Marie Claire - Letters to the Editor printed in July edition, 2005
Letters section (page 14)

FAMILY VALUES

I’m currently working in Japan as a missionary for The Family
International. I was born in the States but grew up in Japan. I was
never stuck at home or abused by my parents or members of the group.
On the contrary, I remember making friends my own age and, although I
was home-schooled in English, I also learnt Japanese and visited
ancient castles, studied the Buddhist religion etc. These wonderful
experiences as a child led to my decision to remain a missionary. Now
I work with young (12 - 17 years) members of our group to give them
that same chance. I’m speaking out on behalf of these teens. They
don’t understand why we are being misrepresented.

Michelle Dykas
Nagano, Japan

Marie Claire - Letters to the Editor printed in July edition, 2005
Letters section (page 14)

FAMILY VALUES

I’m a second generation member of The Family International. My
attention has been drawn to your article about our missionary
movement, in connection with the suicide of Ricky Rodriguez ["Killing
Myself is The Only Way Out Of The Cult", May]. Some of the statements
published there are quite misleading. The presented “fact” that “for
many years cult members had virtually no contact with the outside
world” was surprising to me. I’ve lived in over 15 different
countries, and had substantial contact with the local people and
cultures. Mine has been a beautiful and happy life thus far, not only
free from abuse, but filled with a “world education” that few have
the opportunity to enjoy. I would want nothing better for my own
future children.

Lorie Richards