Posts by Prisila

I'm extatic . . . my husband is stepping down as an elder tomorrow. How do you guys think that will go? Any personal experience? Elders? Elder's wife? Pioneer? etc.?

11

My best friend is a JW

by WinstonWigglesworth in

jw
friends

my best friend is a jw but she can't do anything outside of school with me.

it's really hard cuz she gets jealous when i do things with our other friends outside of school.

we invite her but she's never allowed to go.

I am truly sorry for the harsh reality I am about to share with you. It they are hardcore JWs there is NO WAY they will allow you to associate with their daughter. You see under the JW mentality, we are convinced that we should set ourselves apart from the “world.” And unfortunately you are “worldly.”

Now I am sure you are a fine young lady. However, the JWs view on this is clear. They DO NOT stray from their brotherhood and or sisterhood fro friendship, trust or even love. In my opinion they promote a different kind of hate, segregation, and or prejudice . . . that of religion. They belief they are the ONLY “true” religion. They belief they are superior to any other person who is NOT a JW.

Most of them are good people. However, they have a whacked sense of superiority. When I was 16, (I’m 28 now) I had a great friend that I truly loved. We had fun together. She was a GOOD person. But our literature, our talks (sermons), and my mother all promoted this notion that if she was NOT a JW she was “worldly”, bad and not worthy of my association. I’ll NEVER forget telling her I could NOT be her friend any longer, unless she converted. She tried, but couldn’t. And so I was forced to leave her friendship, even though we had a strong bond. I’ll never forget the pain in her face when I told her. And I’ll never forget the pride in my mom’s face when I told her.

Please don’t take this personal. They are the ones who are wrong. I could justify by saying that they unquestionably have a high morals. But does that mean you do not? Of coarse not! Her parents don’t want to lose her to the “world.” And to them you are the “world.”

You could tell her parents you want to study. But then you have 2 potential problems.
1. They might see through your scheme and then forbid your friendship. OR
2. You could get sucked in.

My advice:
Don’t take it personal. Make another friend.

This is worse case scenario, maybe their a little more relaxed and therefore they might allow you to socialize. However, I know what I’m talking about because I’ve been a JW for 25 yrs and I’m in the process of getting out.

I hope this helped.

14

All the damage I have done

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

sometimes i think back at all the people i helped "into the truth".

all of those people now in the borg.

all of those people now under its control.. one of my regrets in life.. anyone else here ever think about this?.

Prisila

Gopher:

I agree. After all, weren't we taught we weren't responsible for someone accepting "the truth." I planted, someone else watered but God made it grow. (Something like that, English is second language).

Sounds fatal or tumorous-like (growing). lol

I helped one lady . . . We studied the Live Forever Book all except the last chapter. She moved to Columbia and baptized there. OOOOH! there was another . . . believe it or not in a huge district assembly at Dodger Stadium (I was selling the plants after it was all over for donations), someone came to me and said that I gave here two magazines. I remebered her even a lot of time had passed. I re-visited her and she never was home. Turns out she moved elsewhere, studied and became a Witness to this day. Funny huh?

10

Return visits

by sleepy in

jw
friends

man i used to hate doing return visits.. at one time i worked with a lot of pioneers and they always did a load of return visits.. but most people they called on were either elderly and liked someone to talk to or people who may have been polite , or took the mags on the doors , but had no real interest.. i used to hate the way poeple would say to call back on the "intrested ones" as nearly no one you call on is interested in being a witness.. yet most witneeses cant see this.any sign of a conversation or just looking at the mags and every thinks they are interested.. so most of these pioneers just ended up irratating people who were just being polite, by repeatedly calling on them.. sometimes after a few weeks , the person would just disappear , you knew they were hinding behind the door or something.. so i hardly ever had return visits as i found i could quickly tell whether someone is being polite or had a real interest in tallking, although i kept some calls going just so i could count them.. succsessful pioneers are just the ones who cant read the signs of disinterest easily , and just wear someone down so much that they give in to their preaching.

Prisila

I did street work every weekend at 6:30am to 8:30am Sat & Sun for about 5 yrs strait. We called it "esquinas" in spanish cong. exact translation = corners. I loved it! I don't know why? We usaully went to UCLA university, people felt sorry for me, I can begin to see it now.

I hven't been out to street work fo about 5 yrs . . . I live it! Sleeping in is great

22

Let's start a gift circle. Who's game?

by LDH in

jw
friends

i read the post where princess sent mr. and mrs. ozzie goodies to enjoy.. now that is a great idea.

i confess, i was working on my christmas cards when i broke my foot, and with the baby i just didn't get to send any out this year.

so yes i'm feeling a bit guilty.. soooo perhaps we could start a gift circle?

Prisila

I'm new here but I'd like to flex my disobedience muscle. I'm in.

25

New Here... Just Saying Hi ...Getting to know

by Prisila in

jw
friends

anyone want to share bio on leaving jws.

i'm confused a looking for comfort.

Prisila

THANK YOU. . .ALL.

I've finally found the "truth." I will start to heal thanks to your support. Thank you TRUE friends.

25

New Here... Just Saying Hi ...Getting to know

by Prisila in

jw
friends

anyone want to share bio on leaving jws.

i'm confused a looking for comfort.

Prisila

Hello To everyone!!!!!

Here's my long Bio . . .
Thank you for sharing. I need to know someone made it out in one piece. Thank you! So have you been DF or DA?

Here's my bio:
My JW experiences are mostly all good. I was never hurt by anyone inside. I've just began to doubt the fundamental beliefs.

