As we commemorate International Women’s Day today, I invite you to take a moment to consider the heightened vulnerability of women and children in Haiti right now. Please continue to pray and keep Haiti at the forefront of conversation with those in your sphere of influence:

NY Times - With Haitian Schools in Ruins, Children in Limbo

“Children staying in the camps face trials beyond laboring in the streets. Health workers in the camps are reporting a rising number of young rape victims, including girls as young as 12. Alison Thompson, an Australian nurse and documentary director who volunteers at a tent clinic on the grounds of the Pétionville Club, said she had cared for a 14-year-old girl who was raped recently in the camp.”

“‘The entire structure of the lives of these children has been upended, and now they’re dealing with the predators living next to them,’ Ms. Thompson said.”

“The government here has recognized the urgency of reopening schools to provide some structure to those picking up the pieces of their lives. But its efforts to do so have faltered. Officials declared schools open in unaffected areas as of Feb. 1; some students have trickled into those schools, but many have not, say education specialists.”

There is much on all of our hearts for prayer today… First to mind comes the people of Haiti - along with all those around the world who are relatives of loved ones in Haiti, waiting for news, wondering, feeling helpless and wanting to be able to do something to bring help and hope in the midst of chaos that defies description. Also on our hearts on those who are able to be present and to bring help right now - aid workers, doctors, nurses, faith leaders, government agencies… I definitely recommend choosing an organization to serve as an ambassador for the help you wish you could presently give. Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision, Compassion International, Red Cross, along with many church denomination relief agencies (check UMC (with whom I went to Haiti in 1998), PCUSA, PCA, among many others) are all on the ground and can be trusted to use your funds well.

Have other recommendations? Please leave a note of guidance in the comments.

Also very much on our hearts here at IJM are a few critical operations at hand. I want to bring one to your attention for your prayers tonight. In a South Asian city for whom we have often waged much prayer, there is a rescue operation unfolding tonight, and as is sometimes the case, there are many ways this operation could be thwarted. The lives, dignity, and freedom of approximately 15 children are at stake in this operation. Please pray for:

-shrewd wisdom on the part of our staff team
-excellent collaboration with the authorities
-courage for the children as the operation unfolds
-safety for all involved

What is on your mind and heart tonight - how can we be in prayer?

The IJM team in Cambodia and all of us at HQ here in DC are so very grateful to you for your prayers for last week’s trial. We were especially concerned that there would be delays, and that the girls would be so intimidated by both their trafficker and by the potential presence of family members that they would not feel safe to tell the truth of the violent abuse they have endured. We asked you to pray for these concerns - that the trial would be swift and free of corruption, and that the girls would have great courage.

Your prayers have been answered in full force!
The trial went forward with no delays, and the verdict is scheduled to be announced Christmas Day. Please do pray for the panel of judges in their decision, as well as for the girls and for the IJM Cambodia team on Christmas Day as they receive the verdict.

Below is a report from one of our staff members detailing how the two girls did at trial - clearly, your prayers were so known to these girls. We cannot thank you enough!(Names have been removed to protect the identity of the girls and guard the security of this on-going case)

“The girls did wonderfully with testifying. We were a bit worried at the beginning of the trial, as [the 9-year-old] was terribly anxious and quickly in tears as soon as she saw [the trafficker] walk in the room. I truly believe that it was through the many prayers that were being lifted up that she began to noticeably relax and calm down during the testimonies of both [the trafficker] and [the 16 year-old victim]. While [the16-years-old] testified, [the 9-year old] stood up and watched her closely through her testimony and then followed suit with her own strong testimony. She later told me-- “At first I was crying when I saw [the trafficker] because I was so afraid, but when I saw how brave and strong [the 16 year-old] was in her testimony, I decided- I can do that too!”

“We can also praise God that [the 9 year-old’s] mother did not show up to the trial as she had feared.”

Whenever possible, I like to share with you rescue stories as told by the very people who are daily living on the front lines of our work. Below is a case update sent to me by Crystal Sprague - she has taken this year to give of her skills and serve in a volunteer capacity as one of IJM’s Aftercare Fellows in the Philippines.

