From Pandita Gil, 27, mother of three.

I was born into this wonderful missionary group of believers, known as “The Family International.” I wanted to address this to those of you who may know little or nothing about our missionary group (since my friends don’t need an explanation and our enemies don’t want to believe it anyway).

My name is Pandita Gil, though in the Family I’ve been Sharon since I was 14, which was when I made the decision to apply myself to my missionary training. When I was 17 I told myself that no matter what, I wanted to dedicate my life to serving the Lord full time. I’m now 27 years old and I don’t regret having made that choice in life. By the way, I have three beautiful and priceless possessions here on Earth, and those are my children. God’s entrusted them into our care, and we ensure that they grow up in a substantial and spiritually healthy environment. They are smart, cute, loving and active kids. I love them dearly and I pray that I can continue to give them a godly heritage and upbringing in this wonderful Family.

I understand how some of our doctrines or beliefs, though based upon the Bible, are rather controversial; and many of you may not agree with them. However, many people admire our products and our good works, but they fail to see, or agree with the spiritual foundation or truth that our lives and service to Jesus are based on.—And many times it’s because of these very same foundations and “spiritual principals” that we’re even able to accomplish so much for the Lord in spite of how few we are in numbers.

Being a real Christian is dangerous! This is clearly stated in the Bible, in 2 Timothy 3:12, when it says, “Yea, and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.” Being a disciple (a follower of Christ’s teachings) is a very dangerous profession, but I have chosen this profession because I believe it to be my calling in life. In fact, I’ll take it a step further by saying that I believe that “He chose me to go and bring forth fruit that remains.” And just as you have chosen your profession in life, and have dedicated your skills, talent, time, thought and resources to that job, I am dedicating years of all of that to my missionary profession in The Family International.

My parents are wonderful missionaries, who are still dedicating their lives to serving the Lord in The Family International. In my opinion, they did their best to raise me and my brothers and sisters. I was born in Venezuela, and lived there for most of my childhood years. Later on I lived in Peru, Bolivia and Brazil, together with other Family members. I was home schooled by my mom and others in our missionary Homes. Some of my best teachers during my childhood and teen years (besides you, Mom ) were: Promise (science & language arts), Emanuel (Bible knowledge & world history), Phil (social studies & history), Clara (Spanish grammar & music) and Stephen (arithmetic … and faithfulness—yes, that’s a whole subject on it’s own!). Thanks to them and many others I know what I know today!

What I loved the most about my childhood, were the “faith trips” (that’s what we call them) I’d take with my family to various cities in Venezuela. I remember performing and doing puppet shows on many of these trips. My parents were faithful to intertwine preaching the gospel with fun and excursions. Not only did we win many souls, but we also got to go places and learn a lot about the cities and towns visited. I made a lot of other such faith trips throughout South America during my teen years with other young people—and these were far-out trips. It was awesome to see the Lord supply and care for us in every one of those trips! These trips served to strengthen my faith in the Lord’s promises of supply for those who work for Him.

I had a marvelous upbringing, and I now live a challenging and rewarding life! I have friends in the Family, and I also have friends, as well as some of my brothers, who’ve left the Family and are doing well. Our life for the Lord is a continuous miracle! God always supplies everything we need via family, friends and people who like our work and what we do.

It’s ridiculous how The Family is once again being accused of the same old things. I feel sorry for those who make it their goal in life to stop us or any other Christian organization, for that matter. It’s a useless cause because Jesus’ love is everlasting! Nothing can quench His love or foil His plan for us!—Not even us, because if we fail through disobedience, then He’ll simply raise up others to do His job of reaching the lost before He comes.

As for Angela and Ricky, I know they are both in Heaven, because I believe what the Bible says about Salvation being eternal! Of course, I’m sure that Ricky is remorseful, and has shed many tears for having done such an atrocious thing, as killing someone like Angela, who lived to give her all to others. Angela, on the other hand is enjoying her heavenly mansion and rewards! One thing is sure, and that is that this whole event is helping me to strengthen my resolve and conviction. It’s helped me to gain more of a healthy fear of the Lord, as I understand more clearly how our daily choices lead us upon the path of destiny. If we choose God’s way, it will be a path of fortune and blessings. But if we choose our own selfish carnal ways, it will be a path of hardship and loss.

There’s one thing I wanted to say about Angela. I was pleasantly surprised to have read in many of these personal testimonies here on this site, how many of my peers either lived with her, or had personally met her. I don’t think it was coincidence that I too, got to briefly meet Angela. She was such a sweet lady—always complimenting others and lending a helping hand wherever she saw the need! I was pregnant at the time I met her and I thought it was so sweet of her to be asking if there was anything I needed, and to make sure I had plenty healthy snacks to eat.

It’s not an everyday occurrence that you meet someone as sweet and considerate as Angela, so I agree with what others have said about her “having a gift of helps.” I figured that besides that being her personality, a lot of it must also be accredited to her many years of living with Dad, Mama and Peter, who I truly believe are also like that. I never met David Berg, however I’ve seen Peter a few times during some Family delegates meetings, and I also once had the opportunity of meeting Maria very briefly. Both are wonderful people! One of the things that struck me the most about them was how loving they are with everyone, and how much they really pray about everything! I was also greatly touched by Mama’s sincere desire to know how my family was doing, and how my children were adapting to our new situation.

I’m writing this so that you can know, and so that there is written proof, that I stand with what we believe and teach in the Family International. I am here because I want to be and because I want my children to grow up to be missionaries too (granted, if that is what they later choose to do with their adult lives).

“And ye shall be hated of all men for My Name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish.”—Really, this is what this scandal by the media is all about! It’s about a hatred for Jesus and His emissaries on Earth. You may wonder, if this is so then why aren’t all Christians (or Christ believers, for that is what a Christian is) around the globe receiving the same type of persecution? Well, I believe the reason to this is simply because many more choose to “hide their light under a bushel”, whereas we, in The Family International (and a few other groups and believers), have chosen to “let our Light so shine before all men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in Heaven.”

Let’s not forget that the day will come when all who believe in Jesus will be persecuted for “righteousness sake.” But we have nothing to fear for God is on our side!