Note: This episode gets very real, including potential triggers surrounding suicide and sexual assault. It is important to discuss the realities of these things and we hope that it helps others. Kayla was very brave in sharing her life story. Sadly a cycle of abuse is often like a role that gets played over and over again. We typically think of it in the role of abusers that repeat patterns, but so do those who are abused. Kayla's story includes abusive behaviors from parents, her husband at the time, and of course the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses. At every turn when she needed something healthy she was met with unhealthy toxic behavior. This wasn't limited to her but also included some of her siblings. From growing up to being married to custody battles to dealing with pedophiles, the JWs sided with and allowed abuse to perpetuate on their watch. Kayla is a strong person that not only made it through these situations but she's actively working to better her life as she heals from the trauma caused by members of a group claiming to have not only "The Truth" doctrinally but also to have the happiest families on earth. They even use a hashtag for their cult, #bestlifeever. By their fruits you will recognize the true religion, according to them. Kayla's story shows yet again that their fruitage is not just rotten, but poisonous, as Jehovah's Witnesses utterly destroy families and individuals alike with their corrupt practices.

The song that Kayla chose to represent her journey is Heaven is a Place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle.

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This podcast was made possible by my original podcast This JW Life. You can find it on any podcast app or on YouTube. It is a 9 part series about life as Jehovah's Witnesses designed to help you understand how it worked in one comprehensive story and to help you process your own if you came from that environment.

Follow my new podcast called LouisvilleOne at LouisvilleOne.org or look it up on a podcast app. You can watch the live videos on the YouTube channel HERE.

Music by Fair Voyeur entitled "No Hell Yet".