By Amber Hawron (age 29), fulltime Family International missionary

What does everyone really want to know? Or did those who read the recent newspapers really want to know anyhow—those articles just happened to be there and now they may feel responsibility and concern. From my perspective and experience, it often doesn’t matter what’s published or how horrible it is, people just seem to take it at face value.

You can’t trust the media!! You can’t believe everything you read! Not every model is perfect, there’s airbrushing added! – And we all know that! Have you ever had your child come up to you and “tell” on the one of their brothers or sisters? Any loving, concerned parent would then go to the one “told on” and find out the other side, not make a harsh sweeping judgment solely based on what “Johnny” said about his sister “Mary.”

My personal reaction to these recent accusations is extreme annoyance at the waste of time, ink and paper. Child abuse? You’ve gotta be kidding! We’ve been through these ridiculous accusations enough before, and the outcome has told the truth, written and documented, there’s no such thing!! The media’s riding a dead horse here. Just ask any of us who are actually in the Family and even have our own children; if anyone knows, we do!!!! I was born in the Family International in 1975, and was raised by my parents in Family Homes in England, Uruguay, Brazil, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Uganda, Switzerland and Argentina, and never, never ever, ever, have I seen or experienced abuse of myself or other children! – And believe me, I knew what was going on in each place I lived…little girls have a way of making everything their business, eaves dropping and all, and I was no dumb child!

The truth is, the care of the children takes priority in the Family Home! Take a look at one of our Home schedules and you’ll see the amount of time parents and other missionary members spend caring for the children! I know, I’ve been there, and I’m still there! I’ve been working in the Family Education Department since age 19. I’ve devoted the last 10 years to the education and care of our missionary children in Africa by way of creating educational materials and answering education questions. I spent years creating a character and faith building curriculum for the children in Africa, which has been gratefully received since its publishing in 2004. How did I learn to do this? By being raised in the Family by my parents and in my teen years being taught to care for children by people who KNEW how to take care of and teach children, and were EXPERTS in that field! You ask who my partner was in creating it? Another young person, born and raised in the Family. I think our accomplishments speak for themselves, we were not abused nor denied anything we needed to help us grow up happy, educated and able to be a positive influence and help to those less fortunate than ourselves.

Honestly, I don’t have time to read or even write about these ridiculous child abuse allegations. I live in Africa where my help is needed! I’ve got a job to do! There are kids out there who really need help, and I mean REALLY need help! None of us in the Family International nor our children need help in the way of rescuing and comfort. My son lives in the safest environment I know of, both physically and spiritually. He is cared for, prayed for, protected, given good food, clothing and yes…at 3 months, even education. He’s a happy little guy and I love him so much, he’s certainly my pride and joy, and as long as I’m alive, NO abuse will come to him…what’s that saying “over my dead body!!!” I had his “fun and school” curriculum made before he was born!! Don’t tell me I don’t care for and love my son! Before he was born I sat with the empty stroller I’d bought for him by my desk as I worked. I couldn’t wait for him to arrive. He’s three months old now and I’ll hardly let him out of my sight! I LOVE him. And every parent I know in the Family International, including my own parents, LOVES their children just the same! Where did I learn to love children the way I do? What gave me the idea to work with the poor, needy children in Uganda? My excellent upbringing by kind and loving missionary parents.

So, if you’re a reader of any newspaper article slandering the Family International and you feel your heartstrings tugged upon to help us poor children and young people in the Family; cheer up, take a load off, we’re not abused, and never have been!! You can relax and go to the next page, or put the paper down and go get a nice bowl of ice-cream! Or if you’re still interested and want to help, we sure could use help in our missionary work in Africa!

In closing, to any reader of anti Family articles and accusations, the simple answer is why not check it out for yourself? Check out our Family International website at: thefamily.org, or if you know any Family members, ask to visit their Home and meet their children and young people, and judge for yourself! And if you’d like to know more about me personally, check out my personal résumé, listed below.

Amber - Born April 28, 1975
Mission: My ultimate goal and mission in life is to let everyone know the good news that Jesus loves them and has a place for every sinner in Heaven. In order to accomplish this goal we have to work as a team, and in that we all play a part. My part in the missionary communities I’ve lived in around the world has always involved children, whether our missionary children or children outside. Though I’ve dedicated many hours to caring for and educating children of missionaries and spiritually helping and training other needy children, a large part of my ministry involves deskwork. Every school has to have an office, so I’ve essentially been “missionary school office” personnel since the age of 19. For the past few years in this ministry I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on developing a character and faith building program for our missionaries to use in working with the children in Africa. I also worked on a Bible verse memorization program, which is being used in many countries. Through these materials I feel I can help reach out to children all over Africa.

I know I’ve found my calling in life, the children are our future and there are so many of them! There are constantly new kids to educate in our missionary Homes and more kids in Africa who need Jesus, so I’ll never be out of a job.

“Children are the future and should never ever be underestimated, anything that is poured into them lives on forever and ever and goes much further than you even know. This is a witness in itself: anyone who loves children and is willing to give their life for them is a missionary in a way because they’re on a mission of love, a mission to train, a mission to give unselfishly.”

Experience
1991-1994 Family Care, Special Childcare Unit Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Teacher, Family Care Secretary and Productions Member
– Worked on producing child-care materials for missionaries all over the world. Including layout, graphic art, editing, typing and scripting.
– Primary, First and Second grade teacher.

1995–1999 Office Unit England
Family Education Department
– Child-care and education advisor and correspondent for Missionaries in Europe and Africa.
– Creation of child-care materials for Missionaries in Europe and Africa, depending on the current need.
– Christian Vocational College Instruction Coordinator for students in Europe and Africa.
– Began research for creation of character and faith building curriculum for children Africa.

1999-2003 Family Care England/Uganda/South Africa
Family Education Department
– Research for and creation of character and faith building curriculum, including teacher’s materials.
– Education advisor and correspondent for missionaries in Africa.
– Christian Vocational College Instruction Coordinator for High School students in Europe and Africa.

Education 1990–1999 Christian Vocational College England
– Baby Care
– Child Care
– Primary Education
– Office and Secretarial Skills
– Publishing and Printing
– Bible Knowledge
– General Home Economics.
– Cooking and Food Services.
– Domestic and Personal Services
– Sewing and Needlework
– Foreign Language: Spanish and Portuguese

Languages I speak English, Spanish and Portuguese
Countries worked in/Visited England; Puerto Rico; USA; Peru; Argentina; Uruguay; Brazil; Paraguay; Switzerland; Belgium; France; Hungary; Italy; Germany; South Africa; Uganda; Nigeria; Kenya; Mexico.

Amber Hawron is a second-generation member of The Family International