Posts by BluePill2

One thing I remember was that whenever foreigners would get invited to Bethel, after a while some of them would get pissed because they where in the exact same situation like BIF's and yet had to cover their own travel costs. Let's say for an instance that a British guy would go overseas to serve where the need was great, lets say to South Africa, as a pioneer. After a while he would get an invitation to come and work at South African Bethel. He would be considered a local Bethelite. No special rights. If he had been a Bethelite BEFORE and sent out to South Africa, then he would qualify to be a BIF.

8

For Bethelites or anyone who knows - 'Bethelites in foreign service'

by A question in

jw
friends

what are bethelites in foreign service?

i've heard this term but do not know much about it.

is then when they start at bethel in their home county?

BluePill2

By the way, there are far more assignment types than this one. People in special service had all kinds of funny "titles" there where also International Servants, International Temporary Servants, Bethelites in Foreign Service for Construction, Regional Office Construction Servants, and many many more.

If I remember, with the guys from the field, we had like over 40 kinds of service assignments (including the famous Regular Pioneer).

8

For Bethelites or anyone who knows - 'Bethelites in foreign service'

by A question in

jw
friends

what are bethelites in foreign service?

i've heard this term but do not know much about it.

is then when they start at bethel in their home county?

BluePill2

You are correct. Bethelites in Foreign Service (BIF's) are Bethelites "on loan" to another branch. When I was in Bethel, the Borg used this service assignment in a pretty loose way. I've met BIFs that where "forgotten" in their assignments and stayed for years and others had a specific "contractual" agreement that they HAD to return after x months.

Usually this kind of service was used if a Branch needed help from a specific specialist (IT, Printing being the most needed) and couldn't find locals to do the job or needed to train locals. This is when Crooklyn would send someone "in special mission" from another branch.

For the appointed couple this would mean that they had "special privileges/rights" like flights being paid to go home, either at a set period or for medical treatments or for International Assemblies. Some other perks where also usual. But the most important thing is that they knew, if the present assignment went to shit, they had a "secure job" back home.

And, last, but not least: locals would bow before the "eminences" and some of them would feel "suuuuuuper special", like being part of some inner circle of the inner circle kind of thing.

This in a nutshell. If I remember something else, I will write.

21

Assembly Talks... Are these assigned based on the thickness of the envelope?

by Calebs Airplane in

from talking to several fading jws over the years, it really does appear that assembly talk assignments are usually given to those pos who consistently hand over the thickest envelopes to the co at the end of his week-long visits.

if the envelope was too thin (or there was no enevelope at all), chances are that no one in that congo would get an assemby talk assighnment.

also, if the co and his wife were treated well or taken to expensive restaurants during their visit, that apparently increased the po's chances of getting an assembly talk assignment.

BluePill2

suavojr:

If you had any international contact with witnesses, you would notice that there is some kind of "underlying scheme" on how talks are presented. The same kind of guys get the same kind of talks - in any country. Service Departments work alike. It becomes "cookie cutter", "paint by the numbers" approach...especially since they started using a certain Database for Branches.

21

Assembly Talks... Are these assigned based on the thickness of the envelope?

by Calebs Airplane in

from talking to several fading jws over the years, it really does appear that assembly talk assignments are usually given to those pos who consistently hand over the thickest envelopes to the co at the end of his week-long visits.

if the envelope was too thin (or there was no enevelope at all), chances are that no one in that congo would get an assemby talk assighnment.

also, if the co and his wife were treated well or taken to expensive restaurants during their visit, that apparently increased the po's chances of getting an assembly talk assignment.

BluePill2

Just to clarify my point about the requirements.

If a talk is about pioneering, they will not choose Brother Joe Self-employed-with-a-fat-Mercedes to give the talk. Or if the talk is about family values, then a single guy will have no chance to get the talk. Or if about masturbation/sex then a married dude will get his shot (possibly someone that is 50, 60'sch so that people will think: NO WAY, THIS guy never touches his junk - eventhough we all know that sometimes the opposite is true....)

Brother Joe Self-employed-with-a-fat-Mercedes with a deep baritone voice and a hang for fanatic statements will get a talk about prophecies or science or how the end is near or such crap, as he comes over as very smart ass and people will hang on to everyone of his words.

21

Assembly Talks... Are these assigned based on the thickness of the envelope?

by Calebs Airplane in

from talking to several fading jws over the years, it really does appear that assembly talk assignments are usually given to those pos who consistently hand over the thickest envelopes to the co at the end of his week-long visits.

if the envelope was too thin (or there was no enevelope at all), chances are that no one in that congo would get an assemby talk assighnment.

also, if the co and his wife were treated well or taken to expensive restaurants during their visit, that apparently increased the po's chances of getting an assembly talk assignment.

BluePill2

I used to assign DC talks to elders. Worked in Service Departments of several smaller Branches.

It could be possible for SAD or Circuit Assemblies, but not possible for DC. But as everyone said, the CO has to keep his image. Don't forget that the DO or some visiting speakers from Bethel, will give a report about HIM as well and his ability to set up an assembly programme.

There is a form to evaluate all the speakers of the circuit. These forms go to the Service Department of each branch. The talks have certain requirements (age, years of experience, if a family man or not, if "special privileges" or not), depending on those they sift through the Database and search for fitting candidates. Then they also consider comments on the S-2 forms (filled out after the CO visit). It is a long winded process and even in smaller branches, the person(s) doing this process hardly know the elders personally. Sometimes the SD also has notes on very special speakers that are outstanding etc. Also Bethelites are taken into the game.

