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.”

Friends, we want to share with you this casework victory in Rwanda from today. Please keep little 2 year old Kissa,* as well as the man who committed this rape against her, and the IJM staff team in your prayers as they move forward to bring the full circle of justice. Pray also that this case would send a strong message to others in this community that rape will not go unpunished. It has been treated with impunity for far too long, turning rape into a pandemic in this nation, and one that not only strips life and dignity, but also fuels the spread of AIDs.

From the IJM Rwanda Team:
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We have a praise report from an ongoing case involving the rape of 2-year old Kissa*. In September of 2009, Kissa was raped in her relative’s home by an older male cousin while she was left unattended. The same day, Kissa told her mother and the mother immediately reported it to the police. Kissa was also examined at a hospital by medical professionals to document the incident. Shortly thereafter, IJM became involved in the case.

Last week, one of our investigators was able to secure an arrest warrant from the Prosecutor’s Office based on medical evidence and witness testimony in the case. Yesterday, this investigator assisted an officer from the Rwandan National Police to track down and arrest the cousin who raped Kissa. The arrest was done in a small village outside Kigali.  A couple of children helped to identify the young man when he denied his identity.  IJM’s investigator and the police spoke briefly to the cousin, and he stated that he had raped the 2-year old girl.  The young man is now in jail and IJM Rwanda will continue to work with the police and prosecutor’s office through the next stages of the case.

*Kissa is a pseudonym

Thank you for your prayers over these past few days for our team in South Asia, the local authorities, the traffickers and brothel keepers, and most especially, the girls who have been enduring such immense suffering. You joined us in fervent prayer for an operation about which we could give you very few details - not the continent, not the timing. But we can now tell you that one of the IJM South Asia teams, in their largest operation to date, secured a landmark victory this weekend.

Early Saturday morning, IJM and the local police in one particular South Asian city conducted simultaneous operations at two brothels, freeing approximately 30 trafficking victims, among them girls as young as 13.  The rescued girls and women are now receiving care from IJM social workers.

Seven suspected perpetrators have been taken into police custody, and police have locked the brothels to prevent their re-opening.

Please continue to pray for each of the girls, as well as for the perpetrators.
We are so grateful, beyond what we can even express. Thank you for joining us in this work!

“These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.” -Proverbs 1:18-19

“Unjust gain… takes away the life of its possessors.” Join with me in praying for those who seek unjust gain through the purchase, sale, and pillage of women and girls.

Begin with me tonight in praying for a particular group of brothel owners and traffickers who are harboring, under violence and for the purpose of profitable rape, a large number of women and young girls who desperately desire freedom. Pray that these brothel owners and traffickers would be unaware, despite any covert efforts on anyone’s part, of an impending rescue. Pray that these women and girls would all be securely removed from the brothel and their abusers - all of them - arrested and justly detained. Pray that these women and girls would have courage to tell the truth of what they have endured, and would know the hope of new life and freedom that waits for them.

Because of the particular sensitivity and size of this operation, I will wait to let you know the location and any further details.
But please do pray. We hope to have an update for you next week… but please do not delay in praying, nor back-down from persevering in prayer.

Pray for the women and girls who are suffering greatly this night. Pray for courage and knowledge of God’s presence.
Pray for our staff in this city - they are worn but refusing to relent. Pray for strength and knowledge of God’s presence.
Pray for the local authorities who will execute this operation. Pray for integrity, conviction, and unity.
Pray for those who, by the hand of God, will be brought to justice. Pray that God would turn their heart through this facing of judgment.

The operation in South Asia that we mentioned last week (January 14) has not yet gone forward. A critical meeting with government officials is taking place and will determine the timing for the operation - please pray that this meeting goes smoothly and that the officials will be compelled to act on behalf of the 15+ children who wait to be rescued.

Pray for these 15, suffering more long days and nights under brutal abuse… pray that these days and nights of trauma will quickly be put to an end.

Pray for our staff, that they will have great perseverance and joy in this labor.

Again, thank you so much for your continued prayers for the trial of two traffickers in Svay Pak, Cambodia. The verdict has been announced - both traffickers were deemed guilty and have been sentenced to 10 years in prison each.

Please continue to pray for the two girls, aged 9 and 16, who so bravely testified in this case. They continue to be safe and undergoing long-term recovery from the abuse they have endured. Pray that they would grow into strong, courageous women, free of the false shame that so often enshrouds victims of abuse, free of fear, full of joy, deeply healed through the One who is able to do immeasureably more than all we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Please pray for the two perpetrators who will now remain in prison for the years ahead. Pray that their hearts would break with the knowledge of what they have done, and that Christ would be revealed to them as their Redeemer, their way to true life and restoration.

