Father's Day and Lockdowns

This picture was actually taken a few weeks after Father's Day because the prison was under a full lockdown. We had no clue what was going on for a few days because Samuel was not allowed to call. There had been some pretty serious gang-related fights and activity in the Rec yard and they put the whole prison under lockdown - more as a protection than a punishment. They are just now getting back to normal several weeks later... 

We also weren't allowed visits, there were no Bible studies or chapel, no classes - so they were truly pretty much locked down 24/7. Something of that capacity has to be approved by Governor Walker. They also did a thorough search of each and every cell and found a LOT of contraband, etc. We are praising the Lord that the CO found the razor blade that Magic had planted in Samuel's belongings a few days before, or he would have been in serious trouble. God continues to watch over and intervene on Samuel's behalf. 

I've been thinking a lot lately about how merciful God is even in His chastisement. We have been truly amazed time and time again at how often God has intervened, protected, and blessed Samuel in a variety of ways. God truly wants to be close to us. He is not "punishing" like we tend to be. He is merciful and desires to restore us to full fellowship with Himself. What a good God we serve!

Watchin' You

                                           

Best Father's Day Card Ever! 

Dear Family,                                               6-4-14

I love you guys so much. I hope everything is going well at home. I got all my stuff you guys sent in. (My socks, t-shirts, underwear, towels, and alarm clock). Thank you so much for getting me all that. Today the phones are out. They are putting in six phones. We had four phones for people to use at day-room. This will hopefully let more people be able to use the phone. Everything is going good here. I got a letter from Missy (his boss) last night.

It was so good to see Mom last night. Tay still has not stopped talking about seeing his mom last night. It's the first time he has seen her in 8 or 9 months.

Today the weather was rainy and cold. I miss you all so much. I just got your letter for this week. I love getting a weekly update on everything. I am staying busy with my health class every day. Today we started learning basic first aid. Most of this is just common sense. Also, growing up at camp I have learned a lot on how to help people.

I am trying to get into the Brick Laying course, but I have not heard back from anyone yet. God is still in control. This 10 years is a small thing to Him.

                                       Love,

                                          Samuel

                                            Lee

                                          Shelton

Dear Family,                                            6-12-14

I miss you guys so much. Things are OK here. Every time I listen to my radio of think of you guys. Tell Katie I am so thankful to have it (our “adopted” daughter and friend, Katie Barbour provided the radio and some shoes for Samuel). Y'all mean so much to me. Hope you guys have had a good week. Can't wait to see you on Saturday.

6-13-14

Hope all is going good! The weather is so nice today. Can't wait to see you guys tomorrow. I love you guys so much. Hope the garden is growing well. Hope the list of needs I sent is not too much.

                              Your Loving Son,

                                 Samuel Shelton

This is our friend, Katie. She is a regular fixture around here, and her friendship has meant so much to us. She kept me company many a night when Samuel first went to prison. She has adopted us, and more importantly to us, she treats Samuel like a little brother. She provided a radio and shoes for him. She told us that if anything happens to Lee and I before Samuel gets out, that he will always have a place to

 go to ~ a home.

That means more to us than words can say.

Dear Family,                                   June 28, 2014

Well today we have been locked down for 3 days. So sad that I could not see you guys today. The CO's (Correction Officers) said we may not have visits on Sunday either. Hope I get to talk to you tomorrow, I know you must be worried. I love you all so much.

It was so good to talk to CJ. So happy for her. Can't wait to see the pictures. She has been a big encouragement to me from the first time I met her.

Hope you guys ha d a good time tonight. Looks like the weather held out for you guys. What did you have to eat? Who all came over for the bonfire? Tell (my dad) Bryan 'Hi' for me.

Hope everything is going well for the church. I will be praying for VBS this summer. What is the theme this year?

It was so good to talk to Pastor Yowell last week. He is always a big encouragement to me. He always gives me a few things to think about. He really cares for you guys and wants to be a help any way he can.

Tell everyone thank you for praying for me! I really saw God work last week with my last celly! (Magic – the satan-worshiper). The Lord has blessed me with a good celly. We get along pretty well. Still trying to cell up with Tay.

