JAIL APOSTOLATE

october 24, 2008
correctional institution for women, mandaluyong

oh my...of course at first I really have to admit I was nervous. I really was. can you imagine that?:)) me there, in front of the gates.:))) with the guards and all that. but my classmates seem to be relaxed and calm. I wonder?:)) they even took pictures.:))

by the way. before going there we had a simple prayer celebration led by sister cecile. then after that we got to ride the jeepney.:)) haha.:))) and of course we prayed the rosary on the way to mandaluyong. i was the one who led the prayer. and oh boy it was tiring. but i didnt mind.:) we got there earlier than we were suppose to and i thought it was a good thing ;) because we also finished early. but going back.:)) we waited for the gates to open for like how many minutes!:)) its like their discussing a lot of stuffs first before letting us in. then finally they opened!:) walking inside made me a lot more nervous as the inmates were greeting goodmorning. but surprisingly i was greeting them back. the "i think their leader,but also inmate" led us to their learning room. and there they were. our partner inmates sitting, waiting. the leader let us in but we are all scared.:))) they let us chose a partner and then i chose mine. i won't state her name here though. we talked seriously, she was sad trying to be happy i can tell. she's been in jail for 41 yrs now. and her family has not been visiting her for three months. i felt sad for her too. she said every sunday (visiting day) she is waiting for them but she would find no one. she also said that she was scared because her family might not accept her already when she's already free, but then she added that everytime there's a program like this-schools visiting them- they forget their problems, sadness. she finished telling her story with a smile.

after that chat i think they were already having games.:)) of course i told her to join. for the prize she'll get.:) but we lost. argh! after that we joined again. i really wanted her to win. i would not forget that second game! for sure! i drank an egg, uncooked one! just for her to win.:)) but we still didn't won. huhuhu.but at least all of them have giftbags.^^

after that we had a tour in the CIW. there was a shop there. they were selling stuffs they made.:) bags, vase..made of paper or beads.:) we bought a lot there.:)) i don't even know where to use them.:))) but at least they were happy.

after that, we had a snack, went back to the jeepney and then went back to school. at the school we had our sharing. and surprisingly it made me cry a little, and surprisingly again not only me. but then gladly no one saw me crying.:)