A Transformed Perspective

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” [Winston Churchill]

This quote deeply convicted me as I reflected on my attitude and perspective over the past couple of months. Feeling overwhelmed by personal and work challenges, I began to focus my eyes on the difficulties and struggles that come both from living in another country and from being involved in this fight for justice. I was frustrated by multiple episodes of sickness, annoyed by my patience being tested numerous times each day, and discouraged by the heavy weight of our work. By focusing on these difficulties, however, there were many nights when I was left with a pretty pessimistic view on life (my boyfriend will gladly attest to this point). Somehow, through the difficulties of the past few months, I had lost perspective on the fact that I was literally living my dream. This internship was one that I had prayed to be accepted to for months. But now that I had been blessed with the opportunity, I was allowing myself to focus my eyes on the difficulties involved, instead of being focused on the incredible opportunity that I had been given.

Over the past week, through several situations, I am so grateful that my eyes have once again been opened to the amazing reality of the personal dream that I am currently living. I must confess that before the week even started, I was dreading it, not because of anything in particular that was happening, but because my family would be coming in a week and I knew that I would be antsy in anticipation. I thought that the week would drag on, each day ticking by moment by moment (yes, I’ve already admitted I’ve been a bit of a pessimist lately). Little did I know that this would be one of the most incredible & rewarding weeks that I’ve experienced since I’ve been here, on both a personal and work level. Not because it’s been necessarily easy, but because I have been reminded in multiple ways that through incredible difficulty, great opportunity arises.

After 10 long and difficult months without a single conviction, the legal team was finally rewarded for their persistence and dedication. On Monday of this week, our office erupted into celebration as three rice mill owners, who ran their businesses using slave labor, were finally convicted. For two of the owners, this was not the first case against them. Sixteen forced laborers were rescued from their rice mill in 2005, yet due to their powerful position in the community, they were actually never charged. As a result, the owners refilled their facilities with new laborers, using threats of violence and physical abuse to keep them enslaved. In 2007, another operation was conducted that rescued 26 more forced laborers from the same rice mill. Four years later, these owners are finally receiving the punishment that they deserve for severely abusing their power. Not only is this sentencing a huge blow to the criminal family, but also a remarkable sign of growth and change in the hearts of the government officials. These convictions are a direct message to those who believe that they are above the law that it will no longer be acceptable for them to exploit others in this way without consequence.



IJM Advocates

In addition to the incredible structural transformation that is happening around me, I have also been amazed by the individual transformation that takes place in the lives of freed laborers. Three years ago, after working for several years to pay back a $300 loan, a man named Kutty was rescued out of slavery from a rice mill in Southern India. After the rescue, Kutty & his family began a two-year journey through IJM’s aftercare program, which helps newly released laborers learn how to rebuild their lives in freedom. The program educates laborers on their rights as citizens, as well as teaches them many valuable life lessons. For example, they are taught how to save money, the importance of stopping domestic violence within their relationships, how to avoid being enslaved again, and countless other life skills.

It is during this period where transformation begins to happen in the lives of the laborers. Instead of dwelling in the fear of their past bondage, their eyes are opened to the potential that their lives hold in freedom. Instead of focusing on the difficulties, they dream of the opportunities. After receiving his freedom, Kutty started working with the Forestry Department, catching snakes whose venom is then harvested for medicinal use (definitely does not sound like a job that I would enjoy). Kutty took pride in his work, and even lobbied the Department for better wages for him and his fellow snake catchers. After years of being mistreated and underpaid (or unpaid altogether), Kutty was now aware of his own rights and demanded to be fairly compensated for his work.



Kutty, Freed Laborer & Local President

 Because of his determination and drive, Kutty was selected to attend IJM’s leadership training, a three-day workshop to equip freed laborers with further training so that they can be a voice for their own communities. During one of the training sessions, Kutty was inspired by the incredible work of a locally elected government official who presided over several nearby villages. After asking many questions about the election process, Kutty decided to run for election in his own village. Last week, in a landslide victory, Kutty was elected as the president of his community! Despite the fact that Kutty belongs to a scheduled caste and had no specific partisan support, he won over virtually all sections of people in the village. Why? Because he genuinely and deeply understood their struggles at a personal level. He had watched his kids deprived of their education and his family robbed of their dignity. As a result, he truly desired freedom and opportunity for the villagers and their families and promised to advocate on their behalf. What a remarkable transformation that the fearful, malnourished and exhausted man who had lived in bondage just a few years back was now empowered to lead his community.

