10) Bathurst Gaol
I didn't tell J.R. or the other inmates what happened at the college - there was no point. This was our last day and I mentioned as much to the officer at the reception centre. As we chatted the man asked if we wanted a closer view of the inside of the prison. From the visiting centre we passed through massive gates into the 'neutral' zone. I couldn't help but compare the situation to the trenches and "no-man's land" in World War 1. Having crossed the neutral zone we entered another set of massive gates. Judging by the layout, Bathurst wouldn't have too many escapes.
The reception committee was waiting for us. The inmates were openly making crude remarks about my older daughter, who at that stage was nearly eighteen. My maternal instinct boiled over, and softly I whispered to the warden, "they are nothing but animals". Unfortunately, I hadn't whispered softly enough for a prisoner heard and shouted at the top of his voice, "Hey, she said we're nothing but a pack of animals." Within seconds we were surrounded. Bullies always feel the strongest in a group; even more so when confronting a lone warder, a woman and two children. The situation looked and felt extremely ugly. The thought crossed my mind that we could become the hostages of these men.
I decided to confront the leader before he had a chance to rally his group. I looked him straight in the eyes and said, "I felt sorry the minute I made that comment, but I don't appreciate my daughter being insulted. The children and I go to gaols not judging who we meet, we simply tell them about Jesus and treat them like human beings; is it too much to ask for a little respect?"
My boldness and speech surprised the man. He even looked a little shaken. "Sorry lady, you don't know what it's like in here. We climb the walls sometimes in frustration and helplessness. We didn't mean you and the children any harm." The bomb had been defused - what a relief!
I don't know who was more relieved: the children and I, or the warder. Repairs from a previous riot had just been completed. With smiles all round, we continued our tour of the gaol.
The convicts on Hulks, moored on the Thames in the 1700 and 1800's would have considered the cell we saw as absolutely luxurious. One inmate had agreed to show us his cell. We climbed to the second storey and were amazed to see the comforts of life, a television, stereo, books, tablecloth and ornaments. On hindsight, I suppose he would have traded all his possessions for his freedom.
The doors of Bathurst Gaol closed behind us that Friday afternoon; but not our continued association with prisoners. For many years Sonja and I continued to write to prisoners around the state or interstate. The following extracts from letters sent to me are an indication of how necessary Jesus is in the life of a person, whether in or out of gaol.
J.R. Matraville
God bless you and keep you well. Thank you for your lovely letter last week. You know it's funny, but when you said it was sad that a person as young as me is in prison instead of enjoying my freedom, I feel that I am free for the first time in my life. Maybe not in a physical sense, but in the spiritual. I believe that there is no benefit in physical freedom without spiritual freedom and I have only found my spiritual freedom since I lost my physical freedom.
Yes, I do thank the Lord for my circumstances, (I just hope they don't last too long). Seriously speaking though, I was going from bad to worse. I started by stealing, then I graduated to selling marijuana, then moving on to having my own organisation of people selling drugs for me. Finally I did the worst thing that any man can do to his fellow man, I started to sell heroin. Thank God I was caught. I was sentenced to three years prison and after serving eight months I escaped with the intention of going to see my sister in Cairns and then leave Australia, to go to Lebanon. Well, the escape was successful and I was at large in Sydney for three months, trying to raise some money for the journey.
Most of the way heading for Queensland I was travelling well in excess of the speed limit, without being stopped by the police. When I got to Townsville I increased speed slightly. You wouldn't read of it, there was a policeman stationed just out of Townsville, who should have knocked off work ten minutes earlier, but he wanted to get one more ticket before he went home. So guess who trundles past him doing a lousy six kilometres over the speed limit! I saw him wave at me and silly me not realising that he wanted me to pull over waved back at him. So consequently he chased me. I panicked and took off and ended up in hospital after an accident. Then it was off to gaol, where I became a Christian. I believe God had a hand in my escape and although I lost my physical freedom, as I said, I gained a greater freedom.
J.R. Bathurst
It's funny, but when you all came to see me, I realised that there was a large part of my life that I had missed out on. I had sacrificed love, compassion, friends, truth and God for lust, pain, hardship, lies and a false god - money. Since becoming a Christian, I have come to understand the value and virtues of Christian living.
Joseph - Matraville
I was very, very happy to receive your letter, it was a great boost to my morale. Letters in here are the closest thing to a person. I have read your letter at least five times and as you already know, it is easy to get to know people and understand them through the feelings they bring out in their writings, especially with as much time to ponder them as we have. Yes, the Lord Jesus has truly blessed me with friends for my wife and myself. I am getting there, as they say, 'slow and steady wins the race'. They must have been God's words, because they are words of patience, something I normally have been very short of, but now seem to be able to find plenty with the help of Jesus.
Testimony by George - Park Lea
In November 1984 after being released from gaol for the second time I went to church with my brother-in-law who was a Christian. I went there expecting that nobody would have anything to do with me. At first I wanted to leave, but something told me to stay. After going there for some weeks I asked the Lord Jesus into my heart and a week later I was baptised, it was so beautiful. I don't know how to put it into words. The Lord gave me many Christian friends to talk to and ask for help in my daily walk with Him. We would go away on Christian camps; that I loved. I started to love the things I was doing for the Lord. I was about 28 at the time.
