potato

I have noticed the different systems are shockingly bad at exchanging information, even when I've signed releases at both ends. I will start asking for copies of everything and keep them all together.

it's awesome that you're getting help for your son so young. I think AS can often look like ODD, but they're not defiant for the sake of defiance. I think my son would have a much easier time of it if he hadn't suffered so much for being blamed for things he can't control. we're still fighting that... it's like people seriously cannot understand that a kid will inevitably melt down if you consistently and cruelly push them beyond what they're able to do. even normal kids will, it's just that with sensory issues we reach the breaking point faster.

that's why when I was in twi I was so depressed all the time. shutting down was the only way to deal with it.

You, . . . are in dire need of a potato cannon.

(no pun intended)

it'll lift yur spurts

I've been thinking of building one ever since I saw it on mythbusters.

I bet even the Asberger's can probably be attributed to suppressing the expression of common emotion over years such as is common in environments like TWI where you're afraid to speak up or express yourself.

actually I was very Aspergerian before joining twi. the promise of "logic" appealed to me. I kept taking the classes because the next class was supposed to answer everything

thank you everyone for your encouraging words. I'm so glad we all escaped!

Our son has ADHD and of course that didn't sit too well. TWI of course has only one solution for such situations: Deny the need for real medical help and beat the dang out of them until they LISTEN REMEMBER OBEY!

it's so sad what they do to kids :(

now I tell mine "think, discuss, decide, act". I love them and all their quirks just the way they are.

well, you know... except when they're driving me up a wall

I've been really quiet lately because I've been going through some rough battles recently, including getting a psychological assessment by my own choice.

I was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder approximately a year after leaving twi, and have been in therapy ever since.

because of things that were said to me in closed door meetings and the abuse by leaders and by my ex-husband, my PTSD symptoms were fairly severe. because of the way he ran our house, my older child was also very damaged.

it turns out that both my child and I have pervasive developmental disorders. my recent assessment shows I have Asperger's Syndrome. my child probably does, too, but is in the process of assessment so we can get an appropriate IEP in place for him.

sadly, the symptoms were evident when my son was a toddler, but because of the expectation that we all have a consistent outward appearance, the symptoms were ignored or "disciplined" until they were so out of control they required hospitalization.

now we're better. self-understanding is the greatest thing I've gained since leaving twi. it wasn't something they encouraged or wanted me to have. they told me how I felt, what motivated me, they verbally pummeled me to get me to replace my memories with their version of events. for someone as naive and trusting as I was, due in good measure to the fact that my brain is wired the way it is, twi's system of mind-control did much damage. the self-doubt led me to question my sanity.

well, I'm not crazy. in fact, my memory and cognition are both quite excellent.

the damage to my son will take longer to treat because my ex is not on board with his treatment plan, but I have enough determination to overcome my bad choice of spouse and make sure my son has what he needs.

I also have enough determination to overcome the bad luck of having been sucked into such a corrupt and evil organization as the way international.

heh, I didn't even remember it was the anniversary. I am indeed quite grateful that I did not have to waste any of this wonderful weekend at a boring "service".

You might have distinguished yourself as a person who notices and remembers details. I am that kind of person. It seems like a great quality, but as you've found out, it has its dark side. This ability was a double-edged sword in TWI. If you noticed and remembered details that you shouldn't have, it wasn't a good thing. If you were in a situation where it would have been convenient to have your skill, yet you weren't in a position to know, then that wasn't good (as you discovered). If your memory was different than the leader, that too was a problem. It was rarely a win situation in TWI.

ain't that the truth. I got to the point after a while that I didn't trust my own memory because so many people always contradicted it. since I got out, I realized my memory is actually excellent, and those people were really abusive, manipulative liars.

history can't be rewritten just so people feel good about themselves, yet they do it all the time.

I'm afraid I have to agree with the posts that point out that RR supplied girls to be used. I read the transcripts, she did indeed admit to knowledge of lcm's activities. she was a participant in supplying the MOG with young sex partners. she is NOT a good person. she hasn't set out to heal people. her purpose in life is to preserve her lifestyle.

Alright mr. evidence. How about this sample video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VPcPCwK_G0

These guys look happy as larks . . . no abuse there.

