Can You Help?

Skip, When I first read some months ago, about Bessy Bendran doing the translation without fee, I was appalled then, and still am. Please, if the facts are fairly accurate on what she has done I think she should be paid from the funds available in this Community. Also, Yes, to helping Amy in the Ukraine I am sure she would use that money for more wisley than we could if there is accountablity!
Then the next issue of the Spanish readers on line and payment: Continue on free for them for at least as long as you did for the English Speaking group, approximately five years or more, then see what the Lord has in mind. I have lived in a third world country, Pakistan, and visited many many more, including Mexico countless times going with my husband for athletic events.
There is NO MORE POVERTY IN THE U.S. AS IN THOSE COUNTRIES. Our government does use a large percentage of our tax money to help the poor, ( my last Civic’s book said 70% of each dollar). I am not unaware of poverty in the U.S. –the last 30 years or so, my husband and I personally have helped the needy in many areas–including laboring to care for their children when needed, and clothing and feeding them. There has been such an abundance in the U.S. that compared to third world coutries, it is easy for us to do and give. On top of the government’s aid in many areas, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THE U.S. THAT DO THIS INDIVIDUALLY, ALSO CHURCHES, & ORGANIZATIONS OF ALL KINDS. Many business require their employees to raise & give funds for Public Funds that include Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. etc. But in Third World Countries, the bulk of the people have no one to help them, except Missions from the U.S. and other Western World countries, and they can actually only cover a small percentage of the needs of the World. The blessings the Lord will give us for having compassion and love for the truly poor will be huge. All based on the Torah, and how we are suppose to live.
I am not discounting the facts that many people in third world countries, and here, too, will not be greedy and try to get much from us. It does happen, we had it happen in area the past four years, that we were very saddened about. There needs to be excellent accountablity; the Southern Baptist have always tried to be very accountable to their churches that choose what percent of their offerings should go to the Co-operative program. My history of them shows that they have been accountable. I have always said if you can not trust that group to handle finances, you can not trust anyone, but for the most part, until past few years, they have stayed with the Spiritual aspects of the mission work. So that has helped their accountablity, but what happened in our lives was because of what we asked to do. I had a cousin with the SB Mission Board, and she and her husband had been with them about 40 years, they lived in a third world country, and traveled through several countries to train the native Christian Ministers and worker’s in the Bible, and teaching of their people.—– They worked with any groups that they felt were in the same community of the Lord, and in Bible training methods. The IMB (International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist–yes there are many different Baptist denonimations!), does not usually have orphanage’s; and one of the things Ed and I, had wanted after living in a third world country, was to help support a Christian orphanage. So when we received some pictures of them teaching in one, we asked if there was anyway we could send money. There was, even though the IMB-SB did not help sponsor one, we could send the money to them, they could get it out to the Missionary living in that area, and he would personally take it to them. All written up in several ledges of accountability and checked by auditors. Okay, that worked for awhile, very well. After some time ,we got e-mails from the director of the orphanage, with a budget, pictures of the children, his brochure with pictures, etc.
We were very happy and pleased, THEN, wham, during some of the disasters that hit across the world, one hit in that area, and everyone was sending e-mails for money, money, needs, needs, and in some of those forwards, we found that this same orphanage was being claimed by an entirely different group, and asking for funds.——- In other words, in a “christian” scam– others
were trying to solicit money in this orphanage’s name. So accountability is often hard to discern. This is one of several, that I personally have know or been involved with.

BUT, I STILL SAY, help Amy Gomes in the Ukraine, and give the Spanish speaking people, free access on line for a few years, and pay Bessie to translate. State in writing to all of us, if and how much , over the budget you are. And then stop adding financially to any others until funds are available, but make their needs known, for prayer, advice, etc.
— Let us all pray for WISDOM FOR YOU AND PATRICK AND WHOEVER ELSE IS ON YOUR ” BOARD,” MAYBE YOUR WIFE, TOO. The wives (ezers) are often the most important helper even in business!!! Sincerely, L.B. and Ed, too