That’s what my mother used to say to me when I asked for something silly, self-indulgent or unattainable. I imagine that’s the essense of the response to the request for clean water by the inmates of a thrird-world prison too. Although it’s not silly, or self-indulgent, it is sometimes unattainable.
We attended a conference last week, learning how to install the McGuire Water Purification system and how it can be used in short term missions. It is fairly simple to install, but requires a fair level of commitment from the end users to keep it in operation.
In most of the places we go on our missions and indeed, most of the world, pure water is in short supply and high demand. In fact, most deaths in the world today are due to water-borne pathogens. That fact makes this purifier a great way to minister to people and introduce them to the gospel.
A case in point is the project we will do in February - installing a system in Esteli prison in Nicaragua. There are 650 people in this prison. Check out some of the conditions in these pictures. In Nicaragua, the prison system spends about $1 a day per prisoner to house, feed and guard them. The federal government simply will not do anymore because anyone with any resources at all has paid their bribes and avoided prison. When at all possible, the prisoner’s families come each day to bring them food, clothes and clean water. If they have no family, they only have what is provided which is less than…uh….sanitary. (Of course if they had family, they would pay to get them out!)
Speaking of hell…(we were, weren’t we?)….because we are willing to do this, the warden will give us full and complete access to the prison to preach, teach and share our faith with the men there. You can read about how this project came about in the previous post.
What we plan to do is plumb the kitchen with purified water and build a water bottle fill station. This way, the drinking water and water used to make juice and drinks will be sanitary as will food washed during preparation. Our plumber will survey the rest of the system to determine what repairs are needed and we will return perhaps in July or later to make repairs to the rest of the system supplying the restrooms and “dorms”.
We will buy the supplies and supervise, and the inmates will supply the labor. We’re going to need about $2500 to complete this phase of the project. Someone has donated the purifier to us, and everyone installing the system and ministering will be paying their own way.
If you can help out with this project, or would like to go with us, give me a call or email me. Donations are tax deductible.
Terry Steiden
502-836-9201
tsteiden@insightbb.com
BTW - I don’t believe people in Hell want ice water. I think they just want OUT. That’s not up to us, but we have an opportunity and obligation to tell people how to avoid it in the first place.
If you are spendig all the $2500.00 on plumbing system? That is almost 400K of Cordovas. I am from Honduras, and a christian. I would just recommend that you check prices in a local hardware stores against the budget your plumber has presented, or consult with someone else.
Not only in the States do contractors take advantage of people´s lack of building knowlegde.And I have seen it happen in almost all congregations, be aware that there are wolves in sheeps clothes.
Allas, I would like to resent your comments on any judicial system of the thid world. How would someone that brided officials and got away reversal of fortune, enhance the prison. NO one is forced to invest in prisons as an inmate, not in our laws, or any that I have heard of. Besides white collar criminals get away with far much in the States, and it involves companies that affect countries like ours.
All societies have the same problem with their prisoners, at different stages of their history. Or should I remind you of Andersonville.
Yet, keep in mind that some of those are transgressors, that have left many in misery, in poverty, and yet in the third world they will have a better chance of getting pure water and 3 meals in prison; than those he aggraviated and that are outside of it.
To sum; he/her who has broken the law gets a meal and most of the times the victims do not.
It sounds completely unjustful, but it is, the burden of having prisons is unbearable for many countries. Even In US, that is a fact.
The problem is not in judicial system, it is on the hands of those who evade taxes, that have no charity for those in lesser conditions.
Nonetheless, I admire and respect your work. The souls of those in prison, need to be save. They need for us to deliver the message from Jesus and let them know that if they follow him he will deliver them from all.
Do not let your or my petty human thoughts, smear his work. After all we are only his instruments.
Comment by Miguel Gomez — March 26, 2007 @ 6:12 pm