Pray also for our staff team in Cambodia - another trial commenced on Christmas Day, the verdict to be announced January 5. There has been little time for rest - pray that they would know the deep rest of the Holy Spirit, sustaining them through each new day, bringing joy and peace that surpasses all understanding.

Friends - thank you for your continued prayers for the trial in Cambodia (see below - the last three posts on this blog). The verdict was scheduled to be announced yesterday but we are awaiting final confirmation. Please do continue to pray for the team in Cambodia, and especially the two girls who testified, as well as the perpetrator awaiting a possible sentence for his crimes. I will let you know the result as soon as we are able.

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.”

Please see previous blog post for details and specific prayer requests for the trial that just commenced in Cambodia. Below is a video still-shot of four of the girls from this case, taken by our investigator when collecting evidence before the rescue operation. Two of these girls are testifying against their trafficker in court today, including the very youngest girl pictured here (bottom middle).

If you can, take a moment to leave a prayer or word of encouragement in the comments - the staff in Cambodia will be able to carry these with them throughout the trial and share them with the two girls as well.

Friends, as I write this, a trial is beginning in Cambodia to prosecute a man we believe to have trafficked many girls in the town of Svay Pak, Cambodia. If you joined us at this past year’s Global Prayer Gathering, or if you were with us this past Thursday night at the DC Benefit Dinner, you heard our VP of Investigations share testimony, photos, and undercover video footage of this precise case that we have been working on since February.

Please pray, now, throughout the night, and the days ahead as this trial moves forward:

Pray for two of the trafficking victims - one aged 16 and one age 9 - who will be testifying against this man, in person, in this small Cambodia court room. Pray that God would give them extraordinary courage and would use this in their continued healing process.

Pray that no corruption would enter this trial procedure. Pray there would be no delays.

Pray for the man being prosecuted for trafficking crimes - that truth and justice would reign over his life.

Pray that this man would never abuse or exploit another human being again, and that this case would send a strong message to traffickers throughout Cambodia, SE Asia, and the globe.

Please check back for updates - we will post further details as we are able. And click “read more” below for a more indepth description of the trial at hand and specific prayer requests, as written by our social worker in the Cambodia office:

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.

Friends, thank you for your continued prayers for the remarkably difficult case one of our South Asia teams has been fighting. There are two key pieces of information to give you by way of an update:

Read more...

We have received stunning photos from our field team from this ongoing rescue operation. We cannot yet share most of the photos with you due to pressing security concerns, but there are three photos I believe will give you a view, however oblique, into the lives of these 23 slaves and the unrelenting fight of our staff.

Here are a few words of narrative from our field team - they let us know, continually, how strengthened they are by your prayers, and how much they continue to need your prayers.
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Over the past few days, our God has answered desperate prayers – from around the world – on behalf of these seven families forced to work as slaves at _______ Rice Mill.  He has demonstrated his supernatural power in mighty ways.  Let’s continue to pray with confidence to the gracious God we serve, together.  Here are a few photos: Part One of an unfinished story of freedom.

Six minutes before IJM arrived with the local authorities for the rescue operation, all of the slaves disappeared from the rice mill compound. IJM staff were confronted upon arrival with the harrowing emptiness of the completely abandoned facility (Photo #1).

Read more...

Friends, the IJM team in South Asia and around the world has been so strengthened and humbled by your joining us in prayer so wholeheartedly over these past 5 days. Thank you for perservering with us in patient, persistant prayer. It has been a long journey, and it is not yet over.

This past Friday and throughout the weekend was an deeply intense time for IJM South Asia staff and our clients. The seven (total of 23 people) families removed from the rice mill have given testimony to the the enormity of abuse they have suffered; however, official release has not yet been granted by the government.

Read more...

We just received another update and plea for prayer from our field team in South Asia. The operation that began last night (see earlier blog post) is at a stalemate but absolutely must move forward. Our staff team and the six families who have been in slavery are all at the govenment facility right now and will be there for the rest of the night. Here is how we need for you to pray. And please do leave comments of prayer and scripture to encourage our staff as they persevere through this long night:

The authorities have listened to one of the victim’s testimonies so far. This victim shared of the years of forced labor and the horrible treatment that they had faced at the hands of the owner.  The official was visibly moved by the recounting of the story, but there has not been any action yet and we are concerned no action will be taken. 

Please pray for:
• Safety of IJM staff & the victims as they spend the night in the gov’t office. 
• The government officials, that they would make the right decisions.
• Refreshment for the victims, as they are tired and worn out.
• IJM staff, that they would remain bold and strong.
• The victims to be granted release certificates tomorrow morning.

In the director of this field office’s own words,

“We have a long fight on our hands and we are ready for it.”

Please continue to join me in prayer for them.