Feel free to post any questions you might have for Crystal by using the “comment” feature below - she will be encouraged by the dialogue with you!
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Testimonies of God answering prayer are not uncommon in the work done here in the Cebu office, nor in other IJM field offices around the world. But I don’t always see them or hear about them firsthand.  Even when we do not immediately see the answers to our prayers, we continue to persevere in the work because God’s Word speaks of God’s desire that his people fight for justice and uphold the cause of the weak and oppressed. 

But the work can be hard—very hard. Even after a rescue, many clients have a very hard time adjusting to their new lives of freedom. Some have been trafficked by family members and can’t go home because they will be pressured to go back into the brothels. Most rescued girls come from backgrounds of abuse and neglect—to teach them that they are worth love and respect is a very long and hard process.

But in just the right timing, God very often brings a breakthrough carrying much needed encouragement; a testimony that reminds us that there is much more going on under the surface than we know or realize; a testimony that gives us a much needed push to continue the fight.

This past weekend IJM assisted a police task force in an anti-trafficking operation against a well known bar with powerful owners.  The police did a great job gathering evidence and doing the background investigation, however, the night of the operation didn’t go entirely as hoped. 

Read more...

Friends, I am so thrilled to let you know that we have experienced an unprecedented breakthrough in our work in one of our South Asia anti-sex trafficking offices. If you were with us at the Global Prayer Gathering last spring, you will remember spending an evening focused on the work of justice in a particularly dark and violent city. This week we have experienced an important victory in that city and we believe your work of prayer has been a great catalyst. One of the major figures in that local trafficking network, a particularly violent criminal accused of murder, gang rape, and other forms of deadly brutality, has been arrested. This particular arrest has now resulted in significant information about other key trafficking figures and we expect it will lead to the rescue of many, many more victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Again, this breakthrough is completely unprecedented for our work in this city.

Please continue to join us in earnest prayer for this situation and this place.
- Pray for wisdom and integrity for the local officials as they proceed in this case. They have been inspirational partners to us in this past week and we are so grateful for their collaboration.
- Pray for healing for those victims who are now in aftercare and for rescue for those who still await it.
- Pray that the trafficking network would begin to crumble and this city would experience significant transformation.
- And pray that God would change the hearts of those who intend great evil and harm.

Again we would love to offer our team in this city your prayers and words of encouragement through the comments below.

One of our four South Asia teams has another rescue operation launching tonight with the local authorities, in just a matter of hours from now. We would so appreciate your prayers. Here are the details we can share at this point:

The operation centers on rice mill where we believe there to be 16 laborers enslaved, including a few children who have been forced to work at the mill.  The owner is a well connected political leader, and has previously been tipped off in anticipation of operations at his facility.  Please pray for these needs of the team:

• Good cooperation with the government
• For God to restrain the hand of the owner from anything he may do to try to thwart justice in this case
• For God to prevent the owner from receiving word about the operation in advance

Thank you so much for your prayers. Feel free to leave notes of encouragement and prayer (in the comments) for the rescue operation team as they move forward into the intensity of the day ahead.

Friends, we have so much joy in bringing you the news that our team in Cebu has just rescued eight trafficked girls.

The testimonies of each girl clearly point to the suspect as the trafficker. Their testimony states that the suspect deceived the girls into believing that they would simply be attending a party in a hotel.  However, when they arrived at the hotel, the suspected trafficker sold them for sexual services to customers. The suspect was arrested by the Cebu local police after being caught in the act of selling the girls for sex. The transaction was caught on video making for a particularly strong case.

Please pray that the case will move forward without roadblocks, and especially pray for each of these girls as they are cared for in the aftermath of this trauma. Please also pray for the suspected trafficker, that God will move her to repentance and restoration.

If you would like to leave a comment below of encouragement to our staff and to these rescued girls, we would love that!

You may be aware that IJM is working to expand and deepen our relationships with local churches throughout the developing world. We have always held the conviction that the Church is God’s ultimate plan for bringing rescue and justice to the oppressed, and every day is a learning process as we seek to grow in fellowship with churches not only here in North America but all throughout the world.

