by Jessica72 14 Replies latest jw experiences
We liked the rum-and-raisin ice cream. I remember having fish every Friday (?!?!?!?!?), as well as ice cream.
Once, we had a cobbler made with concord grapes -- not seedless. How do you spit out seeds with a mouthful of cobbler?
Of course, you had to work there in order to live the dream of the festive board . . .
JESSICA:
I think I was at bethel twice and was less impressed the second time probably because the star dust fell from my eyes and I was less enchanted overall with the religion.
The first time I went I saved the brochures like they were "special" - they got torn up many years later when I learned TTATT.
The second time I went I was quite a bit older and it was several years before my "fade". I went with an older widowed sister who (unknown to me at the time) had her eye on some younger brother who worked there.
I don't think there was any interest on this brother's part. He was just being polite.
I went to Brooklyn once. Patterson and Watchtower Farms more times than I can count. I worked on a couple of projects there and briefly dated an overseer from Watchtower Farm. He said I was too headstrong
My mother used to tell this story ad nauseum regarding the "safety" at Bethel. When we took the tour in the late 1960's, my father who wasn't yet baptized came with us for the tour, I remember we had lunch there and toured the factory and then a brother I guess we knew invited us back to his room, as we were leaving and walking out the door my father said "should I lock the door" which the Bethel brother said "no, we don't have to lock our door around here"! Well, my mother just couldn't wait to get back to the hall and spread that story like it gave a good witness to my dad and others or something. Btw he didn't get baptized until 1978 and trust me that little door incident was not a factor, But from the stories that have been posted here about the goings on there with the booze and even mini thefts that have taken place at Bethel, I bet they have deadbolt locks on the doors now.
On one trip to Wallkill I saw a column of vultures circle over there, I thought: " already?" Wallkill at that time had a strange hippy colony at the corner of the entrance road. the tour showed the home projects of the bethelites I looked for home-build aircraft, Icarus anyone? , nope. hey showed a book trimming machine with flailing knives in action I thought: not a nice way to go. Super fast fingers in the packing department, the able young brother was still able to scan for that super sister's approval. Eating at Bethel? already described, a survivalist experience. Strangest in Brooklyn, being herde between two masonite walls in Columbia heights while being lectured by a substitute local, one look outside and one hearty handshake by an unidentified old timer Brother Friend? hopefully. amazed at the luxury of the nearby wt hotels. Patterson? looking at the place from a setup across the street that was all. Abroad. The cleanest bathroom in a city of millions.
