As much as I enjoy the food and festivals and cultural experiences here, my favorite thing, without a doubt, is being able to contribute to the life-changing work that IJM does. Every day in the office is busy. Some are extra stressful – when we face power-outages, or tough deadlines, or both combined. But this Monday, as we gathered for office prayer, the room was filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and thanksgiving. Typically during this time we share updates from each department and prayer requests and praises, but today the same praise was on everyone’s heart – through an operation that took place over the weekend, five women were free to see the sunshine for the first time in years! It wasn’t the first operation that has taken place since I’ve been here, but this one was special. The women had been forced to stay in very small, filthy rooms with no windows for as many as seven years. Reports indicated that they were forced to serve 7-13 customers a day for payments of 120-600 rupees, all of which the brothel keepers retained. One of the rescued women said she was beaten repeatedly throughout her time in the brothel. Another indicated that she had been kidnapped and forced to undergo an abortion upon arrival. All of them were very fearful of the brothel keeper, and of what would happen to them if they tried to leave. But through a series of miracles, these women are now out and starting the process of recovery. Our Field Office Director canceled the agenda that was set for the morning and just let staff members share stories from the operation. One social worker told about how she felt compelled to reach out to one girl who was too fearful at first to admit that she was being forced, but who later in the night convinced other girls that it was safe, that they could tell the truth and be free. Someone shared a story of another woman who wandered out the door while the police were trying to gather information. She was just smiling and staring at the sky. Everyone talked about the joy on the girls faces. Even the police had been moved by the girls’ stories, and the way they were able to help them. Our work is not easy. Every day it seems like there are new obstacles and challenges, but on days like this none of that matters. We sang a hymn – “Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart” – and closed by reading a passage from Isaiah that seemed to be written just for this occasion: “This is what God the LORD says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” Praise God!
