One of the most positive things about the Ilopango prison is that they have 4 vocational training programs for the prisoners. Here is part of the sewing laboratory/classroom. It appears to be well equipped and their projects appear to be preparing them for future jobs.

Sisters!Cara and Kenna both left families to help others. They live on different continents but are both very dedicated to the growth of the Kingdom. They have different talents but both use them freely to teach. They are a great asset to the mission field! Here they are waiting for the warden to let us go into the prison.

One of the quality events of a mission trip is the last night review of what we did, what we learned, what we like and didn't, what we should do again and what we should not do again. We are relaxed and reflective and honest as we critique our week.

Connie, with Cara translating, teaches a Bible lesson to the ladies at Ilopango women's prison in El Salvador. There are about 100 women there who either have children with them or are pregnant.

Ken, with Francisco translating, teaches the men's class at San Ignacio. It was about how to be men in the church, and it was interactive. They had not had that type of teaching before and it was well received.

Students at Pie de la Cuestas proudly hold up the Bibles they were given after Cara taught them about God and discipline and choices.

Alejandra cannot see nor do the things most children can. Carol and Lori and Ruth love her and hold her when possible. Her mother and brother are terrific to care for her. She is taken care of as the special person she is.

Every time we visit the Ocotepeque prison, the staff wants to have a photo of them with us. We gladly oblige. We appear to have built a relationship of trust with them which can produce even more teaching opportunities in the future.

Rosa Guadalupe Flores shows her happiness after her baptism! She reported that she is 45 years old and pregnant with triplets.

Some of our team members toured the hospital in Ocotepeque and found it to be adequate but crude by our standards. They do birthing and minor surgeries and injury treatment. The lab appeared to be OK.

This big tree provided a backdrop for a photo of Ralph, Carol, Dea, Mary, and Melvin. It is at the dividing line between where La Antigua was buried by a mudslide in 1934 and where the mudslide quit. Half of the city was destroyed, including residents. New Ocotepeque was where the people who survived moved to.

Katrina checking vitals of a young lady at Pie de la Cuestas.

Cara teaching the K-6 rural school at Pie de la Cuestas about decisions and consequences. It was a great class.

Kenna teaching ESL to a very appreciative class.

These photos show the very crowded conditions in the ladies prison. These women have children with them.

We spent one day at the Ocotepeque prison. Some of our ladies went into a cell with 2 women convicted of murder and studied the Bible with them. Others treated medical needs of some of the prisoners. Others conducted a Bible study with the men who were interested. At the end there were about 50 Bibles handed out.

This was Connie's ladies' class at San Ignacio Thursday night. It was well attended and well received by the ladies.

When we visited the La Palma Christian School on Thursday, Bessy proudly posed with her class. The school has been awarded a phenomenal award by the government for neatness and cleanliness. The government said they wished we would put another school somewhere else as good as this one.

Our wonderful team is home from the trip! God bless each of those we came in contact with.

Arrived in Houston ok

God has blessed us greatly. Headed home tired and happy. I will begin posting photos soon.

A great trip ends tomorrow. We are all well.

Going to prison today to show that someone cares about them and tell them that God loves them. This is a terrific team- compassionate and caring.

Another great day ending. We are well.

Rain!

Cara teaching morality, discipline, and decisions/consequences in a small school. She later taught in the large Jr High school. In both places, the students were offered a study book with New Testament-- and they all wanted one, including the school counselors and administrators!

We have had a great week! We are now in La Palma for a day before going to the women's prison in Ilopongo. Will spend tomorrow in the La Palma Christian School and then go to San Ignacio tomorrow night. The photo shows several prisoners at Ocotepeque holding up their new Bibles. Many of them seemed to ignore the Bible lesson until free Bibles were offered--then they came forward promptly to receive them. There is much to report but our internet connection has been unreliable. It is raining hard here. Hope it is raining at home. We are all well and happy tonight. God bless you. Ralph

We had a great day and are all well!

A great morning of work. Preparing for evening worship with brothers and sisters!

Eating pupusas at one cafe and Chinese food at another.

The bus that picked us up at the airport was decorated with welcome signs. Jorge and Marcos were part of the welcoming crew.

We are all ok at Ocotepeque!

Our whole group is in Houston

We are ready to board at fayetteville

We plan to be in Ocotepeque from the evening of Sep 1 to the afternoon of Sep 5. We have lots to do. We ask your prayers.

Delores and Rafael were baptized yesterday at Ocotepeque. Praise God for the increase.

The recent shipment sent to La Palma included some crates for Ocotepeque. Here they are transferring one of the crates to a truck to take it across the border. They met some problems with customs and are having to take a little at a time.

Jorge and his family and Marcos all are working hard for our trip to be successful. Just 20 days until we leave!

There are lots of opportunities to hold babies in the places we go!

Another photo of the home Bible study in the mountain village

On our September trip we will be privileged to attend the graduation ceremony for several prisoners who have completed the Bible correspondence course titled "What Does the Bible Say?"

We had several young people in our June team, and they enjoyed getting acquainted with the young folks from Ocotepeque. What we would have called pen pals in my day are now Facebook friends!

Our September team has 14 members - all mission trip veterans and all committed to giving God the glory for anything good that happens while we are there.

Men at the Ocotepeque prison listening to Jeremy talk about their relationship to God.

On July 16 we delivered 24 crates and pallets to Whiteman AFB for shipment to El Salvador. Through the USAID Denton program, the USAF will fly the crates to San Salvador on space available in training aircraft. The plan is for the crates to arrive at the San Salvador airport on Saturday July 21, and after clearing customs they will be released to Jose for transport up the hill to La Palma. Some of the crates will be donated to the women’s prison at Ilopongo where we have begun a prison ministry to the women who are pregnant or have small children with them in prison. Some of the crates contain school supplies and computers for the La Palma Christian School. Some of the crates will go to Ocotepeque, and most of the goods will be distributed in La Palma. Besides school supplies and computers, the crates contain cookware, sheets, blankets, clothing, shoes, and more. A lot of work went into packing the crates, getting the approvals and inspections, and transporting them to Whiteman. May God bless the effort expended and the distribution effort.

The beginning of a long line of street vendors.

Ocotepeque has lots of street vendors and a long line of markets that sell almost everything. It is interesting just to walk along the market place and see how the vendors act differently in their sales pitches.

Doing laundry at the Ocotepeque prison. It appears that they have plenty of water available. The women's prison at Ilopongo only has water 1 out of every 3 hours during the day and none from 6pm to 6 am.

Prisoners holding up their WBS lessons.

Over a dozen prisoners at the Ocotepeque prison are taking the World Bible School correspondence course. Jorge and Marcos go there each Monday to study with them.