This email, which I am posting in its entirety because I think it’s only fair to hear both sides of a story, is in response to my email asking some questions about the allegations in Julia Scheeres’ book, Jesus Land:
Dear Sherry,
I have been forwarded your email and will take the time to respond at length
to your concerns if you do not mind. I think this email will be the body of
a response that we will need to make in light of this injurious book written
by Ms. Scheeres.I have been with New Horizons since 1981 but had left to attend seminary
during the year she was a student. I did return in 1987 to take over as
director and was the director there for the past 18 years ending this past
summer. I have not read this book but will cover some issues that have come
up due to this. Please note I will not be negative toward any former student
as we love the kids God has sent our way over the past thirty-five years. I
am also married to a former student who I met when she returned to work as a
staff member in 1982.I would begin by informing you that we require all prospective parents to
call four parents of students that have been in the program over the previous
two years, they are given all names any who are happy or upset with us.
Also, our board is made up of parents of former students, former staff and
former students who oversee our work.Please understand we work with the more difficult to manage youth, not Sunday
school kids, the kids that get kicked out of school, kicked out of other
programs and even kicked out of church. We take the more difficult to manage
kids in the DR and the more manageable here in Indiana.I would like to answer your questions, yes Julia and Dave were students at
Escuela Caribe. No, a student was not impregnated by the preacher, he did
get emotionally involved with a girl, was kicked out, and she being 18 got
together with him post program, they married and then divorced. It was a bad
year and I was called to return there due to these issues and became the
director.We have had cases of typhoid, but it is usually para-typhoid but no this is
not commom there and I have had three girls born and raised there and in my
20+ years there, never had typhoid.No we are not a cult, do not use psychological control, not a boot camp, not
emotional control, we confront issues and deal with reality. What she writes
about is more than twenty years ago. This is not us now. Yes in the past we
had more strong armed tactics, took crisis to the end, did not give up till
we had submission. I personally took the tactic that I would take the heat
of the teens wanting no staff to be abused or struck and would take a kid
down as needed.What we have done is we have training in TCI or Therapeutic Crisis
Intervention for all our staff that have to deal with student crises. This
is a two man take down procedure that was developed at Cornell University but
is secular and I have developed an in house training as well.Let me point out something if I can. In the past few months, we have had a
student hold a knife to his throat and hold a house hostage, a student who
double punched a summer staff who stood up to disrepect toward a woman, a
girl who had to be restrained till 2 am and then had to be sent to jail to
settle her down. This is our life and some of the kids we work with,
oppositional defiant, conduct disorder and borderline personality disorder
type kids. Many of our youth are not ones who have crises, do well, settle
their issues and go home, the latter two groups create pain.We are a therapeutic residential care facility and are licensed in the State
of Indiana and we seek to abide by those guidelines in the DR. We have
licensed therapists and counselors alongside our staff. Do note that our
culture is moving toward a no touch policy with youth and since 1997 when we
really began to back off in crisis my staff in the DR have been assaulted,
kicked, spit upon and attacked, before that no staff member was ever struck
when I was director. Here in Indiana we have police in the grade schools and
we see a five year old being handcuffed and taken from a school in Florida.
Yes, our culture has changed.We love our kids, we invest our lives in helping youth and families in
crisis, it is a thankless job but we are called to do it. I will say that
Ms. Scheeres visited our school under false pretenses, then returned to her
blog and maliciously lied about a couple at our school. I do not believe her
stories or renditions. Yes there have been things that have gone wrong,
staff that have crossed lines, but things have been dealt with and handled
with families. In Indiana we call the sheriff when a student gets out of
control. I could not do that in the DR and had to be the end of the crisis.
I am good at what I do and committed to youth.There are many people on our campus all through the year, college groups,
church groups, we have day students attending school at Escuela Caribe,
missionary kids and others, church groups from northern Indiana have been
coming to our school for 14 years each January and stay for three weeks on
our campus and work alongside our kids and even eat in the houses. Many
parents and former students are rallying to our suppport during this time as
well.The negative website was shut down by the man who launched it. It was going
the wrong direction and in his words was being used to sell her book. The
content was stolen and put back up in another site. This did not settle well
with the small group of negative students and they turned on him as well.
