Comments on: The Boise missionaries in Haiti http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122 Welcome to the conversation Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:13:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: boomer http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122&cpage=1#comment-1051 boomer Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:27:50 +0000 http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122#comment-1051 Hard to say, Doc. I think the only lesson they may have learned is to make sure all the paperwork is done. Possibly, they may have learned that 'orphans' need to be true orphans, not kids with parents. Past that, I'm not so sure. I think they may have been sobered from this, but humbled? Dunno. For sure, Sister Laura must be very happy she got off light. I thought she would end up with 6 months in a Haitian jail. A recent photo of her showed me all over again just how unprepared she was... she was wearing cut-offs and sandals on her way to court. It hit me that, if I was going to Haiti, the first thing I would think of would be to buy a pair of heavy boots and some heavy britches- there are lots of rusty nails sticking up all over the place, and a scratch in Haiti could turn into blood poisoning in a day right now. Hard to say, Doc.
I think the only lesson they may have learned is to make sure all the paperwork is done. Possibly, they may have learned that ‘orphans’ need to be true orphans, not kids with parents.

Past that, I’m not so sure. I think they may have been sobered from this, but humbled? Dunno. For sure, Sister Laura must be very happy she got off light. I thought she would end up with 6 months in a Haitian jail.

A recent photo of her showed me all over again just how unprepared she was… she was wearing cut-offs and sandals on her way to court. It hit me that, if I was going to Haiti, the first thing I would think of would be to buy a pair of heavy boots and some heavy britches- there are lots of rusty nails sticking up all over the place, and a scratch in Haiti could turn into blood poisoning in a day right now.

]]> By: darlene http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122&cpage=1#comment-1049 darlene Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:36:32 +0000 http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122#comment-1049 Reuters is saying that a judicial source in Haiti tells them the missionaries will be released. Do you think they will have learned any humility from this experience? Reuters is saying that a judicial source in Haiti tells them the missionaries will be released. Do you think they will have learned any humility from this experience?

]]> By: Liz http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122&cpage=1#comment-1040 Liz Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:14:14 +0000 http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122#comment-1040 hahaha! We should all be so worldly! Ugly American was a great book, and right on the money about how we think we are the center of the known universe in the United States. hahaha! We should all be so worldly! Ugly American was a great book, and right on the money about how we think we are the center of the known universe in the United States.

]]> By: Alice http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122&cpage=1#comment-1035 Alice Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:16:34 +0000 http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122#comment-1035 The only reason that I mentioned Canada was because it's the only other country I've been to, and then it was a quick 15 minute drive, in and out, from Niagra Falls. Sadly, the view from the window of the car was the extent of my "worldliness". Someday I hope to remedy that ;) The only reason that I mentioned Canada was because it’s the only other country I’ve been to, and then it was a quick 15 minute drive, in and out, from Niagra Falls.

Sadly, the view from the window of the car was the extent of my “worldliness”.

Someday I hope to remedy that ;)

]]> By: boomer http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122&cpage=1#comment-1033 boomer Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:48:23 +0000 http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122#comment-1033 For sure, Alice. Even Canada, which is the country most like us, is a different country with it's own traditions, laws, and ways of doing things. There is not a nation on the planet who will take any foreigner's word for granted as to the purity of their intentions, period. The English language is still far from becoming universal speech. The presumption that the rest of the world wants to live like our culture, and wants what we want, is completely wrong as well. Unfortunately, none of this is taught in schools until a person is at college level. It's one of America's biggest failures. For sure, Alice.
Even Canada, which is the country most like us, is a different country with it’s own traditions, laws, and ways of doing things.

There is not a nation on the planet who will take any foreigner’s word for granted as to the purity of their intentions, period. The English language is still far from becoming universal speech. The presumption that the rest of the world wants to live like our culture, and wants what we want, is completely wrong as well.

Unfortunately, none of this is taught in schools until a person is at college level. It’s one of America’s biggest failures.