Through these experiences, I have been very clearly reminded of the powerful transformation that often results from difficult and tragic situations. It is easy to become pessimistic, and even cynical, if I allow myself to focus only on the difficulty. As I continue to confront the issue of injustice, it is impossible to ignore the reality that we live in a broken world, full of darkness, oppression, and evil. However, I also know that I serve a sovereign God, who promises to work all things together for the good of those who love him (Rom 8). If I allow myself to dwell only in the challenges of this work, I am choosing to miss out on the joy that comes from experiencing the transformation that is taking place all around me.

Other recent happenings:

• About a month ago, I decided to adopt a bit more of the Indian culture and purchase a “scooter” (moped). After dealing with the daily frustration of bartering and paying for auto rickshaws, it made more sense financially (and convenience-wise) to try a different mode of transportation. It has definitely been an adventure to learn how to drive in a country where there are very few rules besides the mandatory use of your horn. The more I adjust to driving in this country, the more worried I am about the type of driver I will be once back in the States.

 



My Purple Scooty

Beautiful Gardens near Bangalore

• Two weeks ago, I spent the week in Bangalore with the legal team to conduct a week-long course on forced labor at the top law school in India. The week provided us with an awesome opportunity to educate the next generation of advocates about ways to use their law degree for a greater purpose. In addition, it provided us with multiple moments of entertainment…from pushing an auto rickshaw up a hill to combating an ant-infested room with “spray” given by the hotel staff. Unfortunately, thanks to the language barrier, there was a bit of miscommunication between the desire for air freshener and bug spray. Diwali, the festival of lights, fell during this week and we celebrated by doing a little tourism near Bangalore. Stops included a crocodile farm, beautiful outdoor gardens, and the Mysore Palace. Out of respect for its name, we ended the day by celebrating the national way, with lots of “crackers,” otherwise known as fireworks. 

Group shot with some random men who wanted a pic with us!



Crocodile :)

•  On Tuesday, our office launched our advocacy and grassroots-mobilization campaign to raise awareness about forced labor. Even though forced labor is a massive problem within the country, many people are unaware that it exists, even those who are most vulnerable to it. Through song, dance and dialogue, the performance will warn of the pitfalls of forced labor to those who are illiterate and most at-risk. The play will be performed in 50 villages across 6 districts during the next month. 



Craft Time during Freedom Training





• On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to help the Aftercare Team with Freedom Training. Among those in attendance were the families from the operation that I was a part of in July. It was so incredible to see the families again, especially the little kids! In just a few months’ time, it was clear to see the change that had taken place in their lives. I spent the day in the children’s session, where they were taught about the need for good hygiene, the importance of school, and the prevalence of abuse. The constant smiles and laughter of the children far outweighed the unfortunate experience of being peed on three times throughout the day.  



6 week old baby, so sweet!
(yes, that is pee on my shirt...)




Ending the day with a little dancing!



For those of you who are still reading, I apologize for such a long post. I guess that’s what happens when I try to cram 6 weeks of thoughts and experiences into one post. I promise I will do my best to learn from this mistake. :)



Joy Amidst Brokenness

To say this past month has been challenging for me—both physically and emotionally—would probably be a gross understatement. Even though I’ve been praying to be brokenhearted for the things of the Lord for the past several years, I have never really thought through what it would be like to truly experience this brokenness. And once I received a glimpse of it, instead of feeling closer to the heart of God, I found myself feeling overwhelmed, discouraged and at times, even a bit depressed. I was broken for our clients as I read the testimonies of bonded laborers who had endured multiple instances of physical, verbal and sexual abuse. I was overwhelmed that even though we had saved many, there are thousands of other laborers still suffering. I was broken for the child beggars asking for money at each street corner and discouraged by the abundance of men and women who sleep on the street side both day and night. I was broken for each and every orphan that I had encountered during our search for Vinod and depressed that while children on the other side of the world (including myself) had experienced childhoods filled with cartoons and fruit snacks, these children were being robbed of their innocence with childhoods filled with pain and abandonment. Now that I had found the brokenness, I had literally lost all of the joy. I knew that God did not desire a broken heart to lead to utter discouragement, but I also did not understand how it was possible to experience joy amidst such suffering.

