Sunday my old Bethel roommate came up to visit me. He left a couple years ago and he wanted to catch up and reminisce.
While we sat back remembering crazy things we saw take place at Bethel he reminded me of a creepy instance with Bro. Swingell.
It was a Saturday morning and we decided to actually go get breakfast. Saturday you do not have to sit at assigned tables or dress up. Just before the breakfast was served GB member Lyman Swingel strolls in. The man was older and shuffling his feet, but he was wearing a kimono over a pair of jeans...
I was staring at him because I could not believe what I was seeing. So of course we tried not to pay attention, but it got worse. After he sat down he pulled the waiter close and tells him something. 2 minutes later the waiter comes out with a tray that had 3 large containers of JELLO.
I started laughing and the brother at the head of the table pulled me aside and informed me that he was going to speak to my overseer. All the while my roommate is looking at me as if I was about to be executed.
The following Monday my overseer tears into me and tells me that I need to have more respect for Christ's brothers and if I cant display that level of respect then maybe I should go home. Then 2 weeks later I received a new assignment. I was sent to the office furniture department which is like bethel hell.
We thought, in hindsight of course, why wouldn't seeing a crossdressing member of the governing body who drooled and had a penchant for jello not send a red flag that maybe this whole setup was a smidge out of whack? Why didn't the subsequent punishment not enough along with all the other insane shit that happened not be enough to break the camels back?