A bittersweet reunion

rebeca degraffenriedt — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 23:04:06 GMT

Where can we read more about where the children were during their 5 months of captivity?

A bittersweet reunion

Repug NoMore — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:13:39 GMT

Why dont americans "adopt" a whole family, instead of paying the thousands and sometimes 10s of thousands of dollars to adopt 1 child that more than likely was abandoned to an orphenage because of inability to take care of them or was kinapped and is missing their family. Theres a lot of good that can be done for these poor people with little american money but lots of effort.
If americans can help solve some problems in these countries there wouldnt be so many children being sent for adoption or abandoned in general, or families being torn apart by crime like this one.

A bittersweet reunion

j.murphy — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:20:35 GMT

I agree with repug nomore. South american countries are gravitating toward a socialistic society due to lack of funding to help these people of poverty. My question is why hasn't unesco been there. The united nations should be ashamed. We pour millions into countries for their oil but put burdens on the children of God. We are down to one car in the family and do not use that except to run children to school, thank the Lord they have one to go to. And we make a stop at the grocery store on the way back. This helps to save gas and the environment in our small way. I am tired of reading of how much is being done in south america but the fact that people will die to get here tells you just how bad it is in all the countries. If we don't solve the problem, you will have another cuba in venezuela and other countries below the border. So many children are just left to die or turn to crime. why can't the children be adopted. America can only do so much but there are other countries within the united nations who can help out. Where are you

A bittersweet reunion

Maggie, NY — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:42:12 GMT

Repug NoMore I am an American who would like to do something for suffering families in Guatemala but its how to do it that is the problem. I have been looking on the internet for an organization that provides microloans to Guatemalans but I have not found one yet. There are various organizations that "help" but can they be trusted? And we have to be careful of how we help so we don't cause other problems down the line like our welfare system has here in the US. And who knows, maybe one or more of the American adopted children will return to Guatemala one day and have the answers to get Guatemala on track.

A bittersweet reunion

Richard Price, Friendswood, TX — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:25:14 GMT

I checked the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children web site and could not find anything on the missing 3rd sister, Enma Galicia. I wanted to see a date of issue on the poster, if there is one. Have they removed her from their site? Do they not post all unresolved cases for which they create posters?
I also have questions about the poster you have on your web site. Enma's date of birth is listed as Nov 89, and age of 8 yrs old. That poster would then have been issued in 1997, a bit over 10 years ago. And Enma would be 18 yrs old now. But the story speaks of all three sisters being kidnapped at the same time. It's hard to piece together the time line from the story as aired, but this Enma poster doesn't seem to fit very well into the other two sisters' ages or abduction. So my questions are, Is the poster authentic? and What is Enma's age/dob?
-RP

A bittersweet reunion

Art de la Garza, Edinburg,TX — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:46:25 GMT

I am so pleased to see young people like Ms. Ayala helping to improve the lives of these children. The conditions they live in can be improved, when and if their government realizes that their country does not belong to a handful of families representing foreign entities. A two pronged attack on this situation can have very dramatic results - helping the children with nutrition and education plus sending a task force to visit their government and see if they can shame them into doing something about it.

A bittersweet reunion

A.S., Cranbury, NJ — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:17:08 GMT

This story leaves so many questions unanswered: When, Where, Why, and How were the children kidnapped? When and How did the family get them back? Where were they being held captive? Were the kidnappers caught and brought to justice? Have the children been able to provide any helpful information about the kidnappers?

A bittersweet reunion

Erin, Chicago, IL — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:01:24 GMT

Repug...
While I completely understand where you are coming from do not think that all Americans are wealthy. That is a myth. We have our own problems and own children to take care of.

What we should do, and other countries, is be teaching these poor countries how to fight for themselves and change.

However, I work very hard for what I do have and I am not going to continue to pay taxes to help those who are living like animals. (meaning the criminals) The good people need to band together and rid their country of the problems.

A bittersweet reunion

angela jones — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:04:11 GMT

the idea of adopting an entire family is interesting....$50,000.00 for an adoption of a child is one figure stated, some it appears paid more....i wonder how far$50,000.00 us dollars would go ....why not just support the entire family, build them a home, get them started in some sort of business or opportunity to be self sustaining. If we are really concerned about what is in the best interests of the children, unless the parents are blatantly abusive, children are happiest with their parents in their culture even if their standard of living isnt what we think is acceptable.