During this period of emotional brokenness, I became physically sick, and for the second time in two years, dealt with the painful side effects of shingles. Although I was extremely frustrated by my physical well-being, the time of rest it required resulted in some quality time to seek out some answers on the entire purpose behind brokenness. As I began to look up scripture, one particular verse struck me:

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” [Ps. 16:11]

Through this verse, I began to see that the way in which I was dealing with my brokenness was keeping me from experiencing any type of lasting joy. “In your [God’s] presence, there is fullness of joy…” Instead of seeking God’s presence, I realized how often I run to the presence of other things to find that joy. I seek out the presence of people here, who I think can relate to what I’m feeling or I seek out the presence of friends and family at home for some type of familiar comfort. But the presence of these people, although maybe temporarily relieving my discouragement, still left me feeling ultimately unfulfilled. In order to experience the “fullness of joy”, I needed to stop running to the presence of others before first finding complete satisfaction in the presence of the Lord.  

I knew that God had called me to have a broken heart, but not at the cost of joy. He had called me to be broken, but not to be disheartened. As I struggled to find joy, I found peace in two different purposes for the brokenness that I had been experiencing. First, it is through my brokenness that the power of God is most able to be revealed to me. I am overwhelmed by my brokenness ultimately because I feel overwhelmed by my own lack of power. But this is where God is able to demonstrate his own power. It is not within my power to rescue every single bonded laborer from the abuse they are enduring. It is beyond my ability to provide for every child beggar or to give a home to every single man or woman sleeping on the street. And even though I wish I could, it is not possible for me to care for every single orphan who has been abandoned. But God has not called me to fix all that is broken out of my own power; He has called me to brokenness before Him so that He can display His own power.

Secondly, the purpose of brokenness is not to be discouraged or torn down, but to be strengthened through personal growth.

“We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” [Rom. 5:2-5]

I can find joy amidst suffering by focusing my attention on the potential growth that suffering can produce in my own life. As my heart breaks to see the daily prevalence of suffering and evil all around me, my pride also breaks as I am humbled by the reality of my own lack of power. In the past few weeks, there have been several moments when I’ve literally wanted to walk away from this work and from the things that I’ve been experiencing. But I know that it is through this struggle, that I am learning to press on. And it is through this perseverance, that my true character is developed, character that hopes and finds lasting joy in the abundant love and power of God. 

A Broken Heart

"Heal my heart and make it clean,

Open up my eyes to the things unseen.

Show me how to love like you have loved me.

Break my heart for what breaks yours,

Everything I am for your kingdom’s cause,

As I walk from earth into Eternity."

[Hosanna]

Over the past several years, these lyrics (from Hillsong United) have really touched my heart and I have recited them as a prayer for my life. Little did I know that this was one of those prayers that’s actually a little dangerous to pray, kind of like praying for patience or self-control. Once you ask for those things, God is certain to answer those prayers by sending experiences into your life to test you and build those qualities within you. 

This past week, God has answered this prayer in a powerful, yet challenging way, as my heart has literally been breaking for the things that I truly believe break His own heart. Last week, as my friend, Anu, was on a train home from Bangalore, she watched a mom abandon her three-and-a-half year old son on the train. Before she could do anything about it, the mom had exited the train and the train was moving on towards its destination.  She called the little boy over to her and learned that his name was Vinod. He reassured her over and over again that his mom would be right back, but did not understand the desperate reality of his circumstances.

Anu begged the police officials on the train to do something about the situation, but most turned their head away from her, saying that it was not their district to regulate. When Anu finally reached the final station with the little boy, she was left with very few options. Even though she did not want to give Vinod up, she also knew that it was unrealistic for her to take care of him. So she took him to an orphanage in the city that would provide for his basic needs while she attempted to locate his mother in Bangalore.

Signs were placed all over the train station in Bangalore to search for the mother. Although the mother had abandoned the child, we knew that she must be going through incredible difficulty in order to reach a point where she was forced to give up her precious little boy. If the mother still wanted the boy, Anu committed to supporting her in whatever way possible so that Vinod would not grow up apart from his parents. If it was financial difficulty, she would provide the funding. If it was medical difficulty, she would provide the care.

While the search continued for his mother, Vinod had been handed over to the child welfare system and was moved from orphanage to orphanage across the city. On Friday, Anu and I set off to find the boy to reassure him that he had not been forgotten. Several phone calls were made in the morning, but no one was willing to disclose any information on his whereabouts. So we were left to wait. Finally, on Sunday morning, after hours of persistent phone calling, Anu received an address.

A few hours later, we headed off for the orphanage. We showed his picture to several of the workers but were told that he did not look familiar and had not been brought there. Before we could leave the orphanage, the lunch bell rang, and the cafeteria filled with over 150 physically and mentally disabled orphans. My heart literally broke as one little boy grabbed onto my arm and pulled it close to him. It didn’t matter to him that he had no idea who I was; he just wanted to be shown affection. Whether these kids had been abandoned because of their disabilities or simply because of financial difficulties, their reality was the same. All 150 of these precious children were to grow up without the love and guidance of their own parents.  

