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Rancho Bernardo Baptist Church,
in partnership
with
MOTE, Inc., is
reaching out weekly to the men and women
at La Mesa Prison in Tijuana Mexico. For
more information about our prison
ministry contact Sharon Maxton, Joe
Preston, or Chappy Dave.
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La Mesa Prison Report- Women
Submitted by Laurie
Williams (July 17, 2008)
Today was a roller-coaster one for the LMP women’s
team. First, we met to communicate and makes some
decisions and pray, it was such a sweet time with
the LORD and each other that when we left to go
south we were on a high note.
When we arrived at the prison, Louise who was
the most bilingual today communicated with the
guards. For some reason it took more time than
usual to get through the first gate. Then Louise
worked VERY hard at trying to get the second guard
to understand we needed someone who could take the
deposits we had for three of the women. We’ve had
trouble lately getting their money to them because
the new director changed the system. We had been
told by some of the inmates and Chappy that we
should be able to make the deposits today. It took
over an hour to get in, get inspected, deposit the
money, get frisked and in to the women.
Roller-coaster down. We were told that the new
director wanted to see us after our church meeting
with the ladies. That was a first for us!!!!!
roller-coaster up.
Then the roller-coaster went faster than
ever…we had only 30 minutes to meet with the
ladies. After greeting the gals, Louise led them in
one song and taught the lesson on an accelerated
schedule. The lesson was on praying out loud. Dee
did administrative work with the mail and talked
with some of the gals. I quickly communicated with
several different gals concerning their deposits and
families. While Louise and Dee worked with the
group, I talked with Alma, our resident Buddhist.
She has a LOT of questions and opinions but we had
been praying for her for a solid week because she
had given Dee and her group such a hard time last
week about her beliefs (or non-beliefs as the case
is). We had prayed that the LORD would soften her
heart toward Him, that she would receive and
understand that He loves her and wants her as His
child. We prayed that the LORD would give me the
exact words to say with the right manner, tone and
conviction. We prayed that His Spirit would work
mightily in her heart. Once again, I can’t tell you
how awesome it is to watch God work. Alma really
listened, appeared to receive, and will read the 5
pages of research and answers to her many questions
that I was able to complete this week for her. I
included so much scripture for her to look up and I
know she will. Pray that she does DAILY!!!! I
believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that she will one
day confess Jesus as LORD. She said she can tell I
believe what I teach. Praise the LORD because I do.
She was very receptive and introspective today
rather than militant and opinionated and we really
praise God for that.
Nayelly was so pleased to come to church today
with clean hair and brushed teeth. It had taken us
forever to get products in to her and last week God
prevailed. She loves the LORD. All roller-coaster
highs.
Please pray that I can talk to Erika next week,
she said she is struggling with idols…the guard was
rushing us to leave so I didn’t get to ask her any
questions. Also, that I or someone will have a
chance to talk to Dania about her life when she
leaves LMP.
Please pray that the couple of Spanish-only
speaking gals can find a church service to go to in
the prison. They have started coming to ours and
since they need a translator it is too difficult to
have different women talking during the teaching,
too distracting to the rest of the group. The tin
roof causes the voices to be louder than they are.
Pray for the salvation of these ladies. Pray
for the walk of the new converts this year - Erika,
Jackie, Teresa, Zilpa, Claudia, Sonia, Maribel, and
for those who have renewed their walk with the LORD
that they had years ago before prison - Laura,
Dania, Maria. Pray for others who need Jesus -
Roxanna, Perla, Carmen, Vanessa, Jessica, Veronica,
Bertha, Karla, and some whose names we are still
learning.
We especially pray that next week, all the things the director,
Mr. Carlos Gonzales, told us about getting the
inmates $$ deposited easily, and getting in their
packages from their families more easily and getting
their mail to them will pan out. He was extremely
gracious and kind to us. He said he is making
exceptions for us so we can get this stuff to the
ladies. This is absolutely the hand of God at work.
It’s been a crazy frustration AND distraction for us
when really, all we want to do is share the love of
Jesus with our precious ladies God has entrusted in
our care. We have never had an audience with the
director before, we felt blessed.
We also pray that the lesson will penetrate their
hearts since it was given quickly…God’s Spirit can
cause it to go deep into their souls and we pray it
is so.
Pray for the women’s families, that God would
minister to their parents, children, spouses,
siblings, etc…that His Word will go forth from the
La Mesa Prison and reach people in and out of it for
all eternity.
Please pray that next week we will get in not
only on time but early and have our full 90 minutes
with the gals. We have been on time each week but
have had many different snags getting through…the
enemy doesn’t like what’s going on in there. God is
moving and shaking and we stand in awe.
To
Him Be Glory Forever,
Amen.
Laurie
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