From a former Hephzibah House student:
"My Take On Banning HH-
Ladies, I was so glad to have met you all…to have the opportunity to get in touch with other HH girls. But I would like to express my concern with this whole “ban HH” movement.
While I believe some of the things done there was not right, I do not believe we were so badly abused as to warrant shutting them down. There were mistakes made…but parents make mistakes as well.
As far as the spankings/beatings go- that was overboard on the Williams part…if indeed they were as brutal as stated and not just the result of trying to control an out of control teenage girl. The laws on spanking were much different 20-30 years ago than they are now…and while I was a student there no girl was spanked that I know of. I do not believe that they practice spanking anymore.
The work issue- Girl’s I’m sorry, but we were not overworked. Worked yes…but I came from a farm; I did that much work anyway. Work is not abuse, it is healthy. We were not worked constantly…we had breaks, school and scheduled fun times.
The food was healthy. The portions may have been a little big (or too small at other times) but I can definitely see the logic in dishing out portions. And it would be hard to know just how much to dish out for each girl…much easier just to have the same amount for each girl. Especially since teen girls tend to starve themselves in an effort to lose weight…or overeat when there is a favorite food. As far as the “surprise soup”…I don’t remember that…I do remember the bean soup…lol, that made for some rather musical weekends…lol. But having “surprise soup” is not abuse…it is an easy way to use up leftovers, many families do it but that doesn’t mean you are abused just because you have to eat something you don’t really like the taste of.
Pause right here- I do think it was wrong of them to make girls eat worms that were found in the greens…or drinking thrown up ensure. That was just plain wrong. Again, they were overboard…they were reading rebellion into too many things there.
Back to my point-
Timed showers- well, a water heater only holds so much water. Plus the massive amount of time it would take for 15-20 girls to take a longer shower…lol.
As to the BM chart. Come on…we were all girls…it wasn’t that humiliating. I can see the need for it…they were only trying to make sure we were healthy. Constipation can be very dangerous if not treated.
All in all, this is my opinion-
Dr. Williams is a man of God. This attack on him is wrong. It is nothing but a lash out at what we consider to be abuse…when in fact it was an attempt at a rescue of our souls.
I am publicly apologizing to the Williams for my part in this mess. A law suit was never my intention.
I only hope that irreparable damage hasn’t been done."
another unnamed probably fake statement.
ReplyDeleteThis is not an unnamed fake statement. It was made by a former student to a group of other former students. Even the HH haters don't deny this statement is real.
ReplyDeleteThought you may want to post the folowing from the former HH girls web site. http://formerhephzibahgirls.webs.com/apps/guestbook/
ReplyDeleteReply anne
08:37 AM on March 04, 2011 I have read some of the comments on here and have also read my sister's entry. The assumption that I was so traumatized by my time at HH, that I would agree with what she said is a lie. I love my sister dearly, but she does not speak for me. Many posts mentioned the 3 sisters who went to HH. I am the oldest of those 3 and I thank God for the time that I was there. God used that time in my life to bring me to Himself and gave me time to grow. I truly love the Williams family and am grateful for their ministry in my life. It is obvious that one of my sisters does not feel the same way. Because love covers a multitude of sins, I will not expound on the differences between our 2 lives. I pray for the day that she would truly come to Christ and make Him the Lord of her life. However, I do not wish to be silent and let it be assumed that I have the same opinions as she. Thank you to all those who have posted on here in support of HH and the wonderful work they are doing on behalf of those who desperately need a ministry like theirs!!
Reply liza
03:04 PM on February 22, 2011 comparing this to the Holocust is just sick and actually kind of funny....sick cause u can twist this so much and funny that u actually believe it..i really feel srry for u!
Reply liza
03:00 PM on February 22, 2011 i agree wit Robena 100%!!!!! i was at HH from september 2007 till december 2010 and i have NEVER been abused once!!! they never beat us they never even yelled at us! this site makes it out to be an abusive jail or asylum or something like that. funny thing is the people making most of the comments have never even been there! they have no idea wat they r talking about! if it wasnt for HH i wud be in jail today(and yes a REAL jail) or i wud be dead there are just no other options. HH and Dr. Williams have helped me soo much in life and i will forever be thankful! we had great times! we had parties and movie nights we had outside activities and went out to eat..we had fun in the school and during work duties! HH taught us to live to enjoy each moment even if it wasnt our favorite thing. yes we were all mad to be there at first..and trust me i was one of the loud rebels but as time went on i realized these people trully loved and cared for me! they treated each girl with love and respect and like she was of a high value. they loved us and still do and jus to let the girls out there no that they still pray for there past students by name. even though u guys smear their name in the mud and try to destroy them they love you and pray for u and NEVER say anything bad about u...jus thin k about that...ur still upset over being sent there..i think they shud be the ones more upset for putting up wit such fools that still many years later try to destroy them...shows you who has true character and love!
To see the sister of Anne, scroll down to #6 under Suzanne Risner (her "survivor" statement.)
ReplyDeletehttp://formerhephzibahgirls.webs.com/survivorstatements.htm