Like a Rollingstone
I’ve been thinking of what is boiling over with these recent slanders and scandals about the Family. When the admin of LTC asked me if I wanted to blog for this site, there was of course a slight hesitancy. My life has been an open book, but outlining the details of almost every day…would it be a bit much?
I am proud of the life that I live, and feel honored to be given this opportunity to tell the world about it. But I am thinking now about the negative press we have recently received as a Family. It is not just spinning stories of a “weird bunch of people”. I feel it is more than that. I feel that there is a goal here, and that is to tear down the faith of those like myself who have chosen a unique lifestyle, following a calling that God has given us.
I ask myself again why they do it. Why don’t those who have chosen a different lifestyle and career just get on with that and let us live our lives, too? I’ve traveled throughout Asia and Africa, living in various Family Homes, growing up as a missionary kid with missionary parents, being trained in “the ways of the Lord” and loving every minute of it. Upon hearing that Rolling Stone magazine wanted to do a piece on the Family, I felt it also my duty to tell my testimony, from my own point of view. I didn’t have to write it, in fact, that day I felt I just couldn’t be bothered. “Let them think what they want to think, because those who matter don’t mind, and those who mind don’t matter.” But I ended up writing them anyway:
Dear Sirs,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing in regards to your interest in the Family International. If you have the time to read a few words from me, then I would like to share with you my viewpoints in hope that you will take this into consideration if you plan to publish anything regarding The Family International in the future. Thank you for your time.
Firstly, my name is Nyx Martinez. I’ve had the privilege of being born into the Family International in 1981. All my years were spent growing up in this Christian Fellowship, except for a couple of years when I decided on part-time membership so that I could pursue a career in journalism, which I did successfully, working for a multi-media production company in Manila.
In the course of my time in the Family, I have lived in and traveled Asia and Africa–namely, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Burma, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and all over my home-country, the Philippines.
I have memorable experiences from each of these countries, where I lived and worked with other Family members. In each communal Family Home, you can be sure there was a wide range of personalities, not to mention the diverse nationalities, since the Family International consists of missionaries from all over the world.
But the factor that brought us all together as a “family” was the bond of love that I have tried to find elsewhere in the world.–Tried, and failed. It is a kind of passion that drives each Family member to serve God in his or her capacity, giving of themselves unselfishly, whether it is their time in volunteer services or charitable causes or their commitment to strive for excellence in whatever field of missionary life they choose to pursue.
Here, in East Africa, I am blessed to work with two missionary families. Times are tough out here in this “third world” country, but at the end of the day, I thank God that I have the support of friends and family that I can count on, who will uphold me in prayer, and give me every kind of moral support necessary to pursue my dreams.
People in mainstream society may look at our lifestyle as odd or different–the fact that we live together and have devoted our lives to fulltime Christian service, or matters of the foundations of our faith.
I too, have questioned time and again, gone out in pursuit of answers for myself, and doubted that this path was truly my life’s calling.
But today, all the puzzle pieces come together in a remarkable way. Here, in the Family International, I have seen many of my dreams come true. I have everything that my heart could desire, and throughout the course of life, living as a missionary has taught me many priceless lessons. I am blessed; I count myself luckier than other 24-year-olds in the world. In fact, I do believe my life is charmed. It is a privilege indeed to have been born a second-generation of this group, for it has given me a chance to make a small difference in the world–to learn to live a life that is, above all, selfless and true.
I am proud of the Family and everything it stands for. I am proud of the people I live with, and the people I have known who have devoted their lives to this field of service. I hope to continue on in whatever category of membership I may qualify for in The Family, and when I do eventually raise a personal family of my own, I pray to God that my children will know the blessing that I have known, and be able to live it.
Again, thank you for your time. My letter may be insignificant, but it is a small voice, wanting the world to know the truth. I am sure that when you publish anything on The Family, you will convey just that.
Regards,
Nyx Martinez
And now, I read the piece they wrote, supposedly about us.—This horrible, sick, disgusting article that casts a very, very negative light upon my loved ones. My mind and heart burn with a hatred for the real evil. You see, here we are, in the heart of Africa, living a life that only few can say that are privileged to, and yet our good is spoken evil of. Why? And so, I wrote to the editors and told them just what I feel.
Dear Sirs,
I am not sure whether to be annoyed or amused by your recent article about my missionary group, the Family International.
You state that my own words to you were “stilted”, “robotic”, and “reeked of denial”. Denial of what? I ask you, with a laugh. I gave you my testimony so that you could present to your readers an unbiased and truthful report on the Family—a small yet obviously productive Christian Fellowship which I am proud to be a part of.
I told you my life’s story. I expected you to take into account that my fellow Family members and I have chosen to live a life that we know is worth it; a life that we are happy and fulfilled with living. We have done no wrong; therefore there is nothing to be ashamed of.
Yes, I am proud of my heritage. Yes, I am lucky. And yes, I am disappointed that Rolling Stone magazine would stoop to such levels of unjust criticism and harsh labeling of a minority group that has given their lives, heart and souls to make this wretched world a better place.
But at the end of the day, I thank God that the scandals have increased my faith. I have chosen to stand with the Family, to risk reputation and approval of mainstream society because this here is a cause that is worth fighting for.
This is a freedom that is worth taking a stand for. If it will determine the religious rights of a few individuals and will set the record straight as far as we (the second-generation-members of The Family International) are concerned, then I will testify over and over again of the life that I have been privileged to lead. I will stand by my brothers and sisters around the world.
And, I will trust that the next time you tell the story, you will tell the truth–the whole truth, and nothing BUT.
Sincerely,
Nikki “Nyx” Martinez
Well. Let us wait and pray and see what transpires.