Today was Boys' Prison day for us. Recently, this has become the highlight of our week here. For the past few weeks we have been going in without a translator which slows things down some. Between a mixture of Latvian, Russian and English the messages seem to be getting through.
Two events sharply defined the day. First, one of the boys [name withheld] that always has questions for us and seems so interested asked for special prayer today. We really do not know if he is a Christian or not but for him to ask for a special prayer was a huge step; not only for him but for the others that were there also. His prayer request was for help to stop smoking. Underage or not, the boys are allowed to smoke. For some reason, he has seen an opportunity to stop and realizes that it is going to take more strength than he has. We were so surprised and excited when he asked for God's help.
We are beginning to form friendships with some of these guys and it is so very easy to forget that they are inmates in a high-security prison. For the most part, they look and act like other teenagers and we must constantly remind ourselves of the common-sense rules that have been given to us.
For some reason, we were allowed to return to the main check-in building by ourselves. Normally we are escorted by someone but not today. As we approached the locked walkway that takes us to the building where we leave our phones, passports, etc. we saw that a large police truck had pulled into a holding pen just inside the gates. There were four SWAT uniformed guards and one BIG dog around the truck. The truck was blocking the guard in the building from seeing that we were waiting to be buzzed through the electromagnetic lock. We were able to watch as several boys were off-loaded from the truck. Carrying all of their possessions in a plastic shopping bag, they came down the truck steps and were lined up against the wall. It was almost like on a movie when the new prisoners arrive. The looks on those boys' faces were not humorous at all; in fact a couple looked really scared. I cannot even imagine what must have been going through their minds.
As these guys were unloaded, four of the current inmates were being readied to be put into the truck. The looks were the same...very serious, nobody joking around, nobody talking. I do not know for sure but they were probably being transferred to the men's prison to finish out their sentences.
That is the way it is most of the time that we come to the prison. There will be situations that make us so happy that we came and that maybe we brought a little encouragement. Then you will be shocked back to reality that this really is a prison, these really are young men that have committed serious crimes and they really, really need to make changes in their life if they don't want to return to a even worse fate.
Please pray that these young men will come to the same understanding as the young man that needs prayer to break his smoking habit. Pray that they will come to know the One that has the strength to help them overcome their struggles and battles. May God bless you and may God bless the boys at Cesis Boys' Prison.
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