(Not to say that people should stop trying to help each other at all, but just to realize humbly that it’s just natural not necessarily virtuous, and that there is an even better way for us as we grow in the Lord and learn to do HIS will, not ours.)

One Law for one and one Law for another, thats why we end up in the melting pot of fury at the injustices that are in play and that are as nations as well as individuals winding us all up.

The Government shall be upon his shoulders, Jesus knew the divisions among us.

When a disaster strikes be it in the home in the neighbourhood or in and on a national basis we should all muck in and take each one our responsibility.

Example: A friend of ours has incurable cancer. The issues surrounding it have been many and healing was required not only for the patient but also for his circumstances: His sons felt that as a father he had fallen short and were reluctant to offer him their support. They were also in the need of healing before they could draw near to him. They had had no solid foundation from which to gift or help in this ‘crisis’. (He had divorced their mother and brought the boys up himself but to the boys this was not enough and they were both very angry ) The friends arround him had issues and found that they could not offer much in the way of support because they needed it themselves.

What did the Father do for both a Father and his children and his friends.

He sent someone in to HEAL THE WHOLE.

Someone who the Lord had taken through deep crisis and so new both him as a Father and Healer.

They took the boys anger and allowed it, they ministered with meals, housework, shopping, medication, and the cooking. They fed the neighbours and ended up cooking a meal for them and then doing their shopping when one of them fell and broke his wrist. They have been the mediator between the war ‘on wants’ and never ever were they in want for themselves for the Father gifted as they ‘walked’ all of their needs.

LOVE NEVER FAILS only we do for the lack of it.

Had his sons been taken ‘out of the circumstance they would not have had the truth nor the beauty of a Fathers love right their among them and with them. They were poor but now they are on the way to wealth and needed to know that money is secondary when you are in a dry desolate place in need of a living water.

Haitis children need to witness the rebuilding of their own homeland but be protected from those that wish to exploit it.

My eyes have been opened at the witness of HIS GREAT LOVE for his children and I have been humbled by ‘the one who the Father sent to heal.

We need to stop sqabbling as so much is at stake: and so the boys are now being brought into unison with the circumstances so that old wounds can be taken and the passing be surrounded with the passion and peace of a LOVE THAT IS UNREQUITED FOR THE NEED OF OURS, TO GIFT HIS. Jesus’s name hasn’t been mentioned, there was no need, HE WAS THERE. When we take his presence with us it speaks for itself.

The ones being held captive in Haiti are so in more ways than one.

I have longed to ‘jump in’ and do my ‘bit’ but the Father has said no; Tthe one who serves is not only who they are but also who I am (and you are not: I knew what he was telling me. Not your territory right now so I am having to obey) We all want to do good but the territory we enter should be one we are familiar with and able in and have authority thereby and thereof.

My role is to support his not take it and so should we all be in his will, not want what we want or think we want or need. Haitis hope should be its own and ours the support to gift it.

‘MY LOVE IS GREATER BUT I NEED YOURS TO BE MINE AND MINE TO BE YOURS ONLY THEN CAN WE MOVE THE MOUNTAIN OF MANS GREAT NEEDS.

Lord BEGIN

I commend the US government.
I see few citizens defending the choices of this group. Good on our neighbours to the south.

There have been enough catastrophic events in all our lifetimes for governments and NGO’s to learn that a two year moratorium on adoption after a disaster is in the best interests of all concerned.

A message has to be sent, whether it will be the Idaho Baptists on the receiving end remains to be seen. We’ll know soon.

What will be most interesting is whether the Haitian officials will use this incident to send a very clear message to any groups, (Christian or otherwise), that kidnapping of their citizens will under no circumstances be tolerated. and to add a sufficient deterrent, that they will seek a severe penalty for every member involved. Perhaps this will help to serve as a reminder for other crusaders to check the message from God a bit more carefully, and try to use a bit of common sense when religious fervor strikes.

Today he demanded they be released because they hadn’t seen a judge within the 48 hour time frame in the Haitian constitution.

The five women appeared before a magistrate today, the five men will tomorrow.

They’ve had unlimited access to US consular officials, food, shelter, safety, medical attention and a lawyer and I think some of them were just callously naive and clueless. All of them – hard to say.

To be honest, watching this group has raised my respect for people on the ground who are trained, who do care, and who are concentrating on the task at hand instead of pontificating.
SBC governance is so broke they are going to bluster their way into oblivion.

I’m also impressed the US government has been clear the Haitians will take the lead on what happens to this group.

The problem of being given aid is that you don’t want to bite the hand that feeds you and so compromise can begin to creep in. ie: you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Thats why unconditional giving is so important.

‘You owe me’ should never be among us.

Bene the last paragraph summed up an aspect that I find so infurinating; thank you.

Great site for solid information: Good Intentions Are Not Enough

I think part of what is facinating to those of us outside the US is the mentality, the absolute disregard of Haitian government, culture and international law.

“do-gooder:
noun

a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer”

I think also the language of these SBC’ers is facinating. All the God talk from stateside and Haiti – as if that qualifies and drives them to save the world. This is not language the rest of us see or use daily, so when a woman sitting in a Haitian jail says Philippians 1, given her lack of awareness of behavior and responsibility, it’s is like watching children trying to wiggle their way out of a jam.

Yes; I get the impression that at best the folks from Idaho wanted to “do something” and went a little Wild West.

If I were to take the news coverage for this story and cover up the distinguishing details: fat white Americans, Idaho, Southern Baptists, etc., I would have a hard time understanding why it has legs.

The link you provided gives a little more context: as of 2004-2005

Observers estimate 2,500-3,000 Haitian children are trafficked annually into the Dominican Republic.

Is there any evidence that the group from Idaho was being anything more than stupid and negligent?

This roundup article

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cb_haiti_earthquake

suggests they’ll be sent back to the States for trial because the Haitian court system can’t handle a trial. Go figure.

Thanks jds avec – with. I missed the reste – stay. Thank you for the CNN link.

From a biblical standpoint I find this groups actions disturbing.
The 40 year old leader has business debt, that would disqualify her from mission leadership in most denominations.
Who is taking care of her children while she is setting up her business/mission/adoption agency? ( she is a single parent)
In the SBC there is no wider accountability, each church is autonomous, responsibility can be ignored or passed off to others with no consequence.
Rev. Henry spent his media face time defending his church, doing damage control, blaming Haiti; the children were a statement afterthought.
There is no record keeping, no paper work and documentation, no oversight, no tracking that NGO’s are doing.
These are children, there was no planning of standard of care, no continuity of care.
(Spiritualizing does not count)
The behavior is open contempt for the source country law, as well as the destination country law and international law.
There was no residence for children, merely temporary rented quarters where they had planned to jam 100 kids into 45 rooms.
No training, background checks, anyone could have been given time with these kids.
These leaders had no intention of staying with the children, of making the commitment most childrens ministries make.