Today was a good day.

This morning after Brian's English class we headed over to the Casa de la Amistad. Brian wanted to quickly go assess the ceiling fans in each class that need repair and make an inventory of the things he needs to repair, replace and add more of. I wandered around for 10 minutes or so trying to figure out where I should be. Finally I was directed to a classroom where 5 teens were working on their homework. I was introduced to Sandra, Fernando, Luis, Porfirio and Breydi. Their teacher showed me that Luis was working on English homework. I sat down and for the next 1.5 hours we worked through his lesson. Although everyone else has their own work to do, Porfirio was very eager to listen and join in on Luis' lesson. When the work was done the boys invited me to play a few rounds of game called Jenga in Canada but something else here. I lost the first two rounds and luckily they didn't laugh at me but with me (at least that's what I hope). At 12 noon we headed downstairs and out into the court yard to eat lunch after which it was time for Brian and I to leave. These boys would be off to school in the afternoon. As I sat and hung out with them and worked on homework and played games I forgot the reality of the lives of these kids. Tonight when I snuggle my kids into bed they will go home, as they do each night to a home that is behind prison walls with their inmate parent. Their faces looked like any other child. They laughed and joked as if they had no care in the world. The boys were nicely dressed with uniforms from our partner from Obadis (the Sharing Way in Bolivia), they had shiny black shoes (provided by the Bolivian government) and their hair was neatly groomed yet, as I walked away and passed by the men's and women's prison's my heart was saddened for the path which they walk each day. They are exposed to so much danger and struggle. Please pray for the many children who live inside Bolivian prison's with their parents. Pray that these programs and the many people who work at the Casa and care about them will help them rise above their situation but more importantly that they will come to know the God of the universe who knows them intimately and loves them as much as he loves you and I.