Gideon trip coming to a close!

This is the latest of emails that my dad have sent. He only has 3 nights left but you can tell from his email that it seems as though he has gained more knowledge in these past 2 weeks than he could have in a lifetime here in Jasper.


Un Ragolo, Gratis, para usted. (a gift, free, for you).

These words are etched in stone in my mind. I have said it so many times that I can not see a bible without thinking of them. I got home early this evening and sat at the meeting table and heard stories from everyone. I now hate missing these stories each day by staying out late with the local Gideons.

I can truly say I will never be the same when thinking about working for the Lord. I did not fully realize the bond that can be built between men is a few short days. The team I am working with is some men that I would work with in any situation. We now have 2 x-cops that now work in the jails, one man who was in prison for ten years because of the government suppression, and one who belongs to the chicken mafia. Every where we go he has family who owns a chicken restaurant.

We went to one mans home last night for desert and it was a rice pudding that I had to eat before leaving and this was right after eating a few chickens, beans, and pan (bread). One of the chicken mafia demanded that I pray for his wife to become pregnant; I explained that we had prayed for Casey and Ashley and they had twins. He asked for only half a prayer which he got!

The schools are what we would call under lockdown. You have to let in and the gates are locked when leaving. They are something I want to explain in detail when I show the pictures. Many stories are coming out about the violence in the area we are now working. One of the x-cops is never out of touch with me. They will not let me do anything out of sight and I demanded to catch a taxi back to the hotel today because we never get home in time for the evening meeting. The new friend put me in the taxi along with the interpreter and we made it ok.

One school had a policeman with me for every step. The world looks so innocent but we are blind to the ways of the street. I have always felt confident in anywhere we go but now the truth is setting in. We are living in a sheltered world. Even the way I pull out my wallet and count the money before paying is wrong, the way I jerk my camera out to get a picture is wrong, the way you know who is around you all the time is important. Sad but true is the fact that we take people to be just like us and trust everyone is wrong. I hope most of these feelings go away but my eyes are seeing the world as a really bad place now. I can check kjas and kfdm and nothing but the same.

After saying all of this I will never forget the eyes that are looking back at me from every class and the way they just want to say something to me. The children are really just like the kids in Jasper except they are courteous, respectful, and polite. Every school I leave makes me think of our grand children and what they will face in the years to come. We have no time to relax in making them a good home.

Will one bible at a time make a difference? I do not know except it is what is making me feel good for now. I can only hope the effort works for the time being. I will leave a little different than I came.

If I emptied my mind and you had the time to read it all, you might be able to grasp the thoughts and feelings that you have helped me attain. I have been on the mountain top many times and then it would slowly fade away to the every day valleys that we live in. This trip is one that I hope to use to better myself for many days to come.

I left one young man last night who prayed the prayer of salvation with me and he shared his whole life with me. It all sounded like a 17 year old from Jasper who ended up with Robin and the All Mighty and was able change from a young man with no future to being someone who might be able encourage someone to keep trying. The young mans name is Luis Carlos Rodas Navajos, the young 17 year old from Jasper is garyB. This memory helped me get up today knowing the work was worthwhile.

I will close now but only because you all might get tired of reading; I have much more to say and I am not sure you could grasp how I really feel. I know you would not laugh but if I was to see you right now you might leave with un ragalo, gratis, para usted. La Biblia!!!!!

Gary, dad, popie