Finding reasons to smile...

                                   Hello everyone!

Well, there really isn't much to update you all on, I just wanted to post a quick message letting everyone know that dad is doing okay. The ninth was 19 months since dads been gone and it feels like 19 years.
It's crazy how long it feels like it's taking... sometimes it feels like time has stopped all together... but time is passing and we are still believing that God is in control...

Oh yeah! I'm not sure if I told you all this but for the prisoners who didn't receive a high school diploma before going inside, are required to take classes and get a GED. So a few months ago dad had to "go back to school" and try to relearn the basics... he was very worried he wasn't going to pass the big test and have to take the classes all over again... however, he passed his GED exam! And he is getting to do a cap and gown walk with the others inside who passed too!! Of course, no visitors or family members will be allowed to participate or go, but we are still so very excited for him! He said they will take two pictures of him in his cap and gown and send them to us though! So maybe I'll get to post one of those pics on here. :)
So, next weekend me, mom, Curtis, Matt, and Kayla are going to see dad. It should be a good trip.:) Matt and Kayla are getting to share with dad there big news that Kayla is 9 weeks pregnant! I know dad will be just beside himself happy for them. Kayla was really wanting to tell dad in person so I know she's excited too. I've been sending dad's new celly (the one who just got saved) a few different "bible" books. Things like "how to study your bible", "Holy Bible crossword puzzles", and "bible promise books". Dad said he got them all and was very excited about them. Dad is very thrilled to have a roommate whom he can share the Word of God with. It is truly a blessing for both of them and we thank the Lord everyday for that very wonderful miracle! (See last blog post)

I'm not sure when the next time I will get to go and visit dad again will be. Of course I always go at least once a month but not sure when next month I'll be able to go... money is getting tight for mom and the 1000 mile trips are getting harder on her. So please keep her in your prayers as well... Although, no matter what,I know God will always help us find a way to spend time with dad. But even still, your prayers are very much welcomed and we are very thankful for them.

 I'll post again soon and let everyone know how the trip went. Sorry I don't have much more to report.


As always, if anyone needs prayer, please let me know. There is power in prayer and power in numbers:)

Keep Jeff Pierson in your prayers!

Love,

Shekinah

A Miracle In The Making

Hello everyone.

Brit, mom, and I went to see dad this past weekend. The visit was good (well, as good as it can be). Dad shared with us some wonderful news. Dad became friends with a new guy when he (the friend) arrived a few months ago. His friend moved into dads room last week. Well, he and his friend got to talking (along with his friend and christian brother Esteban) about the Lord. After a while of talking, Esteban and dad lead their new friend to Christ!!! He said the sinners prayer and asked God to be his savior!! All of heaven rejoiced for this lost soul that now is saved! This is such wonderful news! Anyone who can find Hope in such a dark place is truly blessed! So in our prayers for dad today, lets try to remember our new brother in our prayers as well!! I'm sure the devil will be knocking on his door and trying to attack him now that his soul is no longer in danger of hell. We all know the devil will fight to bring him down and he will need prayers of encouragement and strength. Also, lets be sure to send dad a few extra prayers in that he will be able to lead many more lost souls in God's direction.
As far as everything else goes, all is the same. Dad has been gone now for 18 months with 40 months to go. It seems like time is passing so slowly for us and even more slowly for dad. However, time is passing. We just have to keep our faith and remember that God is in control.
Thank you all again for all the prayers you send. I cannot thank you enough.

If anyone needs any prayers, please let me know so that I can send up a message for you. There is power in numbers and power in prayer!

Keep Jeff Pierson in your prayers!!

Always,
Shekinah

Miles to go

Hello all. 

Well, we were working on a few things to get dad home early and thought that they were very promising. However, none of our plans came through. It was a let down yes, but we are still always believing that God is in control.

Dad is okay. He misses everyone like crazy... please be sure to write him if you get a chance. He has recently gotten into reading! He likes all kinds of books so if you like, please send him a paper back book to read. I know it would brighten his heart. But if you can't, please still remember to send him a quick letter. You have no idea how much it means to him to get a letter from some one he loves. It is those letters, the few phone calls he makes, the visits he gets, and the prayers we send up for him, that help keep him going. It is all he has to look forward to on a day to day basis besides knowing the each day that passes is one day closer to him coming home. Right now we have reached 3 years and 8 months until dad comes home. It still seems like forever, and it still seems like so much more time has passed, but we know that through that power of prayer God can still do a miracle. And we know that even if that miracle is dad getting home safely in 3 years and 8 months, that we can get through this because we have the love of one another.

One day, dad will be home again, and life will be right; until then,

Please keep Jeff Pierson in your prayers.

Thank you and God bless.

Shekinah

Quick Update

Hello all.

Well, the holidays are over and we are edging in on one year since dad has been gone. As you all know it has been one of the hardest years of our lives. We've had some struggles but we, as a family, have made it through this trailing time together and have only grown stronger.
We did get to see dad on Christmas Eve and a few three day weekend holiday trips the first couple weeks in January. Some of those trips (sitting outside waiting to go in and see dad) were very cold but we got to visit dad with no troubles.
Weekend before last me, mom, Brit. Charity, and Dessa went to see dad for a three day weekend holiday and it was a very wonderful visit. This weekend me, mom, Brit, Rae, and Curtis are going to see dad. It should be a very light and fun trip as well.
We are working on something now that could potentially bring dad home very soon. We are never sure of course, but we do have God on our side. So please keep praying for a wonderful miracle ending in dad's coming home early.

Again, thank you all so much for all the prayers you have already sent up for our family. We all can't thank you enough for all you do.

Thank you again.