Their blog is declared for hatred and revenge, any former student who is
positive is kicked off thus they started their own blog at NewHorizonsStaff-
Students@yahoo.groups.com. The four or five negative former students have
gone there to give their input as well. We have current staff on there as
well as two current mothers of students.I am going to ask a former student as well as some others to connect with you
if they would like. We will be putting together a group to deal with this
stuff as we do need to address this as a ministry.Thanks for your concern. I know this all looks bad and we are not perfect,
but have made so many changes that this coming up now is really old hat but
hurting real time. Many former students call me now and it has been great to
reconnect and hear of their lives. I had a former student in my home this
past weekend, had been abandoned on a church’s steps in Chicago, severe abuse
and thanks to his time with us, over three years he has been married to the
same woman for 14 years. He and I remodeled my bathroom while we revisted
the past, he was the most abused by life boy I had dealt with, ran away 4-5
times down there as well. He is disabled, not completely normal, but calls
us family.Blessings to you and please feel free to contact us.
Sincerely,
Charles P. Redwine, D.Min.
COO New Horizons
I am sorry that your comments have been lost (apparently) by my server. I still think this school should be investigated in light of the serious allegations that Ms. Scheeres makes in her book. I’m sure Mr. Redwine and those who work at Escuela Caribe and New Horizons Youth Ministries would welcome such an investigation by responsible journalists. WORLD Magazine? Christianity Today?
I will try to re-post my initial reaction to Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres later today.
To Whom it may concern:
I, too, am a former student of Escuela Caribe and I back both Julia’s and Elizabeth’s statements. I both witnessed and was the subject of numerous abuses while a student there.
I would invite anyone who is interested to inspect the (public) NewHorizonsStaff-Students forum on Yahoo!Groups
(NewHorizonsStaff-Students@yahoogroups.com). On this forum, you will see many interactions between present / former staff and former students. Phil Redwine’s, Jeff Kalom’s and Andy Siemplinski’s comments may be of particular interest. Please keep in mind that, with exception to Andy, who is a former staff member, both Phil and Jeff continue to work for this organization, tasked with the responsibility of caring for adolescent children.
Additionally, I have recently confronted Phil regarding a particular incident that still haunts me after roughly 17 years, so I find it ironic that Phil responded in such a transparent manner.
Finally, Elizabeth is right when she suggests that it is often difficult for many of us to embrace Christianity or any other releigion having lived through such negativity at the hands of ‘so-called’ Christians. While I have been on my own for 17 years, it has taken most of that time for me to become comfortable identifying with Christianity.
I will let you be the judge but, reading through the forums, I believe you will quickly see where our frustrations lie as former students and why we feel we must try to put a stop to these people. In a sense, I think we would feel vindicated somewhat, if we could prevent these people from abusing anyone else.
Thank you and best egards,
Christopher A. Nethery
gilcneth@earthlink.net
I was also a student at NHYM. I too, witnessed abuses. I am hurt by Phil’s words. We are not a group of angry ex-students….I was a student and I want the abuse at Escuela Caribe to stop. Does that make me an angry liar? I do not think so. We did not steal any website. The founder left and has been active on other sites. He still feels wronged by NHYM, but is weary of all that goes along with “fighting” this battle. He’s sick of lies. I will keep his name silent because I know he is tired of being dragged into this.
There are so many more of us than 3 or 4, More like 100 and growing as more people utilize the internet. There are just some more publicly vocal than others. That is why we may seem small.
I am not saying I brought nothing good from NHYM. To say otherwise would be a lie; but, from Escuela Caribe I have been given nothing but hurt and scars caused by very abusive house staff and at points administration!
I supported NHYM fully until very recently when I was being told by staff that things had changed. I was so excited to see positive change there. It was well overdue. I have been talking to newly released students, only to find that things are the SAME. The same abuses are still happening….I was lied to again by NHYM. It’s hurts me deeply, as I was there for over 5 years. I loved them. It hurts more deeply when a lie comes from one you care about.
To give an example, while very personally embarrassing for me to talk about, paints an acurate picture of my treatment while at Escuela Caribe.
