by truthseeker 25 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I don't doubt the story is true. The JWs caught my mom in much the same way. She was a Catholic, attended church regularly, but felt neglected by them. Why? Probably because she never got involved in church activities. She never even bothered registering at the parish office when we moved into the neighbourhood. Considering the thousands of people who attended the church, it's hard to have your existence noticed if you don't take steps to make it known.
W
I do feel the need to balance these posts with a positive experience.
Even though some "friends" that I would have expected would attend my mom's funeral didn't (she was a 50+ years faithful JW)...when my wife developed cancer and was getting treatments at a clinic hundreds of miles from home, not only did she get visits from a local congregation who learned of her condition...but me, the healthly one living alone at home, also received visits from my cong that included hot meals so that I often didnt have to try to cook for myself....and I was just a lousy publisher with NO responsibilities and poor meeting attendance.
That is not to say this is normal, as I have heard far too often the sad stories as decribed above.
HQ
I also doubt this story is true.
Although the following IS true I witnessed it.
Years after I left the JW's, I went to visit my husbands' mother and we went to a service at her church. After the service, there was a meeting for a lack of a better word, I'm going to call it a "FIELD SERVICE MEETING" Several members, mostly older women and or retired couples made a list of those that were sick. in hospital, have needs, ie: need rides, groceries (think prepared meals for families where the members or their loved ones.... were sick), ect. They decided who was available on what days and times. And not just for that afternoon, but for everyday for the next week. Think Comfort Keepers.
When my mom was in the hospital after knee replacement, I called and ask who had visited, first she said no one...then she corrected herself and said that a couple of pioneers did stop by to see her. When pressing her for more information, she admitted that one of them had a bible study that was in the hospital and they stopped by after visiting her.
When I quized my dad about it..telling him about when my husband's mom was in the hospital, there was someone or more than likely several people with her or in the waiting room with the others that were there to see her, the entire time she was in the hospital from check in to check out. He said..Well the brothers and sisters are VERY busy people.
lisa
JW's from my experience up until 1988 when I left, were leery of visiting a needy JW or worldly person, lest it end up costing them time and $$. Charity is not the forte of JW's. This is a very lame JW experience anyway and it is the best they could come up with,
Hypocrites!
When i was 'spiritualy sick' and faded fast, while my wife still went to the meetings ,
NOBODY CAME TO SEE ME.
Only two elders in response to my confession of a minor indescretion.
IN TWO YEARS OF BEING ALONE (BEFORE D/F) ONLY ONE NON FRIEND JW EVER CAME TO VISIT.
It still makes me angry, 10 years on. Them and their made up crap stories of faith and love.
Oz
I do feel the need to balance these posts with a positive experience.
Even though some "friends" that I would have expected would attend my mom's funeral didn't (she was a 50+ years faithful JW)...when my wife developed cancer and was getting treatments at a clinic hundreds of miles from home, not only did she get visits from a local congregation who learned of her condition...but me, the healthly one living alone at home, also received visits from my cong that included hot meals
I agree only to a point. When I had surgery for cancer 15 years ago, a sister in the congregation organized several meals delivered to my home and my JW cousin drove several hundred miles to help me out a few days. What I've observed, not only personally, but with others in the congregation and neighboring congregations is that there is sometimes an initial flurry of concern - then it dies out very quickly. Also, it seems to be quite rare that there is any concern from the elders themselves--it's usually comes from maybe one or two individuals in the congregation on their own initiative--maybe..... Anyone in a long-term situation - like my mother (over 6 years) - is easily forgotten, especially when it looks like there is no hope of their ever becoming a useful member of the congregation again.
I think many JW's would like to do more charitable work in their heart, but they are always being guilted into more and more field service - putting any works of charity on the back burner. I remember one sister that said she would like to come and visit my mother, but she couldn't because she "had to auxilliary pioneer next month."
