And so it begins!

 For those of you who know me well, you can attest to the fact that transitions are not typically one of my strong points. That said, I give all glory to God that the adjustment to life in South Asia has been quite smooth thus far!  Thank you for your prayers! I am settling in to my new “flat,” pictured at right.  A short ten minute walk through the neighborhood gets me to my office, so I am happily getting to know the area where vendors are a plenty as are street games of cricket (be sure to particularly mind these unless you want to be pelted with a ball much to the shock and humor of the neighborhood boys…lesson learned).  It will also be of benefit to stay clear of the rickshaws, motorcycles, cabs, and cars coming from, literally, any and every direction.

Right now, there are four of us in the flat, though two of the girls are finishing up their year with IJM within the month and will be headed back to the US. While we are pretty snug in our place, it is certainly a blessing to have others to show us the ropes.  A highlight of our new home: the girls have hired on “Auntie” who cooks amazing national food for us!  If you choose to visit me for no other reason than to experience Auntie’s cooking, I assure you, it will be worth it.

It has been great to be at the IJM office and jump right in… I can hardly believe two weeks have almost passed. The staff are all very warm and welcoming as are the other interns.  The social workers have been particularly gracious in answering my never ending questions, and I am learning so much about what aftercare entails for victims of forced prostitution.

I have been privileged to spend a couple afternoons at one of the group homes for minor girls rescued out of the brothels… a truly amazing experience. The girls showed me jewelry they made, taught me the latest and greatest national dance moves, and even gave me a henna tattoo!  I continue to process my time with these girls… Prior to meeting them, child rape for profit was something I read about in a book, and my heart was broken by the stories.  Now I have faces and names to go with those stories, and I have found this to be an even heavier reality. Yet again, I am reminded of the intense urgency of the work of justice.  

I am thankful that I will be spending a great deal of time at this group home in the coming month as I have been assigned a project there. I will be working with our staff and the staff of this home to develop protocols for standards of care. I am very excited to be a part of this particular project as I see the need for foundationally solid care for these survivors, yet I will admit, I feel somewhat overwhelmed with the task. However, as I prepare for the task at hand, I am encouraged by the promise of Isaiah 42:6, “I the LORD have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand.” I’m so thankful for such a beautiful picture of God’s willingness to lead and guide.

Some specific prayer requests…

·      The Protocol Project…that our team would get the information we need and have favor with the group home staff in working together to provide a foundation to the care provided to survivors of forced prostitution

·      The Survivors… holistic healing for these children and women who have experienced incredible trauma at the hands of men

·      Continued health & protection… for me and the rest of the IJM staff

I cannot thank you enough for your partnership with me in this work. It is truly an encouragement to know that I am being prayed for consistently, and I feel so loved by all the kind emails and facebook updates! As always, pass along any prayer needs or awkward moments…surely I can’t be the only one experiencing such a plethora of both these days!

love, ann

Journey to South Asia...

Hello!  Wow, I can hardly believe how the last few weeks have flown by…it’s been an amazing few weeks of quality time spent with people I love (and already miss!). Thank you so much for your continued prayer support. I have certainly felt a peace that has only one source, and while I have enjoyed this time of connecting, I am really excited for what is ahead…

From May 31-June 6, I attended training week at International Justice Mission Headquarters in Washington, DC, which I thoroughly enjoyed! It was absolutely surreal to meet the staff at IJM and see firsthand not only their great vision but also their genuine humility. They are incredibly focused on the task at hand, and it was great to connect with other interns and fellows as well. I have never felt more convinced of the urgency of the work of justice, and I’m so grateful for the privilege of joining an organization dedicated to giving a voice to the voiceless. Gary Haugen, Founder and President of IJM, reminded us during our first day of training that we serve those suffering injustice out of thankful hearts, full of worship for what Christ has done for us. What a beautiful motivation.

I want to share with you about some other points of praise in this journey thus far…what an encouragement to see God already answering prayers!

·      Housing!  As many of you know, this has been a very specific concern for me having never lived alone here in the States, let alone in a completely new country… I am incredibly excited to report I will be taking over a lease to an apartment of an intern who will be leaving as I come.  Even better, another intern will be arriving at the same time, so God has also provided me with a roommate! Done and done.

·      Support! Between one time gifts and monthly support, I have reached my fundraising goal!  This is an incredible blessing, and I am so very humbled by your investment in the work of justice through both prayer and financial giving. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

·      Preparations! My heart has been encouraged in so many ways the past few weeks. Through answered prayers, quality time with family and friends, and time spent in prayer and reading Scripture, God continues to affirm His call for me to go and learn to do justice. As I’ve read through the book of Isaiah, I have been comforted in seeing God’s heart for justice and reminded that He loves those who are suffering far more than I do. I continue to stand in awe that He has allowed me to be a small part in His plan to bring justice, sent out by and with you.

Points of Prayer…

I depart for South Asia on Monday, June 8^th and arrive in my city on June 10^th, 2009. I would appreciate your prayers for all the traveling (safety, connections, luggage, etc) as well as initial adjustments to new everything!

Also, I ask for prayer for my heart… that God would protect it and make it strong as I say my goodbyes, as I enter a new culture and start a new job, as I encounter evil and seek to somehow be a help to those who have been made victims of it. I feel very aware of my inabilities to seek justice on my own. I continue to cling to the promise that “when I am weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).” I don’t know when I last felt so incredibly weak, so I am looking forward to seeing God move!

I hope to be updating you regularly as I journey on… Please, please always feel free to pass along updates on YOU- prayer requests, general life happenings, awkward and ridiculous stories, etc. I’m really looking forward to keeping in touch!

 

love, ann