I was getting ready for our semi-annual house trip. The house father was yelling at us move faster. We were all getting into the car when our house father tells us girls that if we are on our period we need to put a tampon in; no pads, as it’s hot and he doesn’t want us to stink the house van. I’m 13 and a virgin. I have never used a tampon. I was scared and began to cry. I did not want to wear a tampon. My house father viewed this as an authority problem. He wouldn’t listen to my reason. He began yelling at me and made me do push-ups in front of the whole house before making me go put in a tampon. I was so scared, but I knew I had to stop crying before I left that bathroom to aviod further punishment. I put on a happy face and thanked my housefather for helping me learn how to overcome a fear I had. We drove to the beach where he then commented about the hair on my legs. He said it was disgusting and I needed to do something about it. The next day all of us that had sunburns were yelled and punished because allowing ourselves to be sunburned was an act of rebellion and viewed as an authority problem.
Someone please tell me: How is treating a child like that is Christ-like? or even human?
That is just one moment from one day there.
Now imagine if I HAD actually done something wrong…..the punishments from house staff there almost never fit the “crime”. I lived in constant fear my entire time there. Please look into our claims. We are not crazy, angry, people. We are adults standing up for the child in us that couldn’t stand before. We will not be silenced.
Mia McCorvey
student 1987-1993
PS. Phil says that only the really bad kids are sent to the DR (Escuela Caribe, Dominican Republic)As far as that goes…..I was sent to the DR….I was 13. I had never had sex, was not skipping school. I was in no trouble with the law. I had never smoked or done any kind of drugs or drank . I was, however going to church every Sunday. My parents were misled as to what kind of help the “program gave”. I was in desperate need of therapy as my Mom had been married 3 times by the time I was 6 and my first two Dads were very abusive to both my Mom and myself. My second stepdad is the best kind of person, but I was wounded before and I was afraid to give him a chance. I was also strugging in school in part because I have Dyslexia.
I wish that I could say that I was an exception. A mistake as it were. That the program just miplaced me by sending me to the DR. Unfortunatley, that wasn’t the case. Many of the girls down there were almost exactly like me. Some of course, were more like Julia as she descibes herself in her book. (acting out, drinking, drugs,sex, etc.) I honestly feel that program(New Horizons Youth Ministries) doesn’t take the proper steps needed to screen students because they don’t care what kind of kids they take. They feel they can “help” anyone that comes thier way. I don’t know if it’s because they don’t care and just want to keep the money coming and the beds full or if they just care too much and want to help everyone or if it’s some kind of Messiah complex. What ever it is, it all has the same result. Abuse. Worse the abuse is administered in the Name of God. This is very hurtful to a young, impressionable mind, and can have lasting scars.
It’s funny, when I read Julia’s book I thought she had it easy compared to a few years later when I was there. I think she left out a lot of unpleasant events from the DR.
Thank you for your time,
In Christ,
Mia
PPS. Sorry, for all those that don’t know; The Phil that I refer to is Mr. Redwine. He was the director at Escuela Caribe when I was there and has written the leeter to you above. His nickname is Phil.
I never spell check…I sound like someone that can’t spell and may have never went to school…:)
I’m a teacher; albiet on leave as I have a new baby right now. You would think I’d reread my writing before posting. Nope, no time for that….:)
Thanks for posting my many, many comments.
Mia
Wow, yet another lie perpetuated by me googling my own name…I don’t work for NHYM. Get your facts straight Chris
Edit prior posting just in case anyone here thinks that I perpetuated this blatant lie that I work for NH. Chris posted this based upon a misassumption…I used to work for NH 15 years ago. Also, Andy does not for NHYM either.
That is accurate as far as I know; Jeff worked for NHYM, but is no longer working for them. Although he still volunteers his time to advocate for them and meet with Phil for lunch and other things. He has stating in past posts on another site that he is advocating for change at NHYM to allow students to have a better time there than I, and many others I did. I can not say if his words are true, only that is what he has told people of the online group in which we are both members. It is a stie that past NHYM alumni can catch up and talk about their times there.
This is the new website, which includes many new testimonials. Mine is there as well. Please visit and help us stand up for these children, both past and present.
http://www.nhymalumni.org
Thank you,
Mia McCorvey
Student of NHYM 1987-1992
Still, after now 26 years, I still have to find out what’s going on about New Horizons Youth Ministries – especially their program in the Dominican Republic known as Escuela Caribe.
Having read Mia’s comment on 03/17/2007 at 11:13PM, I can still hear Phil say that I didn’t need to be in the Dominican Republic – yet he said that and I went through what I did being involved in all three areas of NHYM.
If you should read my statement made at the website given , I left out quite a bit as to being in these places. I believe what was said was sufficient to bear witness to some of the events that happened while I was there, and still there are reports coming in about recent dealings with this outfit.