Just looked at the time. It's 9:30 pm. Man. I miss you guys much. Today was hard for me not seeing you guys. I won't lie, I did cry today. So sorry that this all had to happen. But I'm so glad to be right with God and you guys. The Lord is so good to us. Think of all the opportunities we have already had to be used of God. Let us not forget what we were put on this earth to do. Hope you guys have a good rest of the week.

Dear Family,                                     June 29, 2014

It was so good to talk to you guys finally. I will miss seeing you this weekend. Well July is almost here. Hopefully we will be off lockdown by Wednesday. Then Mom can come visit me. When you're locked down for 4 days you have a lot more time to think of why you are here... Sometimes you can forget why you are here. But you can't leave until all the time is served. God is always in control, we just need to wait on Him. Everything in HIS time not ours.

So glad you all had a good time last night. So did the weather hold out for you? Thank you for give me the phone numbers to call Uncle Jack, and Larry, and Aunt Rita. I can't wait to talk to them. Well, I'm going to lay down and try to get some sleep. Love you guys.

Well, we had lunch about two hours ago. We had pancakes, hashbrowns, oatmeal, and bread. It was pretty good. How was the morning service? What was the message about? How was your lunch? What was for lunch? Well, it's 1:10 pm, so it's my nap time, lol!

Love you guys.

Dear Family,                                June 30, 2014

Well, it's Monday and we're still on lock down. We just ate lunch an hour ago. We had a chicken sandwich. How was your guys' lunch today?

I also got to talk to Uncle Jack after I talked to you. It was so good to hear his voice. I did try Uncle Larry, but did not get a hold of him. Uncle Jack caught me up on all the news.

We only get one day room today but hopefully by tomorrow we will be back to full normalcy. Well I will let you go for now, it's my nap time :-). Love you guys...

I got to talk to Aunt Rita and Michael. It was so good to talk to them. Just got back from my last day room. How was the weather after I talked to you, it looks pretty bad out there...?

I can't wait to see you tomorrow. It was a very hard weekend not talking or seeing you guys. Hope Pastor gets approved to visit and minister to the inmates. They really need people to come who will really care about who they are. And it would be good to see people from church. Well, it's 6:51 and nasty outside. Love you all so much. Tomorrow, I am going to try to talk to Uncle Larry and maybe Kazmine if I can. Miss you sooo much. Time for me to sign off for tonight.




                   4 Months Down ~ 116 to go
                             

I Saw Jesus in You

Dear Family,                                    July 1, 2014

Hope you all are ok. Last night we had some bad T-storms. Wish I was there with you last night Mom, when you were down in the basement.

Just got up and am getting ready for my day. Can't wait to see you tonight, Mom.

How is the garden going? Can you send me some pictures of the house, garden, and lawn? Had a good dream last night. It was about getting out and working for CreateScape.

Just finished my devotions. One verse that really stood out to me was Proverbs 1:5 “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.” I want to model my life after this verse. I want to be wise in all that I do in my life. Well, it's almost time for first day room. So I'll let you go for now. Hopefully I will be able to talk to Uncle Larry today.

Just got back from lunch. We had tacos. They were really good. Sometimes it's hard not to get frustrated with some of the CO's because one will try to help you, but the next will not even care what happens or what goes on. It makes it hard to give respect to someone for weeks and they still won't even acknowledge you when you talk to them. :-/ But I will not give up hope. Maybe I could be a witness and lead some CO's to Christ!

I have to go to school in 45 minutes. Hopefully this week I will finish this class so I can start the brick laying class. Wish this class was over but all in good time.

Well it was so good to see Mom tonight. We had a blast! I came back to my cell and slept for an hour! We just had 9:00 standing count. Well, I am going to write Kazmine a letter before going to bed. Love you guys. Lots.

Dear Family,                                    July 3, 2014

Well, today is 7 ½ days of being locked down. Can not wait to see you guys! Been listening to lots of music on my radio! It was good to talk to you and Dad today. Wish I could see you guys every day but that won't work.

My celly said to say hi to you guys. He's an ok guy. He will be moving in November. That's when I will cell up with Tay I hope.

It's 7:15 pm, well I'll let you go for now. Love you guys.

