tonto

Jardi, with the ringleader you named, no wonder you guys nearly bust a gut laughing! I agree that the smell was horrendous, but I found that standing in a hot shower and jamming a washcloth-wrapped finger up my nose helped get some of the chicken-death-particles off my nose hairs. How's that for a lovely mind picture? Speaking of Jeff...do you remember that near the end of our second year, someone was sneaking into our corps coordinator's unlocked house and taking big dumps on the floor? It happened at least two or three times. For some reason, I think it was Jeff. (Way to go, Jeff!)

Hey dooj, the more the merrier, but Tom ...I don't have the T-shirt...I guess an old nametag will have to do. Fellowshipper, glad to hear you're fine.

Happy Birthday ChattyKathy, I've been reading your story on another thread, and I'm sending a hug your way.

Ohhh, GreasyTech...hurry and post again...you have the number of posts!

Well, in my youth I was told I looked like Leslie Ann Warren AND a little like Liza Minelli (???) Unfortunately now I have morphed into a female Van Morrison with Cruella DeVille hair.

Nika, I don't remember a Mrs. Taylor, but Grace Bliss' daughter being in Dallas sounds familiar. And Mary Ann...I think I remember her...didn't she spend a lot of time with the W!res? Rhino you're right about Ft. Worth and Dallas not mixing much...and to this day I don't drive into Dallas county unless I have to. I'd rather drive down to Austin than I would Dallas. It seems we had to go to Dallas quite a bit for apprentice corps meetings. And yes, there was plenty of weird stuff going on, even back then. Strange one, maybe sometime you and the Mrs. can meet up with me and hubs for a drink in the Square of Sundance... Hey thanks you 9th for letting me post in this most holy of threads...

Gee Nika, we were like passing trains...I doubt that my Texas twi time coincided with yours but we probably know some of the same folks. You went to your high school reunion in a short black dress...how cool is that? Good for you! rhino, when you were in Dallas, I was in Ft. Worth. We must have been at some of the same meetings. There were always meetings, weren't there?

Sorry Rejoice, but I don't agree with that either because if it hadn't been for the couple of clergy in our state who came back and told us what went on, we might have stayed in TWI longer. That information plus the non-answers we got from our corps coordinator and Craig made it abundantly clear that we needed to leave. Those guys didn't have to tell what they heard...they were concerned for the people they were leading. Neither of them started his own ministry...they both moved and got real jobs and started to rebuild their lives. Little old us tried to warn people in our area to hold on to their hearts and wallets for awhile and at least wait and see if TWI would change to their satisfaction, but folks all around us chose to stay with the sinking ship. People who had been close friends of ours in the corps even told us that since we hadn't been the rebellious types in residence, it made them suspicious that we would suddenly buck the system. (Read: You won't drink the Kool-Aid, so you must be possessed). Thank God we left when we did. I am truly sorry that people stayed a minute longer, and that they continued to bring new unsuspecting people into that cesspool. I am so glad we all are free and that Greasespot is here to serve as a warning to others. Hey Rhino, how about some green wine, or maybe an appletini?

Sorry Nika, by baja Oklahoma I meant Texas. Did you spend any TWI days in Texas? The only TWI folks I can remember who were at one time or another in OK were the Linda#ls, the Turn*rs, and the Sn!ders.

Hey David, why'd you give your notes to Pat Robertson?

POP was revealed to the corps live on corps night in April or May of '86. The clergy meeting that I heard about was in the fall of '86...I want to say early November (no, hubs and I weren't clergy and weren't there). I distinctly remember our limb coordinator returning from the meeting, having a meeting with the corps/branch coordinators in the state and telling what happened at the HQ clergy meeting. This was the one where Geer was seen to be "packing heat", and where he told someone who needed to be excused for a bathroom break that he "ought to believe God for a bigger bladder".

Ahhh Tom, I think you're right. Happy St. Paddy's day to all you spacial 9th corpse!

Hi NIKA, Did you start celebrating early? St. Paddy's day is Friday... :) You've mentioned before that you're a native Texan...me too. Did you spend any TWI years in baja OK?

