iknowitall558,
Let me see if I understand this. Because some dirty minded, small minded, busy bodies chose to "gossip" because you were seen doing the Lord's work with a male, you were not allowed to officially sign up to do the Lord's work? I'm guessing the gossip was that you must have been having sex if you were seen together in public?
Sooooooooooo, it is okay to make up lies about people and spread malicious gossip, but it is not okay to be diligent in doing the Lord's work unless you make sure that you are never in the presence of a male who is not a blood relative? Hmm, that sounds like Islam to me.