At the fellowship I met a girl called Helen who I liked very much. She had a young son, who I grew to love. Because I didn't want to lose Helen, in case she didn't feel the same way, I didn't tell her how I felt. I also knew an older woman called Cathy. She was very beautiful. She wasn't a Christian. I had met her at a club. I was trying to walk in my faith with Jesus, hoping to interest Cathy, but she didn't want to know. I knew I really loved Helen but I felt I couldn't risk involving her in my life. I tried to walk away from Cathy, but she would contact me and I would go back. I was so mixed up; I just needed someone to love me.
Even as a Christian I was haunted by memories of my past life and that caused me much distress. During my first spell inside for armed robbery I was brutally raped at knife point by an older man. It happened over a three day period. Afterwards the nightmares, the shame and the guilt drove me to repeated suicide attempts. I have tried to have normal relationships with girls, but the rape nightmares keep coming back. I started drinking heavily to try to forget.
In April 1985 when I had only been a Christian for six months, my brother-in-law died. I had again lost someone very close to me. He had been the only one from my family present at my baptism. I went downhill after his death, but the Lord Jesus took care of me. Despite this I got back with Cathy, but I knew she wanted a normal relationship with a guy, so I went back to the drinking and drugs. I was a two way Christian; I knew I loved Jesus, but I was still really mixed up inside. In January 1986 I took an overdose but the Lord Jesus wanted me to live a bit longer. Someone found me and took me to hospital. I changed churches and this helped for a while until I got back with Cathy.
On the 7th August, 1986 I was very drunk and went to Cathy's place. We had a bad fight. I left but when I returned later she was dead. I don't remember anything about the fight. I went to the police with my Christian friends and handed myself in. Back in gaol suicide was on my mind for the first 3-4 months, then after about 6 months I asked the Lord for forgiveness and I know he has forgiven me.
Since then I have spoken to many friends inside about Jesus and the Lord helps me to know what to say to them. Neil and I started a fellowship in the gaol chapel. Some of the guys I have spoken to have asked Jesus into their life, praise the Lord. Some of them are now on the outside and still with the Lord. They still write to me. Plus there are guys who have gone to other prisons and they tell me they are witnessing to others.
Here in my wing there are four Christians and I have a special friend Michael. He lives right across from me and he comes and we talk about Jesus. Michael has helped me to grow stronger in my faith and my daily walk with Jesus. I praise the Lord for giving me a chance in my life and I thank him for always being there when I need him. He has given me all my family back and my Christian friends I knew outside.
Jesus is my Saviour and I am his servant, and I love Him with all my heart. Praise you Jesus. Love Jesus and you will experience that love for Jesus is the strongest power of all; it will enable you to overcome all hardships.
Todd - Townsville
Extract 1
I've been getting a bit of a buffeting of late, but that's to be expected, as it is my fault. The more I read the Bible and pray the stronger I feel and it seems as if there are scales falling from my eyes.
One thing that sticks in my mind is that there cannot be any doubt if we want our prayers to be answered. Matthew 21:22 The key word being "believing". It is only in the last week as I read more and more of the Bible that I have been more positive in my prayers and now I can say in all honesty that I have claimed and thanked my Father for what I have asked for. And here is the positive answer to my main prayer. I had run out of money and therefore couldn't afford any letters, so I prayed about it and fully believing that some money would come before the deadline. Praise God, on Monday I got a brief note and a card from Pat and Peter and for the first time, other than birthdays, when they usually send me $10, out of the blue they sent me $20. But that's not the end of it. The next night I got another letter from my mother and she had sent me $50. Hallelujah, praise the Lord; he sees all our needs and supplies them.
Extract 2
So the Lord touched your life twenty two years ago, huh Sis, but regardless of the 15 years of disobedience, you came to him, as He knew you would, never to wander. It took the Lord thirty five and a half years to get through this lump on my shoulders. Praise the Lord. He got through back in June 1981 and my head isn't full of satanic filth and rubbish anymore, bless Him for His gracious mercy. What a great God we have.
Extract 3
I am assuming that Sonja has shared my testimony with you, Sis. I won't rave on, but I blew a two year sentence up to thirteen years, three weeks, only because of the satanic influence I allowed to lead me. To date I've got over nine years one month done and look a good thing for getting parole about October - November, when I get my answer on a parole review in September. My physical freedom is one big deal to me now that I have that Glorious Light of Jesus Christ showing me the Way, the Truth, the Life, making me want to shout, hallelujah, praise you Jesus.
Ever since John 8:36 became a living reality in my spirit, it sure has changed my outlook (admittedly not enough) towards my fellow man. I hated the world before I heard that beautiful knocking on the door of my heart and allowed Jesus in to sup and have fellowship with me. Revelation 3:20.
These extracts, from hundreds of letters, I have received over the years
are an indication of how wonderful Jesus is when it comes to changing people's
lives.
1/ Fiji
2/ Egypt
3/ Israel
4/ Papua New Guinea
5/ Forgive or I cannot forgive you
6/ Jesus still heals today
7/ Suicide
8/ Long Bay Gaol
9/ Attempted murder
10/ Bathurst Gaol
11/ Angels
12/ How to pray
13/ Cords
14/ Counting the cost
15/ The heart condition
16/ Lorraine
17/ Dracula - fact or fiction
18/ If you love me
19/ Being gay
20/ Faith
21/ Roots
22/ Malaysia
23/ Fiji revisited - 1997
24/ What Jesus means to me
25/ My diary entries
26/ Conclusion