By Rachel, 11 years old

Stop putting me in a box (and sticking the “Brainwashed and abused, handle with care” label on me!)

My name is Rachel. I am 11 years old. (I’m turning 12 in February). I was born and am being raised in the Family International. I was shocked at the news of Ricky and Angela’s deaths. I did not know Ricky personally, but I did know Angela. I remember a sweet, dedicated woman, always ready to give a helping hand. I admired her very much. It was a very sad thing that turned Ricky to killing someone he knew and loved as a child.

But tell me this; if someone that you knew absolutely nothing at all about grew up being a Catholic, or a Jew, or a Hindu, or a Muslim, became extremely bitter about their childhood, and morbidly killed a member of that organization and then took his own life, would you set out to slander, take the children away from their parents, and eventually destroy the entire group of thousands just because one member hated it? Is that right?

Ricky had a hard time with our beliefs. He grew very bitter, to the point of brutal violence. The Family International did not do that to him. I am an average child in the Family International. Do I want to kill anybody? Most definitely not. Am I suicidal? No. I love my life. Am I bitter about the way I am being raised? Do I have ‘hard feelings’? Do I feel stunted in growth, abused, brainwashed, or that I am treated in a brutal way? Of course not! My parents, teachers and friends love me for who I am. I do not understand how anyone could hate or become bitter about the beautiful life that we live.

As for the allegations of child abuse, I have one thing to say to the people that would like to separate me from my parents and put me in an asylum or an institution; I have NEVER, EVER been abused in any way, sexually, physically, mentally, or whatever, nor have I seen any abuse in the Family. I have been given the best of everything. I’ve traveled around the world. I’ve always had unconditional love, great teachers and friends, a roof over my head.

Of course, my life’s not perfect; whose is? I go through ups and downs just like everybody else. And that’s the point; JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. I’m normal; I’m not a brainwashed zombie, or a deluded, abused child. I am very fulfilled in my life. I have something to live for. And to all you duds who want to slander our way of life to earn some extra cash, or want to complain because “My brainwashing teachers made me wash dishes when I was a kid in that cult” I have one thing to say to you. Stop whining. I mean, really, get your own life, and we’ll respect that. But we expect you to do the same. If you don’t want to be a missionary, then fine. But you don’t have to slander and lie about us that do. I love the Family International. My parents are the greatest, and the last thing I would want is to be taken away from my life. This is where I belong. Serving the Lord. Serving Jesus. Living for others. Please, please don’t take away, lie about, throw mud at, or criticize my way of life just because it’s not your cup of tea. I LOVE MY LIFE!!! And nothing you say is going to change that.

Rachel is a second-generation member of The Family International