We went to a women's prison. The original plan was to visit a jail in Pretoria with a ministry called "Babies Behind Bars" and to help paint a common room they use. This group works with women in prison who have babies up to a few years old.
When we arrived we were informed we would not be able to see the women, nor the babies. We were taken to a set of rooms dank with mold, mildew and peeling sickly pink paint. The paint we had was much to thin requiring several coats to hide the uglyness. This did not stop our vigor or mission to do our job.
After a while we got better paint and with the help of an artist, members of Covenant Word and others we covered those walls with a beautiful mural. But, more important we covered a wall with painted scriptures and verses. An inmate mother was brought in to see the rooms and tears welled in her eyes.
As we left, the rooms had been converted into a brighter place not just by paint but more so rooms to which light had been brought in by His word and His light will now reside there forever.
And more!!! Elliot and Dawit (a Covenant Word member) witnessed to gas attendants while we waited on lunch to be served. Seize every opportunity to spread the word.
The other part of our team went to an amazing place of love and healing called Sparrow and Rainbow village, a hospice for adults and children with HIV/AIDS and an orphanage. Over 200 children who have been orphaned by AIDS are cared for in cluster homes. You can feel the love abounding throughout.
Even though it broke our hearts to see little children and adults suffering from the effects of HIV/AIDS in the hospice care area, we counted it a great priviledge to pray for many. As we shared the gospel throught faith bracelets with adults and even the nurses two persons opened their hearts to Jesus and received Him as Savior.
As we departed we were reminded of the truth of Matthew 10:29 "His eye is on the sparrow".
To be continued...
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