My name is Becky (Rebecca Sarina Wilson), I am 16 years old, and I have had the privilege of being born and raised in The Family International. My childhood was not perfect, but I got LOTS of love, time, attention, and good training. I have a beautiful life, and I’m surrounded by great people who care about me personally, who I can confide in, and who are there for me whenever I need them.

It’s hard to express the joy it is to be able to live and work with like-minded people on a daily basis, and to be able to count on the support of others who are striving with their blood, sweat and tears for the same dreams as you. It is our life’s goal to share the peace, happiness, and tremendous love that we have found in Jesus with others, and to work together to make this world a better place, that is what I look forward to with every heartbeat.

It hurts me to see people take something so marvelous, and distort it so unrealistically. If the life I have CHOSEN to live is not good enough for you, then go your own way! Live your life and let me live mine! It’s so ironic! A site devoted to a bunch of rantings from bitter individuals refusing to let go of hurts from the past, called “Moving On"? I would suggest they take their own advice and MOVE ON! Honestly, life is full of hurts and disappointments, it’s how you react to them that makes you who you are, you cannot blame your lacks on anyone! We have all gone through experiences we wish we could have avoided, yet we’ve just got to learn from the bad times and move on!

I am absolutely infuriated by some of the responses to the deaths of Ricky Rodriguez and Angela Smith. How can you blame the outcome of someone’s very own individual choices on the way they were raised? I was raised by the same standard as Ricky and every other child in The Family International, and I have NOTHING to complain about. Although my mother single-handedly raised me and my brothers and sisters, she was never “single handed", thanks to the help and support that our life-style offers. I do not feel that my upbringing was lacking in any way, in fact, I think it was fuller and richer than most can attest to. All that I am today I owe to The Family International.

The Family International is not perfect, because it is made up of humans, yes, frail, fallible humans like you and me, prone to sin and mistakes. Any wrongs from the past and wrongs to come cannot be blamed on our life-style or doctrine, but on members not living up to the standard we promote. Abuse, of any kind, and failure to reflect what we stand for is not simply winked at. Anyone guilty of crime or abuse is immediately excommunicated, I know this to be a fact.

I never personally knew Ricky, but I always admired him (as the son of our leader) and knew that he would go on to do BIG things, he had every opportunity to. He had a heritage to be proud of, but he threw it all away. He picked it apart, resorted to complaining, and ended in a mess; that was his choice. No mother has a say in what path her child will choose to pursue, even if everything is done exactly right, you can’t keep someone from their own free-will. Though still, I don’t know how Ricky could disregard all the love he’d been shown, it’s beyond me! Maria was an amazing mother. She’s wise, tender, and has an inexhaustable source of love. I don’t understand how someone so close to a love so strong, that I can feel it overseas, could turn away and deny he’d ever been cared for. All I know is that I am here, living the life-style they are trying to destroy, and LOVING IT! We have found something to do with our lives that truly satisfies. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Please, I have found my life’s purpose, go find something to make you happy.

Becky Wilson is a second-generation member of The Family International