MN - Beau Shroyer, Wife of Detroit Lakes missionary killed in Angola arrested in connection to his death

[Snoopster]

The family would have known all about the conditions before they signed up, and they could easily find out more, just as we have here. All they needed to do was ask other missionaries. It was never going to be like home, nor could they make it like home. They would have known in advance most Angolans have nothing, they might be targets for petty theft, and security is problematic. They could have thought through the implications even of those 3 facts. Strangely, they must have thought either/or a) the reports weren't true; b) they would be unassailable; c) other folks' difficulties wouldn't apply to them; d) they could "embrace the culture", though they'd never traveled abroad to be sure about this (things got tricky right off the bat in the most efficient country in the world, Germany); e) "where there's a will, there's a way"; f) faith would take care of them and keep them safe.
IMO faith, whether secular or religious, is helped along with due diligence and understanding of your own limitations. And common sense. Overt opinion-making here by me.

I just wanted to point out that the problem they had in Germany wasn't 'right off the bat'. This happened this summer as they were coming back from a trip to the US. They had already lived abroad for more than 2 years. Surely they were more adaptable than that by this time? I suspect that was a 'story' that exaggerated the challenge to show a 'life lesson' and that faith will win out.

(That's not to say that delayed flights, and on a particularly long trip such as this, wouldn't be a challenge, especially when traveling with children/teens.)

 

[adot0902]

I just wanted to point out that the problem they had in Germany wasn't 'right off the bat'. This happened this summer as they were coming back from a trip to the US. They had already lived abroad for more than 2 years. Surely they were more adaptable than that by this time? I suspect that was a 'story' that exaggerated the challenge to show a 'life lesson' and that faith will win out.

(That's not to say that delayed flights, and on a particularly long trip such as this, wouldn't be a challenge, especially when traveling with children/teens.)

I think a lot of what they are saying is "a little exaggerated" including the actual violence they are experiencing on a "daily basis".. MOO IMO

 

[Snoopster]

Has anyone found a FB page for Jackie? One of the Daily Mail photos is supposedly from FB, but I can't find it.

I noticed that Beau didn't have much of a presence on social media. And he coincidentally just set up his FB page 10 days before his death. His first post was on Oct 15 and then he made 4 posts over the remaining time.

 

[Marie A]

I’m not convinced that she isn’t being falsely accused.
I haven’t seen details yet.
Normally I’m not a sceptic but in this case I am.

IMHO

There’s a little more than a little corruption in Angola and convictions despite lack of evidence.

Angola: Immediately release activists wrongfully jailed for one year and denied medical care

Angolan authorities must immediately release four activists wrongfully detained for one year whose health has drastically deteriorated behind bars, Amnesty International said.

www.amnesty.org

Eight years for falling asleep in a parked car: welcome to Angola's penal system

Prisoners detained for years on minor charges accuse the police of using violence to extract false confessions. Maka Angola reports

www.theguardian.com

Parents of Palakkad native seek help from Centre to free son from Angola prison

PALAKKAD: The parents of Palakkad native Ranjith- A Ravi and Chithra V M - are running from pillar to post to save their son who has been lodged in the Central

www.newindianexpress.com

Angola: Grave Police Abuses Against Activists

Angolan security forces have carried out more than a dozen unlawful killings and numerous other serious abuses against political activists and peaceful protesters since January 2023.

www.hrw.org

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Technical Difficulties

 

[Inthedetails]

I just wanted to point out that the problem they had in Germany wasn't 'right off the bat'. This happened this summer as they were coming back from a trip to the US. They had already lived abroad for more than 2 years. Surely they were more adaptable than that by this time? I suspect that was a 'story' that exaggerated the challenge to show a 'life lesson' and that faith will win out.

(That's not to say that delayed flights, and on a particularly long trip such as this, wouldn't be a challenge, especially when traveling with children/teens.)

100% agree. As pointed out, Americans would encounter little to no problems communicating with Germans, especially those working in customer service at an airport. They can speak fluent English!

But, it's content to share about their calling and encountering strangers in strange lands who help them, making their mission work seem all the more destined. It's a good story with a lesson.

My opinion only, having some experience with this type of community.

jmo

 

[mickey2942]

Interesting. When I originally read the article, I actually did suspect the wife. I didn't say anything, as she was supposedly a victim.

Believe me, if my husband sold everything and moved my kids and I to Africa, I....of course, I would have never gone. No thanks. Plenty of people who need help here.

Maybe it was self defense? Or insanity? I would completely understand.

 

[RickshawFan]

Are you sure... I don't think it's photoshopped I think it's a very cheap phone cam. Why do you think all the photos are photoshopped, I'm not seeing it?

Check how the figures are cutouts. You can see the smooth outlines around their figures. Those boys on the right are add ons.

 

[adot0902]

Check how the figures are cutouts. You can see the smooth outlines around their figures. Those boys on the right are add ons.

Ohh yeah I see what you are saying. But that’s not photoshop. That’s bad Wi-Fi, bad phone service, and bad phones. It just has that appearance of fake, it’s not I don’t have proof other than I have a bunch of missionaries in my circle (don’t ask, small town, weird family we all have a story) and all their pictures look like this. Its just low pixelated picture

 

[Inthedetails]

Ohh yeah I see what you are saying. But that’s not photoshop. That’s bad Wi-Fi, bad phone service, and bad phones. It just has that appearance of fake, it’s not I don’t have proof other than I have a bunch of missionaries in my circle (don’t ask, small town, weird family we all have a story) and all their pictures look like this. Its just low pixelated picture

Agree. Same experience.

jmo

 

[Ontario Mom]

Interesting. When I originally read the article, I actually did suspect the wife. I didn't say anything, as she was supposedly a victim.

