Mexican Prison

Recently a group of us visited a Mexican prison. This was my first experience of ever being in a prision here in Rocky Point, Mexico so I wasn´t quite sure what to expect. The prison from the outside was square in shape, and on each corner there were towers with guards on the inside keeping a watchful eye on what was happening around them.

On arrival we approached a small barred window with a guard on the inside. We said we were there to meet a group that usually comes every week, so the guard unlocked the door and let us in. The group was late so we waited a short time before they joined us. The guard had a gun strapped around his chest and seemed to be very observant of any movements we made in general. He asked for our passports and then gave us our visitor passes to wear around our neck.

The prison was surrounded by a barbed wire fence. I wasn’t sure if the fence was electrified or not, but there was no way I was planning on finding out any time soon. The group left the main entrance to the prison and walked to the next section where there was a desk with a man dressed in smart plain clothes. I had to hand over my camera and the sun glasses I was wearing so they would be kept safe.

Once past this point the group had stepped into the main grounds of the prison. The  barred doors locked behind us. As I looked around I saw there was yet another large mesh fence that was between the prisoners and ourselves. It looked a bit like no man’s land in the centre of the prison. Several of the prisoners ran to the fence and were watching our every move. At this point I was already planning my escape. A few scenes from the television series Prison Break came to mind as I looked around.

Then one of the guards said men and women were to separate, so the four men from our group went one way and myself and one other lady who spoke no English went the other way. As I watched the rest of the team disappear into the distance, the other lady and I stood and waited until someone with keys came to open another barred gate. In my mind I was still thinking we would be joining the rest of our group at some point. I thought maybe we were going to be searched and that this was why we were being separated, but that never happened.

We were taken into one of the cells. It was just like a small bedroom with ordinary brick walls and a bathroom. The cell door looked like an ordinary door with a huge bolt on the outside. This particular cell contained a bed and small table at the side and a slightly larger table at the other side of the cell with a plate of  doughnuts which one of the prisioners had baked. I finally realised that we had been separated for the duration of the visit and would not be joining the rest of the group behind a large fence or bars as originally thought.

In this particular prison there were only 2 women and the rest were all men who were all in the main section of the prison. The other lady in the group who I came into the prison with and had just met for the first time led the Bible study with the 2 women prisoners. We prayed and sang songs first, then opened our Bibles. The two women were at times rather emotional and I feel there was probably healing in their own lives through Gods word being spoken. One of the prisoners did not have a Bible so I felt led to give her my Spanish New Testament. I never asked the reason why they were in prison but I did wonder. All I know is that one has served time for several years.

The prisoners were very open and shared what was on their hearts and I really felt the Holy Spirit was working in their lives. I felt that even though there was a language barrier there was a connection in some way. When we were leaving, the prisoners wanted to give us a gift, which I thought was nice. They sew and make bracelets with a variety of different names sewed into them.

While I was sitting in the cell with them I tried to imagine what life must be like in prison and at the same time was pleased that they are spending time in God’s Word and building on their faith. Prisoners rely on their own family to support them in prison. Some church groups may help with donations as well. Things like toilet paper, moisturizer, shampoo and clothes are not provided by the prison. After the visit I met up with Chris who had shared God’s Word with the male prisoners, and he mentioned that they were very responsive and twenty prisoners accepted Christ.   

Later that evening I opened my Bible and the first Scripture I read was Hebrews chapter 13 vs 1-3:

“Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”

Another Scripture which spoke in to the situation was from Mathew chapter 25 vs 35- 40, in which Jesus said:

“‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me  something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.´

:Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The king will reply, ´I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.´”

For me what I learned from this experience, followed by the Scripture I read later, was that God wants us to love the people that society would otherwise reject, for in doing so we are loving Christ.

True faith is more than just claiming to have faith. Genuine love for God will be expressed through service to others (1 John 3:16-18) not to earn salvation  but because a heart that truly loves God will be filled with compassion for others. Jesus wanted his followers to set the pace by helping those who are hurting. Good works that come from people grateful for God´s grace are at the heart of true Christianity (James 1:27).

May God help us all to remember to show His love through our actions as well as our words. Whether people have come into hard times through circumstances or through their own errors, God loves each one and is a God of forgiveness. He wants us to take the time to reach out to those we can and demonstrate our love for Him by loving the people He loves.

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