Well, glory hallelujah! If there isn’t still love and care in this world. And I thought the world was filled with selfishness and a lack of sympathy for others. But look here…some folks who truly care about my well being! Not only do they care about me so much that they’re willing to go to any lengths to remove me from the current life I love, but they’re willing to slander and defame my family, friends, foundation of faith, and all that I hold dear, in order to “rescue” me.

First though, to those of my friends and family who have left the Family and are happy productive people, living your life, I take my hat off to you. I truly respect you. You made a difficult decision, I’m sure, and I imagine it was initially a tough transition. I will continue to pray that you lead happy lives and are able to pursue and realize all of your dreams. I love you guys.

But you who are full of nothing but complaints against the Family that I love, I genuinely feel for you, and pray you are able to move on. But don’t try to lump me into your problems and bring me down too. Sure, life isn’t perfect. I’ve definitely had my low times, but personally I’d rather not get together with you to cry and eat worms from the garden, and have a round of “poor mes". Certainly don’t try and lay a guilt trip on me for your current dissatisfaction with your own life. What have I ever done to you?—How have I disrupted, slandered, and ruined your life? Or pardon me, did I eat the half of the worm you wanted?

I actually seriously wonder how many there are of you who have it out for the Family, and where this negativity is originating from. Like that story about the farmer who saw the ad for a frog farm for sale in the paper. He went to check it out, and the owner claimed that the pond was thoroughly stocked with a ton of bullfrogs. The farmer went out and listened to all of the racket these frogs were making, and it was so loud and impressive that he bought the farm.

The next day, the farmer drained the pond so that he could catch and sell the frogs, only to find that the pond was empty, except for one frog—all that croaking had been made by one big old bullfrog!

Beware that you’re not “buying the frog farm” and swallowing every bad story, rumor, and theory you hear on the Family as truth, only to find that once you get down to the bottom of the matter, you bought into a fraud.

So to those bullfrogs…er folks who are still croaking about the need to rescue me: Thanks, but no thanks. I’d venture to say that I’m less brainwashed than the average TV-addicted, carb-counting American. And if your definition of “brain washing” and “psychological abuse” is defined as counseling, finding spiritual enlightenment, practicing positive thought therapy, meditating, learning to suppress and/or positively express bad thoughts and feelings, and learning how to interact lovingly with those around you, well then, bring on the brain washing! Hmmm, aren’t all those things I just mentioned a multi-million dollar business, with folks actually paying big bucks to get their brains “washed"?

Well, as the saying goes, people who think negatively will cling to their conviction, even in the face of the most obvious contradiction. And here’s a contradiction to what’s been going around in the media these days about my friends, coworkers, my family, and me:

I’m 24 years old. I was born and raised in the Family. I’ve lived in six different countries, and have traveled to a dozen more. My parents gave me an excellent upbringing. I’ve completed formal schooling through high school, and have gone on to complete various vocational college courses, majoring in publishing, culinary arts, and child care. I’m currently in WS, and am having a great time putting all that good training into use.

I had a wonderful childhood full of terrific experiences and which I look back on with fond memories. In short, in no way was I deprived or abused. In fact, I felt I was particularly privileged, which is why I want to spend my life giving back to others less fortunate.

Believe me, I understand that the Family is an unusual group, with an unusual history, especially from an outside point of view. I am not sheltered to think that my lifestyle blends easily into mainstream society. I acknowledge that I am unique and that my choice to commit my life to God and others, is not the goal of many young people in the world today. But hey, I do not live to conform to anyone’s imposed standards.

I believe that it is because of my wonderful upbringing in the Family that I am the well-balanced, educated, outgoing woman I am today. I was always encouraged to explore my talents in order to find my path, and establish my life’s goals. But it is through my personal relationship with Jesus that I’ve truly found my identity. He has solidified who I am and what I want to become, and that is a disciple to Him and ambassador of His gospel—carrying His message of love and faith, giving physical as well as spiritual assistance to others. It is through my faith in God and my excellent upbringing in the Family that I am well on my way to living a full and happy life.

All that to say, I’m doing fine without the “life jacket". You can go ahead and reel it back in. But then, wait. I’m also being accused of all kinds of nasty things as well, and being told I’m going to be “brought down” and “swept away". So who are the bad guys anyway? One minute I’m the victim, and then the next I’m the perpetrator. One minute I’m brainwashed, the next I’m doing the washing. Make up your mind! But honestly, in the end, I have a feeling that whatever I say, do or don’t do, whether I succeed or fail, if I’m trying to serve God, there’s always going to be someone who is not happy with me. Maybe I should just get used to it.
I’m reminded of the story of Robert Fulton, the famous engineer. He was giving the first public demonstration of his steamboat. Of course, there were many a naysayer and detractor telling him it couldn’t be done and that he was crazy. One of those fellows stood in the crowd of onlookers along the shore. Amid the breathless wait, this man shouted, “He can’t start her!” Then suddenly there was a belch of steam and the boat began to move forward slowly. The man was startled for a moment and stared aghast, but then began to yell, “He can’t stop her!”

You are saying that the concept of the Family as a missionary organization is a good thing, but the people in it are not. But how can a corrupt tree bear such good fruit? Speaking of which, have you ever noticed that sticks and stones are only thrown at fruit-bearing trees? Never at the dead trees that sit there and do nothing. I mean, there’s no good “produce” to shake down from them. Get the picture?

You who say you want to bring the Family down are actually saying you want to stop me and disrupt my life, as well as the 1800 or so happy young people in the Family today, because we are one and the same. The Family is made up of individuals like me, just plodding along day by day, trying to make the world around us a better place. I for one know I am neither the abuser nor the abused. I am simply a Christian doing my best to serve the Lord.

Even if the steamboat of the Family sputtered, stopped and died, I would still go on for God the best I could. But something makes me think that I’m going to start hearing the yells, “Can’t stop her!” I’d like to think so.

I’m going to keep going on for the Lord regardless of the carping criticism of a few. The Family’s good works speak for themselves, and will continue to do so.

When Colonel George Washington Goethals was busy building the Panama Canal, he had to endure countless critics back at home who gleefully predicted that he would never complete the massive undertaking. When asked if he was going to answer his critics Goethals replied, “In time.”

“How?”

The great engineer smiled, and answered, “With the canal.”

Take a look at this site, people. Visit any Family Home around the world. Check out the good proof.

Christia M.H. is a second-generation member of the Family International.