El Comi
We went to a juvenile detention center, El Comi, in Mexico. We went there to play with the kids. It was my first time in a prison, and it was a little weird at first. My group began to play volleyball, basketball, and of course, soccer against the Mexican inmates. I couldn't believe how young some of these boys looked.
I was watching the soccer game with Allie when we started talking with one boy (Oscar, a.k.a. Billy Jane) and eventually we were surrounded by a group of them. They were really interested in what we had to say. A few of them shared the story of their lives with us. One boy was sent to prison 3 years ago (at the age of 13) for being caught with pot. Even though it was his first time with pot, he had a record and was sentenced to 4 years in prison. One boy showed me track marks on his arms from when he was a heroin addict and was sent to prison for dealing it. And one other boy had been there for 8 days for stealing and was waiting for his trial.
As they opened up to us one of them said to me “tell me about you”. Ok… can you say HUGE opportunity? So I shared with them a little bit about me, the real reason I was there, and about God. They all listened and seemed interested. I really hope it made some sort of an impact on their lives. One of them had actually converted to Catholicism (BIG religion in Mexico) during his time in prison. I got to share with him the similarities and differences of Catholicism and Christianity (well as much as I could in Spanish anyways). Anyways… El Comi was just one other unforgettable experience I had. Sorry I don’t have any pictures… we were not allowed to take anything but our water bottles into the prison.
I was watching the soccer game with Allie when we started talking with one boy (Oscar, a.k.a. Billy Jane) and eventually we were surrounded by a group of them. They were really interested in what we had to say. A few of them shared the story of their lives with us. One boy was sent to prison 3 years ago (at the age of 13) for being caught with pot. Even though it was his first time with pot, he had a record and was sentenced to 4 years in prison. One boy showed me track marks on his arms from when he was a heroin addict and was sent to prison for dealing it. And one other boy had been there for 8 days for stealing and was waiting for his trial.
As they opened up to us one of them said to me “tell me about you”. Ok… can you say HUGE opportunity? So I shared with them a little bit about me, the real reason I was there, and about God. They all listened and seemed interested. I really hope it made some sort of an impact on their lives. One of them had actually converted to Catholicism (BIG religion in Mexico) during his time in prison. I got to share with him the similarities and differences of Catholicism and Christianity (well as much as I could in Spanish anyways). Anyways… El Comi was just one other unforgettable experience I had. Sorry I don’t have any pictures… we were not allowed to take anything but our water bottles into the prison.
Labels: missions trip, Tepic
posted by Lauren @ 8:59 PM
4 Comments:
At 12:32 AM,
Edward Cross said…
Sad stories! :(
I wish I knew spanish, and could've had the chance to talk with the Catholic convert!
At 4:22 PM,
Dennis Rogers said…
"I really hope it made some sort of an impact on their lives."
Don't doubt for one minute that you had huge eternal impact on these young men. They will not soon forget the "Little Person" with a big heart and big story. I love you mi amore, and I am so proud of you.
At 3:27 AM,
Brent F said…
Lu, in your sisters blog, she wrote a post about how God pursues people until they come to Him. In that pursuit, God puts people in places and allows circumstances to happen in their lives...all to get them looking at Him. It is in those instances that God brings people like you who are open to opportunity, into their lives to tell them about Him, and show them His love (sometimes just by being there, as Jesus puts it "loving the unlovely"). You have no need to question or doubt what God did in those young mens lives...You did exactly what God was trying to accomplish at that moment. You will have that same opportunity today in someones life...it doesn't have to be in Mexico, or in Prison, just ask God to bring you opportunity, and reveal that opportunity to you when it comes...and you will be so excited about what He will be doing through your life! I am so blessed to have a neice like you!
At 9:49 PM,
Lauren said…
Thank you Uncle Brent. God has really put that on my heart lately. I have so many opportunities everywhere, every day... the last thing I want to do is to pass them up. I know we can all touch people in so many different ways and in so many different places... we just have to keep looking for it and keep letting God show us where.
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