Venezuela: Sinking Even Further Into Destruction and Anarchy

 

For a decade or so, my family has supported a disabled woman in Venezuela, sending monthly support to help her mother feed and clothe her and enroll her in a daily program of activities and learning. We have done this through the organization Unbound, whose stated mission is to support families struggling with the devastating effects of poverty. This weekend, we received terrible, tragic news. Unbound is canceling all its programs in Venezuela.

According to the letter, the 800 percent inflation and civil unrest are part of the reason, but the final straw came in September “when the Venezuelan government unexpectedly suspended the currency exchange system that Unbound used to send funds to the country,” making it impossible to safely send funds. I don’t know what will happen in this beautiful country with so many existential problems, but please pray for Gisseth and her family. We don’t even have any way to get in touch with them. Lord, be with them and bring them peace.

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  1. Judithann Campbell Member
    Judithann Campbell
    @

    God Bless you, Mama Toad. Prayers for Gisseth and her family, and all of Venezuela.

    • #1
  2. AQ Member
    AQ
    @AQ

    Yes, I will pray, that is all we can do.

    • #2
  3. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte
    @KevinSchulte

    I will pray for them MT.

     

    • #3
  4. Henry Racette Member
    Henry Racette
    @HenryRacette

    On the one hand, it seems vulgar to use a personal tragedy to say “see, this is the terrible cost of collectivism and corrupt governance.” But then, all tragedy is personal, and tragedy follows inexorably from the loss of free markets and the rule of law. So count this sad story as yet another reminder of why we have to defend those things.

    • #4
  5. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    CB,

    This and the Egypt Mosque bombing are the two important stories of the day. The left-wing narrative rests on two premises. First, socialism actually works and will help poor people. Second, multi-culturalism is a legitimate philosophy that can be applied to any culture and through sensitivity and understanding, peaceful co-existence can be achieved.

    Venezuela, proves once again that socialism is the cruelest of frauds. It starves and murders people. Every time it has ever taken full control of a country the economy collapses completely, starvation sets in, and then the murderous repressive government kills.

    The Egyptian Mosque bombing demonstrates that there are some cultures so vicious, so merciless, that no co-existence is possible. When the black flag of Jihad is raised, you know you are dealing with genocidal psychopaths. General Sisi’s reaction is the right one. They will pursue these murderers and eliminate them.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #5
  6. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Henry Racette (View Comment):
    On the one hand, it seems vulgar to use a personal tragedy to say “see, this is the terrible cost of collectivism and corrupt governance.” But then, all tragedy is personal, and tragedy follows inexorably from the loss of free markets and the rule of law. So count this sad story as yet another reminder of why we have to defend those things.

    The personal tragedy was already there. It is being compounded by a government running interference between those that need help and those that were trying to provide it.

    We ought to put together a competition to provide worthy Bernie Bros with the opportunity to experience the glories of socialism firsthand.

    First prize is a semester of study in Venezuela.

    Second prize is two semesters …

    • #6
  7. Al French Moderator
    Al French
    @AlFrench

    “Lord, be with them and bring them peace.”

    Amen

    • #7
  8. Painter Jean Moderator
    Painter Jean
    @PainterJean

    I will definitely add Gisseth and her family to my prayers.

    • #8
  9. tigerlily Member
    tigerlily
    @tigerlily

    I pray that things will work out for Gisseth and her family. And, thanks for posting the link to Unbound, which I’d not heard of before, and which seems to be a forthright charity doing good works.

    • #9
  10. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    tigerlily (View Comment):
    I pray that things will work out for Gisseth and her family. And, thanks for posting the link to Unbound, which I’d not heard of before, and which seems to be a forthright charity doing good works.

    I love them. They were started by some missionaries who used their Christmas card lists and personal visits to churches to recruit their first sponsors 30+ years ago. Our family has loved the personal feeling of knowing the person our donations have helped, receiving updates from her mom and sending letters and pictures from ourselves. They pray for us; we pray for them; we help each other in this way.

     

    • #10
  11. Whistle Pig Member
    Whistle Pig
    @

    Percival (View Comment):

    Henry Racette (View Comment):
    On the one hand, it seems vulgar to use a personal tragedy to say “see, this is the terrible cost of collectivism and corrupt governance.” But then, all tragedy is personal, and tragedy follows inexorably from the loss of free markets and the rule of law. So count this sad story as yet another reminder of why we have to defend those things.

    The personal tragedy was already there. It is being compounded by a government running interference between those that need help and those that were trying to provide it.

    We ought to put together a competition to provide worthy Bernie Bros with the opportunity to experience the glories of socialism firsthand.

    First prize is a semester of study in Venezuela.

    Second prize is two semesters …

    I’d help with that.  If you find any interested Bernie Bros I’ll help with airfare.  One way, of course.  Since they will be going to a socialist paradise I’m sure they won’t be worried about a round trip ticket.

    • #11
  12. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    What a terrible tragedy for the people of Venezuela, for Unbound, and for the family you have so lovingly supported. Sending prayers to all.

    • #12
  13. Trink Coolidge
    Trink
    @Trink

    This is so heartbreaking.   I thank God for organizations like Unbound and the good people who bring light into so much darkness.

    • #13
  14. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    Like any collectivist government eventually you come to the point when you start grieving for the living as well as the dead. One may sing their praises, like Danny Glover, and Sean Penn, and they have one thing in common with Maduro, the three of them have not missed too many meals.

    Pray for Venezuela, and pray for Gisseth and her family.

    • #14
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