I have safely returned from Guatemala. Thank you for your prayers during my travels. At the end of my trip, while still at missionaries Dennis and Cindy’s home in Guatemala City, I had the blessing of meeting Ignacio and Sandra Sanchez and their children. I wish to share with you his compelling testimony of the redemptive nature of Jesus as it is playing out in their family.
Psalm 139: 13-16
13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Ignacio was born in Guatemala in 1970. At his birth his mother died. His father was not in the home nor participated in his life. He was raised by his grandmother until the age of 6 when the 1976 Guatemala earthquake struck on February 4 in the early morning (at 3:01 am, local time) when most people were asleep. This contributed to the high death toll of 23,000. Approximately 76,000 were injured, and many thousands left homeless. His grandmother and many of his extended family were either killed or displaced by earthquake. Having no one to care for him he was befriended by other children and with them walked all the way through Mexico to the United States, avoiding the guerrillas that were indiscriminately killing people during the Guatemalan civil war. He eventually ended up in Houston, Texas. He then traveled to Los Angeles, California and then returned to Houston.
During his time in the United States and still as a young boy he was recruited into a gang which served to feed, clothe, house and protect him. In my conversations with Ignacio, I came to learn that these gangs prey on children to assist the adult gang members with their crimes. Because these children are under age, if caught in criminal activity they will be incarcerated as children and therefore not have the extended sentences the adult gang members directing them would have. I have also learned that these gangs are a phenomena being born in the United States and then exported to the Central American countries via deportation which has led to increased criminal activity throughout these countries.
Ignacio, as is the case with many children recruited by these gangs, spent much of his childhood and adolescence in and out of youth detention centers. He eventually was caught and tried as an adult even though he was still in his teens and spent 12 years in a Houston adult prison. During this time in prison he was befriended by another prisoner who had come to know Jesus. As he began to watch this individual and see a lifestyle different than he had ever known he inquired as to why this man was different. This individual became a mentor to him and he began to study the Bible. As the Word ministered to his heart, he began to understand the differences between his friend and the other inmates who did not know Jesus. He gave his life to Jesus and began to minister to others in the prison.
Isaiah 42: 6-8
6I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
7To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
8I am the LORD: that is my name:
In these prisons rival gangs would have to be separated because they would try to do harm and kill each other. Additionally, once in a gang you were in it for life and the only way that you can get out of the gang was either by death or petitioning the gang leaders to allow you to leave. As Ignacio ministered to gang members within the prison, the gang leaders acknowledged that his heart had changed and he was adding value to the lives of those he ministered to. Because Ignacio could no longer subscribe to the gangs lifestyle he petitioned the gang leaders to be released and was granted his freedom. Once released from prison at the age of 30 he returned to Guatemala to begin a life of ministry and service to incarcerated youth in the prisons of Guatemala City.
Isaiah 44: 24-25
24Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
At this time he confessed to God that he was lonely and longed to have a mate to share his life with. During work and ministry God miraculously brought Sandra to Ignacio’s attention. Sandra had a glorious conversion and soon it became clear to both of them they should marry and minister together. He recalls during the first days of their marriage when she was pregnant with their first child and riding on the bus to do their ministry. How faithful they have been and now 10 years later and as each have exclaimed, "By the grace of God we have been blessed by two beautiful children.”Please see the photos attached of their family. Sandra now works and teaches purity to young girls in her church and other venues.
On Saturday before I traveled home to United States I went to a Bible study hosted by Ignacio at an auto repair shop. In attendance was one of his prison chaplain's and about 20 men and women ex-convicts who had been led to the Lord while in prison and were now productive members of society. Please see the attached photos of the bible study.
Ignacio's ministry has been recognized by the prison guards who have also requested Bible study for themselves. His ministry has also been recognized by the newly elected president of Guatemala to be of value in reducing in prison gang violence and making ready the inmates for reintroduction to society. It is Ignacio’s hope that there will eventually be government funding for the ministry inside the prisons. Until that time he operates on a shoestring budget with barely enough money to feed his family.
My heart has been moved by the Lord and His transformative power to request assistance for Ignacio’s ministry and his family. Should your heart be willing please go to www.fishersofmenminisitries.org and make a donation for that purpose. All donations until the end of November, 2011 with a match of up to $500.00 will go to his ministry.
Thank you for allowing me to share this remarkable story of God's redemptive nature. Your consideration of my request and donation will be multiplied many fold to further God’s Kingdom and bring Heaven to earth.
In Jesus’ Name
Dr. Lawrence and Jeannie Nelson
