No longer enough

I'd like to introduce you to Jean Sasson.

For my Islam class this last semester I had to read the first book of her Princess trilogy. The true story of a Princess in Saudi Arabia, Jean Sasson uses her friendship with the Princess to tell her life story in three books. After the first one, I had to keep going and find out what happened! It offers perspective on the Islamic faith by one who holds its values dear, yet clearly depicts a world that has bound women specifically in chains of cloth. Though most Saudi Women do not have it this good, If you are interested in human rights, Islam, the Middle East, or Compassion at all... this trilogy is worth the read. My perspective continues to grow on human rights... 

With the internship I have I am learning that we have an incredible governmental system in the U.S. to be able to give victims of trafficking and oppression a place of refuge and safety. However, even the government cannot change cultural norms. For example, recently an Egyptian girl was rescued from working as a servant in a Southern California Home for most of her life. Though she was rescued over two years ago, and is now doing incredibly well, her family has broken ties with her. The $19 a month that her family was paid for her to serve here in the States no longer comes in, and her family "responsibility" appears to have been severed. We do what we can to help victims using the resources we have, but the issues involving injustice are deep and complicated. 

No matter what, I am convinced that the image that has driven me to want to work in this field is no longer enough. The image of a girl lying on the floor of a brothel, hidden from sight and mind. That image evokes emotion strong enough to work for a day... a week... a month. But ultimately it leaves me drained. Unmotivated. Overwhelmed. For me, it can only be the LOVE of GOD that motivates action against injustice. From this never ending fountain comes a stream of grace that each soul is an image of the creator, and that the compassion I feel is only a glimpse of the heart of My Savior. 

We are women

Today is International Women's Day.

There are events going on in 64 countries around the world! Unfortunately, I haven't found any near-by that have not already occurred - way to go Justine, and be late on the discovery.

But I know now, so as we Spring Forward today - let's remember the ladies of the world in prayer and in thought!!! Here are just a few of the amazing women I have had a chance to meet in life:

Kathy Ham (center) in Kenya, and her amazing daughters Karisa and Kelcey

Kim Van Geloof - and her daughters, Sophie and Allie

Jaya (in the center) in South Asia - and my teammates around (who are also wonderful women !!!)

And of course my family. My mom, to the left of me, my aunt to the right. My grandmothers in front of me. They have believed and poured so much of themselves into me.

My doctor, Anne Ford, and Mary Jo - this picture was taken during the medical part of our Kenya trip. 

There are so many more - but as you read this, remember to lift up in prayer the women of the world that do not have the same dignity that we are privileged to have in the United States.

Particularly:

Widows in Iraq

women in afghanistan and saudi arabia

Created for International Human RIghts day

Go where others will not

For the past year I have had a part time job working in the faculty workroom of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Besides having a quiet place to work on homework in between tasks, I have learned interesting bits of information from conversations with professors.

Today, Professor Biermann was talking about a website he had worked on of a group called International Crisis Aid.

It sounded like another non-profit that works with international issues such as human rights and poverty... right up my alley :)

So I looked at the website, and their locations caught my eye.

Afghanistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, North Korea, Pakistan and Sudan.

Not the typical locations.

One of their vision statements is "Go where others will not."

It kind of inspired me - I want that to be part of my mission statement.

The kind of work they do is unglamorous. Dangerous. Kind of like the cross.

Hmmm...

Is it any surprise their vision verse is from Isaiah 58

"And if you give yourself to the hungry, And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness, And your gloom will become like mid-day. And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your needs in sun scorched land, and give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden. And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."