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Lighthouse of northwest florida (fka VCA )/ Rebekah / Roloff ) / Rebekah
« on: November 01, 2007, 11:52:17 PM »Quote from: ""Guest""
Quote from: ""[email protected]""Debi,
Are you Debi Bowers from Flordia that was in Rebekah 75-76?
Debi Cotton King
No, Sorry> I am Debi Baker. But I do remember Debi Bowers. I was there a short time in 75. How long where u in the home?? Where the Camorans at anytime over you?
Hello Debi,
No Deb, thank God, I was not there when the Cameron's were running the home. My cousin, Terry Rogers from Santa Fe Texas was there during the Cameron's time, a year or so before I went to Rebekah. My loving aunt gave my mom the ifnormation about Rebekah! Terry and I talk about our time there and when Grany and papa were running things, I believe there was alot more love and even alittle grace. BUT believe me, all th rules still applied! We did not go without the RULES!
After digging through photos, I believe I was there in From late 75 through 1976. I stayed almost a year and I actually roomed with Debi Bowers and a girl names Marilyn Shipey (I think, not too sure of her last name, I know I am close). Debi and I did keep in contact until the 80's and I think having kids and life ... you know, we just lost contact.
I had to be in Corpus CHrist last week for a work conference and decided to go out by the home. Man, as I got closer and closer, my heart raced and I literally thought I'd be sick, but I made it OK. I actually even mustered up the courage to knock and go in.
They gave me a tour of the now closed dorms that used to be so full of lilfe. It was kinda creepy, empty like that. I do remember some good times with my roomies and maybe the Lord has blessed me in that I do not have horrible horrible memories. BUT when I read the postings here, it does trigger old memories, such as hearing about demerits adn slip check, eating oranges and watermelons in the afternoon.
I don't remember much about the food other than it was gross. I did get to tour with Roloff on one of the chior tours for two weeks. That part was good, being out in the real world with real Christians. We were teamed us with someone really trusted not to run and were allowed to stay with the church families at night as long as they had daughters. It is so strange to think of all that now. I just had my 48th birthday and I was was there when I was 15 through 16. I even found a few photos at the home. I suppose Debi took those photos! One photo in our dorm room and another of me sitting in the church.
I cannot figure how to post photos here or I would! I took pictures of the dorm, the school and the area where we were forced to exercise.
I have mixed emotions about that time. I feel it probably saved my life at the time, I was running wild and my parents were at a loss of what to do with me. I was putting myself in harm's way and I know they did the best they knew. But they were like so many other parents. They had only heard the good report, the one that went out over Christian radio.
Anyway, do you still know how to reach Debi Bowers? I would love to talk with her and see how she is. I guess we all left a bit of ourselves at that place Deb. Your friend tells me that you suffered alot there. My heart goes out to you and I hope you will recover. I do believe in God's loving spirit despite the harshness we were taught at Rebekah. I hope you do too.
Debi Cotton King
[email protected]