From Trinidad and Tobago's Newday

PRISONS Commissioner John Rougier yesterday called on fathers, both in and out of prison, to take fatherhood seriously and act responsibly, saying that this was integral to making Trinidad and Tobago a “good, fearless and happy” place.

He was speaking at the Prison Fellowship of Trinidad and Tobago’s (PFTT) Father’s Day activities organised for inmates at the Maximum Security Prison

I am wondering if this is the gentleman that we met at the Men's Maximum Security Prison?

American Church on AIDS

"Every church should be engaged in the war against AIDS."

Rev. Bill Hybells, Willow Creek Community Church

"This is the greatest opportunity for the Church to be the Church and meet hurting, suffering people at their point of need."

Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church

African Saying

"When a snake comes into the house, we do not stop to ask where the snake came from before we kill the snake."

--from The Skeptic's guide to the Global AIDS Crisis

More Photos, recently found on my camera

This is our group at Sham's Family's home on our last night. If you click on it you can see all of us on the Flickr.com page.



Lindon our driver poses with the Reach for Life book, his son (right), Sergio (left) and the van. Then: add Steve to the picture.

These photos are from our last night in Trinidad. Good memories.

Specialist

This is the "Taxi," called a "Maxi" that Lindon our driver drove us all around the island of Trinidad in. We got used to piling in and out of this thing day after day. Lindon is a great driver. If you get to go to Trinidad and need a driver, I recommend him.

A few more images in Sangre Grande

Click on any photo to see full size and see more on the Flickr page.

Some thought upon leaving

I asked Dexter what he felt we accomplished together during our week in Trinidad and Tobago. We talked about a variety of things and it seems we did a lot. Here is my summary of what I learned and believe we accomplished:

I learned about the church in T & T and what God is doing there. The church is full of young people, vibrant, energetic, and collaborative. The leadership is highly trained and motivated. They are ready and willing to work hard and do new things to help people in T & T.

A lot of books were distributed to leaders, young people, prisoners, etc. A vision was created about youth organizing themselves into support groups around the word of God to grow into transformed lives in transformed communities.

It would be a delight to check in year after year to see how the “Fire Starters” (young people inspired and trained to lead others in a supportive bible study) get along with that. How many youth get involved and to see if there is impact on there lives—new relationships with Jesus, supportive relationships, improved health, lower incidence of HIV and other STDs.

Ultimately, I would be pleased if youth use the books we brought to find new and transforming relationships with Jesus, had reconciled relationships with families and friends. Within that context, my experience is that the Spirit of God works, transforms. People get second, third, fourth chances. Lives are transformed. Behaviors improve.

It used to seem like it was important what behavior a person participated in that led to HIV infection. Dexter and I talked about this. He never said publicly how his favorite cousin was infected. He told me he didn’t know how the PLWHA we met were infected. Today, I believe that it is un-important how a person is infected. In fact, I recently decided that I would not ask a person how they got HIV. That should come out of a friendship with the person. My job is to love people. Tell them that Jesus loves them and act like it.

I hope that my friendship with people in T & T will continue. I can continue to learn from them. I would like to help the churches there engage their community in a way that leads to transformation. The conversation has started.