Ok so, I was born in the Family. I was born in Madrid, Spain. I grew up in Asia, then South America. I lived in 15 different countries while a child and spent my days studying, learning from God’s word, and being trained to be a follower of Jesus’ teachings. In other words, I was raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

My Dad gave up a good job he had to be a missionary, he gave his secular life to serve the Lord and Savior who had done so much for him, all because he felt it his obligation to give back as much as he could to Jesus Christ, Lord, Savior, and King. I grew up admiring people like that, being in awe at the wonders God would do in our everyday lives as we followed Him in everything He asked of us. At an early age, I decided I wanted to do the same, not because anyone tried to ‘brainwash’ me, not because I was forced to think that way, but because I had seen firsthand what it was like to live a life helping others and maintaining a close relationship with God.

While getting older, I have seen many people leave The Family; I’ve seen them change their lives to ones of work, home, drink, etc. etc. And it’s not my cup-of-tea. It’s not what I want to live; I like going out and winning souls for Christ, I like to live in community and share all things with other people of like minds. I like to give my time to others in any way possible, as long as it can make them a better person. I believe with all my heart in what I do.

When I was young I was never sexually abused. I feel that the spankings I did get helped me become a good person, instilled in me manners that I wish others (especially Americans) would have. I wish many children in this world would have had the privilege to experience what I have experienced, to have had parents who truly loved them, and who gave their lives to instruct them and help them become the people we need in this society.

This world is full of murder and hate, and it’s the system that instills this in the children of this world, it’s the movies, the music, the TV. I want to teach my children as I was taught, I’ve seen what’s out there and it stinks. We’re different and few, but we hold the truth of God that tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves, to give our lives daily in sacrifice to Him and others. I love the Family and would die for any of my brethren any day.

I have chosen this life of my own accord and would not leave for anything in the world. This is my calling, and I believe I should be given the freedom to live it and practice such sane ways, and I know that when the children that I may have in the future grow up, they will be thankful I grew them up like this, because I am eternally thankful to my parents for the same.

Oliver Sion Muñoz is a second-generation member of the Family International, currently a missionary in Mexico.