Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Lighthouse of northwest florida (fka VCA )/ Rebekah / Roloff )
Lester Roloffs Rebekah Home for Girls Survivors-Cult-mindcon
Anonymous:
Hi this is Kelli, I was at Rebekah from Aug '83 to June '85. I noticed that none of the posted messages are from anybody during that time....by then, the Camerons were running the whole ministry and Bro. and Mrs. Barrett were head of Rebekah. She was a woman to fear! One moment she was calling us her "little sugar-boogers" in this sickening sweet voice and the next she would get this evil look on her face and you knew you were in trouble!!! The treatment there wasn't horrific abuse, mostly control and fear, there were definitely lots of "licks" and lock-up, girls had their mouths washed out with lye soap, clothespins stuck on their ears. There was a lot of kneeling on linoleum for extended periods of time, humiliation etc. Actually, I was told that while the Camerons were supervisors of Rebekah, Mrs. Barrett was the woman who did cleaning inspection, some of you might remember her, or her daughter who was apparently in Rebekah at that time......rumor had it that she was quite abused by her mother growing up.
When I first left Rebekah, I had a lot of emotional struggles, because I had bought into most of what was taught, ie. no pants, makeup etc and I went home and did it all anyway, feeling I was rebelling against God in doing so. That summer I overdosed on diet and water pills, wanting to just go to sleep and not wake up! I enrolled in Bible College in the fall and struggled through the year on an emotional rollercoaster. In later years, I hardened my heart against God and the church, but have since been able to put the past behind me and move on. I found this sight today on a fluke and, boy, did it stir up memories!!!! They aren't all bad either, I had 130+ close friends that I think of sometimes and wonder where they are now....Renee Mcknight, Michelle Cockrum, Michelle Caswell, "Buddha Belly", "Yogi", and so many others. And there were workers who were good and cared for us, Mrs. Frye, Tom Dye (I had the biggest crush on him :smile: ), Mrs Ruggles, Granny-Annie (mrs. Harmon), Miss Sue, and others. I don't know if I think of myself as a survivor, there were lots of hurts, but time and maturity has mellowed my perspective some........
Time, and growing to understand the sovereignty of God - I don't know the whys of all that happened there and I in no way condone it, but I know that God allowed it in my life for His glory, and maybe that above all else has allowed me to accept it and move on......still, to find this sight brings out such nostalgic feelings, like I've lost some of my family and finally have a little glimpse of some of them again....
If anyone is out there from 83-85, I'd love to have some feedback.......
Anonymous:
I was there when they were in Missouri. I just came across this site by chance tonight and have not really thought out or prepared what to type. But I would like to mention I do remember Mrs. Barrett and she was a mean one. I didn't understand then, but when I look back now I realize she must have been in menapause because it was VERY bad. I recall frequent slappings across the face, being called bitches and all of the pretty girls were her least favorite, always being accusing we were after her husband. It was dreadful. I was there when "Bini" jumped out a 3 story window to escape and broke her back. I was there when one girl with severe epelipsy was accused of being possesed by the devil and we all had to gather round her and sing hyms until she stopped convulsing. I could go on and on.... It was a nightmare I will never forget. Used to wake up screaming, dreaming they were comming to take me away and put me in lock up. Then when I had my first child, a baby girl I used to dream they were comming to get her too. The Barretts weren't there for long after I got there, it was obvious Mrs. Barrett was having mental problems and they left. The Palmers came in after that to run the dorm, if you remember they had a daughter killed in the plane crash with Lester Roloff. They were nice people... compared to the Barrett's it was a big improvement. They were not abusive and never slapped us or called us names, but they did believe in the discipline and we were forced to attrend daily church, chanting Bible versus, etc. But I could tell they did care about us, very different from the Camerons also. I only met them a few times and I did go on tour with them for a few weeks. They were harsh, but I spent little time around them so I did not see alot of abuse from them. The whole system there was just very devestating to me and I had a very hard time adjusting. I would like to know if anyone from that time 86-87 has contacted anyone. Would love to talk to some other girls from that time, especially Sabrina Matthews or Jeanette VanAtta or Melanie or Ginny or Michelle from New Orleans (she was there twice, once in Texas and then again in Missouri) My name is Kim. Feel free to contact me @ Kilynn2@yahoo.com
mikehunt:
--- Quote ---On 2004-04-23 12:58:00, notworking wrote:
--- Quote ---
Melanie said:
First of all, I too didn't have a period for the entire year I lived at the Rebekah Home. I think this happened because our life styles had changed so dramatically and our hormones where affected from this. Also, most of the food that was prepared for us to consume, were very healthy and good for us. Though, I do remember a lot of starchy foods as well, which is full of carbs, and explains why so many of us gained tons of weight. Too much weight gain or loss, can affect a womans/girls cycle. I for one was quite happy for not having to deal with having a period for a year. Who wouldn't be?
