Survivor, Thank you so much for all of your posts!! You are so brave and my heart has ached for you. For several years I've known about how the extended family has given Steve safe haven while at the same time ostracizing your family. I am so so sorry. I know the pain of having to see the predator become the victim. My prayer is that through all of this, their eyes will be opened, and they will seek to know the truth. I love you and your sweet sister!!
Let me just respond to the comment about not remembering Scott's apology. While I remember it, there are so many things that happened that I have completely blocked out. While I remember the abuse, I have tended to forget a good part of my childhood. Probably just to cope!! I don't know if you can relate to that. So let me just assure you, that is completely normal.
And Pav, Yes, you suffered numerous injustices. Amazing to see your heart!!
Memories, you are so brave too. Please don't ever think that for one minute you are responsible for anything that happened to me or anyone else. You tried to speak and were ignored! You were a child, not the adult in charge. Thank you for being so open on this forum. YOu have encouraged me!! WE are women now and don't have to be scared anymore and because of God's grace we can move on. But I think now is the time to make sure this kind of thing never happens again. I believe that we cannot stop speaking out and we have to demand change and real action, not just words or retreats!!!
Let me just say for the record. I don't need a retreat! I do need to see that the men and women who committed crimes will be held accountable by both the mission and the law. I would like to suggest that they treat pedophiles the same way that they tended to treat missionaries with "bad attitudes". Immediately terminate them!!!! But also report them to the local authorities. I guarantee you if missionaries were held to the same standard of having to obey the law, there might have been less abuse. I lived in Africa for 2 years. Trust me you wouldn't want to spend one hour in an African jail. Just imagine if missionaries knew first hand that if abuse allegations were proven, local authorities would take over.
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