MPM Outreach Colombia 

January, 2008.  Bogotá, Colombia: MPM is represented in the prison “Distrital Prison” in the city of Bogotá.  The administration is very committed to improving the conditions of the inmates.  Their mission statement promotes learning, reflection, co-existence and fulfillment of the sentences to bring about the development of respectful social behavior and respect for the rights of all citizens.

The population is mostly youth, low academic and hyperactive, rebellious, irreverent. 80% are from low socioeconomic levels, using drugs.  The purpose is to stop the cycle of addiction.  MPM offers inmates the tools to facilitate an inmate’s recovery and transformation through the A Way Out  Homework is given out. program. Each inmate is given a sponsor/guide for the Spanish correspondence course.

Weekly classes are offered in all 7 locations. Prayer, readings from the “24 Hour Book”, A Course in Miracles and the Bible and shared experiences in the Steps of that day provide an opportunity for sharing.  The Promises are read at the end of the class.

MPM Bogota’s teachers are happy to share the Light and Love they have received in their lives and their experience of recovery through A Way Out. Infinite Gratitude to those inmates who realize the miracles of God and are willing to be forgiving !

 December, 2007

The "Good News" from South America brings gratitude to all our hearts ! Ministers Theo and Leda, through the help of their friends and teachers in Bogata and Cali, who are active with the prisoner ministry there, were invited to do a day long "workshop" for 170 prisoners ( all ex-policemen) and 30 administrators.

A Course in Miracles International has been offered a farm (taken from drug lords) to serve as a Healing Center for the community, and Miracles Prisoner Ministry will be represented throughout South America, serving inmates in that country.

    
Theo and Leda
    

Says Leda, through an email to MPM: " I held a training program last night for 20 teachers who want to teach in the prisons. Everyone has been doing the "12-Steps", and we have adopted the "A Way Out" program for our Step meetings. This Monday is the first class at the prison, and they will use the MPM Correspondence Course as the basis for the class. They will have 40 women in the class, and 6 teachers will go. Within one month we will be in 6 prisons in the Bogota area, and the administration wants to use the program as a model throughout Columbia."

Leda and Theo will be a part of the team that meets with the administrators to discuss teacher training. Volunteer 12-Step guides for the Correspondence Course are also being trained as well as teachers who will commit to 6 mo. for the prison program. Other MPM ministers will be heading to South America to help in the efforts to offer healing and forgiveness to the prisoners there.

An Instrument for His Grace

written by Leda

On July 10, Theo, I, and 10 other brothers from ACIMI BOGOTA set off for a little town called Facatitiva, to visit the Penitenciaria de la Policia National /the Policemen’s Prison. Corruption among policemen has been a major problem here in Colombia; much of it in connection with the drug trafficking underground. 160 policemen are housed together in this Policemen’s Prison.

We were invited to the prison by Major Leon, the Director, to introduce our Spiritual Recovery Program called “A Way Out,” utilizing ACIM and the 12 Step Program. He has invited all the administrators to attend as well as the prisoners.

Major Leon is also helping us in our endeavor to apply to the Colombian Government for the use of one of the farms as our new ACIMI COLOMBIA center. These farms have been seized from drug lords and are being made available to service organizations. Major Leon hoped to help us cut through some of the red tape to acquire a farm center.

Our morning session was attended by about 80 prisoners and administrators. Theo and I each spoke about our own spiritual recovery through ACIM and the 12 Step program. Several brothers offered their personal testimonies, and we heard from the participants what they were hoping to gain from our program. Their cries for help could be heard loud and clear; we were definitely in the right place.

The sincerity and earnestness that was expressed by the participants as we all explored the depravity of our human condition was a true impetus for the holy instant that soon engulfed us.

About 25 participants returned for the afternoon workshop. Our discussion of Step One in small groups was the perfect platform for a joining to occur beyond all the usual parameters. Step One of the 12 Step Program is as follows: “Admitted we were powerless over our addiction, and that our lives had become unmanageable”. The sincerity and earnestness that was expressed by the participants as we all explored the depravity of our human condition was a true impetus for the holy instant that soon engulfed us. We all came together in the shared recognition of pain and suffering, of anger, guilt, and frustration… and with all of our feelings laid bare we together shared in the release of the weight of these emotions. We knew we were not alone and the experience was transformed to a certain recognition of the presence of love and acceptance. Our gratitude for the opportunity to witness to God’s certain solution… to our perfect creation by a perfect creator, to our freedom from guilt through the action of forgiveness… was immeasurable. The light was apparent, and soon the discussion turned to the expression of a burning desire on the part of the prisoners to know more about the Course In Miracles. Our participants wanted more materials, and immediately. The sense of urgency was a clear reflection of the depth of their need, and likewise was the source of our immense appreciation and gratitude.

So many of the participants expressed a clear recognition of their own unmanageability in regards to their anger, aggression, and drug use… and it was very clear that they wanted help, and now. The energetic charge that was generated by such a passionate desire was felt by all. The joyful experience of knowing there is a way out of the hell of this world was contagious, and by the end of the session we had all fallen in love with each other and were laughing together.

We spoke with the Director a few days later, and he confirmed his wholehearted support of our program for this prison and all the prisons in Colombia. He felt every prisoner should have a chance to participate in “A Way Out, Spiritual Recovery Program,” knowing the need is so great. We will continue visiting the prison every week… it is our great joy to do so.

Their hearts and minds are so very open…
they teach us so much in their receptivity.

Our work in the Woman’s Prison in Bogota, Colombia continues to be a source of great inspiration and joy. About 25 women eagerly await our arrival every week, grateful to practice Jesus' message of love and forgiveness. Their hearts and minds are so very open… they teach us so much in their receptivity.

All of us who participate in the prisons agree that there is no greater joy than to give what we have been given; which is our certainty that the only solution lies in God dependency. As we do this we experience such a greater recognition of all of God’s grace. Nothing compares to the sense of completion and fulfillment that comes of serving, giving, and loving… giving ourselves away with no thought of exchange… what a magnificent plan for salvation we have entered into… what a delight to know and be an instrument for His Grace.

Leda Glodell
Colombia


Contact: Centro De Milagros, Bogota
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http://www.uncursodemilagros.com