A recent conversation with a special pioneer..
She went to pioneered in Tanzania to serve where the need was greater.. spent years out there living in a decrepit mud hut with no electricity or running water. Despite the occasional great party with locals and the beach drummers she had the most ghastly time. She said the brothers in the congregation were only interested in her because she was European and they thought that meant she had loads of money. She was constantly being asked for things, especially cash and financial help form those in the congregation. She was bleached dry. The stress too played heavily on her and resulted in deteriorating health and being utterly emotionally and spiritually drained. Eventually a visiting DO told her to just pack her stuff and go home. It was not the glamorous exotic experience she imagined it would be. She did not return full of faith building stories of the great expansion and increasing numbers joyful of receiving the truth. In fact I did not hear a single spiritual morsel from her. She was in quite serious depression and confusion. What did come across although she did her best to hide it was that she was very disappointed and deluded over the sheer lack of any genuine interest and concern that the 'society' had for her. Now she is back in Europe unable to find suitable work and employ.. she has no useful skills or qualifications.. she has expended her youth and whatever other qualities that would make a prospective husband see her as a catch. She did not make it into the year book and now is on the 'past sell buy date' shelf wondering what went wrong with the other army of frustrated and ageing spinsters.. She did say that many of the special pioneers are being sent home now to serve in their original home congregations. Looks like the society does not even want to support them in foreign lands any more with the little salary they used to get for doing 'special' hours. Sad..