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during the appeal period of one week we sent the following letter to approximately 22 of our oldest and closest friends.
im including it here because it conveys how we feel at present, looking back over the half-century of our lives.. dear ____,.
I'm so proud of you Barbie, you and Frank will help so many others through these wonderful posts. Your experience, and wisdom will no doubt give
many JW's (lurking or not) much to ponder. First they'll have to shake all of the cobwebs out of their minds to let some reason sink in.
Love you,
Marilyn & David
there are a few here that say we are not being fair and that we wrongfully bash the witnesses.. simply prove that the religion is not correct by any standard..
Read DNC's story under same topic, his story is written in 5 parts. DNC, whose name is Frank Kavelin, was in the organization and a elder for years. He can tell you numerous twisted ways the bible is taught by the JW's. You have to really read the bible and understand it to realize how screwed up they are. But don't dare ask any questions that might upset them! They don't want to have to explain why they make the decisions they do. It's a cult, and has created not a loving, forgiving god, but a group of people who sit around waiting for death and destruction.
Join the living.
i am barbara's sister marilyn, and i was first introduced to the jw's at age 13 and met frank then along with all of the other young people.
i knew frank's parents well for 3 years.
since barbara and frank were dating we were at his house or he at our's quite a lot.
Yes, Barb does indeed have a beloved little sister. We are only 2 years apart in age, and we were always very close growing up. We had no religion in our life until the JW's, so it is so delightful to have her back in my life during Xmas (which is never a religious celebration in our house), it's about decorating the biggest tree we can find, spending time together, I love to give presents and I try to make most of my gifts). My husband and I take wonderful little get away trips with Barb & Frank now, and David and Frank get along great! I feel so happy just to have gotten closer to my sister, and Frank who I've known since I was 13. We love them, they are fun, exciting people and always really enjoy each other's company.
We have the rest of our lives to live, and the best is yet to come!
i am barbara's sister marilyn, and i was first introduced to the jw's at age 13 and met frank then along with all of the other young people.
i knew frank's parents well for 3 years.
since barbara and frank were dating we were at his house or he at our's quite a lot.
I am Barbara's sister Marilyn, and I was first introduced to the JW's at age 13 and met Frank then along with all of the other young people. I knew Frank's parents well for 3 years. Since Barbara and Frank were dating we were at his house or he at our's quite a lot. I did not want to become a JW in the first place, and was forced to do so, but I liked the other kids our age, and we had fun at the assemblies (when Frank and his father Al Kavelin were the rock stars) and did fun outings together. Frank's parents, Virgina & Al were amazing people. I remember many great stories Al would tell us about the old days as a band leader, he was such a good story teller and a very loving man. Virgina was beautiful, classy, and an excellent cook. Until my father's dying day he would talk about her pot roast.
I think meeting Frank's family made Barbara and I start to realize what a dysfunctional family we had. My father (not a JW) was harsh and angry a lot of the time, but could be a fascinating person when he was in the mood. My mother was not a "deep thinker", Barb & I don't remember ever having a real conversation about anything really with her, but she was a loving mother and a good mother in other ways. We didn't have any extended family that we knew (no grandparents, cousins & such)
So, the JW's meant stability to my sister, and she was in love with Frank. I on the other hand, having never before been exposed to religion and not wanting to become religious refused to go to meeting when I was 16. By age 17 I was df'd (I was pressured into becoming baptized, and I just went along with the program) and consequently told to leave home at age 17.
I had a baby on my own to raise at age 19, probably to make my own little family, and my sister and I were talking to each other again. I always knew she loved me, and I never held it against her that she chose that life. So I had limited, but at least yearly visits in LA with my sister & their family. We loved to take the kids to Disneyland. My daughter had a relationship with her cousins which I was very grateful for. It went on like this for many years. I would occasionally see other JW's I had known while visiting them (I moved to SF area 1975) and they were always civil to me, but I would stay away when the weekly meetings were held at their house, and of course Frank was always busy being an Elder.
I think Frank's story is easier to read on Freemind, there is also a picture of them, so you have faces to put to the story. I just wanted to say that I watched this story unfold from afar all these years. I know how much the "cult" has changed over the years. I remember the fine men and women before the 1975 prediction, and I know Al and many of the fine men & women who had true faith would be appalled at what the JW's have come to. These were leaders, not followers.
It's obvious this is a cult. Please listen to Frank, don't let this cult keep you from living your life. Our spirituality lives within us, how we live our lives and treat others.
Thanks for listening,
Marilyn
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even though i didnt have the title of elder, i was still active in my work at bethel and the congregation used me as much as possible.
when the congregation recommended that i once again serve as an elder, one elder raised the objection that that barbara was a low-hour publisher.
Eight O'clock! You know how impatient I am. Can you just call me and read it to me now?? I guess patience is a virtue, so I'll wait, but you know I'm brain-dead after 8:00 so don't be late!
Love, Marilyn
inspired by another thread.. i was baptized at 12 years old.
i had a cousin, two years older than me, who was prettier, more outgoing and more popular in the hall than i was.
i couldn't beat her at any of that stuff, but i figured i could be a better jw than she was.
I never wanted to become a JW in the first place. My sister and I were forced to attend meetings with my mother, I was 13 and my sister 15. I was pressured into becoming baptized, I just did it not to rock the boat because my father (who wasn't a JW) would probably kick my a**. My father thought becoming JW's would keep us away from drugs, bad influences, etc... At age 17 I finally put my foot down and said I would no longer attend. Consequently, I came home from school one day, and my bag was packed and on the front door step, and I was told to leave.
I was estranged from my family for a long time, and putting me out on the streets at such a tender age to fend for myself was like being fed to the lions.
What kind of parent puts their kid out on the street? Why, that would be a JW!!! Such a loving bunch.
all i have ever head my whole life at meetings is that apostates are full of lies.. about 1 year ago i started checking into the lie.
all i can find is quote's from watchtowers and other books.. .
my question is "what is the lie that apostates are telling?".
startfragment.
even though i didnt have the title of elder, i was still active in my work at bethel and the congregation used me as much as possible.
when the congregation recommended that i once again serve as an elder, one elder raised the objection that that barbara was a low-hour publisher.
Yay Frank! I'm so glad you are writing this. All I can say is their loss is our gain. David and I have enjoyed so much spending time with you and Barb on our little trips and get togethers. This would not have been possible without leaving the JW's, and I'm so grateful. I also enjoy staying close to Peter and Sara. You and Barb are fantastic people, fun, caring, considerate.....we like the same movies Anyway, anyone who would shun you that you've known all of these years is basically one mixed up person(people) and you certainly can't live your life for them.
You have the rest of your life, which you will be free in, and I have my sister back who is my best friend and I love you both very much.
Bravo,
Marilyn
a good friend of mine was df'd this week.
he did so much for this organization.
as an accomplished musician and composer, he has contributed so much over the years.his work is in most of the homes of an avg jw.
Never mind, I found it. Looks like I have a lot of reading, and I can't wait to hear the responses. Love you!
a good friend of mine was df'd this week.
he did so much for this organization.
as an accomplished musician and composer, he has contributed so much over the years.his work is in most of the homes of an avg jw.
Please let me know when you post your story, although I'm sure your lovely wife (my sister) will tell me. I look forward to reading it, especially since I've known you so long.