. But it's become clear the more I ponder on the plight of the poor... the more I'm receiving clear directions from God. He tells me "feed this person," "take this child to the hospital," or ... just, "pray for this person." And it's okay if sometimes all I'm meant to do is pray. Prayer is powerful. I have to trust that too.

Slight musings.

I love you all, friends and family!