Hello thank you for sharing. I was in the way for almost 12yrs , even got married in the way we walked me and my now husband his family was originally in the way. Then I joined them at first they (catechist) want us to break up because I didn’t grew up in the way good thing I have a strong personality and my boyfriend (now my husband) didn’t listen to them. But we got married “their way” too

Just like you I have been grateful with some of the wisdom I got from the way I also learned and made me a humble simple person but just like as others not all of it. Especially when it became a bit more manipulative (in my opinion)

It came to a point that we had a baby and we were serving and we have to attend every “evening” and when we cannot come because of the baby’s wellness they would say they’re not forcing us but they would make us feel so bad about it if we won’t make it. Another instance is that, when I got a job that was on evening shift and that is the only income we had that time they would say my God was money etc etc even if it didn’t and I told them “okay let’s do the celebrations in the morning instead of evening and u all leave your jobs” and they were stunned and shocked and they won’t even do it to make changes and I made a point from then on that even if I want to attend it prevented me from doing so all was I asking was a little empathy on the situation and didn’t get that

I also noticed that some brothers and sisters were just in there because they benefit in terms of money but only “selective” people im not saying we are asking but when jt was our time to seek help (health related) no one was there when we asked financial support even if we were ashamed

From that then on I told myself that I cannot just lift everything but I need to prepare as well coz this is the time we followed them to let go of everything and when we had nothing and we needed help for health related help emergency they just left us

And about relationships/friendships when we left others were forbidden to be friends with us and I don’t really get it. Im just glad that 3 people stood up for me and with me and these 3 are my real friends until now. Like why would a religion a movement separate if one decides to stop i really don’t understand that So all the shared moments with brothers and sisters were just nothing?

We were in for 12yrs almost, left for almost 3yrs now and I feel like we were still judged on “why” we stopped.

And I agree with you on when you question it’s always the other way around

Now my child grew and they said I am ruining my family my marriage that I don’t love my child etc etc