Keep Jeff Pierson in your prayers,

Shekinah

As A Reminder:

 Recently, someone shared a story with me about a tragic event that occurred in their life... It got me thinking and I thought that I would share my response to them with you all because I was very encouraged by what they said. I hope you will be encouraged as well:

I know that everyone has problems and trails they face everyday in their lives and that my family and I are not the only ones suffering. It seems that whenever I get down, God shows me that even though times are hard, that I am still blessed. Just the other day I was thinking about everything I have been through and was having a crying fest/pity party while driving down the road. I was asking God why it has to be so hard... Just as I came around a corner I saw a girl about my age, knelt down on her knees, crying hysterically in front of a side road cross. As I passed her, our eyes met. I have never in my life seen eyes so sad.... I believe it was God's way of reminding me that even though times are hard, they could always be worse. I know that even though it seems like forever, one day my family will be reunited again; I haven't truly lost my dad, I just have to wait a while to have him home again. Everyday since, when I get down on life, that poor girls face floods my mind and I remember what God's word tells us; living as one of his children will not make life easier, it will merely give us hope and faith in knowing that the trails of this world will just make Heaven all the more wonderful. It isn't always easy to remember, but I can not tell you how glad I am that I do have the hope of beautiful eternity with no pain, suffering, or tears.
The thing about being broken at the bottom is that you can only look one way, up. And sometimes we need to do just that in order to look up and see God reaching down to give us a mighty hand. I am not implying that the days ahead will be any easier or less painful for my family, I am just simply reminding myself as well as, all of you, that God is always there,; even when we feel like He is a million miles from us, He is always just a prayer away.
Thank you all for being supportive and helping me, my dad, and our family lean on your strength and kind words to help get us through. Again, if any of you is seeking prayer, please do not hesitate to ask. Thank you for all you do.




Love in Christ,

Shekinah

Keep Jeff Pierson in your prayers!!

Days Day

Hello all.

Well, me, mom, and Nanny went to see dad this past weekend for our three day holiday visit. Friday (which was Veterans Day) was one of the best visit's that we have ever had with dad. Hardly anyone one was there visiting and it was a wonderful relaxed environment. However, Saturday we did run into a little trouble with one of the guards. Guys, I can not tell you how bad some of the guards treat not only dad but us (and all of the visitors) when we come to see our loved ones. Some of the guards are nice but most of them are just awful. They treat us like children and do everything they can to make our visiting time near impossible to enjoy. We are in the process of seeing what we can do to get things changed but from what we hear from others who have been visiting in this particular prison for years, say it is almost a loss cause. The guards there know that there is nothing dad or any of the inmates can do because they can not stand up to them without getting in trouble. The guards do not follow the rules of the BOP and they make our visits as stressful as they can. You all know we drive almost 500 miles to see dad and another 500 miles back home. It is a tiring and costly trip (that we love to make to see dad for the brief time we can) just to have these terribly mean guards do everything they can to ruin it. We are allowed to see dad from 8:15am-3pm on Saturdays and Sundays and Federal Holidays (although with money so tight, we can't afford to go nearly as much as we'd like). We have to wait in line (outside; rain, heat, cold, etc.) with all the others who are there to see their loved ones, for hours, to ensure that we can get in to see him for the full time; and if the visiting room fills up, they make us leave before our allowed time is up. The thing is, they have 1600 inmates there and a visiting room only big enough to hold 200 people. So if  the room fills up at any time in our visit, they kick people out who got there first to make room for more people. About an hour after we had one of the guards get on to me for having my foot under my leg in my own plastic chair (which is not against the rules, he was just being hateful to me and threatened to end my visit if I didn't sit with both feet on the floor, facing the front of the room) we were thrown out of visiting and our time was cut in half; and there is no arguing with the guards.Trust me I tried to voice my rights and they laughed at me (literally). And if we try too hard and argue with them too much, they can be mean to dad on the inside. These evil people completely run this place any way they want because they know there is nothing we can do to stop them.
I can not express to you all how horrible this place is. It is a dark place full of evil people and as we all know, dad does not deserve to be there. My reason for telling you all this is so that you know the terror this government is putting on (not just our family but) the families of so many prisoners. As we grow up we are taught that if you break the law you get put in jail, we all know that even with situations like dads, that is simply not always the case. A lot of these inmates don't deserve to be there and even those who do, should not be treated like dogs....

Everyone, please, remember to keep dad in your prayers. These are dark times for our family and dad is exposed to many dark things everyday. Prayer is crucial and we know there is power in numbers. I can not thank you all enough for all the prayers you have already sent on dad's behalf. Just please don't forget that God can still do miracles in even the most impossible situations; and a miracle is exactly what dad needs. Again thank you for all you do. Dad is so appreciative of every thought you send his way. I love you all and can't thank you enough.

Keep Jeff Pierson in your prayers!

Love in Christ,

Shekinah

Breif Update

Hello all.

I don't really have a whole lot to say today. Just wanted to let everyone know that dad is doing okay. He has been down on his back for the past few weeks but he says it is slowly getting better. He has some extra minutes this months so he will be able to call my sister and myself a few times; which is always a treat because he is only given so many minutes a month and usually only gets to call mom once a day. I am going with mom and Nanny to see him next weekend and because it is a Federal Holiday Friday, we will get to see him for three days instead of just the two. All in all, everything is going alright. Things are still hard for our family and with the holidays coming up we are all struggling a bit more then usual. Please just remember to keep dad in your prayers and close in your hearts. I know he misses everyone so very much and we are all counting down the seconds until he gets to come home. Just remember, that our God is still the same God He has always been; which means that there is still a chance of a miracle happening. We can never lose faith or hope that God will one day soon see fit to bring dad back home to us.
Again, thank you for all your prayers.

Love in Christ
Shekinah

Keep Jeff Pierson in your prayers!!