Monthly Archives: June 2015

Monday June 29 and Tuesday June 30 – Largest Prison in Cordoba, Argentina

When I was online looking up contact numbers for the prison, I came across an article about it that said one of the worst problems in this particular prison were the amount of rats that came in from a near by trash dump. I didn’t think much of it and was just looking for phone numbers so we could receive authorization to get in. However, as we were coming in and out of the prison, guess what we saw lots of? Very big rats. As if prison is not horrible enough, I can’t imagine being trapped in a cell and have rats…

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Friday, June 26 – Prison in San Luis, Argentina

As we left Mendoza and headed to Cordoba, there was a large prison on the way. I was able to find a phone number and after one phone call the director, he set up an event for us with barely a days notice! This is a miracle and God definitely had destined for us to go there.  There were certain patios that could not be combined with other patios but the director figured out a place where we could go so that nearly the whole prison could see us and also brought out the women’s prison. It was an ideal…

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Wednesday, June 24 – One of the Worst Prisons in Argentina

The prisons in Mendoza are some of the worst in the world. In 2004 there was a major incident in this one prison where the prisoners actually held hostage a group of civilians that had come to do a theater act for them. Apparently the president was on the way and they had intended to hold him hostage protesting the horrible condition. Anyway, long story short, eventually the situation was resolved without causalities but this led to a policy which forbids civilians to enter this specific.  They were able to organize an event for us where we could perform inside…

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Monday, June 22 – Mendoza Prison

When we were performing inside this prison, the director and staff abruptly left and we later learned that there had been a death at that moment and they do not know the cause whether is was an accident, suicide or a murder. It was really tragic and brought a sense of sadness to the prisoners and the guards. To think death is so close to us and can steal us at any moment. Many of the men became very sober and really listened to our words and teaching.  This one young man I spoke with only had one arm and had just…

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Sunday, June 21 – Mendoza Center Park

Weekends and days that we do not have scheduled events, we will go to public parks and city plazas. We reach families from all the surrounding towns that come to the center to shop or have fun on the weekends. Children are so precious and we always have fun when they are in the crowd. They love all the stories we tell with our puppets in our home made puppet show (a pop up changing room with a cut out and curtain on it), and they are so bright and get the meaning behind all we do.

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Monday, June 15 and Wednesday June 17 (My birthday) – Prison in Almafuerte, Argentina

On my birthday we were inside a maximum security prison and did multiple performances for smaller groups because of security. There was a prisoner there who was blind and had a very long sentence. He placed my hands on his head to let me feel where a bullet had entered leaving deep scars. He had been involved in a robbery where he ended up getting shot, almost dying and blamed for the crime when he was barely involved. I just can’t imagine not only being in prison, but being completely blind and vulnerable. I asked him to dance with me when we…

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Saturday, June 13 Crossing the Border into Argentina/Dangerous Roads

The border between Chile and Argentina is located at the top of a pass up the Andes mountains. After we made it up the 29 curves (with a nice sign to count each one) we got in the line to cross the border.  All the mountains were covered in snow, the lake was ice and it was freezing with the wind chill bellow zero. We kept warm with ten cent cups of coffee (which was really black watered down water). In the same window you leave Chile and enter Argentina, so it was pretty simple. The only delay is when…

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Wednesday, June 10 – Prison in Rancagua, Chile

This prison was a long ways away from where we were staying and a long drive. I had come here days before by bus to get authorization and the director had welcomed us with grateful arms. We did two presentations for two groups. It was very very cold within these walls and the mountains were covered in snow. Originally we had a smaller group of around 300 men, but after the director saw what we do, he filled the gym with over 600 men. They were all very had core men and it too work, creativity and sincerity to win…

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Monday, June 8 – Prison in Valparaiso, Chile.

They had planned our event here at this prison for a few weeks, and everything was very prepared for our arrival. They even put posters around the prison so the prisoners could look forward to our arrival. Rarely are things this well organized. It was a very large gym and they filled it with prisoners. We did two performances each for about 400 men. They had it set up like a theater and one of the prisoners managed the lighting which was really cool. We do an act where we use a net to convey all the things that entangle…

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Thursday, June 4 – Largest Prison in Chile

We returned once again to perm for another group of prisoners since this prison is so large. The director was able to combine two patios so we had a large group of around 500 men. They were so very grateful for all the things we taught. They always love the break dance my brothers do and the up beat electronic style music we create brings so much energy and life inside the walls. We met two twin brothers inside who got into crime at a young age. The robbed a market originally because they were hungry and need food but…

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