I am embarrased for this progeram and what truly bothers me is that there’s a house that bears my last name and yet this program did absolutlely nothing to help me, but basically hindered me from pursuing my education earlier than deisred, having to endure the crap I had to endure and still having to reflect on my being involved.
I can’t stress enough how this program has put a bad taste in my mouth and the crap that I’m hearing and have heard from the CEO Pastor Gordon Blossom, then his son and too Phil.
I know Jeff Kalom personally. We attended the program at the same time and were in the Dominican Republic and the Canada program. We both hated the program and at one time got into trouble because of taking a canoe out and got smokes. Then to hear that he became affiliated with the outfit and to see what he had done while at one time I was involved in the http://www.nhym-alumni.org site. He lied about his identity a couple of times, until he got recognized; yet, now advocates the program. I have yet to hear what happened that made him switch, but what lay inside, I don’t care to know.
All I can say is, I went through HELL when I attended there and it was because of Gordon Blossoms deception that took me there. And too, Tim confessed that his father used those tactics to lure students into the program.
In the meantime, they knew of the extremely stressed reltionship I had with my mother (which Tim also recognized and admitted) yet, I find out they made her a Board member. Wonder if those who read this can fathom as to possible alterior motives?
I wish this program was once and for shut down and would be so relieved knowing it was. In the meantime it continues and feel that kids are still being victimized by this program’s curriculm(s).
I just sit here and shake my head at what I’ve heard as to what have encountered , and want to say that I’m repulsed and burdened – knowing there are going to be more kids sent to this outfit and they are going to be stressed out – almost everyday – that is if they are truly facing the reality and being totally truthful and honest( as to that being a part of this “pitiful” point system they go by), and not sucking up so as to get extra points to hopfully further their freedoms.
All in all, I have had nobody come back and confront me on what I’ve said/ written, other than having a little time spent with J.K on the net and phone, and will leave it there as to what I’ve undergone and where he’s at
(or was at), being involved now/then in comparison to those days of when.
I will say again – I’m still perturbed by this program that has a house that bears my name, yet is in the business to try “rescue” the kids who are probably just reacting negatively to how disfunctional their families are.( And, I’ll be one to admit it.) Then, to read what they say later and say that they lived in this house. I urks me.
Last sentence — It urks me.
This site has a place to write a website, but after having read what I wrote I don’t see it. The website I am referring to is http://www.isaccorp.org
I hereby recant any and all testimonials that were posted under my name several years ago on this site.
Jeff Kalom
RECANT: reject a belief: to deny believing in something or withdraw something previously said
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
By Jeff saying this, proves again to the authenticity of what has been said and thus makes him out to be continous in his lying, or is in denial about the truth that is being stated.
There are others who can testify to his behavior at http://www.nhym-alumni.org where years ago, he posed as a girl having attended the program and disgruntled, to then to be busted by Julia Scheeres herself. It also proves how disgusting things can get, and disgustted I am to have personally encountered him as student, to see how he has changed to become what he’s showing himself to be. Should he still wish to support this outfit, that’s his choice, but because of what I have personally gone through, will continue to fight if needing to say something to help stop having parents send their kids to this outfit.
http://smalldogtallweeds.blogspot.com/2010/01/small-dog-big-yap.html
Darryl, if you would stick with one website you probably would not have posted that. Scroll down to the bottom of the above blog link:
Also, you’re probably the only person left still holding me accountable for 3 year old postings. I’m not going to re-hash a topic that has been/continues to be thoroughly discussed on Julia’s site(of which you are still a member of).
J
You lost me!
I read 6 Parts of a testimony from a former staff, and then an inscription from little dog. The former never mentioned their name, so I don’t know if it’s you who wrote it, but it doesn’t sound like it seeing how you’ve been supportive of the place for sometime now. As far as the site, I discontinued quite some time (years) ago, because of vibes I was getting, and (believe it or not) was trying to be positive.
As far as having to rehash – well, you got involved with a pretty questionable organiaztion and these are just repercussions from those who have dealt with the place and can attest to it’s methodology(ies). So you’re on your own there. But, like I said – I will continue to fight and state my opinions, whatever if needing to. I am not going to continue to sit here and debate with you, when I’ve seen first hand things , while you try and defend yourself. I have other better and more important things to do rather than having to “rehash” on petty, inept things. But the seriousness of what the program is like? like I said – you bet I will state things if necessary
In the meantime I am writing a book ( not a memoir) and like I said I have better things to do. So Jeff – I am done with having come back on here and feel like I’m having to retort, so should you want to say say something derogatory about me, then I guess you’ll have the last word and the readers can discern for themselves afterwards.
