Join us for live blogging from the Zambia and South Asia #1 prayer rooms on Saturday, March 28th at 10:30am ET.
[ZAMBIA] Field Office Director Pamela Mumbi introing work of IJM Zambia --
[ZAMBIA] Two primary types of casework -- 1) Property Grabbing from widows and orphans 2) Sexual violence against children
[SOUTH ASIA] Meeting James Ewins - the new director of one of IJM's South Asia offices. He'll be making the transcontinental move with his wife and three young children soon.
[ZAMBIA] Last year, GPGers prayed for Police Relations -- praise God that over the past year, offices were willing to be trained to combat sexual violence and become acquainted with property law.
[ZAMBIA] Officers now eager to serve with IJM and assist clients who are intimidated and harassed by oppressors.
[SOUTH ASIA] Watching video footage of an operation at a brick kiln on South Asia - intense. Crowds gather; people shout. James is now bringing us through a detailed timeline of the operation....so much goes into it beforehand.
[ZAMBIA] This year, pray that victims of land theft and sexual violence could PaPapproach police for protection, without shame --
[SOUTH ASIA] As James is talking, his infant daughter is crying softly in the back of the room (held by his wife)....thinking about the challenge of this move for a young family. These field office directors make incredible sacrifices for their work.
[SOUTH ASIA] The level of detail on the timeline he's showing us now is almost comical. It takes a detail-oriented person to make this work!
[ZAMBIA] Pamela telling story of a six yr old IJM Zambia client -- violently assaulted by a neighbor, persistent parents were dead set on pushing their little girl's case through court, and found IJM.
[ZAMBIA] By all general standards, success in the case was a total impossibility, but now...
[ZAMBIA] ...her perpetrator is behind bars for 15 years!
[SOUTH ASIA] Looking at pictures of the violent mob that gathered during a recent operation to free slaves...they punctured the tires of the IJM vehicles with nails so the staff couldn't leave. Pray for the safety of IJM staff around the world.
[SOUTH ASIA] Now looking at the picture of the slaves freed in this operation...the sacrifice matters.
[ZAMBIA] Almost hard to comprehend the violence these clients face -- 2 yr old victim of rape is an IJM client. Pray for the team as they often have re-start cases each year (even if almost concluded), so hard on the clients and their families.
[SOUTH ASIA] James asks for prayer that the victims of forced labor would cherish their freedom, prayer that the freed children would prize their educations...
[ZAMBIA] Property grabbing affects widows in Zambia -- when a husband dies, law says that the widow inherits, but when husband's relatives claim ownership, judges are often on their side.
[SOUTH ASIA]: Working with the consistently-rotating government officials is "like wading through treacle" - - James asks us to pray earnestly that relationships with the government would improve - - even for relationships that now seem unreachable.
[ZAMBIA] Pray for continued working relationships btw IJM and various government depts that have the power to make a positive change in the lives of IJM clients.
[ZAMBIA] Now we're breaking into small groups to pray for Zambia requests, topic by topic.
[SOUTH ASIA]: Pray for the criminal convictions of the perpetrators of these crimes. Pray for IJM's aftercare staff - the victims they serve are spread all over the countryside and can be difficult to reach.
[ZAMBIA] First, praying for victims of property grabbing -- lift up Beatrice and her three children as they fight to have their land returned from her husband's relatives.
[SOUTH ASIA]: The hotel art hanging behind James is pictures of turtles....struck by the appropriateness of this....the work can be slow and hard, but the teams just continue to try, try, try - - until freedom comes to the oppressed.
[SOUTH ASIA] We're breaking into small groups for prayer now...the room is quiet as people from all over the world lift this team up in prayer.
[ZAMBIA] Director of work in Latin Am lifting up Zambia in Spanish -- oppression doesn't know borders, but neither do these cries for justice to rise up. Love it.
[SOUTH ASIA] "God, we thank you for the sacrifice this team has made....we ask you to use that as an offering to accomplish your work in South Asia. We thank you for this young family, moving to a new country - - committed to your will. "
[SOUTH ASIA] Prayers around the room - - I can hear many different styles; we're clearly a room full of diverse backgrounds. God hears these cries.
[ZAMBIA] Now praying for sexual violence clients...My heart BREAKING for this 2 yr old baby, victim of a category of horror that no human should face. Let justice be done for her.
[ZAMBIA] Soft murmurings of prayer show a deep desire for the dignity of our clients, along with gritty hope that just can't be knocked down.
[SOUTH ASIA] James is showing us now how the brick mold used by slaves work....a tangible reminder of the reality of slavery. He is giving us each a small mold to take home - a reminder of the work these slaves do each day.
[ZAMBIA] 'Blessed are you, oh Lord our God, Ruler of the universe' -- the traditional Hebrew prayer next to me is so filled with assurance of God's salvation.
[ZAMBIA] Now heading to Uganda -- join me there!
IJMHQ
Lori Poer
hannaschmidt
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