The living conditions at the prison are pretty bleak. The girls don't have individual cells, only massive rooms with rows of beds, laundry hanging everywhere, cockroaches scattering, all inside damp musty concrete block walls. The prison grounds were converted from an old convent and now look like a horror movie set. The building's ornate decorations and corbels, unkempt, rusty, and falling apart, are as broken and weary as it's inhabitants.
They eat beans, rice, hot dogs, and occasionally eggs, for every meal. They are not allowed to have fruit for the possibility of turning it into alcohol. I'm still not sure why they are not given vegetables. They are allowed outside for 1 hour, only 2 times a week. 20 minute phone calls are scheduled 4 times a week. I really don't understand how they survive.
A local news channel recently did an investigative series at the prison (in fact, the footage was shot the very same day I (Jamie) visited for the first time in February). Unfortunately it is all in Spanish of course. We attempted to translate and add subtitles for you but couldn't figure out how to add them large enough to see. Besides, at the rate we were going uh...it would have been a while. Hopefully you can get an idea of what what's going on and at least get a visual of the ladies and their surroundings.
If you would like to know more about what is being said in the videos, please contact us by phone or email and we would be happy to translate for you.
2 comments:
Wow, Jamie, we will keep your ministry in prayer (we've prayed for you some specifically on this with the boys).
Love,
Vanderschuits
I lived that bittersweet nightmare for four years and two months. It is only by the grace of God that I made it back home sane, humble, and alive.
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