Chow!
The more I learn about NHYM- the more thankful I am I ran away that November night in 1987. My parents dropped me off at the Marion facility late one evening and I was taken into a small room to watch through a window as mom and dad’s taillights faded away. The 3 “escorts” in the room laughed at me as I shook with rage. The director came in and laughed when I promised him “you will never keep me here”. He said that “everybody says that”. Little did I know they had plans to send me to the DR. Before they could do that though, they had to take me to Fort Wayne for a psychological exam. When the door opened after the appointment, I took off like a scalded dog. They had 4 guys and 2 cops chasing me through the streets of Fort Wayne that wintry night. We fought, ran, fought some more- I ended up beating up 3 of the fellas chasing me. I got away and called my girlfriend and her parents to come get me. Interestingly, a couple months later I was working in Angola, Indiana at a grocery store when half the Marion facility came through my lane as I was bagging groceries. They were headed to Canada I guess. Some interesting moments as the director (the man in charge) and his flunkees threatened me in front of my boss and several co-workers that if I stepped outside I would have to deal with a “busload of angry people” about my having “physically assaulted” 3 of “their family-members”. I laughed and told him I was perfectly willing to dish out more of the same to his “family” if that’s the way he wanted it. That’s when my boss stepped in and escorted the NHA out the door. I even wrote about this episode in my book- Flagrant Foul, by Barry Jones. I still get chills in my spine when I think back to what could have been.
New Horizons Youth Ministrys license was revoked by the state of Indiana after numerous alumni of the school filed abuse allegations. Mr Redwine was removed as CEO during the abuse allegations.
Pastor Gordon C Blossom of New Horizons Youth Ministry was a pedophile that was protected from legal prosecution during his life by family members. His daughter Shirley Petersen accounts his pedophilia in her book The Whisper.
I can attest to part of Mr Redwines statements as being bold faced lies. He was in the Dominican Republic before the 1980’s because he was my house-father for a short while and I left the program in may of 1979. His wife was a student in the same house as myself.
phil redwine wow ,, a name ill never forget along with jeff valiero,ted and jenny slum , jeff ? group leader .. and yes I WAS ABUSED BY ALL NAMED including ded hatland , spelling may be wrong ,, its been 34 years …so ANYONE who doesn’t believe the horror stories well there TRUE and by all means e mail me for first hand accounts Robert lee E.C 1979 -1980 marion 1980-82
the single fact that this place was shut down by the state of Indiana, because they were abusing kids, were told to stop, and REFUSED TO STOP, is all the information you need to know to see that we as the survivors of this place, are the ones telling the truth, and lies from people like Redwine and other overseers, sorry, administrators, are just that, lies and deceit and they need to stop acting like they were helping kids, when court documents prove they were nothing but abusive, money grubbing fanatics.
Hi, I just watched a popular atheist youtube channel review the “Kidnapped for Christ” documentary and have developed an interest in this.. “facility.”
Mia,
Is this the Annie Seabrooke that you knew?
https://www.facebook.com/annie.b.seabrooke
Please respond if you see this.
Best Regards,
MA
I spent two years at Escuela Caribe. The fact that the US embassy knew what they were doing to us and did nothing showed me not to have faith in law and order.
That christians consider literal torture to be an acceptable ministry practice demonstrates how absolutely evil they are.
They all belong in prison. Every last one of those monsters. If there is a god, he hates everyone that worked at Escuela Caribe, but then again, Escuela Caribe is proof that there is no god.
I occasionally scrape the internet for information about Escuela Caribe, since I attended there for 11 months in 1983/84. I do not think it appropriate to make opinions about alleged abuses, but can emphatically state that I was not abused. The “program” was tough, but I really needed a character building experience at that time in my life. I am thankful that I had an encounter with Jesus on a beach in Sosua that year. It was a private moment & I snapped a photo of that second as we sat in a forced small group session beach side. Suffice it to say, my experience in Jarabacoa may have saved my life physically, but certainly played a huge role spiritually.
