Gabriel, he is 19 years old, and from Argentina. He became a Christian two years ago, and has been preparing himself, and helping in God’s work since then, and now wanted to work here in Santa Cruz. He has had a rough background, into drugs, stealing, in and out of jail, etc.

He began traveling to Bolivia with another girl, who was going to a school in La Paz.

They arrived at the Argentinean, Bolivian border, and there the girl passed with no problem, but Gabriel they wouldn’t let pass. They said that he had been in jail as a youth, and so now he was going to be thrown into prison until they were convinced that it was ok for him to be free. Gabriel didn’t know what was going to happen so he gave all his money to the girl and told her to continue on alone. He would see what God would allow to happen.

The police took him to the prison and took all he had before they were about to put him in a cell. Gabriel was scared, and asked them what the prisoners normally do when a new person enters, what he could do if they start harming him, and why was he being put in prison. The guards just said nothing happens normally, and if anything does, just bang on the door and start yelling. The guards asked him what he wanted to take with him, and he had to decide if he was going to go in as a Christian with his Bible, or as any other criminal. The cell held 10-12 other men. The prisoners from this prison were in there for serious crimes. The worst place is the borders, and these men were very big, rough men. Gabriel is a skinny young man. If he went in with the Bible, he would be instantly known as a Christian, and Christians are not usually welcome in rough circles because they are too weak, too sissy. If he went in as any other criminal, then he would have to defend himself on his own strength. He decided to take his Bible only. With head hung low, Bible in hand, he entered the cell.

“Hey you, border boy from Argentina, what are you in here for? What did you do?” The men were big, muscular, and tall.

“I didn’t do anything. I don’t know why I am here.” Replied Gabriel

“Are you a Christian?” the men asked

“Yes I am.”

“So are we. We have been studying and learning about the things of God. Tell us about what you know.”

And so the Bible study and testimony time began. They talked until the very early hours of the morning. Sometime around 3 or 4 am an ambulance came and took all the men from the cell for medical exams, leaving Gabriel alone. He sat there thinking of all that had just taken place, and wondered if God didn’t want him in jail to start a prison ministry. Just then the prisoners from the cell next door began beating on the wall with pipes to get his attention.

“Hey you, border boy from Argentina. Why don’t you come into our cell?”

“No thank you, I am fine here.” Gabriel responded, thinking that these guys were up to no good.

“But boy, we have heard you talking and we want to hear what you have to say about God too.”

“Ok”, Gabriel said, “but I am locked in here and I don’t know how to get to you.”

“Don’t worry. We will call the guard and tell them to put you in with us.”

When Gabriel was let out of his cell and put in the other cell, he was again met by 10-12 large, muscular men. They were ready to welcome him though, and had a bed and a chair already prepared for him, and all were sitting around ready to hear what he had to share. Again, Gabriel shared about his God and all He had done, studying God’s word with them.

Later, still in the early morning, another young man, a Bolivian, was put in their cell. He was asked why he was there, and he didn’t know. He was just taken and put in prison. So they all continued their discussion.

Mid-morning, a guard came and told Gabriel that he was free to go now. Gabriel was surprised and asked why he had been put in prison, and what he was to do. He had no money, he didn’t know the way through Bolivia. The girl he had been traveling with knew the way. The guards replied they didn’t know why he was put in prison, and they didn’t know how to help him beyond setting him free. But then a thought came to them. Hey, the young Bolivian man they had just put in prison, he could go with Gabriel. He was from Santa Cruz, so could show the way. The guards didn’t know why he was in prison either.

The two young men left the prison and began to travel. The Bolivian knew the way, and guided through all the back ways from trufi to trufi (like long distance taxis) since there were blockades on all the main roads. They traveled all day and night until they made it to the bus terminal in Santa Cruz.

Along the way the two young men didn’t talk much. The Bolivian was a quiet guy, and didn’t say much. He had only led the way, paying for all the expenses and keeping Gabriel´s company. Here they were in Santa Cruz, and Gabriel realized that he didn’t even know the Bolivian’s name. How was he going to thank this man? He didn’t have anything. He asked

“How can I thank you for all you have done for me? Is there anything I can do for you, or anything I can do to show my gratitude?”

The Bolivia replied: “there is something you can do for me. Can you go to the bathroom with me?”

Gabriel thought this was kind of strange, but couldn’t refuse. They went to the bathrooms, and there in the bus terminal you go up a flight of steps to the bathroom door. At the bottom of the stairs are benches where people can wait. The Bolivian asked Gabriel to wait on the bench while he went into the bathroom. Gabriel did, and sat down to wait. Ten minutes passed, then 15, then 20. This is crazy, how long does a person need in the bathroom? Maybe the Bolivian ate something that gave him diarrhea. So he went up the stairs to ask if he could go in and check on his friend. He didn’t have any money to pay the man at the door, so he asked if he could just go in and check to see if his friend was ok. His friend had just walked past the man without paying. The man said he could go in, but no one had gone in and there was no one in there. Gabriel went in and there was no one. There were no doors or windows that anyone could have exited through. He stood there thinking, and remembered that when the Bolivian had entered the bathroom the man at the door hadn’t noticed him going by, and that was why he wasn’t charged.

Now Gabriel was alone in Santa Cruz, where he was to be and where he was to continue working for God. He is sure he has met his guardian angel, and that God intervened and brought him here. He has been a blessing, and a great help here. We serve a great God.