We headed to the next orphanage and our spirits brightened as one of the workers recognized the picture of Vinod on my phone. We were brought to a small room and told to wait for a moment. Little did we know that this “moment of waiting” would turn into several hours of arguing for permission to see the little boy. When our persistence finally paid off, Vinod collapsed into Anu’s arms whimpering, “Now we can go home.” For several minutes he stayed tucked into Anu, lifting his head every so often to point and give directions to his home. My heart broke as I looked at his tiny little face, his eyes glazed over with sadness and his chin slightly quivering. I couldn’t even imagine what was going through his mind as in one week’s time, he had been abandoned from his mother and moved from orphanage to orphange across the city.

After revealing some toys that we’d pulled out of a bag, Vinod became quickly attached to a bright blue stuffed bear. For those of you with piles of beanie babies uselessly tucked into the corner of your closet, they still hold the potential to light up the eyes of little children on this side of the world. But it wasn’t until we pulled out a little toy truck, that I heard Vinod’s sweet little giggle, and literally watched his entire face light up. Somehow, toy trucks seem to have the same effect on little boys all over the world. Even though we had less than an hour to spend with Vinod, it was more than enough time for my heart to be broken for all of the orphans that I had encountered that day.  

As we left the orphanage, I was told to be comforted that Vinod was at this orphanage where he would be taken care of: he was clean, well-fed, and would even have the opportunity to receive an education. The life he would be given here would most likely be far better than the life he would have otherwise had. At this point, even if Vinod’s mother wanted him back, it would be very hard for her to gain custody of him. Once a child has been abandoned and placed in government custody, the mother has to make a very compelling case in order to get her child back. Although this is still hard for me to comprehend, I am also able to see the purpose behind it. If Vinod was given back to his mother, what would happen when she faced the next moment where she was unable to provide for him? Would she abandon him again or even worse, would poverty force her to sell him for a small profit as a child beggar?

It was at this moment that I was brought back to the question of, “God, where are you? Why are you allowing all of these children to be born and then abandoned? Why aren’t you taking care of them?” But this time, I felt God’s quick response. Even though Vinod had been abandoned by his mother, he was not abandoned by the Lord. God had taken care of Vinod, by placing Anu on the exact train, at the exact time that his mom had been letting him go.  

"For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though 

he cause grief, he will have compassion according 

to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does 

not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men."

Lamentations 3:31-33

Vinod

Please keep little Vinod in your prayers as he adjusts to life in the orphanage, a life without his mother, but a life full of so much more opportunity. Pray that the Lord will comfort him as he is unable to truly understand his abandonment at such a young age. Pray for his mother, as she wrestles with the pain of losing her son to whatever difficulties she must be facing in her own life. Pray also for the thousands of other orphans who have been abandoned, that they will be provided for and protected from anyone who tries to take advantage of their vulnerability. Finally, I challenge you to pray for a heart that is broken for the things of the Lord, things that truly matter. Although I warn you that this is a dangerous prayer to pray, I also promise that it will lead you to a life of genuine fulfillment, to the only type of life that is worth living. 

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'" Lamentations 3:22-24

Justice in a Sun-Scorched Land

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been in South Asia now for over 6 weeks. In some ways, it’s flown by, but in others, it feels like I’ve been here for ages. Days are long and jam-packed, but weeks fly by at an unbelievable pace. Work has definitely picked up—I can’t believe there was a point where I was worried about not having enough to do. As the days go on, I am more amazed by the people that I work with and the work that we do. Over and over again, I feel so humbled to be here. I must confess that before coming, it was so easy to focus the attention on myself…to, in a sense, “pat myself on the back” for “giving up” a year of my life to serve in India. I’ve quickly learned that what I am gaining is far more than I what I have given up. The people that I work with have sacrificed far more than I have, often taking significant pay cuts, to be a part of this work. They’re not simply dedicating a year of their life, but an entire standard of living in order to truly follow God’s command to seek justice. What an incredible blessing to be surrounded by people with passionate hearts for God and for others.

As I’ve studied the extent of global injustice over the past few years, I’ve often found myself questioning, “God—where are you? If you say that you are a God of both justice and love, why are there so many people suffering from injustice and oppression? Why does it seem that You are doing nothing about it?” This is one area of my faith that has caused me to struggle with God’s love, goodness, and at times, even His sovereignty. On top of feelings of doubt, I also battle emotions of anger that God would allow people to be abused in such violent ways, people that He created and that He claims to love as much as he loves me.