As I read Julia’s book, I was sad for the loss of her brother David. I knew him. He was in Quemado house with me for a while and was a funny and good guy. I am also sad for Julia that her upbringing and the timing of her stay in the DR seem to have built a very high wall in her heart against an encounter with the Restorer.
I also watched the Showtime documentary “Kidnapped for Christ” and felt it was very poor representation of the heart of many who served in or attended the program.
I can also tell you that I was never a big fan of Tim or Gordon Blossom and was grieved to hear of the allegations of pedophilia etc. If that is true then my heart breaks for those who were impacted. However, I can say that despite a terrible and evil secret such as that, there were many sincere and sacrificial people that poured into kids lives in the DR…(mine included). Phil Redwine was one of those in fact. He kicked my @$$ when I needed it, but was a good and solid mentor. I am not sure has become of him in recent years, but with him well.
To Darryl and Jeff. Darryl, I sympathize bro. You should not have been there, but I recall it was a rite of passage for you with your folks. I hope that there has been redemption with them and that you are well. Jeff, I am glad you are well and the we survived our “in” and “post” program challenges. Be well and blessed.
To those who are still hurt and harbor hatred to the program or anyone in it…. I pray Jehovah Shalom to you all and hope you find true peace and love.
Best to All: Scott S
My name is David Weddle. I knew both Darryl Lare and Jeff Kalom. I was in the DR for slightly more than 2 years, approximately 1982-very early 1985. I never got to know Darryl very well. I knew that he was much older than most of the other students and none of us could figure out why he couldn’t leave as he was an adult. Questions were very much discouraged. No matter each person’s circumstance, we were all abused. How much abuse you endured depended on how quickly you could learn to play their sick games. Unfortunately, I was a slow learner.
David Weddle, and Scott S.!
So glad to see your names posting here. I remember you both, only your faces in my mind right now were much younger.
I hope and pray you both are doing well.
To anyone else reading, whom I may have offended over a decade ago; on other sites.
I’ll ask you please forgive me, as I just ran into someone who was speaking with another former student in the DR; a student who had some not so great experiences in Jarabacoa…just before it was sold off to Crosswinds some 10 years ago. In response to an old old comment here, I never worked for New Horizons; but rather only created an internet forum for parents to use some 15 years ago. These same parents also complained about the huge bills they were receiving from Marion for unnecessary services. I was also a volunteer at Escuela Caribe for 5 months in 1994. However, after telling the Director of Education(Dee)at the time I didn’t believe the program worked; I stopped going into work and began drinking my favorite beverage…Presidente!. I was then, of course asked to leave by Phil(now Charles P)Redwine.
To those who are still hurting from their experiences, know that; in the end those responsible will be held accountable when they stand before God. You all know the ones to whom I refer, 15 years ago I tracked down Jeff Valerio; called his house…for what it’s worth to some of you he sincerely apologized.
As students, we all shared a very powerful experience at the most impressionable of ages; experiences that have influenced our lives…be it good or bad. There aren’t many of us, as less than 10,000 went through NH during its’ 50 year span; and some have passed away.
I would love to hear from any of you reading, as I feel our bond is not only strong; but very, very unique.
Jeff Kalom
jeffk_2007@yahoo.com
Now a few months into 60 (cough cough), accidentally doing something whereas my name came up on the internet, and the list of things done, wondering about this site, am surprised to see how much has been written and some fairly recent. Due to circumstances, considered relocating and living in the DR, was looking at living around the Sosua area, but things didn’t work out as to it being relatively stringent on who lives there.
As of now, writing an autobiography amongst other things going on, recall the David Weddle but can’t quite picture the face, although one does pop up now, but could be wrong as to you having been relatively short and of olive complexion. Also, see a big smile, soft spoken and generally you were trying to keep on the up and up but had to contend with what was happening.
Yes! Being almost a few months away from being 19 when having set foot on the Jarabacoa campus, although Crosswinds still operational, wonder, but not really needing or wanting to know if someone surpassed it, although time pending may just take a trip, also addressing the ghosts to get true serenity. Wouldn’t mind too getting acquainted with Santo Domingo coffee again.
Couldn’t help but crack up to see Jeff having gone back down there, expressed what was to thus rebel as we did when in Missanabie, having taken a canoe and went to this place, got some smokes, to see a staff come and escort us back, and it having become painstaking having undergone what was afterwards. Although at one point willing to sacrifice everything having dealt with because of not wanting to continue with the annoyances, but more importantly wanting to the high school diploma, there is that relief.
