Lovesmenot here:
I have gone to the WNFJ convention four times. I have never experienced so many emotions in a 48 hour period in my life. It was so wonderful and it was what I needed at those times in my life. The Blue Mountains in October are breathtaking. It's Pennsylvania Dutch country and the hillsides are full of old farms, horses, gorgeous old churches, ancient cemetaries, lakes, and peace...God's country. The atmosphere at the retreat is loving and accepting and I met so many folks that I had talked to online all these years and that alone made the trip worthwhile. We ate like pigs too if I recall...the food is fabulous! One of my favorite parts is the introduction where everybody gets to stand and introduce themselves and tell us about their experiences...yes it takes a few hours but ohmygod...you laugh you cry you jump for joy when you realize that person is someone you KNOW or..that you arent alone in all your JW caused pain.
You sing without anyone staring at you, you talk and question and laugh like you never had the opportunity to as a JW...and you can come and go as you please. Take a walk in the woods, have a camp fire and gather together...or go up to the beautiful little prayer chapel up in the woods and talk to God in peace. Nobody pressures you to do ANYTHING. I watched people break their shackles with the WT there. Take their very first communion there after being told all their lives that they were not good enough to accept it. To finally accept Christ as their savior without anyone mocking or chastising them and without having to swear allegiance to a cult to get Him. To weep openly from joy and relief and not be told that they are weak and not worthy of God. It moved me. Ive never experienced anything like it before or after.
If you go in with the attitude that people are "just whining" then that is what you hear...if you go thinking that people are finally in a place where they can vent and talk to others who UNDERSTAND then you are filled with compassion and embrace them because you have been there too and what they really need is for someone to please just understand and to give them hope that its ok outside the borg. They want to be able to get mad without being rejected. They want to cry over losing their families...they want to unload their burdens if only for a couple of days. And have someone pray with them and for them.
I learned a lot...tons in fact...I miss so much going there but my circumstances dont allow it any more. But I think of it every year and they send me the brochure every year...and I think about you guys up there every year. So go and bring me with you! Im sure Gracie and I have met. :)
Love, Dawn