May 18, 2010 – 8:46am – Tuesday (East Coast Time) – Cocoa, FL – Report submitted by Joe Hurston – Air Mobile Joe

We are rejoicing that Laura Silsby has been released from prison in Haiti. Though she was judged guilty and given 6 months in prison, the judge released her based upon time served. There is no doubt in my mind that Laura and the rest of the missionaries were simply trying to help the children that they had “rescued”. The parents freely gave the children to the missionaries for the hope of a better life. 

It is easy to “arm chair quarterback” on this case and say all kind of things. However, I personally was in Haiti when this event occured. It is very difficult to explain how desperate the situation was. THERE WERE NO AUTHORITIES in place to receive any kind of authorization. The entire country was in turmoil. It was as if “the head of the government had been cut off!”. The Department of Social Affairs, the Foreign Ministry and every other controlling agency was shut down. For those reasons, I believe that Laura was ultimately released, although, she had technically broken a 1980 law put into place regarding the movement of children. To say the very least, it was a complicated case. I am glad that wisdom and mercy ultimately triumphed in the case and for that we Praise the Lord! Meanwhile, we continue to prepare to go to Haiti. The weather has been quite challenging, as I have shared in the last few days. We do look forward to a few clear days. We continue to monitor the weather. I spoke with Barb (Rambo in the Blue Dress) last night. All is quiet in the Village (Ruuska). I continue to take orders for special supplies / equipment to bring in when we do go. It should be soon.

As always, THANK YOU for your prayer and love!!

Air (Ever Increaslingly Mobile) Joe