IJM Cambodia has made significant strides over this past week in their work with churches in the capital city of Phnom Penh. Below is an excerpt from a report we received from staff team on the ground:

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At a round table this past week with pastors from one of the largest churches in Cambodia, representatives from IJM’s field office in Phnom Penh opened discussions on launching an expanded initiative to bring the biblical mandate of seeking justice to the attention of Christians throughout Cambodia.

Field Office intern Karen Genzink has been working for months to lay the groundwork for this initiative and hopes that the meeting last week was the first of many to engage the Cambodian church in ways that are increasingly robust and sustainable.

IJM Cambodia will lead trainings to equip pastors on how to engage issues of sexual exploitation within their communities - enabling churches to serve as a resource to confront this challenge. Genzink also looks forward to sharing more deeply the mission of IJM throughout the body of Christ in Cambodia with the ultimate goal of witnessing the Holy Spirit move this part of the global church to action on behalf of those who are suffering as a result of human trafficking.

“We have to talk about the realities of oppression and the hope of biblical justice if we expect to see real transformation,” she says. “The church will be the lasting change.”

She says as more people advocate for change and justice in their own neighborhoods, the problem of oppression can be combated. The work has just begun for IJM Cambodia, but Genzink is confident that the road ahead is worth it. “This has the potential to be powerful.”

We have been closely updated by our staff in the Philippines regarding the impending typhoon (set to hit later this week, perhaps Thursday), and also the dire conditions that many in the Philippines (including our staff and Director) are still suffering through after last month’s typhoon. Scores of people have lost all of their possessions, if not also family members and friends. Please do keep this nation in your prayers this week as yet another devastating storm looms.

Reuters – Philippines starts evacuation ahead of new typhoon:
“The Philippines began evacuating thousands of people in northern areas prone to floods and landslides on Tuesday ahead of a powerful typhoon that has gained strength over the Pacific, officials said.”

Other news of note today from IJM casework countries:

Manila Bulletin – Andrey Sawchenko addresses Cebu’s sex trafficking problem: “The local branch of international human rights organization, International Justice Mission (IJM) lamented Tuesday the continuing problem of human trafficking in the Philippines, including Cebu, despite the country’s fading out from the international sex tourism radar.”

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/10/19/guatemala.police/” title="CNN">CNN – Two killed in attack on Guatemalan police: “Lethal assaults on police and prison guards in Guatemala continued over the weekend, with an attack on a national police patrol that killed two officers and left one wounded, authorities said.”

AP – Full results of AIDS vaccine in Thailand show drug is of “modest help”: “Fresh results from the world’s first successful test of an experimental AIDS vaccine confirm that it is only marginally effective. Yet, the findings are exciting to scientists, who think they may show how to make a better vaccine.”

One of our teams in South Asia is preparing for a large operation. There are significant variables that could make or break this opportunity to bring rescue - please pray that every detail falls into place, that there will be seamless cooperation and clarity of vision amongst all who have power in this matter, and most of all, that many, many people will be freed. Please also pray that those responsible for these crimes will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

We’ll be sure to let the team know you are praying - we know it makes a difference to them in the midst of exhausting, often discouraging work. We know we serve a God who loves justice and who is justice, and through God’s mighty hand we will persevere to victory. Thank you for joining us and strengthening us.

I’ll look forward to posting whatever secure details I can share after the fact.

IJM staff around the world have been moved to tears and worship because of your outpouring of prayers and thanksgiving following the rescues in South Asia and Cambodia. Our words are inadequate to express just how deeply your partnership in prayer impacts the daily work of rescue, but I want you to see what our teams in the field are saying about the impact you have on them and their ability to persevere:

FROM SOUTH ASIA:

“Our team is vastly encouraged to see so many people praying for us. We often go through these prayers in lieu of the normal morning devotion on the day of the operation, and after the fact. These prayers make our staff understand that they are not alone, that there are so many people who care about the risks the staff are taking.  It reminds us that God is big, he’s powerful, and he is with us as we take on the challenges of the day.  It helps people overcome their fears and remember that this is God’s work and we are joining him in it.  It’s like a huge crowd of people cheering for our team to win the fight.  It gives us heart to be determined and strong and unafraid.

