Bent on Justice

December 2003 – Melissa (center) stands with her cousins and grandpa beside their shanty in a slum on the outskirts of Nairobi. Melissa is a four year old and was raped by a neighbor in the community trash heap, which is used as a public restroom. (photo and text, property of IJM)

I was reading a home decorating magazine the other day and came across a profile of some new, chic, young interior designer. The article listed her favs–  stuff like her favorite mascara, favorite  handbag, favorite eco-friendly, carbon-foot-print-reducing bottled water (actually I’m making that up, but you get the picture).

Under her “favorite charity” was listed, “Bent on Learning“. It’s an organization that brings yoga to the classroom for New York school children.

I looked a little further into the group, and I found Gwyneth Paltrow is a fan. I’m eternally thankful I don’t know the exact number of dollars being pumped into the charity, or I may throw up.

I’ve been reflecting on charity, in these hard times, that only show signs of getting harder. Instead of keeping a tight fist on our hard earned cash (as would be the natural thing to do) we are going to be called to help others in greater need. I believe in starting with your community, making sure your church family is well taken care of, and then reaching out further. And the one organization that comes to mind for me, time and again, is International Justice Mission.

Internationl Justice Mission is a human rights agency that works to abolish human trafficking, slave labor, forced prostitution and abuse in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Zac and I visited the headquarters in Washington D.C. last year and were so impressed with how they make each dollar go so far. They have high standards for the lawyers they hire (under their job requirements is a ”mature Orthodox Christian faith as defined by the Apostle’s Creed”) , and they work with residents of the countries too, to have the greatest and most lasting impact.

We got to sit in on the morning prayer meeting, before everyone began their day of work. We heard about their after care programs that help women and very young girls recover from sexual abuse and lives of cruelty.

Last month  IJM led a raid on a brothel in Mumbai, India  and saved seven victims. All the women had been sold into the trade for as little as 150 rupees, or $3.

 ”One victim in the brothel told IJM operatives prior to the raid that she was forced into prostitution under threat of beatings, and that the madam had been controlling her by restricting her access to her infant son.”

The woman and her son were both rescued, and all the women are now receiving help from IJM’s aftercare program as they readjust to a life of freedom. Read the whole story here.

Let’s see, given the choice,  should we use the few dollars extra dollars we have to teach some New York kids to hold a  ”downward facing dog position” . . . . . . or give women and young girls in third world countries a new life by prosecuting their sexual abusers.

It’s a hard choice. It’s a good thing we have celebrities, like Gwyneth Paltrow and Obama, to steer us in the right direction. 

(P.S. On a brighter note, I was happy to find out the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a proud supporter of IJM.)