Obviously there has been a lot of healing under her leadership . . .

the video shows exactly the same type of performances that were put on under lcm's leadership. the people who go on stage are drilled to perform like that. the clothes and dance moves haven't changed, the lyrics are reruns, and the facial expressions are a requirement per twi doctrine.

thanks you guys for your thoughts and prayers. the situation resolved this morning. hopefully the solution will work for the best.

wow, I just saw this. it's been awhile since Robes posted. I hope everything is ok.

unfortunately I can't work right now. I plan to just as soon as I can, I do plan to look for a government job (I'm getting to old to mess around with start-ups and companies trying to go public). it's been really rough not being able to work. I have hopes in that things will start to work out in that category as well. I can't relocate because of the kids though, but there should still be plenty I can find when I get to that point :)

I've been on the phone all morning and there are a couple of offices that may be able to help. waiting to hear back.

this whole thing is a huge production... therapists, lawyers, housing authorities... and I'm sitting here waiting for people to call me back so I know what my life will look like in a month.

it's kind of stressful. I haven't really recovered from losing my house 1.5 years ago. now this :(

thanks for the prayers and encouragement.

hi people,

I would appreciate positive thoughts/prayers for my living situation. things are falling apart a bit, and I can't go into details... I've been homeless with kids before and I don't want to be again... any godly light you can send my way is appreciated more than words can say. the biggest issue is kids' dad doesn't care much what he does to hurt us, and I'm tired of my kids getting hurt. just need safe haven to work things out for some special needs kiddos who are innocent and have been badly used.

thanks :)

so sad that people have their lives invested in twi :(

he was either spying on in residence corps to make sure they were "redeeming the time" or mowing the grass in straight lines, moping in his office about how he wasn't appreciated, or having a three way with some college girls.

Now that's shameless.

He redefined a NUMBER.

How's THAT for avoiding reality?

that's why in twi, 2+2=5.

I don't know about you but I am so glad to know certain truths like:

Jesus is not God

The dead are not alive

I can pray perfectly

God is always good

God's Word is true

I will meet the Lord in the air...

anybody else?

what is your point exactly? truth is relative, so wayspeak like "certain truths" just muddies communication. can you rephrase in regular language? if this is a doctrinal discussion I'm not interested, but if you're attributing knowing these things to being involved with twi, I do have an answer for you, so await your clarification.

My boy is not in their clutches as things worked out. All it took for me to get that accomplished is to tell my divorce mediator exactly what they've done and said.

hey, that's some very good news, JeffSjo!

wow, this is an awesome thread. I was recruited right in the middle of the poop paper and the splintering and everyone turned really pro-LCW and there were all kinds of M&As going on. I wanted to learn the bible, so I ignored it, but it ended up having a negative long-term effect on me anyway. the backstory is appreciated.

something useful I've noticed with GSC is that not only people who leave find a place to help process what they've been through, but people still get involved with innies and have questions. we've encountered a number of those in my short time here and I'd like to think they got the help they needed to understand the cult mindset that grips long-time followers of twi doctrine.

hm. I just noticed I've been hanging around nearly 3 years :) in fact, it was 3 years ago on labor day weekend that I realized I'd had enough and officially left twi for good. happy third anniversary to me!

I heard a lot about how us lowly people ruined revelation by not believing, so it couldn't come to pass because of our screw-ups. imagine that, all that power we had to wreck God's plans.

I really wish someone would stand up to twi bullies and refuse to change their name. no one OWNS the words in the bible, for christ's sake.

He was a p3n1s healer? Just like his father in the Word?

did he ever claim to heal anyone, like vpw claimed? or was it only to "meet the needs of the MOG"?

what I don't miss:

the smell of rural Ohio.

the ROA showers.

my tent flooding and all my stuff getting soaked in August rainstorms.

the food.

the big top meetings.

WOW training.

driving to ROA in cheap used cars that broke down.

mosquitoes.

what I miss:

nothing. I can keep in touch with friends by other means, and all the activities we had to be in all the time pretty much took up all my time anyway.

I believed for a long time. then I didn't.

I believed because if it was true, it gave a meaning to life that I lacked.

if only life were that easy.

I quit believing because it proved to be largely false and a horrible set of rules to live by.

if there is anything to believe in anything vpw taught, it can be better understood by reading what the original scholars wrote on the subject.

I think lcm fancied himself a prophet, evangelist, pastor... what were the others? whatever.