A dear friend and brother in the Lord was released from prison today. He will be returning to his native country of Mexico...
However, in the short time he has been with me, he has become one of my best friends. A former drug runner and ex-member of a much feared Mexican gang, while incarcerated, he had become a Christian, and subsequently disavowed his former membership with the gang. This has been at great risk, I might add. My friend has since repented of his criminal activities, and has been heavily involved with our prison fellowship since coming here.
Salvatore* was one of those "smiling Mexicans" I initially wrote about in a Journal entry dated September 12, 2012. He has just completed a sentence of eight years, and was scheduled to be picked up this morning by the United States Department of Immigration and Naturalization (INS). He’s been expecting them.
Now, if all goes as the U.S. Government has planned for Salvatore, he will probably be back in his hometown within a few weeks. He does, of course, have grave concerns about having to return to Mexico. The gang’s headquarters is there, while its tentacles have now branched throughout many parts of the United States.
Salvatore also told me that his younger brother is heavily involved in the cartel. He said he’s tried his best to dissuade his brother from remaining in the drug trade, while at the same time urging him to become a Christian and flee his life of crime. Although unsuccessful in persuading his brother, Salvatore remains prayerful his brother will one day come to Christ.
If I were to use only my own eyes, I would see the obvious displays of anger, bitterness, loneliness and fear - all common components for many of those who are confined. And some will also exhibit various self-destructive and self-sabotaging behavior patterns, too. They'll appear to have a penchant for bringing more pain and suffering as a result of getting arrested and sentenced to a term in prison in the first place. It's a strange pattern of adding pain on top of pain. It is as if each one has been programmed to fail; this is sad.
Although he is now a devout Christian, Salvatore knows there will be a price on his head for leaving the gang. He’s assured me that his faith in God is strong. But I’d imagine it is scary having to go back to a place known for lots of gangland killings, plus never knowing if at some point gang members will seek to exact revenge on him for deserting them.
However, knowing he was scheduled to leave prison today, this past Sunday we invited Salvatore to come to the front of the church, so the elders of our congregation could gather around Salvatore, and pray for him. Then, yesterday, having one last opportunity to see Salvatore and talk with him, I was able to also hand my friend--who could read English very well- a colorful Scripture card which featured Psalm 91 in bold print. I know God will be with him. I will see him again.
D.B.
*Salvatore is not his real name.
Salvatore* was one of those "smiling Mexicans" I initially wrote about in a Journal entry dated September 12, 2012. He has just completed a sentence of eight years, and was scheduled to be picked up this morning by the United States Department of Immigration and Naturalization (INS). He’s been expecting them.
Now, if all goes as the U.S. Government has planned for Salvatore, he will probably be back in his hometown within a few weeks. He does, of course, have grave concerns about having to return to Mexico. The gang’s headquarters is there, while its tentacles have now branched throughout many parts of the United States.
Salvatore also told me that his younger brother is heavily involved in the cartel. He said he’s tried his best to dissuade his brother from remaining in the drug trade, while at the same time urging him to become a Christian and flee his life of crime. Although unsuccessful in persuading his brother, Salvatore remains prayerful his brother will one day come to Christ.
If I were to use only my own eyes, I would see the obvious displays of anger, bitterness, loneliness and fear - all common components for many of those who are confined. And some will also exhibit various self-destructive and self-sabotaging behavior patterns, too. They'll appear to have a penchant for bringing more pain and suffering as a result of getting arrested and sentenced to a term in prison in the first place. It's a strange pattern of adding pain on top of pain. It is as if each one has been programmed to fail; this is sad.
Although he is now a devout Christian, Salvatore knows there will be a price on his head for leaving the gang. He’s assured me that his faith in God is strong. But I’d imagine it is scary having to go back to a place known for lots of gangland killings, plus never knowing if at some point gang members will seek to exact revenge on him for deserting them.
However, knowing he was scheduled to leave prison today, this past Sunday we invited Salvatore to come to the front of the church, so the elders of our congregation could gather around Salvatore, and pray for him. Then, yesterday, having one last opportunity to see Salvatore and talk with him, I was able to also hand my friend--who could read English very well- a colorful Scripture card which featured Psalm 91 in bold print. I know God will be with him. I will see him again.
D.B.
*Salvatore is not his real name.
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