Posts by Thirdson

45

United States and Canada.

by Englishman in

jw
friends

most europeans have more than a little difficulty in telling a us accent apart from that of a canadian one.

it's a bit like ozzies and kiwi's, until you've met a few, the differences aren't that apparent to the untrained ear.

some folk even think that the us and canada are simply interchangeable terms for what is basically the same place.

Thirdson

Americans and Canadians are both the same except Canadians are different.

I have traveled across the border numerous times by both road and air. It's funny that you go through US immigration in Canada when traveling to the US...at least when flying from Toronto or Vancouver airports. (And what's with the airport improvement fee they stuff you with somewhere in "no-man's land?" I have never had a problem either way and I travel with a British passport and a US Green Card. I haven't driven across the border since 9/11 but that used to be a very easy and relaxed crossing.

I did sort of illegally enter Canada once. I was installing machine tools shipped from the UK (of German and UK origin) to a Canadian Auto-parts factory in Nova Scotia. I shipped all the tools I needed in the crates with the machines. It's always difficult entering countries on business if the business means "working" so I arrived in Halifax and said I was on "holiday" and visiting friends. All went well and after a weekend sight-seeing aound Cape Breton Island I commenced installation on Monday. Later in the week the Premier of Nova Scotia arrived to tour the facility and I met him and was filmed by a TV crew in blue coveralls with wrench in hand. I guess no-one from immigration recognized me from my 3 second appearance on TV.

I do feel very at home in Canada. There are plenty of ex-pat Brits there and plenty of British style products. I stock up on Canadian candy bars not available where I live and enjoy fish 'n chips 'n mushy peas.

Thirdson

PS Where can I get "Fusion" bars from on line?

9

AUGUST 11, 1996 : Where were you on that day? (hint: H20)

by reporter in

jw
friends

[ hourglass2 outpost ] [ follow ups ] [ post followup ] [ faq ]

posted by sandman on august 11, 1996 at 19:40:31: .

Thirdson

I discovered H2O not long after that date. I typed WTB&TS into a search engine sometime in September/October of '96 and was blown away by the amount of stuff that I found. I had been living in the US for a little over a year and was doing as little as possible with JWs. That summer was the last JW convention I ever attended. I spent a huge amount of time reading and lurked over at H2O. The last meeting I attended was the memorial of 1997. After that I moved house and slipped away quietly.

There are a number of people I owe a great deal to. The "heavy" posters on H2O being among them.

Thirdson

PS Does anybody know what became of "Pioneer for life" or how he is doing?

26

How Do You Enjoy Driving When You Visit The UK?

by Englishman in

jw
friends

.

..i'd hate to have to have one of these stuck on my car:.

englishman.

Thirdson

Hi E-man,

I am sitting in my cube at work and on the wall I have a calendar featuring "Round-a-bouts of Redditch" (as featured on TV). My sister sent it to remind me of the better things about UK roads (and the best things in Redditch, Worcestershire, apparently.) I find driving a "stick" with my left hand after a 9 hour flight the hardest.

Thirdson

18

Do you ever get them at the door?

by MrsQ in

jw
friends

ok, i have been 'out' for about 9 years, now.

in all that time i have lived in 4 different states.

i have only had two visits from jw's during that time and both times they were from spanish congregations...the first time because my boyfriend at the time was mexican-american and someone told them we spoke spanish...the second time because my next door neighbors spoke spanish and they came to my place accidentally.. at any rate, both times as soon as they found out we spoke english, they scurried away and apologized for bothering us.

Thirdson

In 6 years I have seen them only once in my road, at least I think it was them but I was driving out. They never followed up my house as a "not home". I know they only cover the territory in my area every 18 months or so. Plus the cul-de-sac I live in has only 9 houses and like the "trick or treaters" who don't bother with the slim pickings (we end up eating left-over Candy into the new year) maybe we get overlooked.

I have spoken to the J Dubbies at the airport a few times but I haven't seen a desk there since 9/11. I relieved a local laundramat of a few JW rags and I have had the SDAs deposit one of their mini-mags (cover had burning WT Towers on cover) in my mail box.

Thirdson

29

Shunning your Children

by missylissy in

i dont know if im putting this in the rite place.... .

when a young jw teen ( 13-16) disassociates themselves, or is disfellowshipped, will the parents kick them out of the house?

or are they required to let them stay?

Thirdson

My father-in-law (not the brightest guy and barely a JW) kicked his 19 year old son out because some elder told him he should because his son was misbehaving. (He was staying out late and partying) Brother-in-law quit the religion completely and later the elders in the congregation disfellowshipped him.

