I knew Angela well

During the brief time that we lived together, we often enjoyed watching girly-type movies together, and talking typical girl talk. She may have been of an older generation than me, but she was one of my closer friends. In the last conversation I had with her before she moved from my home, we talked about many personal things, and she showed such genuine concern for me. I am very offended that people who never knew her would try to paint her in an unfavorable light!

I never met Ricky, but a close friend of mine had met Ricky in Eastern Europe several years ago, while he was still in the Family. He had stood out to her as a very accepting and fun person. I am convinced that if he harbored negative feelings about his life in the Family at that time, or was in any way unhappy with his lot, he wouldn’t have hesitated to let those around him know. I certainly would not stay a moment longer in a place I don’t want to be.

I grew up in the Family, although I also went to public school for seven years. You might find it hard to believe, but I actually feel a little inferior to many of my friends in the Family who were home schooled their whole lives, as they were able to get much more personal attention in the fields that they were particularly interested in, and therefore, I feel, got a much better education. (Thanks to my missionary upbringing, though, I am fluent in two languages and have traveled to over 15 countries, so I have been given quite a well-rounded education overall.) I am now a teacher for younger children in the Family, and am determined to give the kids I care for a good foundation in learning which they can build upon for the rest of their lives.

My life has not been perfect. There are things I wish never happened. But show me anyone who has had a perfect life, full of only roses and rainbows. Personally I wouldn’t want such a life, as if everything had been so easy and perfect, I wouldn’t be able to relate to anyone else. I sometimes wonder about those who speak out against the Family so vehemently, claiming to have had it so bad when growing up, when in reality, I think they had it very good from everything I saw, especially when compared to what so many go through in the world today!!

Kattis is a second-generation member of The Family International