THIS may sound like a strange headline, but for Hilda Akwai (Wale), spending time in Rove Correctional Centre has been a real blessing.
Hilda, aged 32, has been through some tough family times, and during this time, she was involved in something that she is not particularly proud of.
She was sentenced to 4 months prison, and while she was in there, she was introduced to Crossroad Bible Correspondence courses.
As a result of her studies, she came to know Jesus in a new and personal way.
Some 70-80 inmates are following courses with Crossroad, a series of correspondence lessons that were written especially for prison inmates.
These courses are now followed in over 50 countries in the world, and they are in other languages beside English.
Staff from SWIM Solomon Islands administer the lessons, going to the prison every week to collect completed lessons and distribute new ones.
Completed lessons are mailed to Australia for marking, and are then mailed back direct to the inmate by different volunteer instructors in all states.
“This course has really built up my life,” said Hilda in a recent interview with her.
“I am now getting involved with the youth at church, while before, I never event went to church.
“Even though life is still tough,” she said “I am happy every day, because Jesus is part of my life”.
Even though Hilda has already been released, she is continuing with her studies, dropping completed lessons of at the SWIM office in Lungga.
She recently completed the first series in her course, and she was awarded a laminated certificate which she is proudly displaying.
“I hope that others too get the same blessing as I do from this course,” Hilda said.
Rev Kevin Rietveld from SWIM said that it is so encouraging to see changed lives in prison as a result of the many positive Christian influences and programs that are being presented there.
Crossroad has been operating in Rove for about five years, and lessons are also going to Auki and Tetere prisons.
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