The whole family situation was a mess and lots of regrets by in-laws for the action they took and for listening to a dumb elder who raised two boys himself, neither of which became JWs and which he never threw out of his house. When the matter of how treat DF'd son came up I told my in-laws that there was no prohibition against seeing their son. I said the whole "needed business" thing was very open. So they (and I) continued to see their son frequently and had a much better relationship once he stopped pretending to be a JW. We visited him and ate with him and his partner...and that was while I was an MS and later an elder and later as an ex-elder.

Thirdson

30

Were you baptized too young?

by sandy in

jw
friends

2 peter 2.

22there has befallen them the thing spoken of in the true proverb, the dog turns back to his own vomit, and, the sow is washed only to wallow again in the mire..

i remember when i was going over my baptismal questions the elder spouted off this scripture to me.. looking back at it i wonder how could he be such a moron!

Thirdson

Definitely! I was 14 and I got baptized because it was expected and besides I wanted to go to Ireland to the DC with my oldest brother so I got baptized at the CA in the spring. I was 14, the year was 1975 and Armageddon was coming later that year as everyone reminded me at school.

I remember going through the questions with the PO. One was had I made a dedication to Jehovah. I said: " er, yes". I guess I always thought I was dedicated and that getting dunked was something you did as you grew up. I made sure I was by that night!

Thirdson

31

My family gave a great witness at my little sister's wedding...NOT!

by laylaluv in

jw
friends

i have been on this site many times and i didn't decide to post anything until this past weekend.

(july 18,19,&20) i wanted to share with all of you what happened this weekend.. i was my little sister's wedding.

the one who ran away from home at age 16 and the judge gave me custody.

Thirdson

Hi Lalaluv,

Good on ya! For all the "good" that J-Dubs do in 20 years of preaching the "witness" than can give in just a few minutes can undo it all. Their behavior speaks volumes.

My parents didn't bother to attend my wedding to a non-JW. They could have had an all-expense-paid trip to the US from the UK as I was prepared for the "we can't afford to come" excuse. Their excuse was lamer. Oh well, it provided a great "witness" to all my friends and my wife's family (several trekking from the west coast) and even the wedding photographer.

Thirdson

50

What did you hope for just to avoid Saturday witnessing?

by BLISSISIGNORANCE in

last night we had a hell of a storm here.

there was thunder, lightning, pouring rain and wind.

personally i love stormy nights, cuddled up to hubby in a warm bed.

Thirdson

Rain! Where I lived as JW there was always a good chance of rain. You could dress for most weather but having rain dripping all over you was always a good excuse not to go out or at least cut it short. ( We also didn't do the car group thing. In high density areas with a row of 200 houses you walked door to door and got wet.) I'd say something like, "in view of the weather I'm doing some return visits today". With that I'd go do a couple of RVs to find find no one home and then go home myself.

Thirdson

26

Did you place publications with people and without reading them ? follow up

by run dont walk in

jw
friends

are right fess up people.

how many of us went in field service and placed literature without even opening the covers ?, let alone reading the articles.. how about following up on a return visit for a magazine you never read ?.

i have to admit, i did it many many times.. maybe we should of went into the used car business.

Thirdson

I had a least the gist of the article I would feature even if I hadn't read it properly...after all, they are all the same. Articles consist of headline problem and posed question, subheadings identify the problem in detail and possible remedies. Conclusion was always we need "the new world order" aka God's Kingdom to provide the best solution. It didn't matter whether it was gun violence, land fill garbage, or diaper rash.

I rarely featured the Watchtower unless the Awake was really bad, or had limited appeal, though I have seen JWs try Menopause articles to everyone they met.

Today no JW has to read a thing. Just knock the door, read the script in the KM and flash the magazine. Done; an effective, guilt-free ministry.

Thirdson

PS I never met anyone who took a publication and read enough of it to ask questions on the follow up

36

Do you get yearly visits from the elders?

by unbeliever in

jw
friends

my sister just got a visit from the elders.

this was the first visit in 10 years.

an inactive friend told me they are supposed to visit every year.

Thirdson

I did a quick fade and moved house into the territory of the congregation I was attending infrequently. That was six years ago. I have not had a single call from anyone. I saw a couple in my road a year ago who I assumed were JWs but that was while I was driving away. I missed out on the recent drive to contact the inactive, maybe I am already a lost cause. It is not as if I went into hiding. My son attends school with a local elders kid and I am listed in the phone book.

The best thing is I don't ever run into JWs. Most in the local cong live in two other cities so it's not like I see them in the local supermarket. If anyone shuns me I wouldn't know it as I have never bumped into anyone I knew as a JW. As for the visits, or lack thereof, I rather like it that way.

Thirdson