Wednesday, April 17 th Santa Rosa Jail and CIW Institution for women: 3 Services today and GVT and Pastor Noel and Pastor Peter return! The day starts early at 6:30 a.m. and the team is more rested today though the weariness and daily ministry schedule is felt by all. The temps still linger in the mid to upper 90s and Seattle rain and clouds don’t sound so bad anymore. The team has the usual morning cheer of McDonald’s with Eddie sharing morning devotions. Today is a big day with prison services, inmate baptisms including female inmates this time, and another Boodle Fight! The prison facilities are also a farther drive away and most likely we will be in the highway traffic on our way back and the witnessing of heroic and mystifying driving talent of Polly. We again thank God for A/C in the van! We are also anticipating a special day as the largest women’s facility we are going to today was the same location that team member Steve Rowe’s grandmother ministered at! It was a sweet blessing for Steve and all the team to experience with Steve to be part of the next chapter of an amazing family legacy. Steve’s grandmother (Sophie Jenista or Nanay Sophie as the inmates called her) spent 20 years ministering at CIW prison. When we got the initial trip block calendar, it wasn't a planned stop. God then had it added to our itinerary when we arrived in country and Pastor Noel informed us we received approval to go there. God also ensured that a couple women who knew Nanay Sophie were at our prison services! At Santa Rosa Jail, the team split into two groups. Jaycob, Dee and Kathleen to the upper level female dorm and Steve, Mark, Tim, and Eddie to the main lower level large recreation room for service and baptisms for the men. Female volunteers Cecile and Janie also accompany the team for the women’s service. It is quickly apparent that the women attending the service are the inside church and are regularly discipled by the ministry of Cecile and Janie. There is a time of singing, encouragement, Jaycob & Dee share a combined testimony as well as Kathleen shares hers. Many gifts are shared with the ladies and we are notified that five of the ladies in this group will be baptized today! Dee & Kathleen are very excited and honored to be part of this! After completion of the women’s service, the team meets downstairs to join the rest of the American team and National team as they had begun their baptism service. A long lineup of male PDLs await their moment of baptism. Originally we were told about 40 would be baptized that day, but by the end of the long line, it appeared every PDL who had attended the service opted to be baptized – which was double our expectation. A Boodle Fight was prepared on long tables at the same time the progression of the blessed were baptized one by one by rotating American and National team members. Huge blasting fans and a splash of water every 2 minutes or so helps to cool the hot air of the open-sided, barred room. The team is wet with splashed water and a continuous refill bucket is brought over and over for our modestly sized portable plastic tub. Eventually the five female PDLs are brought into the room from upstairs and are baptized also. Much time has passed and we are delayed to arrive to our next destination. We are unable to partake in the Boodle but could see the festivities unfold! What an experience!
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