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I give this my true and honest testimony as I embark towards the visions God has given me ...
On August 6, 1995 I met the woman, now my wife, introduced to me by my mother on a long distance phone call.
On August 14, 1995 I was arrested and jailed for sexual assault - bail refused. The next day she was there beside me, knowing and believing in her heart that I was not the man that did this terrible thing.
This beautiful angel, struggling with MS and Lupus signed her mobile home as colateral for me so that I could be released from jail on bail.
We lived together for 18 months with my having a 7pm to 7am curfew and having to sign iinto the police station every day and being refused permission to leave the city.
I was under the sad delusion that innocent people don't go to prison.
On November 26, 1996 I was convicted of this horrible offence and sentenced to 4 years Federal Pennetentiary incarceration.
While I was waiting and exhausting the few avenues of appeal I had, we did our bible study every morning and spoke on the phone at least 3 times a day. She sang in our church worship team which was televised and sang a solo for us, "Till The Storm Passes By" that I cried to as I watched her on TV in the jail cells.
While I was in the "bucket", a man who was going away with a long sentence asked me about Jesus and what Gwen & I had together. "How can you two be happy in here?" he asked.
Then, after lights out, we both kneeled on the cold concrete floor and he cried as we prayed the Sinner's Prayer together.
The next day he was transferred out and I've never seen him again since.
I was moved in January 1997 to Millhaven Maximum Security prison where I was under 23 hour a day lockdown for 9 months. There was a Sunday Service and they needed someone to play the organ for the worship, so I volunteered. This was my brightest hour in an otherwise sad, lonely and fearful week. Convicts are considered to be the lowest sector in society -- a "Rape Hound" is the lowest of the low. -- but I knew I was innocent and I knew God knew I was innocent so I read my bible and prayed daily and did my best to carry on.
I was moved to Joyceville Medium Security Penetentiary and the second day I was there, I landed a "job" in the school for the prisoners. I worked on computers, I set up the lessons so that the students could better themselves, and I played piano in the chapel, too.
I earned $5.25 per DAY working in the school and I learned how to set up the Windows NT network, repaired the workstation computers and installed the student software. I saved my money and every two months I mailed Gwen the money she needed to come and visit with me.
Gwen drove 8 1/2 hours, every two months, through blizzards, snowstorms, rain, whatever, on a long lonely highway in a delapidated old car to visit with me. Our finances were destitute because she had lost her mobile home due to the restrictions of my bail, and having to stay with me being one of these conditions, as I couldn't leave the city.
After 32 months, I had 7 letters of recomendation from all the teachers at the school including the School's Manager, had an exemplary security record. I had saved $348 with which to start up again in a new city as I was only allowed to be released into a half-way house becuase I refused to confess. Had I lied and confessed, I would have been out after 2/3 the sentence. Even the psychologist after 18 months of weekly sessions admitted that "You probably didn't do it ... but my job is to get you to confess."
Gwen stayed in a motel room for the first ten days as I was only allowed out twice a day for 2 hours. In this time we found an apartment, I found work and slowly these restrictions were relaxed. I still had go to the halfway house and sign in at 11pm and sign out at 7am to go to work.
To this day I have an excellent raport with my Parole Officer, the jail guards and all those who have known me throughout this nightmare.
We have moved to another city to be closer to family, and tomorrow a part of my appeal case is being heard in the Supreme Court of Canada.
We have joined and become members of a really great church, with awesome people, and I play saxaphone in the worship team every Sunday morning.
I believe that the musical gifts that God has given me, the musical training that I received since childhood, the special talents and sensitivities that I have, are all there making what I am because God has this purpose for me. I believe it's in a Prison Music Ministry.
I may never be cleared of this injustice by the judges of this earth, but I know in my heart that I have riches beyond any earthly measure for what I've been through. Maybe the reason for all of this was that one lost soul that I prayed with on that cold concrete floor. If so .. Praise God!! It all was all worth it!
When God directed my feet to walk this path, he gave me the love and support of a beautiful woman without whom I believe I would not have survived to give this testimony to you. Her truest and most beautiful love supported me and kept me strong throughout this horrible ordeal.
Every month at least 2 body bags leave each of those prisons, -- suicide or murder -- but you never hear about them on the outisde. God kept me from harm and kept me healthy throughout all of this.
There is Witchcraft and Devil Worship practiced inside.
One night, when the black fog of Satan came rolling down the range, I cried out for God to send angels to protect me from the evil. As the tortured souls screamed, I saw the outlines of two men standing at the end of my bed. As the black fog touched them, their outlines sparkled and shone and then the fog moved on and was gone.
I slept peacefuly in Gods loving arms.
I was given the gift of tongues while praying with a Catholic Priest -- curious because I am a Protestant.
I've seen death and sorrow and horrible injustice and I thank God that I have passed through the Valley of The Shadow Of Death and have come out with a much wiser and stronger man of faith.
I have never publicly told this testimony and I trust and pray that the readers of this will gain strength and hope with the crosses of their own that they bear.
Remember -- no matter how bad it is ... you are not hanging from a tree with thorns impaling your scalp, bleedling, whipped and beaten, slowly suffocating to death with the world's sins on your shoulders. -- so there is ALWAYS a glimmer of brightness in all the darkness!
Praise God for his Love!!
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