Free Hands

Hello again faithful blogreaders,

Today after 3 hours of intense spanish Dave, Tarryn and I visited a ministry just down the street from our house called Free Hands. We were able to spend several hours with the women and their children at Free Hands and we were given the opportunity to see what their unique ministry is all about. 

Free Hands is a ministry that works with female prisoners in San Sebastian Jail and those who are on probation.  These women are, for the most part, trapped by terrible poverty without much hope of change in their circumstances and for reasons related to this are, or were, imprisoned. When in prison the women need to buy clothes, food and water for themselves and their children who are forced to live in prison with them. When they leave the prison the bonds of debt and poverty remain. Debts accumulated in prison need to be repaid and living accommodation costs need to be met. Free Hands works alongside these women developing their craft talents creating goods so that they may earn an honest wage, break the chains of debt and support their children. 

While at Free Hands we were able to see the women hard at work, making beautiful things from furnishings to handbags to kitchenware. I am posting a link to the Free Hands website so that you can take a look for yourself at some of the awesome goods. The online store delivers around the world, and I promise that if you purchase merchandise from the store not only will you love your hand-made Bolivian keepsake but all profits go directly to the women, giving them back their dignity and confidence in their self worth. 

Final Thought: When looking into the eyes of another who is unlike you in appearance, personality or life-experience, is it not easier to see how you are dissimilar than to notice what you have in common? ... I ask you, in the end does not every eye cry? Does not every voice laugh? Does not every heart break? And does not every soul need a Saviour? 

- Phil