REPORT FOR JULY 6
"I want to start out with praises! We started out the morning at the orphanage for special needs children. We estimate around 60 kids.They listened intently to a couple of Bible stories and testimonies.We were impressed with this because they were all boys.
We priase God that the new director of this orphanage is a Godly woman and quizzed me on our beliefs before she would let us in to teach the children. She really has a heart for these kids - spiritually and physically. They heard and received the salvation message with joy.
The best part of the day was when we took each child´s picture with a Polaroid and gave it to them. I doubt they had ever held a picture of themselves. They were very proud of their pictures. We have an open invitation for further ministry.
We praise God that we got in the prison with no problems once again - although this time we had to be frisked. :-) The children ran out to greet us. Although the authorities didn´t think we would have many children, almost all of them came back for our session today. They were much more open to being touched and taught. They listened and interacted much more today. They sat and colored beautiful pictures of Jesus with the children. All in all, it was a great day of ministry.
This evening our host families are planning some kind of surprise get together for us. It has been such a blessing to be able to develop close relationships with all of these precious brothers and sisters. They have told us that we are an answer to prayers because they have wanted for years to host missionaries.
Tomorrow we will attend a city-wide cultural event and go back to the prison for our last session. Again, please pray for our minstry tomorrow because Thursdays are difficult days for the children, as I have explained in an earlier email."
REPORT FOR JULY 5
"Thank you for your prayers today. Here’s an update on our ministry at the prison today.
We entered the prison with no real hassles. We felt no fear at any time. However, we felt a deep sense of spiritual darkness and despair.
We ministered to between 25 and 29 children. We are not sure exactly how many children because they were moving around so much we had a hard time counting them! There was a baby, about a year old, that would not allow anyone to touch him. He bit one of the other children and drew blood. A little girl I sat next to asked me if my hand hit hard. I told her "no" and gently touched her arm. She did not seem to understand that an adult would not be hitting her. She told me that another boy - probably 6 or 7 - always pulled his pants down. He joined this conversation by telling her that she has better behave or he would hit her very hard. It appears that violence is a way of life for these children that live in the women’s prison.
The children from the men’s prison did not come over to us today.
There was "troubles" in the men’s prison and the concern was that the police might not let the children back in to be with their families.
Apparently, the families of the prisoners can live in the prison if they have nowhere else to go. The facility was built to hold 1,000 men. Today it houses 5,000 people! This is the most violent prison in all of Ecuador. The director of Stephen’s Ministry said he has ministered in many different places, but he would not be willing to take a team into the men’s prison. This needs to be a matter of consistent, aggressive prayer.
The women’s prison has about 500 women. About 90% of them are incarcerated because they were used as drug mules internationally.
There are even women from other countries that have been held here for many years. We met a lady from Holland that had been in the prison for many years. She was passionate about the plight of the children.
Although she was not a Christian, she was very concerned about the injustice and circumstances that the children face every day.
Wednesday will be family visitation. We don’t know how many children will come to our session, because all the aunts, uncles, grandparents and other relatives might come to see the women and their children.
Thursday is the day we are the most concerned about. I don’t know how to say this, and you can edit as you see fit. I simply don’t know how to put this into polite words. Thursdays are for conjugal visits.
On Thursday the women go over to the men’s prison, whether they have a husband there or not, and prostitute themselves for one dollar. The young girls are also taken over to the men’s prison to be prostituted.
All the children see this. We were told that the first word that the babies learn is not "mama" or "papa" but a filthy sexually explicit word.
Thank you for your prayers. We will continue to minister in the prison on Wednesday and Thursday. We will also be going to an orphanage on Wednesday morning.
Please forgive (and edit) any typos. I’m on a Spanish keyboard and the keys are in different places!
Pass on our love and greetings to everyone in our church family. We know you were praying for us today!!!!"
REPORT FOR JULY 4
"We have just met with the Stephen´s Ministry who does ministry in the women´s prison on a weekly basis. We have learned the plight of the children there. It is beyond horrific. They are exposed the worst, evil circumstances that humanity and our spiritual enemy can dish out. Words cannot even begin to describe what we have just learned.
Our hearts are completely overwhelmed by the hell we are walking into.
Please pray for clear direction and the Holy Spirit´s complete control over our words and actions this afternoon. This prison is known as the ¨School for Criminals¨. Meaning that these children learn - by example - to become the worst of the criminals.
We have learned that we will be working with these children only.
About 60 children live in the prison with their mothers. Another 30 chidren live with their fathers in the men´s prison. These 30 children are NEVER ministered to by ANYONE because it is impossble to get to them in the men´s prison. This prison is the most violent prison in all of Ecuador. However, God has made a way for the warden of the men´s prison to allow them to come over to us, if they desire. Please pray that those children will come. They are ¨small adults¨ according to the Stephen´s Ministry director. They have seen and experienced things that no person should ever see. Please pray that God´s power will be evident and change these precious young battered hearts.
We are fasting and praying right now. We will be leaving for the prison at 1:30 this afternoon. We are asking for the intercessors to be our second shield. Diane, please explain what that means, in case someone does not know. We are desperate for the effective prayers of all righteous believers right now."
-- Yvonne
REPORT FOR JULY 3
"We have arrived safely and had a good night´s sleep.
We are preparing for the prison work tomorrow and going to the location of the summer clinic to pray and work out logistics.
Our family here has welcomed us with many open arms. We have already been blessed with lots of love and joy on our arrival.
We have learned from some of the church members of Samuel´s church that there have been many healings of cancer during this last year. The Lord reveal to the church people that the cancer was related to unforgiveness. They have had a hard time this past year, but they are really growing spiritually now and are passing on to CCOG their blessings and greetings."
-- Yvonne
