Jailbirds

Today started out with an hour's drive and another ride down a dirt road. We walked up to the maximum security section of the prison which was where we would be for a short time. Wednesdays and Sundays are visitation days, it was interesting and yet oddly saddening to see families with children coming to visit their father who was locked up. After we finished through security we were in an area that felt as though it were a community rather than a prison. Prisoners had the privilege of freedom to be outside of their cell during the day. At first this was unsettling to hear because if we did not make it out before lunch we would be staying for it. We walked through the main yard and down a narrow hallway to a chapel where the inmates held their own church services.

We were greeted by the chapels band. After some brief welcomes given by both the pastor and Bob, we got on the stage to share all that we had prepared in both music and testimonies. We played the same songs that we had played on this past Sunday in Bob's church. Interspersed in between our songs were the testimonies of both Jaime and Tom. These testimonies had an apparent effect on the faces of the inmates as I watched them try to really focus and hang on every word that was being spoken. It was a very interesting experience as well as one that was very educational in a way that I would have never personally expected.

After we all had left the prison we headed to the craftsman market. It was a beautiful market filled with all different kinds of knick knacks. Its always an exciting rush to get to barter for the better price, even if in comparison to the American dollar it is only a few cents. What was interesting to me was how alot of the little stores were family run, or there would be a mother with her son. It was quite the change in lifestyle switching from the exiguous conditions of those who lived in the dump. To the hustle and bustle of a marketplace where everyone is looking for their next sale. It would have been fun to of had more time to spend in the market just observing the people in our surroundings.

As our trip is starting to come to a close, everyone is doing fine, and those who have been feeling under the weather are improving. We all are looking forward to being reunited with our families as everything is winding down. We will see you guys in a few days. Love you mom dad and ash.

Jeremy

P.S we have learned much about the papacy and Tyler has decided to one day become pope :)