My prayers, as well as the prayers of more than 1,000 global staff of International Justice Mission, are with you in these disorienting days. You are part of our global IJM family — banded together for one another and for all those dear ones around the world who are especially at-risk and awaiting rescue from slavery.
I want you to know that our work is continuing. Gary Haugen, IJM’s founder and CEO, wrote about that here, and we will continue to keep you updated on what COVID-19 means for our global operations.
I also want to offer what I believe is especially important for you and me today. That is, a bit of HOPE.
When I strike up a conversation with someone next to me on a plane, they inevitably ask what I do for a living. I am always privileged to tell them about the work I have been a part of with IJM for the last 14 years. What follows is a pretty common response: “Wow, you must hear the worst stories in the world. What a tough job!” And they’re not wrong. What our clients have endured is unspeakably difficult and disorienting. But what the stranger on the plane doesn’t realize is that working at IJM actually gives me a front-row seat to the greatest stories of hope ever.
That’s what I humbly offer you today, and in the coming weeks my team will be reaching out regularly with stories of hope, of light overcoming darkness. These stories of joyful moments with survivors have been a profound encouragement to me in uncertain times, and I hope they bring you joy as well.
Today’s story comes to us in the form of a single short clip of a boy named Bablu. His mom, dad and sister were all violently enslaved for over three years in a woodcutting facility. Yet only a few days before Bablu was born, you helped IJM intervene in his family’s life. Because of his mother’s courage and your partnership, we got to witness not only their rescue, but Bablu being born into freedom!
Enjoy this brief glimpse into a life changed: a sweet little clip of baby Bablu figuring out if he likes cake, his adorable sister singing “Happy Birthday” to him, and an entire family celebrating love, freedom and joy.
In a world where news is coming at us faster than ever, toilet paper is nowhere to be found, and every parent is suddenly a homeschool teacher, I hope you’ll find hope and encouragement in these stories. As I hunker down with my family in these days of “social distancing,” the remembrance and celebration of such stories fill me with great hope and resolve for the tremendous work of love that we share together.
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