FROM CAMBODIA:

“We have never worked for an organization like this where each day hundreds and thousands of people in the U.S. and around the world are praying for our work… We all are humbled and encouraged by the awesome response to our needs and these victories, and we recognize that the all of the stories of rescue and hope point not to us, but to our Heavenly Father, who is the God of rescue and hope.”

“News of the prayers and praise on the blog helped to remind us that we were not alone.  While we know that God is always right there with us providing strength and guidance…in the heat of the moment, it can be easy to give into difficulties and challenges and to succumb to feeling as though things are hopeless.  We received word of all the support on the IJM Institute page during one of these moments and so we were so thankful of God’s timing to remind us that the work of His justice is something we are all in together!

Monday, July 13 is a critical day for the case of Yuri, a client of ours in Peru.
8 year-old Yuri was brutally raped and murdered, and many years later, her family is still battling to see true justice won against her perpetrators. Key forensic evidence was lost early in the case and there has been much corruption on every level, but Yuri’s parents have never stopped believing that justice can rule the day.

I met Yuri’s family in the winter of 2006 while visiting our office in Peru. I will never forget their courage, their devastation, their resolve. Yuri’s attorneys - our IJM staff in Peru - are heros, and I ask you to pray for them as they continue this tireless fight against all odds.

July 13th, this coming Monday, is the final hearing in Yuri’s case, after many years. Please pray that justice will win, that corruption will be cast to the wayside. Please pray for Yuri’s family, for IJM’s attorneys (Paz Y Esperanza), for the court’s justices, for the other attorneys involved on both sides, and for those who know they commited this crime.

Pray for clarity, pray for conviction, and most of all, pray for hope.

Read more...

Calling on you once again to join us in prayer.
We have uncovered a location (specifics must be withheld for now) where several dozen women and children are being held and offered for sale. It is a large, professionally-run facility but we have been able to infiltrate and gather most of the evidence needed to compell the authorities to move forward with an operation.

There are several significant barriers looming and we need your prayers beseeching our God of justice to break them down.

Every day counts. Here is how you can be praying:

- Pray that the local police are successful in obtaining the final piece of evidence necessary to move to the next phase of this operation
- Pray for the authority figures who has are responsible for moving the operation forward from start to finish - pray that they will act decisively and with courage
- Pray that no critical information is leaked, and that those running the facility do not grow suspicious of the impending operation
- Pray for the women and children who are being abused hour by hour, day by day - that God’s presence would be known to them, that they would enter a new life of healing and restoration
- Pray that this case would be a landmark, a precedent-setting victory in this nation
- Pray for the perpetrators - that the Holy Spirit would bring conviction to their hearts, a ceasing of their abuses, and vision for a new way to live
- Pray for wisdom, clarity, and strength for our staff in this country

For IJM, our work of fighting violent injustice and helping broken public justice systems work for the poor could easily be summed up in just one word: 

Story.

Story of deception, story of redemption.
Story of wrong, story of rescue.
Story of paralyzed despair, story of catalyzed hope.
Story of the millions, story of the one.

For us it is critical that abstract statistics and macro systems of injustice be grabbed and translated into a clear, compelling, lazer-focused story of the One. One life that has been transformed. One life held accountable for wrongs. One life redeemed. One life rescued that ripples out to transform millions of lives: your life, my life, and the global neighborhood God has entrusted into our care.

And so, in short, I’m excited to tell you about a ground-breaking event happening in Chicago this October - in partnership with Zondervan, many Chicago-area churches, and phenomenal story-tellers from all over, my long-time friend Ben Arment is launching ”Story. I absolutely cannot wait.

Will you be there?

Last night one of our teams in South Asia executed a massive operation -- THIRTY-FOUR exploited girls were removed from multiple facilities and six perpetrators were apprehended.

Please pray for these girls as our staff works with the government to document their testimonies and secure their rehabilitation and safety. Please also pray for the perpetrators as they undergo the process of being restrained from their crimes and come under the authority of the law.

If you have a word of encouragement for the team or for these girls as they enter new lives of safety and freedom, please feel free to post in the comments below.