Right now writing an autobiography, God willing should the book come out, certainly New Horizons will eventually be mentioned. How can it not-now recalling being 11 years old. Neighbors across the street from us, strangely having had to call them aunt and uncle, long ago she having said my parents should have never had kids, your ignorance being how it is as to this being eventually to read how it will, Phil Redwine even saying there was no reason to go down there, recognizing my being oppressed, “but didn’t know how to handle it,” all that that can be said after having attended NHYM is, what happened afterwards being it was meant to be, confessing too having done blatantly reprehensible things, but am now at this point whereas after it now being 24 years from this point having been delivered from the spirit of oppression, life has been a lot more tolerable and there being a desired, continued reconciliation with my mother, sometime soon there being just myself from a family of 4 if things are to go accordingly.
Meanwhile, life how it is and the “Brandon” administration now in office, with what’s known and we see the reverse happening since the prior POTUS, day by day watching prophecies slowly come to fruition, not into wanting to look “super spiritual”, strongly encourage those to seek God who haven’t accepted him; we knowing the being no guarantees of tomorrow, and there has to be 1 of 2 places ending up after our last breath. A spiritual lady saying my being a man of the future, await to see what happens, and those who do, pray as was done here.
Chow for now!
Other things that came to mind since the last inscription, to those knowing me during our time, shortly after having been plopped in La Joya House (across the street from the Hotel Pinar Dorado), Chuck Pruett was in the process of needing to get 100% of the votes in order to get his to get his 4th level. It obvious he was fronting, voted against to be asked by the House Father Mark McReynolds after, to say why, disregarded my vote and gave it to him anyways-thinking this ain’t for me as to basically having bucked the system afterwards, having made it all the more hellish.
Eventually having moved into TKB when ready, amazed and comfortable at being on 3rd, something having happened whereas got to the point of packing up some things, tried to make it out the door only to be locked in and Phil eventually driving up, taking us back on the campus, got swatted then told to walk back to where everybody else was at. Wanting to veer right at the gas station, but thought it best to slowly and grudgingly stroll back, it nonsensical being there, but there had to be a reason.
Although they came down for parent visits, ignoring the rules because of my level, knew it useless trying to persuade them getting me out, but was more interested in wanting to see the night life when in Sosua. Given a decent amount of pesos, wasn’t afraid to walk back smelling like beer, thus another time having gone to the Jack Tar Village in Puerto Plata, our communication next to nothing, the hate suppressed while desiring in trying to enjoy what little time there was away from the campus.
Eventually in Marion, being of legal age, couldn’t hold me back and did walk out having been absent for a few months. My then brother convincing me to go back and finish getting the diploma, eventually taken off points, made the stay a bit easier but there was always Budd Teare, and what came with him as was seen when we were in Missanabie. He thinking I was looking at him funny while roaring, launched me backwards into the tool shed having made a huge dent in the door, and the rest of that particular time will leave personal, although Jeff K. knows what happened.
Now a bit depressed, but after now almost 40 years since and what‘s transpired, enjoying life more in ways, deep in my heart, there’s the wanting to be elsewhere and be in heaven, etc., believing however given this message, this being in part my destiny.
Darryl,
I hope and pray that you are well. I should have known better than to having talked you into getting cigarettes from the fisherman during the canoe trip. Then when I admitted to it being my idea, you got the worst of it anyways; yet I was the SIT and should have been held more accountable than you. Throughout the course of that programs’ history, there was no love shown when administering discipline; and baby Christians in abundance as staff. Taking every thought captive to Christ seemed to NOT be the culture. This wasn’t the case with all, you and I were in Thomas with Mark and Debbie L.(I’m feeling obligated to not post last names), Brad was the group leader. They were good to us. I’m more than happy to assist you in your autobiography, we took a house trip to Barahona; took a pic of you in the huge shore break waves. Did you pursue a career in music?, cuz’ you were really talented. If the mood strikes, please email me at the listed above; would love to hear from you.!
Jeff
Jumping in to this thread again after 4 years. I kind of roll back to curiosity about all of you from time to time. I would welcome any one on one contact that Jeff or Darryl may want to have or frankly anyone else who was in the DR from 1983 to 1984. It is pretty easy to forget names as there seem not to be a yearbook from that year available. Reach me at scottstclair233@proton.me
Shalom in His Name!!!