Hi All,
I didn't want to read to much before putting up my story. I'd like to thank all of you. Some time in the late 80's I heard from my parents that my brother now a JW. My family had been through some ups and downs so it wasn't that big a suprise. The next couple of times I saw him he gave me literature. I did a bit of research, but I didn't find out much, not much was around like today. JW's were mentioned in a few books about cults...Anyway, I'd been using a lot of drugs and alcohol and my life was out of control and I was looking to slow things down. I moved from Toronto to Missisauga, right into the heart of my brother congregation. I did not plan it that way but that is what happened. People started to visit I started a bible study... I was baptised July 21 1990 at the convention.
I guess I like the attention(love bombing) and the social life, and for me it sort of felt like a family. I think I have a certain look that the elders liked I seemed to get away with murder and was not counselled. I like the attention from the sisters and I liked the change of life style from what I had been doing. I didn't believe everything that I heard by I played along and never really questioned it openly. I shared houses with a few different brothers and changed jobs a few times, I did a little auxillary pioneering which I didn't even come close to the hours, I think 45, I did about 10. We had a few guys from Canada Bethel at the hall and I got to hang out with a few of them, very impressive;). I went to work a couple of times on constructing some new facilities, what a privlage! At one point I dated an sister from an Italian cong, and when I stopped seing her I got called in. They had complained that I did not act christian or something and they expected me to marry her. I didn't not really understand all the dynamics, but I moved on. Once it became apparent that I wasn't going to be the next best thing, people sort like everyone else or what ever and I tired of the whole thing.
I did meet some people and it had it's moments. Because I didn't grow up in it, I didn't suffer like some young people, I was about 23 when I first got involved and moved on about 2 years with the fade technique as you call it. My brother had started to doubt, when he didn't get into Bethel and I had nothing keeping me there. I was developing the forearm of a tennis pro from all the sex and had to leave. I had a worldly girl friend when I came in and she stayed for a brief while, our little story made it onto the stage one year in Georgetown Assembly. My only real regrets and wasting the time and pushing the crap on family and friends. Thankfully none of them bit so I didn't do too much damage.
Thanks again for being here, I've been carrying this around for years and never spoke a word to anyone. I often wonder where the others are, and what ever happened to so and so. I still have my leather bible, I guess it's the only thing I have from those wasted years.
Regards,
Marty