…while jumping up and down, I began to feel something in my pocket.  (I continued telling the story to the captive audience) …the more I jumped, the heavier and louder  it got.  I reached into my pocket and to my astonishment, I had a very large keychain full of keys. 

My memory immediately flashed back to several days prior, when we were all squished in a tap tap (a crude Haitian taxi), bouncing through the streets of Cap Haitian.   Miss Debbie pulled out that same key ring full of keys and said:   “Who gets these keys?… I hate carrying keys.” 

I reached out my hand and she placed the keys in my hand, then said:  “There… your in charge now!”

It’s hard to believe, but she kicked us out on the street with all the keys to the new property, and in Haiti, he who holds the keys is the person with the authority.  (I explained to the men as they listened intently)

I began jumping up and down like I meant it, shouting with the children: “We’ve got the VICTORY!!! We’ve got the VICTORY!!! We’ve got the VICTORY!!!”  for over an hour.

…Two days later, those children with their over sized shoes, and clothes that do not match, marched boldly into that new property shouting: “We’ve got the VICTORY!!!”

The inmates burst out into cheer…

Then I told them:  “Brothers, you may be in this place, and it may seem like all is lost with no hope.   But you are here to learn how to be free.  Free from prejudice, free from jealousy, free from hate… Free from what ever has made you bound.  Free to look at any man and see the face of G-d, who is our Father.”  

I walked up to a black inmate and said: “If we deny you as our brother, we are denying the face of G-d, and miss out on the gifts He has through you.”  I did the same to other men of different ethnic groups who were sitting together.   “If we deny you…” I said to a red headed white man, “…we miss out on the fiery red expression of our Father and our G-d.”  

At this point, most of the men were in tears as a supernatural key appeared to have unlock the iron gates of their heart.

“You may be behind these prison walls at this time,” I continued, “but there is One who holds the key, and when He opens a door, no one in this world, no one in hell below, or Heaven above, can shut that door!… He’s name is Yeshua (Jesus), and He is dancing with our orphan children in Haiti, showting: We’ve got the VICTORY!!! We’ve got the VICTORY!!! We’ve got the VICTORY!!!    …He dances HERE in this place, right now.   Will you dance with us?…” I began to jump.

At that, there was a victorious roar, with double fists pumping: “We’ve got the VICTORY!!! We’ve got the VICTORY!!! We’ve got the VICTORY!!! We’ve got the VICTORY!!!”

The shout echoed throughout the prison, vibrating the metal bars.  The guards looked at one another not knowing if they should call for back up, or join in.   In the end, one by one, they hugged us in tears as they returned to their cells.

How amazing that amidst our most devastating setback, G-d had plans to restore a young man’s heart, set captive inmates free, bathe us in love by an entire congregation, and do so much, much more.

Back in the Steinhatchee river, we had a surprise visit. It was my Mom and Dad.  My Mom actually got in the dingy with my Dad, and saw the inside of Aleph Tav for the first time.

“Mom… You’re in the dingy!!!”  I said, trying to communicate with my mouth what my eyes could not believe.

“Aiiii Pirro, don’t tell me dis!…”  She pleaded with her eyes hidden under my Dad’s arm.

Wow, I thought; getting keys from your enemies in Haiti, “We’ve got the victory” marches, sailing though blizzards, inmates shouting and weeping… All of it was miraculous, but my Mom in a dingy???… That was beyond supernatural.

To be continued