Hi Everyone :)
So my story, just like everyone elses that has left, is one of confusion , hurt, and lots of mixed emotions,
I was raised a witness, and at the age of 20ish bent to pressure from the elders and got baptised, my heart was never in it, not even as a child, it was more jsut the motions of it, because thats what you were taught your whole life to do. About a year after being baptised, i met a a young lady that opened my eyes, while she wasnt in my life long, (dont blame her, i had a lot to deal with , family, elders, etc) she was my saving grace, in the "truth" i was depressive, lonely, :( . I never did really go back, even after huge presure from the elders, my mother , and brothers( my father kinda faded many many years ago, he was never a strong witness).
A few years past of me just going every few weeks to a meeting here and there, just to keep the family happy, and then i met my wife... and all hell broke loose, funny enough, the pressure wasnt from the Elders, but from my family ( i think they were being pressured) . I heard via a grape vine, that my own brothers, went to the elders , and had a meeting with them regarding me , Could NOT believe that :( . Then to put the cherry on the cake, We got married by a methodist minister :D , most awesome service ever!
More recenlty i have been faced with either a few tough decisions, but seem to be working though it. It has NOT been easy escaping, the last 9 years have been a rollercoaster!!
That being said, my wife has been my pillar, my strength!
I have also over recent months met one or two people that have also left, and dealing with issues, and it helps talking to them, but here in south africa, when you leave, you dissapear. If the elders find you, the hound you, and dont stop!!
Regards
