God entered my cell
When I found myself in the Adelaide Remand Centre I spent a good proportion of that first night lying prostrate on the floor - as low as I could get-pleading with God to forgive me and protect me. It was only a day or so before I was bashed in a holding cell at the infirmary. A frightful experience.
At least at this time there was only one other prisoner with me, but what a violent man! He stood against the door that had the only window for the room and bashed it with his fists all the time yelling threats that he was going to kill this bastard that he was with! I sat in the corner scared shitless praying to God for His protection -imploring Him to send an angel to keep this man from pulverizing me. The man stepped back from the door, a little more relaxed, but what he revealed scratched into the door, I couldn't believe. There, in letters about an inch high was the name 'EMANUEL' (meaning God is with us) God hadn't sent an angel as I had requested, but had shown me that He too was there sharing my drama.
When I was ultimately transferred to the 'Big' house (Yatala Labour Prison) I secured myself a job. It was only a short time before some of the prisoners rioted! A lot of noise and drama, but soon we were all hurriedly shunted-shoeless or half dressed or however we stood-down the fire escape into the kitchen staff compound.
Standing room only with about 100 angry men threatening me! Imagine how I praised God when the kitchen boss standing outside the cage pointed me out as one of the four men selected to make sandwiches for the Star Force, thus taking me out of that threat. It was well into the morning before we were able to return to our cells, but not before a midnight feast of banana fritters. This was the beginning of ten weeks locked in our cells 24/7.
Most days they let us out in twos to shower but not everyday. Having only just moved to the 'Big' house I had nothing!
I had a Bible that I had stolen from the Remand Centre. It had 'bullshit' written on the spine. I had been able to borrow a walkman from another prisoner and the Chaplain had brought me two tapes of my home church services so you can imagine my distress when they came on one of their searches, confiscating anything that couldn't be proved was owned by the prisoner.
I spent a lot of time in prayer, and at some times of panic really practiced 'prayer without ceasing'. There were 11 cells in this unit and I was the tenth. They had just tipped someone's bedding in a heap on the floor of number nine and spewed the contents of his drawer out when there was a siren! The last I saw of those guys was them ripping off their rubber gloves as they ran to the bars as a colleague opened the gate! Praise be to God.
I got a job as a gardener at the Pre Release Centre and it was my task to mow around trees and bushes next to the exercise track that went around the perimeter. One overcast morning, dull light, inclined to be foggy I came out from under a big bush, I was strangely warmed on the back of my neck and I could see my shadow quite clearly on the ground. I looked up to see if the security lighting was on but it was not and there was no sun either. I felt confident and assured, not fearful as before.
I thought nothing more about it but when I was called up to collect my mail there were two special letters for me-special because they came from people who hadn't written to me before. One of them I hardly knew but she wrote "As I was going to work this morning, admiring the wonderful view as I come over Waitpinga Hill I felt as though God wanted me to write and encourage you so I give you this blessing." She quoted Numbers 6:24- "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His peace."
The other letter was from an older man I'd known for many years and he finished his letter with exactly the same quotation. What a wonderful God, confirming that everything glorifies Him. When God gives you a word that is encouraging. When He confirms it by telling it twice, that's exciting. But when He says something three times you had better take notice!
I want to thank God for allowing me to be punished and corrected because it shows that I am very precious to Him. What a God!
When I was ultimately transferred to the 'Big' house (Yatala Labour Prison) I secured myself a job. It was only a short time before some of the prisoners rioted! A lot of noise and drama, but soon we were all hurriedly shunted-shoeless or half dressed or however we stood-down the fire escape into the kitchen staff compound.
Standing room only with about 100 angry men threatening me! Imagine how I praised God when the kitchen boss standing outside the cage pointed me out as one of the four men selected to make sandwiches for the Star Force, thus taking me out of that threat. It was well into the morning before we were able to return to our cells, but not before a midnight feast of banana fritters. This was the beginning of ten weeks locked in our cells 24/7.
Most days they let us out in twos to shower but not everyday. Having only just moved to the 'Big' house I had nothing!
I had a Bible that I had stolen from the Remand Centre. It had 'bullshit' written on the spine. I had been able to borrow a walkman from another prisoner and the Chaplain had brought me two tapes of my home church services so you can imagine my distress when they came on one of their searches, confiscating anything that couldn't be proved was owned by the prisoner.
I spent a lot of time in prayer, and at some times of panic really practiced 'prayer without ceasing'. There were 11 cells in this unit and I was the tenth. They had just tipped someone's bedding in a heap on the floor of number nine and spewed the contents of his drawer out when there was a siren! The last I saw of those guys was them ripping off their rubber gloves as they ran to the bars as a colleague opened the gate! Praise be to God.
I got a job as a gardener at the Pre Release Centre and it was my task to mow around trees and bushes next to the exercise track that went around the perimeter. One overcast morning, dull light, inclined to be foggy I came out from under a big bush, I was strangely warmed on the back of my neck and I could see my shadow quite clearly on the ground. I looked up to see if the security lighting was on but it was not and there was no sun either. I felt confident and assured, not fearful as before.
I thought nothing more about it but when I was called up to collect my mail there were two special letters for me-special because they came from people who hadn't written to me before. One of them I hardly knew but she wrote "As I was going to work this morning, admiring the wonderful view as I come over Waitpinga Hill I felt as though God wanted me to write and encourage you so I give you this blessing." She quoted Numbers 6:24- "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His peace."
The other letter was from an older man I'd known for many years and he finished his letter with exactly the same quotation. What a wonderful God, confirming that everything glorifies Him. When God gives you a word that is encouraging. When He confirms it by telling it twice, that's exciting. But when He says something three times you had better take notice!
I want to thank God for allowing me to be punished and corrected because it shows that I am very precious to Him. What a God!
Last modified
2006-09-19 03:22 PM