New ExJW here for the first time. (page 2)

Balaamsass2

WELCOME!!!

50 years wasted as a JW and former Elder as well. It is strange at first.

Hold your head up high and smile..and when they ask the Sooo Hoooooooooow ARE youuu doooooooing????" question.. Make a big smile, slap them on the shoulder and say FANTASTIC!!!!!!! NEVER BEEN BETTER!!!!! Jehovah has really blessed us!!!!- Before they can recover ask: soooo..how is your...(fill in the blank relative)... are they (re-instated, out of jail, etc.) CONTROL the conversation, catch them of guard, and have a great time! Most people will drone on about themselves anyway if you act interested. - then go to the next one before they finish! lol Enjoy.

A HAPPY ex JW shakes 'em up.

whatzup

Please tell your story. I'm a jw still. I got my wife and kids. One of them wants to get baptized. How did you do it to walk away with wife and kids? I would like to do the same. Please tell us....

Thanks!

AudeSapere

I agree with Balaam EXCEPT I would not ask if anyone is reinstated. JWs get so hung up on status within the org. Just make basic, normal inquiry about old friends.

Behaving like a normal, decent, happy person seems to confuse most JWs. They don't know how to relate.

Think up a few happy, non religious things that you and your family have done lately. Smile big and mention those things then ask what they've been up to.

Be ready for the questions about which cong you attend or your relationship with Jehovah. My own answers are: None right now.I'm taking a break. I'm very happy and confident with my relationship with Jehovah. Never been better. Really.

If pressed for details, tell them this is neither time not place for that conversation.

Btw... welcome to JWN! Nice to have you join us and looking forward to hearing more of your story.

Aude Sapere (meaning: Dare to know, Dare to have wisdom/understanding, Dare to think for yourself )

AFRIKANMAN

WW7 Hi and welcome

I can so relate to your CV thus far -

My family and I [4 of us] are now faded-out and we have been as good as DF'ed. No contact from the bro-hood whatsoever. In fact we have a family - still in - member living under the same roof and our aged and debilitated granma. They requested the CO visit the old-girl recently and when he pitched he didnt even enquire about my wife and I. Also that was the only time an elders feet actually crossed the threshold of the home. No e-mail/phone-calls/sms' - You will come to accept this as your "new say of life" and you will value it.

if the friendships we had were so conditional ie if you dont attend the meetings we cant associate with you, then they were never friendships at all were they!!

I was an elder for 17 years and a B+ District Convention rated speaker [Thats right - many dont know but all elders are rated annually as to their ability and eligibility to be use on the DC programs ] I was also the TMS OS for 15 years - it means nothing to them - we are just the pawns in their religous game. They will sacrifice the pieces for their own ends.

btw I hope the depression you experienced was mild and not deep, dark.

WideAwake7

Thank you all for your advice ...I am surprised that all your advise was thought of and discussed with my family a few days ago as we get ready for this wedding of some true friends that I am sure struggled with the invite with some pressure from others around that congregation. It's a family I grew up with and my children grew up with.One thing for sure this might be the last invite we will have from this congregation . Which my family and I don't mind at all. But one thing for sure my family will hold thier heads high and show we have moved on and are a more united Happy family because of it.

It's sure nice to hear others going through or have gone through all this before.... all this is new to us.

berrygerry

You are so lucky to have your family out with you.

Be polite and loving.

If any ask the JW involvement questions, just explain that life has been so busy, that you cannot be as involved as many expect, but that you have diligently prayed to Jehovah about our family's situation, and that he expects me to not be worse than a person without faith (1 Tim 5:8), so you are trying your hardest to provide for your family, as Jehovah requires.

Witness 007

Just went to the international convention mostly everyone I have not seen for 6 years were nice only two cold shoulders so overall okay...and welcome from the aussie delegates here.

punkofnice

Welcome WA7,

Good for you that you got out with your family. Some of us aren't that lucky.

You went through 'dissolution' you say. You became extinct?

Please tell us more.

Regards Paulus

The Searcher

Welcome WA7 - isn't it a wonderful feeling to be be able to speak freely and honestly with others and not be fearful?

Lots of good advice here for your question.

My simple answer is, keep your head held high, smile and converse, and if anyone tries to talk JW.ORG business, politely say that you are so relieved that nine Scriptures reveal that Jesus is going to judge the living and the dead - not any fellow human being! (J ohn 5:22, Acts 10:42, Acts 17:31, Romans 2:16, Romans 14:9, 2 Cor. 5:10, 2 Tim. 4:1, 1 Pet. 4:5, & Revelation 20:12)

I am full of praise for any Elder who has the strength and courage to stand down from their "privileged" position and base their life on what they perceice is truth and honesty - not on what is dictated to them by a group of Inglorious Ones!

Phizzy

Welcome WA7 !

I was nearly 60 years in the "religion" and understand all you have been through. I wish you well at the Wedding, we have refused any such invites politely, because we were not prepared to go through the problems of being love bombed etc, but these invites were not from ones we were super close to.

Whenever I meet JW's now, who do not know our circumstances, I simply say "We do not go anymore", the JW usually leaves it at that, but if they wish to know more, or persist in urging me to return, they will receive some sort of rejoinder.

I usually say if they wish to know more that "we left for good reasons", again most leave it at that, afraid to hear our good reasons.

All the best for the future for you and yours, and we look forward to hearing your full story.

When you recount it, be careful not to reveal too much that may identify you for sure, as it can affect your fade.

I have P.M'd you with some advice on this.

New ExJW here for the first time.

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