]]> By: Alice http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122&cpage=1#comment-1031 Alice Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:50:48 +0000 http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122#comment-1031 Great article, and I think this brings up how sheltered a lot of us in Idaho are. How many people here have never even been to another country (I don't think Canada counts)? Many of us are not "worldly" and have no idea how other countries work. A little education on how other people live would be a great thing for all of us. Great article, and I think this brings up how sheltered a lot of us in Idaho are. How many people here have never even been to another country (I don’t think Canada counts)? Many of us are not “worldly” and have no idea how other countries work.

A little education on how other people live would be a great thing for all of us.

]]> By: boomer http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122&cpage=1#comment-1030 boomer Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:19:34 +0000 http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122#comment-1030 Hi, Liz... I don't know if the Baptists and LDS would have joined efforts or not. I tend to doubt that either group is willing to step over their differences long enough to actually help each other become real strong bunch of Idaho Christians, all working together for the same purpose. Like I said, it probably never crossed the Baptist's minds to ask, and never crossed the LDS minds to volunteer to help them out. While I think that both faith's efforts to help are very worthy in principle, both could use a little more Christian charity towards each other to get it done really well. The apostle Paul spoke about this problem often, all through his life as one of Christ's disciples. Hi, Liz…
I don’t know if the Baptists and LDS would have joined efforts or not. I tend to doubt that either group is willing to step over their differences long enough to actually help each other become real strong bunch of Idaho Christians, all working together for the same purpose.

Like I said, it probably never crossed the Baptist’s minds to ask, and never crossed the LDS minds to volunteer to help them out. While I think that both faith’s efforts to help are very worthy in principle, both could use a little more Christian charity towards each other to get it done really well. The apostle Paul spoke about this problem often, all through his life as one of Christ’s disciples.

]]> By: Liz http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122&cpage=1#comment-1029 Liz Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:51:34 +0000 http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122#comment-1029 Boomer, do you think they would have seriously joined forces in this? A lot of my LDS friends tell me about their church's involvement in the relief effort, but it's not a local thing, it's an HQ thing. I think you're right, not much will happen to them after all is said and done, due to the Haitians not wanting to bite the hand that is feeding them. Boomer, do you think they would have seriously joined forces in this? A lot of my LDS friends tell me about their church’s involvement in the relief effort, but it’s not a local thing, it’s an HQ thing.

I think you’re right, not much will happen to them after all is said and done, due to the Haitians not wanting to bite the hand that is feeding them.

]]> By: boomer http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122&cpage=1#comment-1026 boomer Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:33:06 +0000 http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122#comment-1026 Hi, Doc... I don't think real bad ends will come to the missionaries. Haiti needs American help too much, including the help of other missionary efforts and private individuals who simply want to help out of human kindness. And I'm sure that the Boise group had much real sympathy, kindness, and an urge to do good. I'll bet they will be released without ever suffering the penalties that they could have faced. Really, it's a cautionary tale to me. The group were Baptists. If someone from the group had thought to contact the local LDS leadership, they would have certainly found a French speaking interpreter, right there in Boise. Some LDS missionaries can speak French very well. It may have been possible, if they had done it, that they could have mounted a joint Baptist/LDS effort. Such an effort may have gone far in easing Idaho's LDS-Baptist tensions, too. This affair is something that should be discussed in our churches, I think. Hi, Doc…
I don’t think real bad ends will come to the missionaries. Haiti needs American help too much, including the help of other missionary efforts and private individuals who simply want to help out of human kindness. And I’m sure that the Boise group had much real sympathy, kindness, and an urge to do good. I’ll bet they will be released without ever suffering the penalties that they could have faced.

Really, it’s a cautionary tale to me. The group were Baptists. If someone from the group had thought to contact the local LDS leadership, they would have certainly found a French speaking interpreter, right there in Boise. Some LDS missionaries can speak French very well. It may have been possible, if they had done it, that they could have mounted a joint Baptist/LDS effort. Such an effort may have gone far in easing Idaho’s LDS-Baptist tensions, too.

This affair is something that should be discussed in our churches, I think.

]]> By: Anon http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122&cpage=1#comment-1023 Anon Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:55:50 +0000 http://idahospeaks.com/?p=1122#comment-1023 Throw the book at them and see how much of their sentences God commutes. Throw the book at them and see how much of their sentences God commutes.

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