Believe me, if my husband sold everything and moved my kids and I to Africa, I....of course, I would have never gone. No thanks. Plenty of people who need help here.

Maybe it was self defense? Or insanity? I would completely understand.

I haven't followed closely but the MSM reports I've read state she's been arrested "in connection to" the murder. None of them I've seen say that she's been charged with his murder, but in connection to. Has their been any update in the actual charges against her?

 

[Chimera]

Check how the figures are cutouts. You can see the smooth outlines around their figures. Those boys on the right are add ons.

Esp. the one with the green hoodie whose shoulders and head appear larger than the one in front of him.
Omo.

 

[Inthedetails]

I haven't followed closely but the MSM reports I've read state she's been arrested "in connection to" the murder. None of them I've seen say that she's been charged with his murder, but in connection to. Has their been any update in the actual charges against her?

You know as much as we do at this point.

jmo

 

[airportwoman]

This is what SIM, the missionary agency, had to say about it.

Update Nov 2024 | SIM USA

www.simusa.org

I have also seen absolutely nothing about their extended families - parents, siblings, etc.

 

[RickshawFan]

I just wanted to point out that the problem they had in Germany wasn't 'right off the bat'. This happened this summer as they were coming back from a trip to the US. They had already lived abroad for more than 2 years. Surely they were more adaptable than that by this time? I suspect that was a 'story' that exaggerated the challenge to show a 'life lesson' and that faith will win out.

(That's not to say that delayed flights, and on a particularly long trip such as this, wouldn't be a challenge, especially when traveling with children/teens.)

For me, it makes it even MORE of a red flag if that happened after 2 years of life in Africa. She made it sound as though they'd never traveled, had any experience with airlines, never heard a foreign language....

 

[RickshawFan]

I haven't followed closely but the MSM reports I've read state she's been arrested "in connection to" the murder. None of them I've seen say that she's been charged with his murder, but in connection to. Has their been any update in the actual charges against her?

"In connection" would be English phraseology versus American. Very common terms abroad.

 

[LittleSeaTree]

I found the SM posts very saccharine, glossy. They reminded me of Jennifer Hart and her wife's post. She was the woman who drove her family off a cliff. She posted about her lovely family, and photographed them being lovely. In reality, they were starving and none of it was true.
I also read between the lines on the articles.
Being helpless at a German airport—and mentioning they had no way to communicate with Germans—seems like a step in the direction of "this family is going to find it very difficult in a foreign environment". Unresourceful. FWIW most Germans speak English. It's a required subject in school, and if your plane gets delayed, you flag down an airline employee or go to the ticket counter to get it handled. No need for German. Par for the course.
IMO DV or an affair. Garden variety except for the Angola angle.
It could have been a gun, a knife, or, I'm thinking, a machete. They are more common elsewhere than in the US.

Oh gosh, yes, I finally looked at her Instagram. Very glossy, love that word here! I was feeling some serious white savior syndrome. I’m really cynical, though, so that could definitely be unfair of me! MOO

 

[Snoopster]

I've been wondering about the terms of the mission. Based on previously posted news articles and Jackie's Instagram account, I had the understanding that they went back to the US for 3.5 months. They had a 'debrief' after this initial 'term' and decided that they wanted to go back. Maybe one of them didn't really want to go back. And, after a re-infusion of American culture and life, that might have been bridge too far for one or more of the family members. Perhaps it produced family discord once they arrived back in Angola.

 

[Snoopster]

Sorry for so many posts in a row, but I've had another thought. The talk from the beginning was that they were going to set up a youth ministry in a rural area of Angola. At some point they described the progress as slow. They were given some land for the purpose of the youth ministry, yet we are now 3 years on and they have nothing to show for it. They've talked about the orange farm next to it that suffers from theft. But how would that affect a youth ministry building if they built one?

They set up a weekly soup dinner for kids outside their home in the city of Lubongo and Jackie apparently has befriended the shoeshine boys that hang out outside the mall. She took them to the cinema one night and another day she bought them some treats.
So where is the mission activity? What has Beau been doing? He wasn't very present online so it's difficult to know.

I'm just trying to get my head around what they have been doing for three years. (Of course raising and schooling 5 kids is not a small task, but I presume they had a couple of people helping with domestic tasks.)

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Photoshopped. Kids have been randomly added on.

Now I'm suspicious about EVERYTHING.

hmmmmm. gotta look at this more closely.

 

[adot0902]

Sorry for so many posts in a row, but I've had another thought. The talk from the beginning was that they were going to set up a youth ministry in a rural area of Angola. At some point they described the progress as slow. They were given some land for the purpose of the youth ministry, yet we are now 3 years on and they have nothing to show for it. They've talked about the orange farm next to it that suffers from theft. But how would that affect a youth ministry building if they built one?

They set up a weekly soup dinner for kids outside their home in the city of Lubongo and Jackie apparently has befriended the shoeshine boys that hang out outside the mall. She took them to the cinema one night and another day she bought them some treats.
So where is the mission activity? What has Beau been doing? He wasn't very present online so it's difficult to know.

I'm just trying to get my head around what they have been doing for three years. (Of course raising and schooling 5 kids is not a small task, but I presume they had a couple of people helping with domestic tasks.)

Another interesting fact. Angola’s population is majorly Christian already. Now I know ministries do a variety of things and not just proselytize, however just another interesting fact to add. It’s not like they had opposition to building Christian spaces it was probably fairly welcoming and with a large Christian population you’d think there be more activity. I agree with everything you posted.