ello, my name is Gary Edwards, and here is a little bit about myself:

     I am 24 years old and me and my wife and son live in Southern California. I am an executive in a rapidly expanding software company. I first found out about Scientology 4 years ago in Phoenix, Arizona. I had just arrived in town and was out interviewing at various companies. While walking down the street, someone asked if I had time to take a free personality test. Since I had more than an hour before my next appointment, I accepted the offer. The test was 200 questions that were very interesting. You couldn't tell from the questions what the proper or correct answer was. You could only answer the question in relation to yourself and your own experiences. As I waited for the test to be scored and to be given the results, I browsed the bookstore. It impressed me how many books and cassette tapes were available on the subject. I looked at several and the titles of the chapters struck me the most. There was a lot written about communication. I also observed the people. They were cheerful and pleasant enough and very much down to earth but more importantly they genuinely seemed to have purpose. They were doing something that was important and meaningful to them.

     After a short time, I was told that my test results were ready. I figured that I would get a few very general evaluations that could fit anyone and leave a bit disappointed. After all, I had been going to job interviews in which you always look your best. My appearance gave very little indication about myself. Since no one knew me in Phoenix, except for a friend I was staying with, how could anyone figure out my personality without even talking to someone who knew me? Boy, was I wrong! The person giving me the results knew it all. My strengths, my weaknesses, what I did well and what I needed to improve. I was simply amazed at the accuracy of the results. At that point I knew there was something to Scientology.

     I asked how do I find out more about this and was told to buy a book. I bought two - Dianetics. The Evolution of a Science and Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. I went back home and asked my friend if he had ever heard about Scientology. He said he had known a Marine Corp. chaplain who had studied it. He said that this chaplain was an extraordinary person who had helped him with a serious problem. During the next couple of days I read the books every chance I got. I wanted to see if what I was reading made sense and actually worked. I was less interested in other people's experience with Scientology, I wanted to find out for myself if it worked or not.

     There were two guys next door. One was a Vietnam vet who was always mean and angry. The type of person you would stay away from. He had problems with his stomach which doctors never were able to handle and he was often in pain. The other guy was his nephew who was much more pleasant. Yet both seemed to be rough, shady characters. They would see me on the porch reading and tease me about it. One night, the nephew came over and asked me if what I had been reading really worked. I said I didn't know but I thought it did. He asked if I could come over and help his uncle. His stomach was hurting worse than ever and he was calling out in pain. I said I would try if his uncle wanted me to. What happened next I will never forget. Using the techiques in the books, I found that his uncle had been repeatedly struck in the stomach with a rifle butt while a prisoner of war. Before this he had only a very vague idea that he had been beaten up while a prisoner but no real recall of what actually had happened. Going through this several times, he began to remember more and more and surpisingly enough the pain became less and less. Before long he was smiling at me - before this, I had never seen a smile on his face - and he said, "Boy do you believe that!" I asked about the pain and he looked at me funny like he just noticed it wasn't there. He said, "it's gone!" I was amazed. This guy transformed in front of my eyes from a mean, nasty person to someone I actually liked to be around. Of course, I was his best buddy after that. He could come over each night with his nephew and tell me stories about his life and the war. One night while his uncle went inside for a moment, I said to his nephew, "you must get tired of hearig these stories." He surprised me by saying his uncle never had talked about any of this before. He said, "You really changed him!"      This is when I knew Scientology worked and actually helped people. I was happy as a clam. It was great relief to find something that actually worked and helped people!