I'm 28. My Mom started studying when I was 5. I got baptized at 13. My father is "worldly" to this day. He was I believe it's called (I'm from Spanish Congregation) an opposer. He beat my mother so she wouldn't go and we did anyway. He threatened to burn the Kingdom Hall. He was violent toward JWs. So my Mom has ALWAYS been considered sort of like a martyr, she's a pioneer now. She's always been held in high regard for being sooooo spiritual and devout. My Mom is sooo devout many new bible students have at times thought she was one of 144,000. HA! That's because they don't know her personally.

I followed her footsteps. I became a pioneer when I was 14. I had parts in Circuit and District conventions. I was always used as an example. Before I got married I hung out with people that had their experiences in the Awake and Watchtower. One of them, I practically lived with. They had their experience published in 1989 Awake, I think. My whole life revolved around preaching and being the best JW I could be. I loved it and I truly loved Jehovah. I have extremely fond memories of being a Pioneer.

My husband's family started studying and moved to our congregation. I was about 12. At this time my "worldly" father started studying and became very involved . . . it was perfect. I thought things couldn't be better. My husband's family excelled and got baptized. He got baptized at the age of 16. I was 15. He started pioneering and I had been for a while. We eventually fell in love and got engaged when I was 16. We got married a week after I turned 18. My father stopped studying at this time. But he still believes to this day that this is the truth, as weird as that sounds. He loves that we are all witnesses but he won't commit. My husband and I kept strong together. We wanted to serve where there was a need. But I started to have my reservations.

My husband's family: mother and father brother and sister are Witnesses. His father an elder his mother a pioneer. My brother-in-law is kind of iffy. But we don't dare talk about it or to him . . . too taboo. In 1995 my husband decided to move to the outskirts of LA County, in California. We live in a city an hour away from Los Angeles. At this time we started a family and had twins. They are going to be 7 now. In 1998, we started attending college to learn about computers. Turned out we LOVED it and we began to get more involved in a higher education secretly. We have hid it from the congregation as much as we could. I am working towards being a lawyer and my husband towards an accountant. People question why we haven't finished? When we will be done? Why we still go? We both graduated last June with our AA degrees. As much as the Watchtower says it's a thing of "conscious," many frown upon a higher education, especially the Hispanic congregations. We were called irresponsible and foolish. There's no time we are in the "last days." I lie all the time saying I want to be a teacher. My husband says he's going for enrichment. A few select no I want to be a lawyer. Nobody knows my husband is going to be an Accountant, he has sworn me to secrecy because he's an elder.

Interestingly when we both began to attend college we started taking the same classes and began with the same Major. A year and a half after we started taking classes we went our separate ways academically. During this time we kept on as JWs. We both had developed doubts and never spoke of them to each other until about 6 months ago. We were each dealing with our own confusion and too scared to approach the other. We finally talked about it and it was sooo freeing. After 2 1/2 yrs of tormenting myself I finally voiced my doubts and to my great surprise my husband completely supported me. It was amazing.

We talked for hours. With a heavy feeling of betrayal, we talked about what we could no longer accept. We watched over our backs and whispered as if something bad would happen if we went on. That was over six months ago. And we still have a lot to come to terms with. Will we live as hypocrites for the rest of our lives, preaching what we do not believe and reciting our beliefs with a heavy-heart hoping we won't convert anyone? This Memorial we were sooooooo pressured to do the Auxiliary Pioneer, I almost gave in. But instead I haven't even bothered to turn in my report I didn't go out at all. My mother is really hurt. I can see it in her eyes, and it kills me. We have always been very close. Our spirituality and my father's opposition bonded us . . . tight. I can't bare to think she'll NEVER talk to me.

Should we rise against those that love, and support us? And risk the ultimate humiliation . . . DA? Who will we turn to for support and spiritual guidance? We could turn to no religion for comfort, deep down we know we would feel like we betrayed all we once believed. Where do you go from here? I'm on an emotional rollercoaster. I feel scared. I think about this all the time and my husband, all though he knows we need to leave, doesn't want to deal with it at all. He doesn't want to betray his family or be a bad example for his siblings. My husband is 30, his brother is 20 and his sister is 13. He would set a "bad" example for them in a sense.

I told my dad last night. What makes this situation worse is that we all live together (my parents and us). I could tell he was disappointed he said I was making a mistake. He also said that he understood, but that he thought my Mom would never speak to me again. It's tooooooooo painful. My husband's parents would disown us as well, I suspect. I no longer have friends. My "friends" and I we don't have a thing in common anymore. It irritates the hell out of me to hear the brothers and sisters go on and on with nonsense. This middle-eastern conflict has made many believe Armageddon is around the corner. UHHHHHH it's sickening!!! I want to yell what I feel but I can't. I'd like to ask, "What are you going to do if nothing has happened 50 yrs from now?"

I recently saw the friends I talked abou earlier. He was removed as an elder (recently) for getting in a fist fight with another elder. They are more determined than ever to redeem themselves. I don't get it. They live these lives that revolve around Watchtower yet they aren't living up to the standards. But God forbid you doubt the JWs. They turn you in. I don't get it. The people I so dearly love would never understand me.

I can't stop thinking about leaving. I think about it ALL the time. Is this normal?

Thank You al for listening. This is so therepeutic.

25

New Here... Just Saying Hi ...Getting to know

by Prisila in

jw
friends

anyone want to share bio on leaving jws.

i'm confused a looking for comfort.

Prisila

Anyone want to share Bio on leaving JWs. I'm confused a looking for comfort.

32

What did/do you most look fwd to?

by SPAZnik in

after 29 years of bondage.... i'm loving living it up.. and wondering.... when you first left,.

what things did you most look forward to doing.

or, for that matter, what things do u still look forward to?.

Prisila

1st post. . .

I'm still trapped!

I'd enjoy not to be questioned on why I'm late, why sometimes I don't go, why I rarely go to service. Not feeling guilty. Having my husband spend more time with me rather than elder meetings.