Enter, Month 2!

I am happy to say that I have officially hit, and now passed, the one-month mark here in South Asia, and it’s a great feeling. The monsoon has come and the city has cooled off a bit, which is fantastic. Though I have to say that Phoenix’s “monsoon season” did precious little to prepare me for an actual monsoon season! Thankfully, a kind intern who came before left rain boots at my apartment, which I am eternally grateful for…even if they couldn’t quite protect me from the knee deep water forming a moat around my apartment last week!  So this picture was taken just outside our office… believe me, the water was twice as deep outside my apartment, but I didn’t have the guts to stand there with the water coming INTO my rain boots any longer than I had to!

 I want to thank so many of you for your kind emails and updates on life back home… it really is an encouragement. Many have asked if my time thus far has been what I expected it to be, and to be honest, I am not completely sure how to answer. In a sense, it has been what I expected…there are the anticipated cultural adjustments and “new everything” that is exciting and overwhelming at the same time. I love the small victories that come with learning a new culture… like finding a guy who will sell you six perfect bananas for Rs. 10, the local price! Or flagging down a rickshaw and finding your own way home for the first time and not getting (too) lost… or getting caught in the monsoon and actually having an umbrella on hand.  The simplicity of what can make my day here is refreshing to say the least!  A view of my neighborhood from my window...

 

And yet, so much of what I have experienced so far has been more than I expected. For example, the dedication of the staff here at IJM is remarkable.  It is amazing to see individuals from such different disciplines- investigators, lawyers, social workers, communication specialists, administrative workers- bringing the gifts and talents God has given them in a unified effort to make a difference in one of the largest problems on the planet: human trafficking. These people face a great deal of frustration in their day-to-day work- seemingly endless court delays, tip-offs prior to operations, gross lack of resources available for survivors- frustrations that appear avoidable, yet they are reality of life here. Each morning we meet together for collective prayer before we begin the day and it’s no wonder why… the work being done is utterly dependent on God.  

Unfortunately, I would also say the immensity of the issue of human trafficking and sexual exploitation has also been more than I expected. I recently had the unique experience of visiting a brothel in one of the red light areas; an event I continue to process. As you might guess, it is absolutely a different world, one where poverty is rampant and the value of human life is not highly regarded. Walking the narrow halls in the brothel, I was shocked at the normality of life there: children toddling around, people chatting, washing clothes, cooking. It was as if the selling of someone’s body was as normal as selling vegetables…simply a way of life, a livelihood. And this is when the problem just feels huge...untouchable, even.

And yet, I have gleaned some much-needed tangible hope during my visits to the group home for minored girls who have been rescued out of the brothels. I am convinced that in the end, all it takes is one girl. If we can make a difference in the life of one girl- to hold back the hand of her oppressors and give her an opportunity for healing and a future- then we have certainly touched the problem.

As for a specific work update, the end of July is quickly approaching, and with it, my deadline for the Protocol Project!  Thank you for your prayers… the Sister whom I am working with has been incredibly gracious and we are slowly but surely making our way through standards of care for the group home. I ask for your continued prayer as there is still a significant amount of conversation, brainstorming, and editing to be done in the next ten days or so!

Please also pray for my and my colleagues’ physical health during the monsoon season, which is a particularly difficult time of year to remain well.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any prayer requests, updates, etc. I appreciate your support and prayers so much; I honestly can’t thank you enough.  

love, ann

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