We like to simplify things, for better or for worse. And we can forget how layered and complex other peoples' lives are, and we jump to conclusions on someone based on the current state that we see them in.
Aspire to Dream believes in looking at people as the person that they can be, beyond the person who they are at the moment, beyond their current situation and circumstance. We see a graduate in the young student who cannot afford school right now, and a successful business owner who is struggling to make ends meet with his family.
Our goal was to distribute 100 hygiene kits, meals and bible tracts for incarcerated inmates during the Christmas season this year in 2022. To accomplish this, we teamed up with 4 pastors in the local area who knew the prison (Camp Sampaguita Security Compound) and had experience with this kind of mission. Huge thanks to Joel Ocasla Begonia for leading this outreach!
Getting into the prison was no small feat, as they had to get through security and clear all of the food and hygiene products to distribute to the inmates. It was a miracle in of itself that the prison allowed such a mission inside their walls, and another miracle that the 4 pastors were able to speak so freely and openly about their faith and the redemptive and transformative power of newness of life and hope in Jesus Christ.
The
mission of this particular program is not only to give inmates a
redemptive look at a new hope for their future, but also to break the
barriers of prejudice and fear that often surround the incarcerated. And
it’s a testament to the truth that every individual, regardless of
their past, has the potential for great change and a capacity to rebuild
their lives with the right people and community.
