NEWSLETTER: APRIL, 2002

Have you ever tried to smuggle a weapon into a jail or penitentiary? It's really difficult and a bit dangerous, especially in a country like Mexico where even one small bullet found on you can send you to the penitentiary.

Well, last week I wanted to talk on courage at the kids jail, the CMI. To do this effectively, I needed a good object lesson, one that the kids wouldn't quickly forget. So I did just that; I took a weapon in. I took one of my Amazon blow guns along with darts and several balloons into the CMI!

This blow gun from Peru is more than six feet long. It's big! So I marched right on into the jail with my six foot blowgun and no one even looked twice. It seems most people have never seen a blowgun and the guards were no exception. They smiled and I smiled back and kept walking, with blowgun in hand.

In one building, fifty or so kids gathered around me looking at this weird thing. They were quite curious. I started talking a little bit about courage and then asked the group if I could have three volunteers that had real courage. In this jail, more than a hundred and fifty percent of the boys are "macho!" Many jumped up but only three were selected. Each was given a balloon and asked to blow it up, then to stand facing the audience holding the balloons in their mouths, I explained I would stand some distance away and blow a dart through all three balloons. As they caught the picture they became visibly uneasy. This indeed would take courage; to be sure one kid dropped out and another was peer-pressured to take his place. These three tough teens stood there holding their balloons in their mouths and they were scared, only peer pressure holding them there.

I shot the dart and with a big explosion all three balloons popped! The three teens were relieved and then immediately became heroes.

After this demonstration I had their attention so I proceeded to speak on the courage it takes to turn from drugs, turn from sin and even turn from their gang and stand for Jesus Christ! Alone, if necessary. It takes real courage, especially in a place like that.

Yes, I had their attention, they were open and the lesson went well, even applause when we closed. Is our work effective there? I think so. We have these good opportunities every week to challenge young teens for Christ. Thanks for your prayers, and part in making our jail ministry not only possible but effective!

Some have asked about Eva and her children. Eva, is still alive but in a coma. Part of her brain is missing and head is infected. Her future doesn't look good. Her older daughter is holding the little family together for now. We are helping as we can. They can use your prayers.

In letters like this to you who help make our ministry possible we report on how our ministry is going and in most areas things are going great and even growing. In our office however, things aren't going as well. Julie, our new secretary, has had to resign due to health problems so we are back again to square one. Things are on hold pending a new secretary. A good functioning office is so important to us. We would appreciate your prayers, not only in locating a new secretary but for Julie's health as well. It's no fun being laid up! Meanwhile please be patient while things are being sorted out. This situation places an extra load on several of us who don't need an extra load!

Again, thanks so much for your important help this month. Sorry I can't reply with my usual personal note.