by Scorpion 61 Replies latest jw friends
waiting,
Actually only one of the three elders is an auxilary pioneer. His goal should be met this month. I am not sure if he plans to pioneer in June which is around the corner. It will be interesting to see if he continues after goading me to continue. I wish the best for him either way.
SC, none of our 9 elders are regular pioneers, nor aux. pioneers.
Like you, raising a family, caring for your wife and all you guys' spirituality is a heavy job.
Add pioneering for many years - and your poor back must be sore.
If you can stand the weight, more power to you.
If you shift the weight to help your family, you may have more power in all respects.
Enjoy your picnics, your children will remember them fondly. Trust me on that one.
waiting,
Thank you for the advice. I am spending more time with the family. It is like a huge burden lifted from me as well as my family not having to put the amount of hours in as a pioneer with all of my other obligations. As the days go on, I feel less and less guilt for not continuing to pioneer.
I am enjoying my family more, something I have not really done in the last four years as a pioneer.
SC, This is wonderful news! I was hoping you'd arrive at this decision after much prayful consideration. The best gift you could ever give your family is yourself. No more guilt-just joy!!
Thank you SevenofNine. There is only one elder in my congregation that I feel has really backed me in my decision to stop pioneering. It seems that the statis of being a pioneer was as important as my health and family to some in the congregation. I was not expecting such a reaction. Especially from a few I consider very good friends as well as brothers and sisters.
Congratulations for your new "high quality life".
Now you can see who are real good friends...
Greetings from MGM
SC, you've done the right thing.
SC, if your "status" was arrived at by being a pioneer, instead of being yourself - as we're always told by our parents "Well, you don't want those kind of friends, anyhow."
There are good people in any congregation - and there will always be those who can't see past a title. Go look for the good ones and enjoy your family. Enjoy!!
Thanks for your support everyone. I wish you all were in my congregation. My wife says she is glad I found this board. She says that it appears there are some that have the same questions we have had for a long time. The fear of being labled an opposer by those in our congregation has kept us silent. I know of only one person in our congregation that I can openly express questions such as those on this forum.
Thank you Simon for this forum.
SC, my husband & I had this exact discussion over pizza last night. He is not a computer talker, he's a computer roamer, but he's glad I have someone to talk to - then I talk his ear off.
Our sentiments are the same, we wish we had someone to talk to face to face - but in our congregation, there's not. We have quite a few fine brothers and sisters, and our elders, in general, suck.
The internet does fulfill a need.
