MK forum

Point taken, Gene. But can we still grieve? Because this is really, heartbreakingly sad.

Grieve is a mild word-- it is perhaps what is so noteworthy, that our sister didn't just grieve herself, but took action. We were trained to be such passive creatures, that I'm sure this lawsuit has brought along mental anguish in waves and waves. Such courage. . .

Yes grief how terrible it is to feel it. The anger has returned and indeed profound grief for the many sleepless, nightmarish, pain filled nights this young girl had to endure. I keep thinking what if that had been my 9 year old daughter...you bet I'd be mad as hell....

wow, that was a wise, honest reaction from that Presbyterian church - that´s an encouragment to me - There must be people in NTM who are feeling the guidance of the same Holy Spirit.

You know what i´ve been missing - there were some people who used to post who really were either angry at God or didn´t believe he exists - I miss their viewpoint, because it was a viewpoint that I can´t see from and I appreciated being able to read what they wrote. Maybe they´re still around, I hope they didn´t leave because they felt preached at.

I hope this doesn't feel like a washed--down version of the old "forum". I actually have a really hard time being angry. It feels really awful, and I end up crying, and it instead turns to depression and hopelessness. So please, the things that produce that emotion in you, don't tamper it down because the tone of the forum has changed. It's refreshing to hear people say what I cannot. My inability to feel true anger has not served me well in my life so far.

The Executive Board of New Tribes Mission, Inc. did not wake up one morning and decide that, there being so little else to do this week, this would be a good time to seek some kind of resolution of the abuse "allegations" swirling around the mission. They had, in fact, always been aware of both the "allegations" (which they knew to be true) and the fact that some victims were not satisfied with how NTM had handled things "prior to 1994."

What had happened was that a particular group of determined women who had been abused when children living in NTM dorms in Fanda, Senegal, were making a lot of noise and attracting some attention. Due to the pervasive influence of the internet, this whole thing was becoming a public relations nightmare. "We don't know what else we can do," was no longer a sufficient response to victims' agony.

Hands up, everybody who thinks that NTM's primary goal in bringing in G.R.A.C.E. was to provide justice, closure, restitution or any other positive good to the victims. No takers?

So, does anyone think that NTM wants to do whatever it must, and as little as it can, to limit the damage this issue causes to the mission, both financially and in terms of public relations? Well, let's ask Andy Kline, someone who is working these days to clean up a mess he did not make: "NTM leaders dare not be reckless with the mission." Thank you, Andy. I see that hand. No one would have believed it if I had been the one to say it.

Victims and their supporters need to be aware that the goal of NTM is the same, whether they have contracted G.R.A.C.E. or Pat Hendrix or are defending themselves in civil court in Sanford, Florida: To limit the damage, to prevent future loss and to maintain a positive public image for NTM. To be blunt about it, all those who press a complaint against NTM, whether this complaint is being handled by an outside agency or through the legal system are, by virtue of their complaints, in an adversarial relationship with NTM. NTM is not on your side; they are on their side, understandably enough.

Victims need to know what to expect and be clear on what they want. NTM is not going to help with this; the fact that they want nondisclosure agreements is proof that they want to keep other victims in the dark regarding possible outcomes. As nice as the CPC people are, they are not able to help with this.

You could start by reading the G.R.A.C.E. report and seeing what progress NTM has made in implementing the recommendations it made. This should be a sobering exercise.

If you are working with Pat Hendrix, you need to ask her specific questions about what outcomes you can reasonably look for. She has had experience with other investigations and will be able to answer your questions.

Of course, there are other options. You can read about one of them on the first post of this thread. Contacting this firm does not obligate you in any way. And, doing so may help you solidify things in your own mind.

JUDGE NOT THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED

We can not see the heart of those fighting for us as we can not see the hearts of the men and women within NTM that are working on this hige endeavor. Things are happening this week and probably today, in many areas and in many hearts. We can't and we won' t shoot them down everytime we turn around. Let them do their job, belittling will not help JL.

Thing are happening,,,if you don't think anyone is thinking or praying for you today, as a hurt and injured MK, you are wrong. I know of people right now, in NTM and non NTM that are praying and that are working on the problem. Just believe