Upon arriving at the motel Thursday night and trying to find other posters by their “handles”, we connected up with those already there. (Do you know what funny looks you get when asking for people’s rooms on the basis of only their first name and where they are from? The clerks didn’t understand about our jwd “names”.) It was great to meet people from this board that we have chatted with.
Friday morning we met all that had came in during the night and then we headed towards Bill Bowen’s house and the news conference to be held at the courthouse steps. Several survivors where still questioning whether they should speak up or not due to the tremendous ramifications it would have on them and their families. The tension was high and the air was filled with excitement as we, about 9 cars, drove to the courthouse.
We met several other supporters at the courthouse. Bill and Barbara did a wonderful job defending their stand about Silentlambs. There were 2 former elders who also spoke on their experiences in dealing with child molestations. Then personal survivors told their stories of abuse and treatment by the wtbts. (There was not a dry eye by anyone listening.) How brave of those who spoke, letting the roar of the Silentlambs begin.
One of the posters from this board came to the courthouse with his family in support of Silentlambs. His wife, an inactive JW, was standing off to the side with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. My husband and I had approached her before the press conference to help her feel at ease that we are jws in “good standing”, along with several others that were there. After the press conference, I went back over to her to get her opinion on what had been said and she started sobbing in my arms as she explained that she too was abused when she was young.
The whole “gang” of supporters when to lunch at a local Mexican restaurant to get to know one another better and be supportive of Bill and Barbara.
About 4 PM several of us went to the local KH to set up the candlelight vigil. The wind was blowing harder than expected so more sand was needed to hold the bags with candles down and more weights to hold the tent down that Bill had set up. Several of us joked that we were good at working together, due to our past experiences with quick builds and assemblies.
The vigil began with Bill explaining how and why Silentlambs came about. Barbara explained her involvement in it and then several brave survivors shared their experiences. E-mailed letters where read as well as poems and songs that were sent to Bill’s web site. The whole thing was a very emotionally moving experience.
As the sun began to set, the 350+ candles in white paper bags with survivor’s names on them glowed so beautifully. The bags were two deep stretching across 400 feet of grass.
To watch different ones during this time cry and embrace, support one another, hug, and relate how they were coping with their circumstances and how to help other survivors was overwhelming. To think also that Bill, his family and Barb have dealt with this emotionally charged issue, not because they had a personal cause, but from their conscientious stand, was awe inspiring.
To see the local J.C. committee not show up, and then reflect on how the wtbts is handling the whole affair with their “spin”, made me so sad to think I had ever belonged to that organization.
I am so proud of everyone who spoke up that day to let the Silentlambs begin to roar even though the long-term effect of what took place may not be known for a while.
