More about Joshua

More about Joshua
from Flip

Joshua came to Florida with $10. I tried to buy him some food but Josh wouldn't let anyone buy him food. He bought his own. When a collection was taken up to help the Keys children who were arrested on March 23 for trying to take water to Terri, Joshua gave $5.60.

The reporters were saying it was dangerous to have kids out at the hospice. I contend that the kids are a lot safer here with their moms, dads, elders and deacons than if they had been left home alone with Oprah, the soaps, and the Simpsons. Our kids are learning that life is more than just about them. They're learning that life has purpose.

Here is an email response we received 3-30

RS wrote:

I'm not a member of your group though I support what you do. I found your site from an article on the Internet about Joshua Heldreth and his arrest outside Terri Schiavo's hospice.

Josh wasn't the only person arrested trying to take water to Terri but from what I have seen, he's about the youngest. When I saw the picture of this ten-year-old in a Jesus Christ T-shirt, handcuffed and being arrested outside the hospice, all I could think was how proud his parents must be. He didn't get through to help Terri, but I suspect his courageous act of love touched the hearts of many of the people who saw his photo and story in the news and on the Internet.

Josh and his family ought to know that there are a whole lot of people who read about what he did, we thank him for trying, and we're proud of him too. He's right, God is with him.

Below is an article on Josh from his hometown newspaper that appeared Saturday.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/11235209.htm

Kannapolis boy arrested trying to help Schiavo

10-year-old tried to take water to Terri Schiavo, faces charge

MELISSA MANWARE
Staff Writer

A 10-year-old Kannapolis boy was arrested in Florida on Friday when he attempted to take a glass of water to Terri Schiavo.

Kathy Heldreth said her son knew he'd never get to Schiavo's bedside and that he'd be arrested, but he wanted to take a stand for what he believes in.

The boy is among several children and numerous adult protesters charged with trespassing this week outside the hospice where Schiavo has been living without food or water since March 18.
The Observer is not naming the boy because he is a minor.

Heldreth said the boy, her oldest child, went there with his father and other members of Operation Save America.

Late Friday, she said she had not spoken with her son since his arrest and talked to her husband only briefly before his cell phone battery died.

"His heart had been moved by her. He was just so upset," she said. "He'd been saying he'd like to take her an ice cube because he thought her mouth would be really dry by now."
Heldreth said her family has been part of Operation Save America, a group that speaks out against abortion and homosexuality, for years. She and her husband honeymooned at an Operation Save America event, she said.

The family has been praying for Schiavo three or four times a day, she said. When her son and husband got the opportunity to go to Florida, she said, they felt as if it was something they ought to do.

"I think it's good that he is walking out his faith," she said about her son. "It helps his faith grow to take a stand for what he knows is wrong."

The boy, who is homeschooled, wants to be a pastor when he grows up, she said. His father talked to him before he tried to take water to Schiavo and, the mother said, he understood what he was doing and what would probably happen.

She said he was released from jail a few hours after being handcuffed and arrested. She said he was with a pastor he knew when he went onto the hospice property and was taken into custody.
Heldreth said their family moved to Kannapolis about a year ago to be near Flip Benham, Operation Save America's leader. Benham, who was arrested for trespassing on Wednesday and released Friday, said he too is proud of the boy.

"He pleaded with his dad to let him bring some cold water to Miss Terri," Benham said. "We were weeping over how brave he was."