gabriella...
From a fellow newbie and so far unsuccessful fader: If one has family in the truth, it makes it hard to avoid being encouraged stalked if you want to maintain contact with family. You are fortunate that you have family that has common sense that has not been Borgified and still talks to you. Good for them!
I too live in the area where I have been in the "Truth" most of my life...I live in one congos territory, but go to another congo in another circuit about 20-40 min away. Family is not the problem. Many of my friends live near me and are "very very worried." They know that I miss a lot of meetings (I go to Sunday and some TMS/SM, but not tonight ). Word about my not going in formal ministry is not yet seeping into their dub-addled minds yet....when that realization hits fully, then I expect the accelerated "Encouraging" (aka stalking) to start. Since my family is not in this area, I am looking at moving out of state (about 8 hours away) for a possible job promotion, but I am getting flack about that ("you'll get weaker spiritually"....yeah...ok... or "stay and get on your feet spiritually"....isnt that what I am doing by fading...but I digress)
gabriella... as a former elder, I kinda know how to play this game to keep the locals off my back. (but for how long I dont know) You have 2 choices:
option 1: The first is not really doable if you want family contact: get in their faces and tell em where to go (and be prepared to be d/f or d/a in absentia..this was becoming common while I was an elder not that long ago)
choice 2 (and the preferable option):always answer the door and be polite (but dont invite them in unless YOU invited THEM) and be real general about why you arent at the KH....(job, depression, etc as others have said)
If the BOE gets to asking too many nosy questions, ask them if they know the "411 Scripture"? When they say no, tell them to read 1 Thessalonians 4:11 and wish them a nice day as you slowly close the door -- with a wry yet regrettable smile on your face. Try not to laugh until they are gone. And remember this: there are some rare elders (like I was, not bragging, I promise) who really did care and did not think of the "encouragement" visits as "stalking". We were genuinely concerned if we did not see someone. It wasnt about "numbers" with us, it was about looking out after our fellow human beings. Try not to be too hard on the genuine ones.
Not much help probably, just my 2 cents worth from snake...
SnakesIntheTower (of the Lazy Sheep Class)
