Santa Monica Prison: Peru – 20 December 2012
This was the second prison that I was fortunate to see and meet amazing women that I will never forget...
On arrival we had to put on an apron (cute red ones) identifying us as missionaries. Kim knocked at the door. From the outside you can hardly identify the building as a prison. You could only see big walls and big doors.
They opened the door and inside we went. For this prison however, Kim had to arrange before hand for me to be able to go in. Passport please and out with the file; letter of approval found; passport taken in; number written on arm; stamp given and onto baggage search. Our bags got searched by only one person after going through the scanner. We wanted to take pap to one of the South African women but unfortunately it got confiscated. Kim tried to negotiate for us to take the pap; we even tried again at the end of our visit but without success. I must admit that white mielie meel pap does look a bit suspect.
This was definitely not a maximum security prison. I had the normal search like you would be searched at a rugby game!! big smile...
Finally inside: Yellow walls with red bars, music playing loudly, Christmas cards on the walls...it was a bit chaotic and it looked like one big party. As we moved further in, there were many small groups gathering. Worship in all languages coming from every corner. The international women were also already waiting for us. This was a much smaller group compared to the other prison we visited earlier that week. They were about 10 whereas the other prison had a bout 40 women waiting for us.
There were two South African women in the Santa Monica prison. The one lady was 62 years old and had recently had two heart attacks in the prison. She had already served four years of her seven sentenced years. We spoke in Afrikaans to each other. “My taal, sy praat my taal” with tears and pride in her eyes she turned to the other ladies. That was a very emotional moment for me. I just grabbed her and held her very tightly. The other South African girl was 27 years old. She has also been there for about four years. She made me a Christmas gift. Kim told her beforehand that she was bringing a South African girl with to visit. I felt so special and the gift is really well made.
Except for the South Africans I also met a lady called Bronwyn. I mention her name because she has a blog where she shares her story. I also heard from other Peru girls that there was a documentary about her on TV. She is indeed a remarkable lady. Bronwyn came to Santa Monica prison when she was just 23 years old. She is now 28 years old. She is HIV positive and her body is weak most of the time but she is trusting God for healing, and why not!! She told me that she has been raped several times and had a really hard life, all of this said with the biggest smile, adding... “But God IS Good”. She also had an amazing life and shared her travelling experiences with me and some amazing testimonies about God's grace and provision as she identified with my message and testimony that I shared with them earlier that day. Bronwyn does not have it easy but she smiles because it is not the end of the world for her, she has eternal life and is excited to make the best out of every moment still left on earth. I pray that she does get out soon and that God heals her. I have not met a woman as strong and vibrant and full of life as Bronwyn. I consider it an honour and I hope that I will get the chance to visit her when she is outside of prison.
Here is her blog
www.bronwynatherton.com – her website
http://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/video/watch/30148964 - a documentary about Bronwyn.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/galleries/article/-/14437384/14437385/australias-unknown-schapelle/ - photos of Bronwyn and some of the other girls. She looks much different now. She cut her hair sort and coloured it black. She is absolutely beautiful and so is her friend Deidre (also in one of the photos)
I have surely learned a lot from these ladies. There were so much mix emotions. I saw mothers nursing their children that are currently growing up in prison. I saw oumas that should be retired and taken care of by their families, I saw women desperate for God and I saw women who made the best decision ever, women that love and serve God. God is real to them, His love, His provision, His grace and His joy. They are little bothered by the end of the world. Why would you be if you know you have eternal life...
While some people were getting ready for the end of the world due to some prophesy, I got reminded of life and the life in abundance that we have in Christ!! Eternal life thanks to the cross and the resurrection!!
This was the second prison that I was fortunate to see and meet amazing women that I will never forget...
On arrival we had to put on an apron (cute red ones) identifying us as missionaries. Kim knocked at the door. From the outside you can hardly identify the building as a prison. You could only see big walls and big doors.
They opened the door and inside we went. For this prison however, Kim had to arrange before hand for me to be able to go in. Passport please and out with the file; letter of approval found; passport taken in; number written on arm; stamp given and onto baggage search. Our bags got searched by only one person after going through the scanner. We wanted to take pap to one of the South African women but unfortunately it got confiscated. Kim tried to negotiate for us to take the pap; we even tried again at the end of our visit but without success. I must admit that white mielie meel pap does look a bit suspect.
This was definitely not a maximum security prison. I had the normal search like you would be searched at a rugby game!! big smile...
Finally inside: Yellow walls with red bars, music playing loudly, Christmas cards on the walls...it was a bit chaotic and it looked like one big party. As we moved further in, there were many small groups gathering. Worship in all languages coming from every corner. The international women were also already waiting for us. This was a much smaller group compared to the other prison we visited earlier that week. They were about 10 whereas the other prison had a bout 40 women waiting for us.
There were two South African women in the Santa Monica prison. The one lady was 62 years old and had recently had two heart attacks in the prison. She had already served four years of her seven sentenced years. We spoke in Afrikaans to each other. “My taal, sy praat my taal” with tears and pride in her eyes she turned to the other ladies. That was a very emotional moment for me. I just grabbed her and held her very tightly. The other South African girl was 27 years old. She has also been there for about four years. She made me a Christmas gift. Kim told her beforehand that she was bringing a South African girl with to visit. I felt so special and the gift is really well made.
Except for the South Africans I also met a lady called Bronwyn. I mention her name because she has a blog where she shares her story. I also heard from other Peru girls that there was a documentary about her on TV. She is indeed a remarkable lady. Bronwyn came to Santa Monica prison when she was just 23 years old. She is now 28 years old. She is HIV positive and her body is weak most of the time but she is trusting God for healing, and why not!! She told me that she has been raped several times and had a really hard life, all of this said with the biggest smile, adding... “But God IS Good”. She also had an amazing life and shared her travelling experiences with me and some amazing testimonies about God's grace and provision as she identified with my message and testimony that I shared with them earlier that day. Bronwyn does not have it easy but she smiles because it is not the end of the world for her, she has eternal life and is excited to make the best out of every moment still left on earth. I pray that she does get out soon and that God heals her. I have not met a woman as strong and vibrant and full of life as Bronwyn. I consider it an honour and I hope that I will get the chance to visit her when she is outside of prison.
Here is her blog
www.bronwynatherton.com – her website
http://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/video/watch/30148964 - a documentary about Bronwyn.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/galleries/article/-/14437384/14437385/australias-unknown-schapelle/ - photos of Bronwyn and some of the other girls. She looks much different now. She cut her hair sort and coloured it black. She is absolutely beautiful and so is her friend Deidre (also in one of the photos)
I have surely learned a lot from these ladies. There were so much mix emotions. I saw mothers nursing their children that are currently growing up in prison. I saw oumas that should be retired and taken care of by their families, I saw women desperate for God and I saw women who made the best decision ever, women that love and serve God. God is real to them, His love, His provision, His grace and His joy. They are little bothered by the end of the world. Why would you be if you know you have eternal life...
While some people were getting ready for the end of the world due to some prophesy, I got reminded of life and the life in abundance that we have in Christ!! Eternal life thanks to the cross and the resurrection!!