You can acusse the Borg of many things, but this is not one of them. They try to keep a programme with high quality speakers as a whole lot of things depend on this.

There are forms and recommendations about everyone up the management line. Nobody trusts individuals. This is a very burocratic organization.

20

Temporary Special Pioneer Assignment...?

by goatshapeddemon in

members of my extended family were recently given a temporary special pioneer assignment as a result of the bible school for christian couples (vomit).. anyone got details on how this works?

why temporary?

is it a testing ground for circuit work or a "we dont want you on our payroll for good so we'll use up what you have to offer and dump you back into reg pio status when this definitely not-cushy assignment is over"?.

BluePill2

If it is within the US they miiiiight get along with "green handshakes" - that is, if US witnesses can afford them. It is a whole different thing to be shipped off to some foreign country. Living expenses there are not big (if you eat chicken, rice and beans and then more rice, beans and chicken). But if you need some things that are unusual to locals (calling home, flying home, shampoo or cosmetics, a car, etc.) then you are screwed. As I did, locals is something entirely different - to them this is: BINGOOOOOO, J's blessing us with mooolaaahhh.....

Permanent Special Pioneers and Bethelites also get a PEA account ("Personal Expense Allowance"). Some kind of internal savings that the Borg set's up for unexpected, "bigger expenses". Will also vary from country to country. To some this is for "little extra luxuries" (nothing ordinary if you had an actual job).

Whatever, this is all sad, sad stuff. Reminds me of those times......loss of energy, youth and tons and tons and tons of money that I could have made. Total waste of Life. I have to stop, still makes me angry.

20

Temporary Special Pioneer Assignment...?

by goatshapeddemon in

members of my extended family were recently given a temporary special pioneer assignment as a result of the bible school for christian couples (vomit).. anyone got details on how this works?

why temporary?

is it a testing ground for circuit work or a "we dont want you on our payroll for good so we'll use up what you have to offer and dump you back into reg pio status when this definitely not-cushy assignment is over"?.

BluePill2

sir82: the rates will differ from country to country, but it has some kind of "minimum bottom" and for most poor countries that would be higher than the average person would get for regular work. Sometimes I talked about this with the branch committees as it would attract people that where clearly behind the cash. But they used to say that they must maintain a dignified life style to give good witness and show J's blessings. Also, sometimes they would hire appoint foreign couples and they would not be able to survive on a true low rate.

I give you an example: in one central american country a police men or a teacher would get something around 400 Pesos / month, the Special Pioneers or the TEMPs would get something in the neighborhood of 1200 Pesos PER head. I knew some locals that would totally go on rice and beans for months without end, and with the savings they could build their own house and get out of "service" and suddenly the wife became pregnant...(usually once the house was finished).

20

Temporary Special Pioneer Assignment...?

by goatshapeddemon in

members of my extended family were recently given a temporary special pioneer assignment as a result of the bible school for christian couples (vomit).. anyone got details on how this works?

why temporary?

is it a testing ground for circuit work or a "we dont want you on our payroll for good so we'll use up what you have to offer and dump you back into reg pio status when this definitely not-cushy assignment is over"?.

BluePill2

I used to organize TEMP campaigns in countries where the "need is great".

This (not very common and not well known arrangement) works like this:

Temporary because they will send you to territories where they have 0 Witnesses and don't know how you will received (cannon fodder). It's like throwing mud at the wall, they expand with several hundred people (always in groups of 2 or more) and then see who has the most success.

Usually 3-4 months (some countries do a 2 month, but it is seldom). 3 months is standard. Another reason is exactly what you have said: money. This is cost intensive. TEMPs get the same amount of money/support as Special Pioneers - monthly allowance, rent support, some help for transportation. No medical / health care. For pioneers from western countries the money is a pity and brings you down to "slave labour" status (in comparison to the wages you would get in your home country). For locals this is like winning the lottery. In some countries that i've been (in Bethel), locals would literally kill to "get the job". Sometimes they would appoint people that where pretty shaddy and strange, but because the territories are far away and sometimes dangerous/isolated, Bethel would accept whoever has legs and wouldn't kill his partner in an attack of schizophrenic attack (although, Bethel had to pull out some people that where behaving more than strange, or fucking the locals - literally like in fornication

After the 3 months are over, they pull everybody out and then it is a numbers game. The places that got almost a new congregation started, get a permanent Special Pioneer couple, the others are dropped. It is a "push-and-pull" game.

This is it in a nutshell. If I remember something else, I'll write.

Oh, I remember one funny episode (disgusting). Two TEMPs sisters had an assignment together in a isolated rural area. After they came back, one of the sisters wanted to talk to me (I was the overseer of the programme). She told me that her partner had a problem. I had heard so much shit from people that almost nothing could "get to me" anymore. She said that during her stay there, they had an invasion of bats (yes the animal) in the house....(at this moment I go: "hhhhhmmmmm, THIS WILL be crazy shit....) "Go on, sister holymary" Then she told me that she found out that her partner would wash the disposable menstrual pads and dry to re-use again, but that she didn't have time and stored them somewhere in the house, also under her bed and that attracted lots of bats.....)

I wanted to .

I couldn't find a good scripture to read.

I let her go and had a couple of drinks to forget the conversation.

This was one of many strange conversations that I had during my time at Service department.