Dear Family,                                          July 5, 2014

Well today was boring. How was the parade this year? We have been listening to country all day. It was so good to see you guys. Hope you guys had a good time with Bryan and Katie on Saturday night. I love you guys so much. Well, I'll let you guys go for now till tomorrow. Miss you all. It was also good to see Katie today. It's 6:40 – time for my nap LOL!!! Love you guys.

Dear Family,                                                 July -

Well today was really good. We had a slow day but glad it's over. Hope you guys had a good day. How was lunch today? I was looking back on how the house looks. My cell is smaller than the kitchen. Me and my celly just made a hook-up (a ramen noodle, soggy cheeto burrito type thing... no comment... :), so I will let you go so I can eat. Love you guys lots.

                                   Love,

                                   Samuel Lee Shelton

                                   (Joshua 1:9)

5 Months Down ~ 115 to go

Questions, when in despair, must always 

point to this:

God is Sovereign

God is all-powerful

God is Love

And God knows what He is doing.

Click on older posts below to see more letters and pictures...

The LORD Will Fight For You...

This verse brought special comfort to us this week as we watched the Lord intervene and protect Samuel in a very real, faith-building way. 

So on Monday I put this status on facebook, but really couldn't say much at the time...

It wouldn't be until Tuesday afternoon when I was allowed to go visit 

him that we would get the whole story....

About a week before this visit, Samuel had finally been moved off of Intake into a regular unit. He was put with a gentleman named "Magic". Magic quickly let Samuel know that he is a self-proclaimed satan-worshiper. Though this made Samuel gulp a little... :) - he knew he would probably have ample opportunity to witness to him. They indeed had several conversations about the Bible, and Magic seriously conveyed that "Lucifer is the good guy." Samuel told him if that were so, then why was Lucifer the one thrown out of Heaven?! Anyway, Magic also told Samuel in no uncertain terms what he thought about the Bible, etc etc. Magic made it very plain to Samuel from the git-go that he didn't want him in his cell, and that he had put in a new celly request. After a few days of Magic trying to provoke Samuel into a fight - Samuel was glad that Magic had put in that request. Magic is about twice Samuel's size - and Samuel told him it would be stupid for him to fight him. (He knew Magic was trying to provoke him into a fight so Samuel would get taken to Seg (Segregation, also known as 'the hole' or solitary confinement)).

When we visited him on Saturday, Samuel mentioned that Magic really wanted him out of his cell, but as of that point, Magic had not touched Samuel. On Saturday afternoon after our visit, Samuel was in his cell trying to write someone a letter, when Magic began doing things to really annoy him. He would keep swishing a rag in his face, and while they were laying on their bunks (Samuel is in the upper bunk), Magic would reach up and do annoying things like stick his fingers in Samuel's ears, or up his nose; he would wipe his hands on his face and do other annoying things. At first Samuel just tried to ignore him figuring he would stop, and when that didn't work, he started telling him to leave him alone, stop bothering him, etc etc. There was one incidence when Magic reached over and caressed Samuel's face with the back of his fingers and started calling him "my pet turtle." By this time Samuel is starting to get a little freaked out (ya think?). Another time, while Samuel was down on the floor trying to get his lockbox out from underneath the bed, Magic pins his head to the floor with his foot and wouldn't let him up until Samuel knocked his foot off. He realized things were taking a serious turn and although he didn't want to fight, he was prepared to protect himself.

Later that evening the CO's (Correction Officers) did an impromptu inspection of Samuel's unit, and while the CO was going through Samuel's belongings, she found a razor blade. That is an offense that usually gets one thrown into Seg -- no questions asked! She did ask Samuel though, if he could enlighten her as to why he had a razor blade in his belongings. He raised both hands in a "hands off" gesture and told he had no CLUE as to how that got in there, that it wasn't his, and he had never seen it before. (That's what they all say...). He showed her the one razor he owned and that he had brought

 that from Dodge with him.

For whatever reason, she believed him, and thank God, did not take him to Seg. (Samuel had conveyed to us at an earlier time, that his social worker had told him that the CO's told her that Samuel was an easy-going, friendly guy, pretty much kept to himself, and never caused problems). We do sense that God has given him favor and that he has gained a positive reputation.