A bittersweet reunion

Theresa Rhinevault, Austin, TX — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:55:05 GMT

this story was sad and made me upset.
So..many kids like in my country suffer from lack of education.
Like I am here in United State, working hard, to help 12 (6 nieces and 6 nephews) for their education, theirs dream to be a better future.
I even starfing and have to survive for my self, to save money to help them. Why dont others people can help the kids who have a big dream like my nieces and nephews, where is the kids hungry to go to schools where the parents cant efford to pay.
Its for 12 kids like I did now, cost me 1500 USD/year, I wish all the time that I can have more money so...my nieces and nephews can also have more education like extra curriculer. Dont waste time for nothing, if you like to adopt kids, why dont you just help the kids like my nieces and nephews who realy wants go to school very bad.

A bittersweet reunion

SJ, ILL — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:15:10 GMT

have u ever notice alot of this misery is in poor countries that ARE CATHOLIC! having lots kids and letting someone else (socialistically) take care of them...like the Good Book says, I guess..

A bittersweet reunion

LYNETTE — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:57:58 GMT

MY DAUGHTER IS DOING SOME CLINICAL WORK THERE WITH MY 6YR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER. HOW CONCERNED SHOULD I BE WITH THE KIDNAPPING ISSUES? IM VERY SCARED AFTER READING THESE ARTICLES. PLEASE RESPOND.

A bittersweet reunion

Melody , WV — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:20:55 GMT

I also would like to know where the children were during their 5 months of captivity.

A bittersweet reunion

Gary Lankford Gulfport, Ms. — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:03:40 GMT

I find this very interesting. We have been working in Jalapa, Guatemala for six years now. We work with two missions for children in the city of Jalapa. We support both financially with our ministry paying rent on the building of one. Expensive, but worth it.

A bittersweet reunion

VeymerTimes Boston Mass. — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:25:59 GMT

Is Unethical and Inmoral to give money in exchange of a human being...and concerns me to know that everyone who had try and cant, are playing the victim. i guess slavery is legal and alive.It is naive to belive that crime only happens in guatemala,have you been in New York for that matter?.

A bittersweet reunion

jaime — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:00:44 GMT

Why don't we take care of the children in america? This country of ours has so many children that need homes and food and better schooling. We need to take care of america frist befor we take on the problems of other countries.

A bittersweet reunion

L.Cahill — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:43:34 GMT

Yes, very informative; but I can see the unbelieve from all the readers. Yes, ignorance and the poverty of this nations create this problemas, ..but what is to blame for the phornograpy, abortion, drug use, loose morality...that Americans run away from, by vacationing in other countries?? aren't entertainment seekers for an "inmoral" accesable living? yes, take care of our problems first, (charity begins at home).

A bittersweet reunion

Gerry, Seattle, WA — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 05:20:56 GMT

Many Americans want to adopt "families" of children, but the costs are extremely high and prohibitive. That's the huge obstacle. Our government, and many foreign ones, require a substantial income before a family is allowed to do this.
About the question of just supporting a family rather than adoption--that is a riduculous question. People want to adopt because they want to raise children for petes sake. They want a family, not to run a global charity. Use some thinking skills. How many couples that you know would rather support domestic or foreign children in lieu of having a family?

A bittersweet reunion

Emil P. Swiatek — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:10:18 GMT

With all the entrepenereal monies going down to Guatemala from the USA, and the likes of foreign banana and coffee 'fincas' throughout Guatemala, the "Banana Republic", I am so glad that ML from IL could point the finger at the 'Catholic" population without considering the reasons why poverty is so high in Guatemala? Should we also read the four volume set of abuses outlined in the internal genocide of the indigenous Indian population of Guatemala in the '80's and '90's with the monied support of the US government? So much of our US history is interconnected with some pretty scary foreign policy matters not only for Guatemala but also other Central and South American countries, let alone Mexico.
I would suggest ML from IL travel to a Third World nation to see what poverty is and how it affects the lives of young children.