Theocractic Assignments

The wanderer

Living in Florida

Known as the Sunshine State with its beautiful sandy white beaches its attractive
amusement and theme parks, it offers tourists and visitors a paradise like setting
if only temporarily. It is also well known for its grapefruit, lemon and orange crop.

The service meeting and the call for volunteers

The usual Thursday night meeting was no different then any other in that there was a call for volunteers to pick oranges at the orange groves that the Watchtower Society owns for the brothers in Brooklyn, New York so that they could enjoy their morning orange juice.

The calling

A white haired older brother was the designated speaker. He was in his early
seventies, short with fair skin and wire rimmed glasses. His part on the meet-
ing was to inform the congregation that it was there turn to go fruit picking
for the brothers in Brooklyn.

The expenses would fall on the volunteers

It was explained that the volunteers would have to pick up their own expenses this included automobile, hotel and food accommodations from Friday morning to late Sunday afternoon. The request was for six volunteers and their were no takers.

The pressure is on

About a week had passed and still there were no volunteers and by the next service
meeting we were to hear about it. The elderly gentleman had once again delivered
his part on the service meeting. Only this time it was not a gentle talk of "please
brothers we need volunteers for this assignment."

Taking it personally

The gentle white haired elder had taken on a fiery disposition of displeasure and
anger. It was then that I was transported into a different time in which individuals
would raise their right arm toward the sky at a forty-five degree angle and chant
the words "Seig Heil."

Back to the future

The "gentle" white haired elder was concluding his part on the service meeting with
a look of triumph and satisfaction. He gave the congregation a piece of his mind
regarding the matter and then he concluded with his demand. Suddenly, there
appeared eight volunteers.

Respectfully,

The Wanderer

Outaservice

I think he might have left out the part about getting 'heat stroke' out in the sun, and the fact that you would have to watch out for poisoness snakes in the orange groves. Plus, I think now that oranges are not supposed to be shipped out of state due to some citrus disease.

Outaservice

earthtone

Free labor! That's all it is. I would have never thought of it this way if I was still in. Amazing how they are able to get something for nothing and make it look like it the theocratic thing to do.

fullofdoubtnow

It was explained that the volunteers would have to pick up their own expenses this included automobile, hotel and food accommodations from Friday morning to late Sunday afternoon.

So they expected you to work for nothing and pay for the "privilege"!

I'm not surprised there were no takers the first time of asking. I'd almost bet that if the volunteers had ate any of the oranges they'd picked, the wts would have expected payment for them as well.

serendipity

Did they sell the grove recently? I bet the local brothers were glad.

rekless

my girl friend's Lutheren Church bought oranges from the florida JW orchards. She said a lot of the churches in South Dakota buy their friut from that source.

Mysterious

I love how many donations congregations make and yet there is always some expense above and beyond. A CO visit where he is not only to be hosted and fed but his expenses paid as well. Or rennovations where the money has to be above and beyond that for the WW work.

garybuss

You wrote: "Suddenly, there appeared eight volunteers."Maybe the Society ought to get this guy to write the "do more" kingdom ministry articles. They'd have their lazy daisy publisher problem solved in one month.
Wouldn't I love to take an ass chewing from a religion for not picking fruit?

Athanasius

Maybe the 8 thought picking oranges on the weekend was better than knocking on doors.

johnny cip

if i remember correctly the wt sold it's orange farm in fort myers. about 2 years ago. in fact i even called the caretakers (special pioneers,bethelites). and confirmed the grove was sold. maybe the wt has more than one grove? nathan we will have to look this up. this was a hot topic , a year or 2 ago. i think the wt bought the land for either $10 or $3000 some debate on this. about 25 years ago and sold it for about a few million. to a developer. maybe connected to the wts. to build condo's , i know some sharp posters can remember this scam... john