She has gone, and we did have a good time together. We didn't talk JW until yesterday afternoon. I'm always interested to see what she tells me about her KH or things she has heard. A few of the gossip items that she was interested in:
- Our congregation seems to be getting smaller and smaller! They moved a couple of our best people to another KH.
- There have been at least 3 people disfellowshipped recently. She shared what she knew, along with her confusion about the policy.
- They read a "BIG LONG" letter to us, about how not enough people are booking their hotels for the Detroit convention in June. "We don't want to make them look bad!" She claims there will be 45,000 people there.
- I have not been out in service in "SO long!"
- I have not read the current Awake or Watchtower magazines. (I had copies that were given to me by a friend).
- My brother in law is a ministerial servant, and is privy to some information she is not. (She did not know if there were FS hour requirements for this title).
- My 11-year old niece was interviewed on stage in front of the congregation. (!!!!) She was asked what her "goals" were. She said she wanted to be baptized, and that she wanted to travel (I read: run away from home). The interviewer chuckled and said, "You mean, Move to Where the Need is Greater. haha." My mom also made the comment, "I think they are going to have trouble with her." (I hope they do. I think my niece could be the catalyst that shakes up this JW movement that has divided our family).
We had a long discussion, and jokingly I asked her if she would count the time. She said, "Oh yes!" We laughed, but I told her it made more sense to count time you are actually talking to someone who is interested, as opposed to the time you spend running around in cars and knocking on doors of people who not at home. She told me how she told the man she reports to, that she had not done any field service in February. He said, "Surely, you've talked to SOMEONE!" Then he coached her on how she can count time talking to coworkers and giving magazines to friends. So she got credit for 3 hours, even though she never had to go out on a single indoctrination cruise with the friends.
Some thoughts I hope she took with her:
- Child sexual abuse is not reported to the authorities in the JW religion. She knows this already, and brought up the question, "Do the Catholics report it?" I asked her, "So the JW's are trying to be like the Catholics now?" I asked her if she realized how hard it is to be a child, reporting abuse by an adult. I can only imagine it is a lot harder as a JW.
- When did Christ tell his disciples to cast out people who did not agree with Him? She said she was going to look it up. She does not agree with my sister, but will not address the questions I ask about why she is acting this way. (Is it my brother in law, the JW's, or ?? I don't know what I did wrong! Unfair.)
- We talked about the disfellowshipping she has seen recently. I tried to suggest that she look at situations from both sides, especially when it is a young person being cast out.
- She made the comment that she wished they would allow questions during the WT study. She admitted that she is often confused by the articles. I asked her who she could ask these questions to... Her bible study has ended, since she is baptized. She has questions, but does not seem to feel comfortable asking them.