Regardless, the razor blade was slipped down between two pieces of paper in a clear plastic paper protector/cover in his outtake folder - so it was hidden pretty well. We don't know if Magic planted it there hoping to get Samuel thrown into Seg to get him out of his cell, or if he had it stashed (in Samuel's belongings of course instead of his own) with plans to use it for evil purposes later on...we will never know...Thank God.

The next day, Sunday, Magic continued to annoy and taunt Samuel, even telling him he didn't have the *stomach* to call the CO's (there's an intercom button in each cell). Samuel told him would if he had to - so Magic said, "Oh yeah?" and pushed the button himself. So when the CO answered, Samuel explained that Magic wouldn't leave him alone and is continually annoying him and trying to goad him into a fight. Magic sat there shocked that Samuel actually did it, as the CO came and took Samuel out of the cell and spoke with him privately. He also spoke with Magic privately as well. The CO told Samuel that since it was Sunday, nothing could be done that night and he would have to wait until the unit manager would come in the next day to take care of this. So Samuel had to spend another night with Magic - he mostly kept his hands to himself the remainder of the evening. Samuel was able to call us on Sunday afternoon and although he couldn't give many details on the phone, he did ask for prayer. 

On Monday morning Samuel was informed that the unit manager wasn't coming in that day. He was a little chagrined, but there wasn't anything he could do about it. He called us again and we talked through the Armor of God, and we reminded him that "greater is HE that is in you than he that is in the world" and that there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. I told him if he felt he needed to - to read the scriptures out loud and pray out loud when Magic would start acting weird or menacing. Pastor encouraged us to remind him "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." - 2 Timothy 1:7.

 Magic had a tendency to listen to very heavy metal rock and would always act frenzied and agitated in the cell when he would listen to it. Samuel would ask him to please put his earbuds in (your cellmate is required to do that if you don't want to listen to their music or television programs). Each time Magic refused. At lunchtime on Monday, Magic was acting "peculiar" and when lunch was finished they headed back to their cell for lockdown. When Samuel got back to the cell, Thomas, Magic's friend and fellow satan-worshiper was standing at the cell opening and after Samuel went in and the door closed behind him, he continued to stand there waiting for something while watching them through the window. Soon though, Thomas had to head to his own cell, and Magic began acting very frenzied and agitated. (This is where it gets really weird - so hang on - and remember, most of you know us - this isn't something we do everyday..... :-p ). Magic began jumping up onto the desk and then onto the stool and was screaming (Samuel said it sounded like a cat wailing). He began hissing and his tongue was lolling out of the side of his mouth. He also had red marks that had suddenly appeared on his hands. Samuel was slightly freaked out. He said Magic was slobbering all over his shirt, pants, and all over the floor. Samuel tried to move around him to grab his Bible out of his lockbox - when Magic started grabbing for it. Samuel wouldn't give it to him (he figured he was going to try to tear it up), and jumped up on his bed and just started reading Scripture out loud. (He said he was looking for the passage about the demon possessed man of the Gadarenes, but couldn't find it. :)) Magic bent over to get something out of his lockbox, when Samuel prayed to the Lord out loud that if this was a demon to remove it far from him.

Immediately Magic quieted, the red spots disappeared off his hands (?) and he stood up erect and asked Samuel where he had been the last 15 minutes and what he had been doing. Samuel proceeded to tell him he was demon-possessed. Magic said, "No way! That's not me!" Samuel assured him it was and to look at his shirt, pants, and floor where he had slobbered everywhere. Samuel was ready to be OUT of that cell! He called the CO and told him, "You've got to get me out of here! This guy is demon possessed!" So they pulled Samuel out again and although the CO sorta smirked at first, Samuel said he could tell he believed him and told him that he would take care of it.....while meanwhile he had to go back to his cell...

He didn't hear back from the CO that night and...had to spend ANOTHER night with Magic in the cell. He didn't sleep too good, but Magic had done a COMPELTE turnaround and totally left him alone and was amenable the rest of the night. The next morning the unit manager arrived and pulled Samuel out and questioned him about the last few days. Samuel told her everything. She was very unhappy about the caressing, and "my pet turtle" part. (Yeah me too, lady). She told Samuel that that behavior fell under PREA(Prison Rape Elimination Act) and she was not happy that Samuel had been left in that cell. After Samuel was finished she asked him if he minded if she called Magic in - Samuel told her not at all - to please do. When Magic arrived and was questioned, he denied everything. Everything! He even tried to make out like Samuel was crazy and that he had been the one doing all of the weird things. When he started complaining to her though, about making him miss his dayroom, etc - she looked at Samuel and he could tell she believed him. She told them, "You BOTH could end up in Seg because of this," and then had them return to their cells while she went to talk to a "White Shirt" about the situation. Back to the cell. Again.

