Problemless with Problems

Today was quite interesting. Ashley came here on the bus without asking her mom because as you know, her mom thinks we are a cult and doesn't want Ashley to have anything to do with our church. We did not influence Ashley at all, nor do we persuade any of our members to join. They do it because they feel this is the right church and they want to. Ashley wanted to come over here, since her mom isn't acting like herself and if Ashley went home, I can guarantee her mom wouldn't let her come to church on Sunday. Well, needless to say, her mom got mad after Ashley called her and told her that she was over here, because it's only right to let her know where her daughter is. Ashley's step-dad drinks and he switches between being fine about our church, to being angry at it when his wife is. Her brother is in the coast guard and he is visiting and her grandma is flying in from Alaska. My dad predicted that Ashley's mom, brother, and step-dad would come over here, "steaming under the collar". Her mom said she would go to jail before she let Ashley stay with us, meaning she is willing to do something illegal. She has already called reporters to get our church in the newspaper and discredit us. She said she would lie about us also. I know that it is just the devil using her to make trouble for us, because Ashley is 5 weeks away from being 18 and her mom is fighting really hard to keep Ashley away from us. She even told Ashley she can't talk to any of her friends at school. (Like that will ever be obeyed!)

Well, my dad was right somewhat; her mom did come over, but it was just her. I was in one of the back rooms when she pulled up, watching a Dragonball Z movie with Amy and Matt that I had downloaded. My dad told me later that she pulled into our driveway really fast (it's gravel) and she put her breaks on really hard in front of our house. She flew out the truck and as soon as her feet hit the ground she was screaming and cussing for Ashley to get in the truck. I was watching the movie when I heard yelling and I paused it and Amy and I went into the dining room (front of the house) and I saw her outside and yelling. Ashley tried to talk to her but her mom kept yelling for her to get her ass into the truck. She called my mom a bitch and she just kept swearing and screaming. Ashley stayed in the house and was crying a lot. My mom was on the phone with the police and I guess Ashley's mom knew about it because she said that the police better get out here quick.

One thing I should tell you. In 4 places in the bible, it talks about a holy kiss. People in the faith greet each other with a kiss. It doesn't specify what kind, so it can either be a peck on the cheek or lips. It doesn't really make a difference which one, it depends on which one you are most comfortable with, although I don't know of any of the brethren who do it on the cheek. Her mom is really hung up on that because my dad kissed Ashley, and so did the other brethren when she got baptised. Her mom said we are all sick, kissing an underage girl on the lips, and she kept calling my dad a sick man. Then she said "Isn't your wife, a grown woman enough for you? Or do you have to have underage girls also?" She was on the porch the whole time, screaming through the window. We only think of the kiss like a hug or handshake or something. But the bible doesn't say anything about a "holy hug" or "holy handshake".

Ashley first found out about our church when Andrea brought her with us to our church camp. Ashley didn't really want to go, but after she was around the brethren (from California and Idaho also, this camp is where we all get together) she felt really good around them. She said she used to be depressed and into gothic stuff and everything. She really enjoyed the company of the brethren and she said that we all just joke around and seem happy all the time. She wants to be around us a lot more. My sister, Andrea was baptised during the camp and Ashley was a witness to it, and after that she said that this is the one. This is the church. There is no faking what she felt. She started coming to church and her mom let her without ever having any problem with it for 3 monthes. Then Ashley wanted to get baptised and she was emotional and her mom wanted to check it out first. She talked with Brother Steve and my dad for a little bit and then we got a call that her mom would let her. She even brought her to be baptised and her and Brian (Ashley's step dad) wanted to be there during it. Then her mom didn't have any problem with it, even when Ashley was greeted (kissed) by all the brethren, but now suddenly she is raging mad and she hates us.

Even though there is no law against running away in Oregon, the police said that Ashley has to stay at her house, but that she can go to church. Of course her mom won't let her though. Ashley's neighbor called and said that her house is open if Ashley wants to stay there, and Ashley's mom said that she can stay there for a few days to have some time to think away from her mom, but my dad told me later that he doesn't think she will let her. The whole time her mom was yelling, I wasn't mad. Amy was annoyed and told her to shut up, but so only I could hear. I wasn't mad though, I was just sorry that her mom was acting like this and that Ashley was hurt from it so much. I wanted to hug her but I knew that wouldn't make her feel any better and her mom would say something about me hugging her also. Then her mom stopped for a while, but the looked at me and told me "You too! Don't you dare lay a finger on her or I will kick your ass!" All I can say is that this just goes to show how people who aren't in the faith act when they get mad. All she proved to me was how much different people are from us. We don't get mad, maybe annoyed sometimes, but we aren't supposed to have hatred or anger, and we certainly don't yell or scream at people, or anything for that matter. Ashley is home right now and I just hope that she is okay. Her mom, step-dad, brother, and grandma are probably all giving her a hard time.