by BlackSwan of Memphis 10 Replies latest jw experiences
that you ever remember having with an elder, ms, co, do, governing body member etc?
me:
there was a family that I knew growing up, when my dad died, and our family was going through some problems, the dad,an elder in the hall, was the only one that went out of his way to take me under his wing and treat me like his daughter. really nice guy.
anyone have Any good experiences?
meagan
Knew several along the way who were good people, down to earth, give you the shirt off their back. They were also the ones who didn't get glassy eyed when a district or circuit overseer came to visit.
Remember one time my car broke down while leaving the hall for field service. Car load after car load of JWs passed not even bothering to stop. Then one old brother and his wife stopped. He got out, took his coat off, rolled up his sleeves and got me going. Thing is I never spoke to this guy or his wife at the hall, ever, yet he stopped, while my buddies zipped on by. Gave me his phone number and said "call me if you don't make it home". Yeah, I knew a few good folks along the way...too bad there weren't more of them.
We had a car accident on the way to an assembly and an older couple came up to us and gave us $50.00 and said it was a gift . And two other families help drive us back and forth to the rest of the assembly and then home. As I recall it wasn't the elders that helped just some in the hall that were very kind. When terrible things happen the people know how to rally around for support ,it's the everyday kindnesses they don't seem to grasp.
When my parents were sick (they died within a year of eachother) There were constant trips to the hospital, and one crisis after another. My daughter was an infant at the time...and I am an only child. My parents congregation helped sooooo much. They came and cleaned...took care of my daughter...took shifts sitting with my dad or my mom in the hospital...as I could only be with one at a time. Some of the brothers would come and bathe my father when he was at home...and they took turns taking him for dialysis...staying with him the whole time. It was amazing. My parents were well loved. Sadly, I have never seen anything like this since....That was in the late 70s...
Coffee
My father died when we were teenagers. Various ones in the congregation paid more attention to us, inviting us out,etc. Some of the brothers did work around the house for my mother at reduced rates (because she insisted on paying them) and some of the older teen boys befriended my brother who was a young teen. A pioneer sister tried to turn me into a pioneer, and never criticized my choice to go to college, though she did say pioneering was the most satisfying life. (And it was, for her.) That cong. had a lot of problems and hardliner elders, but the people cared about each other and shared what little they had.
Only in retrospect, because it has been such a hoot since. I got "brought before" the elders when I was about 17. I had been having a typical teenage good time. One elder asked me if one of the boys involved had "touched my breast". It cracks me up even now! And oooohhhh the responses I would give today!
But back to truly good things. There was an elder and his family, whose house I nearly lived at. They were very sweet loving people, and I had wonderful times there.
It helps me remember that, while I get angry now and then, there were and are, some really good people in the Org.
Those same people might be lurkers here. If not now, maybe tomorrow or someday.
I hope.
When terrible things happen the people know how to rally around for support ,it's the everyday kindnesses they don't seem to grasp.
meagan
I can honestly say I had more positive experiences within the JW community with the men & women of it. In saying this I exclude my ex-husband as being a good part of it.
I knew of two sisters who were special pioneers when we met them back in 1975 or so, and when I left they were still special pioneers. I never met more down to earth reasonable and kind women than them. They even hugged me when I told them I was going to be disfellowshipped and told me their porch light will always be on for me when I was ready to return. I still think of them fondly.
A very caring Elder in the congregation that was close friends with our family along with his wife was outstanding. He knew of the terrible verbal abuse I endured and even of the physical abuse that happen a few times. I told him about my love for my Lost Love from high school, and how we had found each other on the internet and I wanted to leave my then JW husband. He laid out the pro's & con's for me to leave my husband who hated me. Because of his encouraging words and how loving God is I made the jump and left my JW ex-husband. He clearly laid out how disfellowshipping would go for me but not to give up the truth as he understood it. That I could return one day and be welcomed back. I even saw he and his wife reciently and gave me a warm smile and said hello. He was on my JC and said nothing during it and when the other two elders said I would be disfellowshipped he shed tears. He spoke to me as I left the meeting and hugged me and wished me loads of happiness.
I knew many other really sincere and kind JW's while I was one. Oddly enough I rarely ever see any of the good ones. I've run into some of the meaner ones but I really was never close to those people either. Had I not known so many kind people I probably would have left long ago. Their kindness and caring was definately something that held me in its grip a very long time. Had I had a good husband back then I probably would have ever left it.
My fondest moments were with a fellow elder. We had been friends for over twenty years. But the good times were not at the Kingdom Hall but in our homes with our wives and friends,(and booze), and also the many fishing trips we went on.Now if I go to the same bank as he goes to he can stand in the next line right beside me and not even acknowledge that I am alive. Some friend! With friends like that who needs enemies.
Remember one time my car broke down while leaving the hall for field service. Car load after car load of JWs passed not even bothering to stop. Then one old brother and his wife stopped. He got out, took his coat off, rolled up his sleeves and got me going. Thing is I never spoke to this guy or his wife at the hall, ever, yet he stopped, while my buddies zipped on by. Gave me his phone number and said "call me if you don't make it home".
I don't know why, but this makes me sad. People who really had a good bead on what it meant to be a 'Christian' were frequently overlooked in the congregation in favor of those who had really high "numbers".
