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Can we just take a moment to glory in the loveliness of this season? It is gorgeous in Colchester, and this FL girl is enjoying a proper Autumn in October! Not only is it already October, IT IS NEARLY NOVEMBER! The month has whizzed by, but I will try to recap as many important bits as possible.
The season isn't the only thing to be excited about, there are tons of exciting things going on at IJM!
IJM has just established a new field office in the Dominican Republic. Tragically, the DR has become a hot spot for sex tourism, and when IJM started investigating the depth of sexual exploitation in the DR early this year, they found girls as young as 10 being sold for sex. Please pray for this new office and team as they break ground and begin rescuing young girls from brothels, placing them in healthy aftercare centers, prosecuting perpetrators, and training local law enforcement to protect vulnerable children in this country. Please pray that the government and IJM will work together in unity, and that talented and dedicated locals fill needed positions in this new field office.
In Kenya, we are celebrating another step toward freedom for Michael, an 83 yr old grandfather who was wrongly convicted of violent robbery three years ago. IJM Kenya was able to help Michael receive release from prison, and then early this month, Michael's appeal trial finally took place. An IJM Kenya lawyer was able to explain why Michael's conviction should be overturned, and the court will make its ruling on December 10th. Please pray the court recognizes Michael's innocence and clears his name!
Earlier this month, IJM Kolkata teamed with local police to rescue a young woman who was being sold for sex. After she was rescued, this incredible young woman told IJM she wanted to help other women find freedom as well. Click here for the details of her journey from rescued to rescuer.
There are many, many more individual stories of rescue and justice that I could share with you, so if you are interested, sign up for IJM UK's monthly prayer updates! Email prayer@ijmuk.org indicating you would like to become a prayer partner, and we will start emailing stories your way!
In the UK office, we just launched the Stop It Together Campaign in Parliament! The UK has excellent laws against the sexual exploitation of children in other countries by British citizens, but these laws are not enforced as often as they are disobeyed. IJM UK is therefore petitioning the government to make sure these laws are carried out and that children all over the world are protected. Please pray loads of people sign the petition, and that Parliament takes action in response.
As we move into November, we will be using a new database in the UK office that will be a useful tool for organizing, reporting, and communicating more efficiently. This is very exciting, but also daunting. Please pray all of us in the office, especially those building the database, are able to make the transition smoothly and learn quickly how best to utilize this new system. Most of my responsibilities relate to this database, so I would be especially grateful for your prayers as I have many new things to learn.
On a personal note, here are some things the Lord has been teaching me over the past month:
Weakness is beautiful. God does indeed use the weak things of this world to shame the strong -- so no one can boast in His presence. In knowing my weakness, and owning it, I experience God's "immeasurably more;" I get closer to His heart.
I've been reading Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton, and spending time in silence with Jesus every morning before work. In the book, Ruth writes, "in silence there is the potential for each of us to "know that I am God" with such certainty that the competing powers of evil and sin and the ego-self can no longer hold us in their grip." And I am finding that to be absolutely true. As I consciously enter into silence before God, I'm first struck with the uncomfortable truth that I am helpless. I can offer nothing to Him that could entice Him into communion with me. Met with my own vulnerability in this way, I am positioned to see God as clearly as possible- and He is most beautiful. I lose sight of myself in light of the richness of His love and mercy and righteousness and power and steadfastness. Those moments have everything to do with Him and nothing to do with me, and I find the strongholds in my life weaken and give way.
In other news, I found a church home at All Saints Fordham. I am so thankful for this warm, honest, and Truth hungry community, and I look forward to settling in with them for this year.
(Funny story, the first night we visited Fordham, someone asked how long the church had been meeting, and the reply was, "over 400 years!" Obviously, the church has changed a bit over the years, but it was amazing to be in a church service that has been gathering together for more years than our country has existed!
Socially, I've been out and about far more than I expected, which has been a great blessing. Two weeks ago I went to a literary festival in Wivenhoe, last week I went apple-picking and hung out with some new friends for an evening of homemade Mexican food, and yesterday I spent the day in London!
Well, hopefully this long post makes up for the lack of updates I've been sending :).
Thank you all for your incredible support. I am stunned with gratefulness that I get to be here and take part of restoration so vividly. You have given me an opportunity that will change my life forever.
P.S. If you're a pictures person, you can follow my year in the UK on Instagram! Find me at wildwall_flower
