Shulamite of Matt

Written by Matt

I met Shula after I was deported (along with other COG members) from Mexico in 1975 and ended up in Anaheim, Calif. I met her at the home there and for the first time in my life I felt real love. I barely knew her, but I knew she was the one.

I was the undershep and in charge of organizing teams so I put us together on daily excursions.

I shared with her my secret place in the back yard where we could sit on the wall and quietly meditate, read and pray. She loved the same things I did so I said, "I think we should be married." and she said "Yes." I was so on cloud nine when I learned that she felt the same way about me.

She was my companion in life for the next four years. She gave me confidence, helped me to be sure and steady. I knew she was there for me. She was the greatest gift I ever experienced and gave me three precious children. I can't quite explain it but she was me, a part of my being, and 26 years later, I still miss the beauty she brought into my life.

She was a faithful sister and a great mom who loved her children and her loving spirit touched many.

Shulamite Fields, written by EBW

I met Shulamite in the summer of 1974 when both she and I had just arrived at the Dallas Rock House colony from other cities. Most everybody from the home had gone to some sort of festival or something, so the day after I arrived, she and I left on the road together.

One trip led straight to another and we were together almost every day for nearly two months, mostly on the road to other cities.

I was the designated team leader, but Shulamite had such drive and selfless determination to reach the lost, always pushing herself (and me) to keep going even through the hot Texas sun, that she was undeniably the real bellweather of the team.

Her enthusiasm was contagious and we were shiners in every sense of the word. With her bright red hair; her sun sensitive bright red complexion, and especially with her huge beaming Cheshire-Cat smile, Shulamite literally shone. Nobody could miss it.

She always reminded me of a big bright sunflower, always facing the sun.

As fall set in, both Shula and I spent more time in home-ministries, including acting in skits for a weekly party.

In one skit Shula was dressed in a green felt Pied Piper outfit with funny shoes and a long feather in her hat with her bright red hair streaming down.

At one point she forgot her line. She just stood there for about 10 seconds with that huge bright smile and a huge blush reddening her already red face trying in vain to remember the next line. And then finally with an embarrassed smile, she said slowly:

"Well------------ toodle doo"

and skipped off stage.

I left on a long road trip with another partner the next day, and after that there were several more trips in rapid succession, and Shula and I never saw much of each other after that, so that funny stage exit stands out in my mind as the "goodbye" that we never got to say in any other way.

We both went elsewhere shortly after Christmas and I never saw her again.

At the time of the IRFers Beware letter I didn't immediately realize that it was about her. When I did find that out, I was totally shocked, because the letter said such bad things about her.

Deluded as I was at the time, I forced myself to reason that she must have changed since I knew her, but it was like I had lost a part of me. Years later when God began to break through the clouds of Family brainwashing, the memory of Shulamite became like a beacon to me. shining through the darkness.

Whenever I began to lose my way and to doubt what the Lord was showing me about the family's delusional lies, the thought would come to me, " Berg said bad things about Shulamite, so he cannot possibly be a prophet or even a man of God."

And it worked. And I'm sure I'm not the only one that could see that beacon. I would guess that everyone who knew Shulamite had a similar experience.

So for all those who wonder why God let it happen, I say that it was to help me and others to find our way out of the cult.

I'm sure that the halls of heavens are noticably brighter since Shulamite arrived there. And I'm sure the angels are more on their toes and working a little harder too.

I'm really looking forward to seeing her again.