futurepromise

Sister

Joan

Single

Douglas County

Yes

Feb. 13, 1960

I wasn't raised in any religion. Ever since I was a child I asked, why do people die, where are the dead, why are there bad people in the world. I believed that God made everything, stars, flowers, humans etc. Since He made the brain and we have the ability to ask questions, He must of provided the answers, On a warm evening, I lay on my lounge chair, look up at the sky filled with stars and say, 'dear god in heaven ' (since I didn't know his name, I wanted to make sure he heard me, so I made sure to name his dwelling place). I always spoke to him.

When I started Jr. High school, I asked my girlfriend if I could go to church with her. I listened to the sermon and afterwards spoke to the minister. I asked him the questions I thought about my whole life. He would put his arm around my shoulders and say, don't worry, that he went to the seminary, all I need to do is come each week and his sermon will make me feel good. I told him I wanted to learn the Bible. His answer was no. The parent of my friend wanted to give me money to use for my visit to church on Sunday. Why, I believed that to learn about god should be free, after all, air to breathe was free, so were the beautiful stars, flowers all all in creation.

Years past and I went to different churches and had the same results. This changed in December of 1959. The flag salute was always held in my typing class, it was moved to my other class. In that class I always admired this one boy. He stood out as different. He obeyed the teacher, even when he was out of the room and the other students acted out.

I noticed during the flag salute he remained quiet with his arms to his side. That disturbed me. It was not consistent with his personality. I was always wanting to know, 'what makes people tick'. After class I caught up with him and asked. He replied that he was for God's Kingdom, and the the United States was God's enemy and would be destroyed. He told me of Daniel 2:44. He then asked me if I wanted to be an enemy of God. He told me to go home and look up in the dictionary, allegiance and the other words in the pledge. I did. I came to the conclusion that I could not promise in advance, like signing a blank check
The next day, I didn't say the pledge. My teacher walked down the isle to me and asked if I was a communist. After class I confronted David an told him I needed more information. We walked to his locker and gave me a Watchtower. I read it that night. The next day I asked him where I can get more knowledge. He said at the Kingdom Hall. I told him I wanted to go. The next meeting I attended with his family. I was greeted warmly. I asked the same questions that I had my whole life. To my surprise even children as young as 8 years old, took me to their seat, opened their Bible and showed me the answers.

Xmas vacation was coming up, David was going to vacation pioneer, at that school break. I went with him every day during that break. Attended every meeting too. On February 13, 1960 I was baptized. I could say so much but I should stop. On August 5,1961 I was appointed a regular pioneer. I was the only pioneer in my congregation.

I have been serving Jehovah now for 59 years. I have seen the growth and changes, I was surrounded by anointed brothers in my first congregation, so I view things through their eyes.

Well, that is a small bit of how I got the truth.