On top of that, Ben-canaan needs work. The family received about $7000 when they left Gloriavale, and have received further financial aid from donations, but Ben-canaan wants to be able support his family.
A man who fled Gloriavale with his wife and seven children said he never felt such love inside the community. Photo / file
"If you want someone with get up and go, that's willing to work long hours and willing to throw themselves into it and get other people stirred up and excited about the job, I am your man.
"I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and get out there and do things."
Ben-canaan said it did not matter what the job was.
"I have not got a lot of qualifications, but I can get out there and learn with my hands.
"There's never been a job I've set my mind to do that I haven't been able to teach myself and learn."
He was moved to tears when he reflected on the people, often complete strangers, who had come into his life and offered his family help.
"I have never been treated so well in all my life," he said.
Ben-canaan said he never felt such love inside Gloriavale.
'I know the pain they are going through'
Among those who supported the Ben-canaan family was a Canterbury local and former Gloriavale member Tim Hartnell, who assists people who choose to leave the commune.
He was one of the first people to help Ben-canaan when he left.
The Ben-canaan family left the commune in two stages. The father was the first to leave, followed by his wife and their seven children.
Hartnell helped the family find temporary accommodation at a three-bedroom house in Rolleston, not far from his own.
Hartnell said he supported Gloriavale leavers because he loves to help people.
"I know the pain they are going through; I know the heartache they are going through and I know the turmoil."
Hartnell his wife and their two-month-old daughter left the community 34 years ago after they began challenging what they were told about the outside world.
He left with only $150 in his pocket.
He had a grandfather in Auckland but with no sense of where Auckland was and no idea of how to use a phonebook, he, his wife and their daughter were effectively alone.
"One of the things is, you don't actually understand yourself. So first you've got to come to an understanding of who you are.
"Secondly, you then have to unpack that lifetime history and start to come to a place of understanding because a lot of the stuff you do in Gloriavale is because everyone does it."
