Everything was going well. Shortly after I started a family, I met some people who promised me a lot of money if I became involved in criminal activities in other countries. Before long, I ended up behind bars.

During my time in prison, I had a moment one evening when I remained alone in the cell, I began asking God who He is and if He exists or not. It wasn’t an intentional prayer; it was more like talking to Him than a prayer.

After a while, one of the evenings, a great weight fell on me. I had no strength to get up. I was lying on the bed when my eyes closed. I saw many people—thousands of them, dirty and evil—chasing me. I felt overwhelming fear and ran away.

After a short while, those people disappeared, and darkness came. Then the darkness disappeared, and I saw a new heaven and a new earth. Everything was shining with beauty and splendor, filled with love, peace, and joy. The streets were radiant, and there were many beautiful buildings and homes.

I saw many angels dressed in white, with their hands raised. They were singing a beautiful song in a language I did not understand. In my spirit, I heard the words, “Glory, glory, glory!” The song and its melody made me cry because I felt such joy and comfort.

I asked in my spirit, “What is all this? Where am I?”

And I received an answer: “This is the song with which these angels praise Me, and this is the place I have prepared for the faithful.”

I asked, “Who are You?”

And I heard: “I am your God, the One who created you.”

I tried to turn around to see Him, and I wanted to say, “God, please let me stay here.” But I could not turn around because there was a bright light that would have blinded me. Then, in an instant, everything disappeared.

I woke up. It was late at night, and I was crying. I tried to go back to sleep so that I could see that beautiful place again, but I did not see it anymore.

In the morning, I was pensive. I started praying when I was alone in the cell, and I said:

“God, I want to know Your Word and serve You.” , (because I was wondering which is His Word and I wanted to know that.)

About ten days later, I was moved to another cell. I decided to clean the bed and the cupboard underneath it. Inside, there were loose pages scattered around. I began gathering them to throw them away, but then I felt something hard—it was a book cover. I realized that the scattered pages belonged to a book, and on the cover was written the word “Bible.”

I said to myself, “I’ll gather these pages, put them in order, and read them. If this is Your Word and I can understand it, I will serve You.”

I put the pages in order and began to read. As I read, I started to understand, and I was startled—I felt that God was speaking to me and that His Word was alive. I came to understand that Jesus Christ is the Savior, and I began to repent.

One day, I prayed to God to take away my addiction to cigarettes. About a week later, I was moved to a non-smoking cell, and there I was able to quit smoking.

God performed many more miracles during my time in prison.

I still had about three years left until my release. One day, I prayed:

“God, I don’t have a job. I don’t know what I’m going to do or how I’m going to support myself and my family.”

About a week later, one day before noon, the warden opened the door. Two other people were with him. They told me:

“Get dressed and come with us to the administration office. These people want to talk to you about enrolling in a barbering course.”

At first, I became angry and said, “Are you kidding me? There are so many people here—why did you choose me?” And I refused.

But one of my cellmates came over to me and quietly said:

“Remember what you prayed about a week ago—that you didn’t have a job. This is the answer. Go.”

Then I remembered my prayer. I was happy and said, “Okay, I’m going.”

I started a barbering course, and after a month, I received a certificate and a diploma.

Today, I am a free man. I live with my family, work as a barber, serve God, and am very grateful to Him for everything He has done for me.

Be abundantly blessed in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ!