Volunteers from Korean ministries and churches went to Smith State Prison on Friday to serve and show love to the inmates in the prison. Volunteers and inmates alike expressed that they felt love and unity through the event.
Volunteers stayed at the kitchen in Korean Community Presbyterian Church until late at night on Thursday night to prepare an "enormous amount' of food, and arrived at 7:30 AM in front of the prison on Friday morning. After every person had their fingerprints and driver's licenses checked, the volunteers gathered with the 200 volunteer prisoners who had been waiting, ate the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with hard boiled eggs that they had prepared, and all togther prepared the food for the other 1,400 prisoners to come.
With sweat coming down their faces from the stove heat, the volunteers and volunteer prisoners prepared baked chicken, vegetables, rice, egg rolls, banana, chocolate, and other food in abundant portions, and gave out food through the prisoner's windows.
One volunteer said tearfully, "I can't see their faces, but simply with the minimal interactions between the windows, I can feel their love."
After having only eaten processed, canned foods, the inmates have been coming back again and again to receive the "home made food' that the volunteers have been giving them with warm smiles, and loving, serving hearts.
On Friday in particular, the volunteers featured special worship services for the prison inmates. The morning service included worship led by Jino Park, a sermon by Pastor Wonchul Kim from Yoido Full Gospel Church, a performance by a senior choir from Korean Church, a saxophone performance, and other worship performances by American worship leaders.
Although there were differences in language, and although these individuals were behind bars for being "sinners,' volunteers and inmates alike felt that they all became "one' at the event.
"Everyone who came just felt like my own mom, dad, brother, and sister," said one inmate. "All of these volunteers who came out are just like family to me," he added with tears as the volunteers embraced him.a
One inmate received particular attention when he read clearly and carefully, "Thank you for coming here," in Korean. Although the Korean volunteers couldn't understand what he was saying initially, they expressed surprise and thankfulness when they realized that he was expressing his gratitude in their own language. When the choir sang "Arirang,' everyone present sang the song together, and there were many who embraced each other with tears.
In the afternoon service, during which Pastor Byung-Chul Han delivered a sermon, 200 or more inmates responded with enthusiastic amens, and listened carefully to what he was preaching. Like young children, they all shared laughs and had fun together during a time of recreation and games following the service.
