22/12/2025
We praise God for the opportunity to bless a total of 67 inmates and 18 jail personnel during the Prison Visit 2025 at Burauen District Jail and Leyte Provincial Jail last Saturday, December 20. We also praise God for how the number of PDLs has decreased since October with reports of being transferred, but mostly freed. Flipflops, christmas cards, bible tracks, gift packs for lady inmates, and snacks were shared to all of them.
We praise God for the 10 student volunteers, 9 graduates and 1 staff worker who participated in this year's Prison Visit. We also praise God for MEANS USA for the partnership and for continually trusting IVCF Tanauan in this ministry. Damu nga Salamat, MEANS!
Sharing with you some testimonies of student volunteers;
First time ko umupod hin prison visit, and it had a big impact on my life. At first, kulba an akon inabat, pero God showed me nga waray ko dapat ikabaraka. The moment nga sumakob kami ngadto, nabalyuan an akon kulba hin peace and joy that comes from Him. I realized nga waray pinipili an Ginoo bisan an tawo nga nakabuhat hin butang nga ha mata han tawo waray kapasayluan, pero ha mata ni Jesus, may-ada kapasayluan ngan katalwasan basta an tawo magbasol ngan karawton hiya nga magtaralwas. Nabag-o an akon perspective ha mga tawo nga PDL nga they also deserve to be loved and respected. I will always bring this experience and testimony wherever I go. - NADINE A. CORDAรO
BSOA 1A
"Very thankful ako na naka upod ako han prison visit because nagkamay ada ako knowledge ngan understanding and I also felt a sense of compassion and inspiration from the people I met at Burauen and Palo. I realized they're not just inmates, but humans with different stories and experiences and they deserve equal love and respect and It made me think about the value of second chances and the importance of compassion and love." - Mark Anthony Yu Monte, BSOA - 1st Year
"Visiting the Burauen District Jail and Leyte Provincial Jail was an experience I will carry with me forever. Honestly, I walked in with one perspective, but I walked out with a completely different one. I used to think that people who commit crimes should simply face the consequences indefinitely. But seeing their faces and hearing their hearts reminded me of a powerful truth that PEOPLE CAN STILL CHANGE, DESPITE OF WHAT THEY DID IN THE PAST. I saw people who were genuinely eager to change. Besides, seeing them smile and witness their unshakable faith that God will make things right was so inspiring. It was an honor to be used by God as a small instrument of His love. Those little gifts we gave were just a physical token, but the message was clear: God hasn't abandoned and left them." - Dhezire Aduana, BSED - SCIENCE 3rd YEAR
"It was indeed, a memorable and unforgettable experience that I had in my entire life. From joining this kind of activity, I was reminded once again of the truth that โeveryone deserves to be given second chances,โ especially because I witnessed firsthand how eager they are to change for the better...In fact, I got teary-eyed not because I pitied them, but because of the joy I felt when I saw their smiles, showing how hopeful, thankful, and faithful they are to Godโthat, at the right time, everything will be okay and that they can be with their respective families. Truly, I can say, โMaupod pa ako ha mga sugad nga activity sunod nga tuigโ for it is in serving others that we also grow closer to Him. - Jovy Ann Camino, BSED SCIENCE 3RD YEAR
"During the prison visit, I witnessed how the inmates open their hearts to the Lord with sincerity. Despite their situation many showed a deep hunger for God, expressing repentance, hope, and a desire for transformation. It was a powerful reminder for me [na] Godโs grace reaches everyone and everywhere. Above all, they accepted the most important gift this Christmas, it was Jesus as their Lord and Savior."
- RONALYN DOLINA, IVCF Graduate
To God be all the Glory!
