Here's
an update on things.
Last
week I had my orientation week with International Justice Mission in
Washington D.C. It was really great! The entire week exceeded my
expectations. I was hesitant at first to see whether IJM was an
organization I could really get behind, but I was consistently
impressed by their professionalism, the quality of their work, and
most importantly their commitment to Christ in everything they do. I
know that sounds pretty cheesy and soundbite-y, but it's really
something they take seriously. IJM offices dedicate half an hour of
each workday to personal prayer, and then another half an hour to
corporate prayer together later in the day. That's a real thing! An
hour a day! One eighth of their working hours! Rather than go through
the whole week with you, I'll just put IJM's Mission statement here,
which I think sums up pretty clearly what we learned this past week.
"The
mission of International Justice Mission is to protect the poor from
violence by rescuing victims, bringing the criminals to justice,
restoring survivors to safety and strength, and helping local law
enforcement build a safe future that lasts."
I
don't easily endorse products or organizations, but I feel very
confidant in the work that IJM is doing and I am stoked to be a part
of an organization like this. The other interns are great. In the
main they seem like intelligent, nuanced, humble and mature
Christians. I feel a bit out of my league, but I've made some good
friends and I look forward to the year ahead.
As
for me, I've been staying with some great friends and their kids out here
in beautiful Cincinnati, Ohio for the past week before I leave for South Asia on Wednesday. I've
got my visa in hand and my bag is packed. I feel well prepared and
I'm looking forward to getting to work.
What
I'd like from you all: I was told consistently during training week
that the office and department that I'll be working in is
exceptional. Some of the most amazing people apparently work in my
department. Please pray that I would be able to offer them the best
service I can and that I would be a blessing to them.
I
was also told that the city in which I will be working is one of, if
not the hardest deployment out of the cities in which IJM operates. One staff
member said that it was one of the few places on Earth in which he
"felt tangible evil." I don't take this stuff lightly, and
I think we're in for a year of hard work that will sometimes be very
dark. Please pray for the continued health and safety of me and the
team that I will be serving. As well as the continued deliverance of and
mercy towards the poor that we will be working with.
I'll
leave you with the prayer of St. Theresa of Avila. It may be a bit
cliché but darn it, I like it. Please remember to pray for the poor
and pray for each other. Just taking a minute to sit and think about
the people you care about makes a big difference. It's tough being a person, let's be cool to one another.
"Christ
Has No Body
Christ
has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,Yours are the eyes with which he looksCompassion on this world,Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,Yours are the eyes, you are his body.Christ has no body now but yours,No hands, no feet on earth but yours,Yours are the eyes with which he lookscompassion on this world.Christ has no body now on earth but yours."
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,Yours are the eyes with which he looksCompassion on this world,Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,Yours are the eyes, you are his body.Christ has no body now but yours,No hands, no feet on earth but yours,Yours are the eyes with which he lookscompassion on this world.Christ has no body now on earth but yours."
