BEHIND PRISON BARS BUT FINALLY FREE In partnership with the Christian Association for Albanian Prisoners (CAAP), one of the few Christian foundations that have access to the prison system there, Mission Without Borders has created the “Prison CarePack” program. This program supports some 120 women in two institutions, both located in Tirana, Albania. These women are incarcerated for a variety of different offenses, from minimal to longer sentences and are held in a minimal security environment. One day this past November, a group of volunteers were allowed to enter one of the prisons and deliver care packages. This institution was built in the 70s and originally served as living quarters for prison inmates who worked on the construction of apartment buildings in the local area. With the termination of the construction projects, it remained as a prison for women. The prison cannot support even the most basic needs of the prisoners, and so this program is meeting a very important need. Even while under direct surveillance by the social worker & guards present, the inmates were very welcoming and immediately created a warm atmosphere. “These items are so necessary for the inmates. They’re so useful and welcomed,” said one of the guards. The prisoners can’t stop offering thanks for the parcels. “We’re anxiously waiting for them,” said Anila, one of the women. They were very eager to talk about themselves and to be prayed with. Most have a low cultural and educational background, and many come from difficult family backgrounds or from remote areas of the country. The conditions of this prison are not so good, but it doesnt seem like a typical, gloomy Albanian prison. There is even a small garden where the prisoners can plant vegetables. All the women look nicely dressed. In jail, they participate in hairdressing and tailoring courses. After the distribution, there’s a church service, and most of the prisoners remain to attend it. During the service, one of the inmates (we’ll call her N.) introduces herself and adds: “You would have heard about me on TV, right?” Hers is a sad story; she killed the man who raped her since she was 14 years old. “I miss the life outside. My parents come to visit me once a month. That’s a happy day. Each day of the week, I attend different courses organized in the prison. So I will learn a profession - that of a hairdresser and tailor by the end of my stay here. I also work as an assistant in the prison kitchen.” Her face shines, her eyes too. She hurries to explain: “Do you know what? I’m saved. Ive started to study the Bible.” The woman who leads the church service explains further: “N. is 21 years old now. Two months ago, she accepted Christ as her Savior. She started a discipleship course and now she’s studying the Bible diligently. N. is changed in character. She is free, while enjoying Gods forgiveness and her new life in Christ.” The old life has passed away for N., who is now a new creation in Christ. Even as she must serve her sentence behind bars, she is free indeed.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 19:02:00 +0000
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