I truly hope she will reconsider. We can do ALOT of good from right here. SOMEtimes, words DO speak mightier than actions. If we help from here, it may turn out for the better.

I sent her several emails today, hope to hear from her soon. Will her her in my thoughts.

Hugs and thanks Jacks....you are a GOOD friend!

Elisabeth

PLEASE Marie DON'T GO & know you have a big heart & want to help with all you can I would be just the same as you,
but think about it going over there that could end really bad for you how can you help then? if you stay here you can go on & on helping I know its not the same as being there, but i feel sick with worrie you would not be safe & you would not get to help much,
i know its upto you what you do but PLEASE DON'T GO

I have to agree with the girls Marie...

PLEASE DO NOT GO OVER NOW!!!!

Maybe things will settle, and you can go at a later date, and
in the meantime do some more fundraising for them!

Please Marie..do reconsider!!

Stepping back from the situation, isn't it horrendous how these people are suffering, and they can't decide not to go, or leave - my heart goes out to them, in particular the children who will be witnessing so much suffering

I can understand why Marie wants to go and help, as a human being anyone would, but there will be a limit on what can be done in such a volatile situation. Personally I'd wait, continue to fundraise as said above.

Can organisations such as Oxfam or Red Cross help with this village in a more controlled and safe way??

That is tragic news. That poor village and all the people. There HAS to be some kind of tribal wars going on for there to be that level of violence directed towards an entire village. No wonder the village is struggling with poverty.

I hate to say this but until the war is settled there is little anyone can do in a war-torn area. Until the war is over, people won't rebuild. Any forward momentum made in the poverty during a war will have little effect since the war will simply destroy that. So, in my honest and analytical opinion, I doubt very much any individual or country can do anything for this village until they either reach a peace settlement with the warring tribe or either win or lose the war.

Marie, hun, I still think you should travel abroad, but to a place in a period of rebuilding rather than outright war. I know this must be something you feel very strong about, and I do too, so I KNOW you WILL go, but I personally feel that there is a better suited area somewhere else in the world. It is simply a matter of finding it.

Personally, I think not going because of one's family is SELFISH. It's not like you are taking care of your family. They are big boys and girls and should be able to take care of themselves. If they truly loved you they wouldn't stand in your way of something you needed to do as an individual. I can certainly understand everyone's concern, but I think it is very selfish to tell Marie not to go because of her family. Love goes both ways and sometimes that means letting a bird fly and letting it do what is important for him or herself.

Marie, go do what you want to do. But, please, please, please reconsider the location. I personally feel there is very little you can do there right now. Have you considered India (NOT Pakistan as it's too unstable politically) or Turkey? Personally, that is where I would go if I were hoping to help out. Neither is incredibly safe, but the violence isn't wartorn violence which would counteract any good one did there.

Absoluetly, my feelings too! There is still a lot of good you can do, but you HAVE to choose the location carefully. Go somewhere that WANTS your help and will APPRECIATE it, and where your help WILL make a difference
Many hugs
Becky xxxx

I have first hand experience of this...............

I beg you NOT to go hun...........

My uncle settled down in Africa and built his own house there on land he had bought.He employed black workers and payed them more wages than any family in the area.He provided them with homes on his land and even had a teacher to educate his employees children.He married a black lady from the village and had children and everyone loved him.So we thought..............
One day he was heading off to the nearest township in his jeep when he was ambushed and killed.When he was found there was nothing left of him and nothing to send home but a bashed up watch.He helped and provided for the villagers and supported them in everyway.

PLEASE think about what you are doing hun.Yu could send the clothes etc over to the villages by post rather than go there yourself.What ever you decide to do take care. xx

OMG lizzie what a horrendous thing to happen to your Uncle !

Oh Marie I think you are so brave to consider going still and you are a wonderful person to want to help BUT please please do not risk your life !!!!

I have an online friend who lives in kenya I got to know her through a mums due in the same month club on ivillage where I became friends with many people all over the world when we were pregnant at the same time .

She is black and her family are quite well off compared to most people over there , the last news I had from her over a month ago was that her husband had been carjacked and there was serious violence all around them we have heard nothing since and can get no information from anyone , for all I know she and her family are dead ( her son is only 4 years old ) and we have no way of knowing and she is a black kenyan woman , what hope is there for a white woman over there !!

I'm sure between us all on here we could start a fundraiser , if we all put our head together we'll come up with something and there are charities that ensure all the money goes where it is needed such as the red cross and save the children .

PLEASE reconsider , maybe when things settle down , though that may be years from now I know , you can visit but if the british government are saying don't go and you'll have no protection for lords sake please listen to them !!!



xx

THANK YOU GIRLS...for all the lovely words for Marie...

I can at LONG LAST tell you..she has emailed me (I can sleep again!)..that she has NOW cancelled this Dangerous Trip and is going off for a few days with DH to talk things thro.....things got mighty "Volcanic at home"!!. ...so...she is aware of all your care and feelings and has seen sense of the whole picture!

BIG HUGS TO ALL DCC 'S..... cos thats what you are "ANGELS"!!

Lizzie OMG that story is soo sad but ONE that happens alot over there ..its soo sad..and also worrying for ANYONE who knows ANYONE living out there!!

HUGS JACK

Awwww great news, what a relief!!!!!! We can all sleep at night again!!!! Big hugs to you and to Marie!!!!! We love you both!!!!

Lizzie that is aweful, you all must have been devastated and so surprised.

Jackie that is such good news. a few days with her DH I hope helps her see what is important not just for her but for everyone.

Marie I will continue to think about you and to worry. I know you so want to help and are shocked and abhored by the evil going on there, but we don't want you becoming another raped or murdered victim.

I've only just seen this post, and Marie I'm glad you have decided to reconsider..
There are too many dangerous people around..

Glad you're staying put hun!.. (for now anyway.. )

xx

Sory lizzie to hear about your uncle, you must be devostated.
Jackie, Im glad she has desided to pospone the trip till things calm down.
we are all hear for her when ever she needs to talk.

Great news Jackie!

Marie and family ...hope you mend things and rebond on your days away...your hubbie should be proud he has such a caring wife

Linda
xx