This is a letter I received from a European Witness. I had hoped my book would help victims...otherwise, why bother writing it..but, it gives one hope when even Witnesses learn something from it! Dear Donald, ....one of my friends did read your book, Father's Touch, and called me to say thanks for giving her the book. In no way she found the book exaggerating as she sayd that "this is exactly the way it was and could be for many abused children growing up in a congregation" Just now I am taking care of a group of sisters (5 fleshly and spiritually sisters) all abused by their father, and my thoughts are to give them a book each and then ask them to read it so we can have it as a ground for their grouptherapi. If that seems to fall out good I will continue to use the book as an aid for victims. The only problem I see is the english language. Not all is good in english, but on the other hand the way you wrote the book the english is so easy to understand, so I think it will work out well. Since my sisterfriend and I started to (pound) the brothers with this problem it seems that they have got a better understanding of the problem and we do not have the problem like I can see in USA. They treats us with respect and they are trying to help out where we point on the problems. Some brothers have indicated that this years the ministryschool are taking up the problem. As a matter of fact my husbond is there today and tomorrow so I am eager to hear what conclusions and actions there is to be taking. But in cases we have pointed out, the nessessary actions have now been made to help the vitims first of all and not the molesters. We have found that the brothers have taken the problem real seriously even where we have pointed out their wrongdoings against the victims. In our dialouge with the branchoverseer and circuietoverseers and some elders we do make sure that we are wellequipt with knowledge and cases to underbuild our dialouge. We have never meet the problem of threats like it seems in other countries. I have come to understand that a lot of elders are lacking knowledge of abuse and its consequences. Its like its to unbelievable to beleave such a horrible things are going on. So they choose to supress it cause its to hard to take it in to their minds. Your book is not just for the victims but even for the brothers who have to deal with the problem. Its like they have been trembling and we all have as well. They have no words for this horrible crime. You have by your book given us words that make this crime be visible. To let them read your book and to get information and knowledge I am sure they now will understand and take a fast actions against molsters so that no one, in our congregations, now and in the future will have to go through what you had to. If it happens and come to my knowledge be sure I and my friend will have our thumbs in the their eyes. Especially greetings to your mother my sister in faith
European JW uses Father's Touch to help cong.
by morrisamb 6 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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abbagail
Thanks, morris, for sharing this heartfelt letter. It's good to know JWs are losing their "fear" of reading "other literature" besides only that printed by the WTS. It can only be the benefit and enlightenment of everyone. This sister's last words were especially appreciated, and so it should be!
If it happens and come to my knowledge be sure I and my friend will have our thumbs in thetheir eyes.
Edited to add a PS: Why not post this encouraging letter at the silentlambs forum? It would surely make everyone's heart glad, I'm sure!
Edited by - Grits on 24 November 2002 4:49:2
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morrisamb
Thanks Grits! Witnesses are warned not to read anything written by an X-JW...but they do, I know they do..from the response I've received from Witnesses who tell my mother what they think of my book. One told her, "It was an eye opener...but the Elders, it was one of the first cases, and they didn't know how to react....later she retracted this and told my Mother, 'You know what, no one can tell you and your children how you should feel. We weren't in your shoes.'" Interesting, eh!!
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Celia
Morris.... Have you thought about having your book translated in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch... etc. ? I haven't read your book, I don't know if my stomach is strong enough... How long is it ?
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morrisamb
Hi Celia...yes, I hope my book is eventually translated into other languages...it is 340 pages.
As for requiring a strong stomach, I know what you mean but from the feedback I've received, most people say it's a page turner and they like my sense of humour. Yeah, that may surprise you but my story isn't a boo hoo one, or a self-help lesson...I just tell it like it is and tried to incorporate novelistic qualities into it. Of course, if I was sucessful or not, readers will have to be the judge of that!
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abbagail
This was a very loving thing for that sister to say to your Mom. Makes me want to hug her, because she let her heart speak rather than using her WT-trained-brain, which is a big step in the right direction for any JW...
...she retracted this and told my Mother, 'You know what, no one can tell you and your children how you should feel. We weren't in your shoes.'"
Best to you, morrisamb!
Grits -
morrisamb
Yes, JW's can do loving things...it's just that it's rare that they do them to we that have left! And this makes it very difficult for us...I was one of the ones who left quietly and made noise years later for things having nothing to do with being a JW. So I've made it difficult for them to really "hate" me..if you know what I mean...yet honestly, I never know what reaction I'm going to get...
I've been in a supermarket where there are 3 Witnesses who know me but they are all in different places...one looks right through me; the second one has to wait on me, so there's this icey "stepford wife" smile and the third one? "Oh hi Donald..how are you?"
When you get such a wide variety of reactions, it makes it very difficult not to be reserved, cautious. It's taken me a long time to get here, and I'm not sure if I've succeeded, but I try to be my happy, fun-loving self, despite the possibility of antagonist forces. But some days it's tough!