--- End quote ---
Well, an OB/Gyn wouldn't be, for starters. What you're describing is called amenorrhea, a medical condition. Weight gain or loss can cause you to skip a period or two, but not for a whole year. That's a sign of something more troubling. Either you were being fed hormones OR you were stressed to the point that your bodies were constantly flooded with adrenalin. Women fleeing war or living in refugee camps often don't have periods because losing blood/carrying a baby could kill them. Otherwise, if you go to the doctor and say "I haven't had a period in a year," s/he's gonna be concerned.
--- Quote ---Melanie said:
I stand corrected on the OB/GYN issue. Though, as an adult, when ever I had gained extra weight in the past, this would happen to me, like it did in the Home. I assumed it was "the" cause. I was wrong, and "thank you", for that info. I wonder if "Amenorrhea", has something to do with the fact that my husband and I haven't conceived a baby yet. But, thats another sad issue that perhaps, I'll have to overcome too~
--- End quote ---
--- End quote ---
this is thoroughly disturbing... of all of you women who went for a year without a period at this place, how many of you have conceived children? i had a horrible bodily reaction after reading this; it's truly scary.
_________________
laura solomon
cedu vet. 1996-1999
RIP[ This Message was edited by: mikehunt on 2004-07-12 05:49 ]
juanitaAvery:
I was in Rebekah in 1978 and 1979. I memorized the Bible verses, said yes ma'am and no ma'am and made myself available to go on visitations with Brother Roloff... he always took me to Baskin Robbins afterward. To this day, every time I have pralines and cream icecream, I think of him.
When I went home.. after my dad "kidnapped" me on a visit.. I did have a hard time adjusting. I remember my dad saying "you've seen both extremes.. now I want you to find a happy medium" Easier said than done. I am forty years old now and I still have the hardest time.
Wiley nor Faye Cameron were ever mean to me.. though I did get paddled one time for a washcloth being left on the tub. I was a room captain and the buck stopped here. But I did know about the lock up room and I heard stories through the grapevine.
I sang with the choir there and I remember that I loved that. I also remember putting vaseline on a toothbrush and applying it to my eyelashes as "pretend" mascara. No makeup was allowed.
And I do remember the fruit, though when I was there we didn't have trout on Sunday. We fasted on that day.
I too once had a list of everyone that was there when I was, but have lost it many years ago. I mostly remember Lori Lichet, Sheila (can't remember her last name, but she was from Tucson), Amy Roddy and Mary Lee Sullivan. Anyone that remembers me, please email me at nitaannb@myfamily.com
Melanie:
I appreciate your thoughts,"Mike", but really, it's no big deal. Life goes on. With or without having children of my own. If this fabled "Amenorrhea" is to blame or not. Not everyone is born to reproduce. It's just the way it is. The way it's always been. There are plenty of children to love in this world around me. And I will, with all of my heart.
My periods have been right on time for many years now. It guess it just isn't meant to be.
I can handle that.
We're only here on earth for a short visit anyways. At least I think so.. I refuse to stress myself out over ANY thing from the past, much less the present. At least not for too long. I don't think it's "healthy", do you?
Life, is just to short to muddle around and question every little damm thing that has affected us somehow if we understand where it came from or not.
Instead, I embrace what the good Lord has given me thus far~
To think too long on ones own depressing ideas, stunts the growth of the child within.
We've come too far for that..I've come too far for that....
Thanks
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