When they got back to their cells, Samuel began packing up his belongings. Magic asked, "What are you doing?" Samuel reminded him that the UM had said that they could both end up in Seg, or at the very least Samuel was going to probably be moved out. Magic told him, "You're not leaving! Not until I finish putting a hex on your soul!!" Samuel told him, "You aren't putting a hex on MY soul! Jesus Christ lives in me, and HE controls MY soul!" Magic left him alone. An interesting thought that Lee pointed out is, this man was twice Samuel's size and he could have pummeled him anytime he chose. But Lee thinks he was afraid of Samuel - not because of Samuel - but because of Who was living inside of him! It wasn't long before the CO intercommed into the room and told MAGIC to pack his stuff, that HE was leaving! He was livid, Samuel said, and cursed him up and down and poured water all over the room and made a mess before he left. Samuel didn't care. He was glad to see him go. Magic was mad, because this whole thing backfired on him! They moved him to a completely different wing. 

Samuel thought his problems were over until he went to lunch. When Magic's group of friends realized that he was gone and Samuel was still here - they kept glaring at him and gesturing and nodding toward him and he felt a little frightened by their intimidation. Samuel was the new one on this unit and didn't really know anyone very well and hadn't really made any friends yet. There was one young man that had been cellmates with Samuel for a few days, Buford (who had his own group of friends) - and for whatever reason came over to Samuel and asked if he could have lunch with him that day and catch up! Samuel was thrilled to have another body there! Buford and he chatted and he was an encouragement to Samuel when he told him that he had given his new celly a copy of Samuel's written testimony and his celly thought it was really cool and thought Samuel would be encouraged by hearing that. He was! He felt like God was letting him know that He's there with him and using him. He went to his cell afterwards and had the best two hour nap he has had in a long time!!!

At the next dayroom, that same group of guys was looking Samuel over again, and although he didn't feel like he was in imminent danger (the CO's had told him earlier that they have "eyeballs" on him at all times), he did feel intimidated. There was another group of guys that are older, 23 and 24, and more mature, that called him over and said, "Hey Shelton! Come over here. You hang with us. We'll show you how to play Spades." Samuel said they were letting that other group know that "he's with us - and you can't bother him." Samuel said they are a "buff" group of guys and he was relieved that they took him "under their wing" so to speak. I smiled because I knew Who's Wing he is under and am thankful to the Lord for His protection over Samuel, no matter what form it takes. :) They have continued to make him part of their group every dayroom and rec time. Praise the Lord.

Meanwhile at home, Lee and I are having to learn to trust and pray and trust and pray some more. He belongs to God. Lee and Pastor both said that we can't live 9 1/2 years anxious and worried over his well-being. He's in God's Hands - the safest place to be. We do appreciated your prayers. 

Our faith would be stretched again, when on Friday I would once again call on my Facebook Prayer Warriors!!! ....

We had no word of him until Sunday morning when they allowed them to have ONE dayroom so they could call their *worried* families. He didn't know much, just that we wouldn't be able to visit on Sunday either, and that they were still under full lockdown.

Finally today, Monday June 30th, he was able to call again and say that they are under partial lockdown, but that I should be able to go visit him tomorrow. He said the Warden sent them all letters telling them that there had been two huge fights out on the Rec fields, and also that the CO's had found some pretty bad stuff in several cells. Those guys are in big trouble. All I could think about is THANK GOD they found that razor blade (MAGIC's razor blade) in Samuel's belongings earlier that week - or he would be in BIG trouble himself. Once again - God protected him. I know I am an ol' sap - but I weep every time I write about God protecting and watching over my boy. 

Thank you dear friends for continuing to uphold our family in prayer. You are all PRECIOUS to us!

