When I was 17 my older brother went to bethel. Our whole family was so proud that we had someone in high places. LOL Well it didn't last long. After only 6 months we got a phone call from Donnie saying that he had been disfellowshipped and they were sending him home on the next flight. It was very confusing for me because at that time I was a "very good little witness". I talked to him only once even though he was living next door for a couple of months after he got back. I remember feeling so torn. I wanted to do what was "right" but this was my brother. I still loved him. I remember crying a lot.
I had the one conversation with him (which I felt very guilty about) and asked him if he planned to come back into the "truth" (as if he chose to leave). He said that he wanted to come back but he felt like noone would ever respect him again. I told him he was wrong and that after he was reinstated in time he would have the respect he deserved. He tried going to the meetings and was regular for 6 months. The local "brothers" even sent a letter to society reccomending his reinstatement. They turned it down saying that it hadn't been enough time. Shortly after that he quit going to the meetings and was just struggling to get by. He had no education other than high school and no trade skills. One day his income tax refund check came in. He got all his taxes back that he paid. ($250.00) My dad made arrangements to meet him at the bank so my brother could just sign over the check to pay back the society for the plane ticket home. Imagine that. He works for free for 6 months and then when they kick him out and send him home, they expect him to pay for the plane ticket. Anyway, he showed up at the bank, my dad handed him the check and my brother turned to walk out of the bank. My dad told him that if he walked out the door he wouldn't have him as a son anymore. He walked out the door and we haven't seen him since.
A few yrs later we recieved a birth announcement for his first (maybe only...I don't know) son from his wife. She mentioned that he still loved his family and that he missed them but the religion wasn't for him. That was the last contact I've heard of from him and that was 17 yrs ago.
I have tried searching for him on the internet. (you wouldn't believe how many Donald Eugene Bridges there are out there. I have tried calling his "worldly" relatives. (they haven't heard from him either) I even paid $50 for a professional search and didn't get anywhere.
The last place I know that he lived was Torrance Cal. I heard a rumor that he had joined the Air Force and I confirmed that but he is not active anymore and they won't give me anymore info. I know his birthday (5/13/62 Dallas, Texas) but I don't know his Social Security Number. He was adopted and his birth father has the exact same name living here in Texas. I called him and he hasn't spoken to him for 25 yrs.
Any suggestions? I need to find him and make things right again.
TimB