I don't think I had to deal with explaning the corps years on a resume because I left so many years ago, but the way I've described my corps years to a select few co-workers is...I just try to make light of it and I say "I went to cult college...it was supposed to be a bible college, but it turned out to be a cult...sorta like Amway with God thrown into the mix. Hey...we all do stupid things when we're young".

Belle, thanks for posting these. As bad as things could be at times in the "good old days", it just amazes me that it got this bad and that these so-called leaders descended into this degree of evil. It is heartbreaking that people who were just looking for "more harmony in the home" ended up enduring this kind of abuse.

Well, I'm referring to something a page back, but it takes me awhile to respond to these things. Something Topoftheworld said touched me…she said: "Sorry, guys.....this one hurts. I really would have been proud to have graduated with my Corps: even today it would have meant something. After everything that had happened, it would have been the proudest day of my life." First of all, ((((((TOTW))))))) Secondly, I can relate. As much as I disliked many aspects of our corps training, as disappointed as I was that it didn't measure up to what I had expected, even though my husband and I voluntarily removed ourselves from actively representing TWI on our final, practicum year, I still feel a loss having not graduated with our corps. It's almost 20 years later and in some strange way I'm still trying to make peace with that sense of loss. It's such a mixed bag of emotions...

Well, she could have easily put: LEAD Outdoor Academy twig coordinator, 1986-?: Legalistic hard-nosed bee-atch. That might fly in the corporate world.

Good slogan, dooj.

Strange One, I think TOTW was referring to Nika...NOT in Kansas...I had to read it twice to see that, so it's established.

Thanks, you guys. I finally got around to sending an email, so we'll see where it goes.

This list isn't complete without: The Bridges of Madison County Fried Green Tomatoes Splendor in the Grass (Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood sizzle)

Happy Birthday, dear Jardinero!!! Flowers and ladybugs and butterflies and hugs to you, our favorite gardener!

Vince McFadden was in the 12th Family Corps. He and his wife Brenda had two sons. They seemed like decent enough people. They were there on corps night when POP was read. They left for a period of time...1987, I believe, but returned. My question to anyone in the corps who stuck around after having heard POP and the mass exit...did you really believe that all those people who left got possessed, were diseased parts of the way tree that needed to be pruned, that they were bitter quitters? People who had invested as much or more of their lives than you...just walked away on a whim? Your blessed leadership lied to you to keep the money rolling in, and you chose to believe them. What kind of person sticks around during the mark and avoid era? What kind of person not only accepts that he/she needs to report details of thier private lives to their next higher unit, but demands it of the poor souls "under them" in the way tree? Vince and all the others who hung around waiting for a position to open so finally all they endured would pay off...Hey, it's paying off for him, but what about the people he helped destroy in the process? What kind of person does that and why? How many people have you apologized to, Vince? How about you, djs? How about any of you who stayed in that mess and condemned your brothers and sisters for walking away from that sinking ship? It was your "abundant sharing" that kept feeding the monster. It was your money that was used to defend Craig. It was your money that protected Craig and all the other monsters who thought they somehow deserved fresh meat. Hey Ramona...do you come here? I remember when you used to be a decent person. Look what twi helped you to become. Do you read these forums? How do you sleep at night? Have you honestly looked at yourself and what you have become? Well, I don't normally like to stir the pot, but how freakin' blind do you have to be to consider staying with that cult just to save face? Is it because you really, honestly believe that no one else out there has "the word"? If you didn't know God or Jesus Christ before you got in twi and are afraid that they will *poof* disappear from your heart if you leave, well all I can say is that God is bigger than twi, bigger that any denomination, bigger than any fear you have and bigger than any anger that I have. I really do wish you the best, and I wish you freedom. May God help you.

Linda you two look so cute...like wedding cake toppers! Even when I clicked on "enlarge" it still wasn't as big as my gigantic car picture. David, that looks just like the car I had when I got in twi. I agree that God was watching out for you in a big way, to come away with only bruised ribs! Remember when the tv stations signed off at midnight on weeknights?

Thanks, Dot. I remember those purses! A Lemans...that looks like what one of my friends had. And top, when my parents bought this car for me I was disappointed because I wanted a new PINTO. What a goofball! Anyone remember Earth Shoes with the negative heel?