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Mother's Day, Letters & Snippets

Dear Mom and Dad,                                   5/26/14

I'm so sorry that you came all the way here and were not able to visit me today. I missed you sooooo much. So sorry this letter is so sloppy, my celly is trying to sleep, so I'm using the wall next to my door for a table :-).

Every Holiday I spend separated for you guys is so hard. I miss you guys so much. I can't wait to see both of you again. I hope you guys have a good Memorial Day and a good week. 

The Lord is good - all the time.

                                       Love,
                                           Samuel
                                              Shelton    Joshua 1:9

Dear Mom & Dad,                                     5-19-14

Just was thinking of you guys. I miss you all so much, hope all is going well. The phones have not been working for the last couple of days. I loved our visit on Saturday. I always have fun with you guys. I was doing the math – and next Tuesday will be 100 days of incarceration. That's a landmark to me. Maybe you could come on on that night, and if Katie sends in her visiting form, maybe she could come with you.

I had a meeting with the Intake Multi-Disciplinary Team today. They still don't think my diploma will be credited by the state of Wisconsin. They said the SO4 is no that important right now. All they want me to do is academics. These Modules are mandatory for me to be released: G-Gip, vocational and the SO4 in that order.

Man I can't wait till next weekend to see you guys and to get my canteen too. Also, I will be staying on the north unit. Miss Heidt is my social worker.

The schooling they want me to take first is Civics, Employability, and Health.

How are you guys doing this week? Is my dog doing ok? :-) Man, I wish I was out so I could help dad with the garden this year.

The weather was great today...but it just started to rain.

Oh, I get my hair cut tomorrow at 1:30.

I should start school next week sometime.

I love you guys so much. I'm praying for y'all. Hugs and kisses to you.

                                      Love,

                                       Samuel

                                          Lee

                                       Shelton          Joshua 1:9

Moved to his new Facility: Racine Youthful Offenders 

Correctional Facility

New Address:

Racine Youthful Offender Correctional Facility

Samuel Shelton 612941

North Lake #42

P.O. Box 2500

Racine, WI 53404

Dear Family,                                         5-11-14

It was so good to see you guys yesterday. Thank you so much for coming to see me. It is always so much fun to spend time with you guys. Today was on of those hard days....because I was not out spending Mother's Day with my mom. I'm so sorry that I let you guys down the way I did. God knew what was going to happen, and I'm glad I got caught to stop me from going somewhere I never wanted to go.

I want to thank you mom for being the best mom in the world. May God bless you this year When I talked to you today it made me so glad to know you would choose me all over again...even though I let you guys down so badly. Will you forgive me?

I love you guys so much. I can't wait to see you on Saturday.

                                 Love,

                                    Samuel

                                        Lee

                                          Shelton

                                          

Dear Mom and Dad,

Today is Wednesday the 7^th – I am going to be moved tomorrow morning. I hope you get this before Saturday so you don't come all the way up here. I love you guys so much. This is one step closer to home. They are moving me to RYCI (Racine Youthful Correctional Institution). :-( But God is in control.

                              Love,

                               Samuel

                                  Shelton

This is the Mother's Day card Samuel sent me:

Got this call the Friday before Mother's Day from Samuel:

I LOVE our visits with him!!!

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4/24/2014

Dear Family,                                        4/24/2014

Things are going well here. To save me an envelope, my celly said I could send this letter with his thank you card for the Easter card and money you sent him.

I can't wait to see you guys. We have had outside Rec for two days! It's fun to play soccer again. Things have not changed with my staffing. I am still waiting to find out where I will be staffed. Maybe next week. Not very often do guys get staffed on Friday. Today we had canteen. I got three boxes of cakes, five envelopes, 15 ramen noodles, and some shampoo.

I just finished Acts in my Bible reading. It was really interesting to see what the early church went through and compare it to what we may face as Christians very shortly.

How are things going there? Any new news on the house? How are the church families doing? I miss you guys and love you so much. Hope to hear from you all soon. Can't wait to have a  

on Saturday ☺ Today is Thursday. I love you guys very much. Hope you guys are doing ok. May God bless you till I write again.

                                                                 ♥ Love,

                                           Samuel

                                                 Shelton ♥

p.s. Praying for you guys.

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