There are so many exciting things happening here in Lesotho that I haven't even had time to write about them! Three of the biggest highlights seem to relate to new beginnings and fresh starts. First off, I have been promoted... again. I will now be getting TRIPLE free pay ;oP and I am officially known as the Program Director for BDS. This means that I am now in charge of both the crisis care shelter and the transition program. Another missionary will be taking over my position as shelter coordinator very shortly, and I am trying to figure out how to be in multiple places at once in order to keep up with my responsibilities :o) I am learning a lot in this new beginning, and God is growing me personally, professionally, and spiritually.
Another new experience that will hopefully lead to a fresh start is the ongoing trial that we are in the middle of with one of our residents. One of our sweet, precious Ethiopian residents will hopefully be liberated from her traffickers once and for all by next week. She has already testified, as have other witnesses. I will take the stand tomorrow as an 'expert witness' for the first time on her behalf. Please pray that the Lord grants me wisdom and the right words to speak so that this resident that we have all come to love so much will see justice done. There will definitely be more to come in updates on this trial, so please pray for justice!
Finally, as if we didn't have enough going on with fighting human trafficking, we are planting a church! I have never planted a church before- it is a lot of work, but incredibly rewarding. Victory Church Maseru (which will be a church plant of Victory Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) will open on 6 May 2012. We could not be more excited for what the Lord is doing in the lives of the local pastors here that are going to be serving at Victory, and for what He is doing in our own lives as we help to support, encourage, and serve them as well as the people of Lesotho!
Another big prayer request that I have is for one of our former residents, the Chinese woman who saw a conviction against her trafficker back in January. About two weeks ago, the Chinese Embassy contacted us saying that they had been in touch with her family and that they wanted to pay for her flight back to China. We put her on a plane with many tears on everyone's part- we were extremely happy that she was going back to her family as this is what she had been wanting, but also grieving the loss of a dear friend and sister. Less than a week after she left, her perpetrator was released from prison, even though he was supposed to serve a 15 year sentence. They cannot appeal the case without our client being in the country. The timing of all of this was very suspicious, and we cannot get ahold of our client or her family. We are all very worried about her safety, so please pray that we begin to find answers. Corruption runs rampant here, as it does in many parts of Africa. Please pray that she is safe at home and that we can put her perpetrator back behind bars somehow.
"In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain..."
~Psalm 102:25-26
