We laid low for a week from picketing the Kingdom Hall. I wanted to see how things would go with the emergency hearing before I continued.
Because of the pending restraining order Sara applied for, I cannot go within 100 yards of her or her husband, Mark. Because of the judge's "no contact" order, I cannot let the kids go and demonstrate at her Kingdom Hall for it might be in violation of that order.
Elizabeth approached me last night and asked if she could go back to the KH and picket again. She has her dad's audacity apparently, and she is still pissed at her mom, stepdad and the elders. So I figure, sure, why not? This seems to be bringing her out of her shell and helping her to find her voice and assertiveness, melting away the fear she has been under. I told her the only thing is that she could not go to her mom's KH to demonstrate, that we would have to go up the street (2 blocks) to the other KH. We know most of the JW's there, so it would be good to spread the message. She only wanted to her mom's KH to protest, so she opted out until she was able to go where she preferred.
Meanwhile, my oldest daughter, Elese and her boyfriend, Mike (remind me to tell you the "Mike Story") were set to go with me to the other KH this evening. Mary and Susan went to Sara's KH. Mary's daughter, Crystal and her cousin Austin showed up to pitch in. Mary's ex-husband, Ron (a 7th day adventist) is now interested in what we're doing and is expressing interest in joining us. I sent Crystal home to her dad's with a summary to bring him upto speed. Ron is very active in his church and heads youth groups. It is very possible that he might bring others from his church on board to support us. The support from everyone is overwhelming and so freaking inspiring I could cry.
While standing at the entrance of the other KH where I know just about everyone who attends there, one by one they came pulling past my sign which read: "STOP JEHOVAH'S WITNESS CHILD ABUSE. SILENTLAMBS.ORG". The very same presiding overseer who has known me since I was a young boy, who also told me recently I could be reinstated in just a couple months eased past me with such an arrogant contemptuous smirk, as did his wife, that I could have spit on their vehicle. Another brother smirked and laughed as he went by into the parking lot. When he exited his car, I asked him, "Brother, tell me something. Do you think child abuse is funny? Do you think teen suicided is funny?"
He responded, "yeah, cuz it's a lie".
I shot back with God's own angry voice, "I- DON'T- LIE-!" That stupid smile suddenly dissapeared from his face. (I do that to people, sometimes)
Just then, a sister who I did not know came striding out of the Kingdom Hall yelling at me, "It's ALL lies!"
I held up my sign and point to it and said, "How would like to see documentation?"
She shut up.
Once again I repeated loud enough for them to hear me inside the KH, "I- DON'T- LIE!" Nobody said another word after that.
A very very hispanic JW woman approached Mike and asked in heavily accented broken english what he was "advertising". Mike laughed and said it was something her church practiced on a daily basis. She tried witnessing to him and Mike was dumbfounded at her stupidity.
I just thought I would give you guys a little something to chuckle about.
More later,
Corvin