Over the past several weeks, I have once again been brought back to this point through the instances of violence and oppression that I see affecting so many. Each day, I’m reminded of the darkness that exists in this world—a girl whose virginity is sold by her own mother, an entire family forced to work in brutal, slave-like conditions. “God, where are You? Why are You allowing your creation to endure such abuse? And why are those inflicting the abuse getting away with such injustice? If You say that You are a God of justice, then where is fair judgment?” During this period of doubt, I reach a crossroads where I am forced to choose which path I will continue down, one of faith, or one of disbelief. Oftentimes, the decision comes down to the simple truth that, for me, life without faith in God seems much more terrifying than a life trusting in His sovereignty over this world.

Two weeks ago, I feel like God truly rewarded me for my years of trusting Him as I was able to see first-hand what it looks like for Him to rescue His children out of violence and oppression. As I was sitting at work one Tuesday, my boss approached me and asked if I would like to be a part of a rescue operation the next day. Of course, without hesitation, I quickly agreed. The next day, we would head an hour and a half out of the city to a region filled with numerous rice mills that provide rice to most of South Asia and even other regions of the world. Our mission: to rescue 17 people who had been forced to work to pay back a loan of less than 4,000 Rupees (around $100) that they’d borrowed seven years earlier.

Laborers in a Rice Mill

Their story is tragic, but unfortunately, not uncommon. Even though it is illegal under the constitution, it’s estimated that there are around 40 million bonded laborers in South Asia alone; 10 million of these are children. Bonded labor is essentially modern-day slavery. A poor villager, unable to pay for a medical bill, wedding, or funeral, will accept an illegal advance, agreeing to pay back the loan by providing manual labor to the lender. Once the villager, including family members, has moved to the lender’s facility to work, they find that in addition to providing manual labor, they have also sacrificed their freedom. They cannot work elsewhere. They cannot leave. In reality, they are paid little to no wages and their initial loan actually increases as the owners of the facility charge them unreasonable prices for small amounts of food and “accommodations.” It is not uncommon for laborers to work for generations to pay back small loans taken by relatives many years before. In addition to being robbed of their freedom, laborers are often treated violently—including physical, verbal, and even sexual abuse.

Early Wednesday morning, I headed with a team of around 20 people toward the rice mill. Working together with government and police officials, the operation was a success and we were able to rescue all 17 people!! Praise God! I fought back tears as I watched the laborers and their families walk into the government office to receive their certificates of freedom. Out of the 17 rescued, 9 were children, and 7 of the kids had been born since entering the rice mill and had never even enjoyed lives of freedom. As they entered the government office, their faces were filled with fear and their eyes with tears. By the time they left the office, their faces were filled with smiles and their arms with Beanie Babies :) After several hours at the government office, consisting of multiple interviews with the laborers, we succeeded in securing the certificates of freedom, as well as initial government payment for the laborers to begin to rebuild their lives in freedom.

The highlight of the day, for me, was being able to escort the laborers back to their villages about 2 hours south. Instead of riding with the IJM staff, I climbed into the hot and crowded bus of laborers and was greeted with smiles from each of the children. It’s incredible how a simple smile can convey the powerful message of love, despite the language barrier that existed between us. Within moments of leaving the government office, one small girl was asleep in my lap, while 2 others slept against my shoulders. I sat drenched in sweat, tears streaming down my face, as I attempted to comprehend the reality of what all had taken place that day. That morning, 17 people had woken up to lives of bondage. That evening, 7 years later, they would return home to lives of freedom.

As I reflected on the magnitude of this transformation, I finally caught a glimpse of how God desires to rescue people from injustice and oppression—through His own people. Throughout the bible, God has called Christians to fight injustice. “Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17).  “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed” (Jeremiah 22:3). All along, I had been asking the wrong question when I cried out to God, “Why are You allowing so many people to suffer? Why aren’t You doing anything about it?” Instead, I should have been asking what we, as Christians, are doing to “seek justice” and to “rescue the oppressed.” Just as God used Moses to rescue the Israelites out of slavery in the Old Testament, He desires to use His people to rescue those suffering from injustice and oppression today.

It was after midnight when we finally arrived at the first village. Even after experiencing the reunion of my brother returning from 15 months in Iraq, I was far from prepared for the joyous reunion that I was about to encounter. We pulled in front of the first family’s home and were greeted by tired and confused family members who had been sleeping in the front yard. I’m sure they were wondering what a bus was doing pulling up to their house in the middle of the night. The bus doors opened, and their family climbed out, family that they had not seen or heard from in 7 years. Laughter and tears filled everyone’s faces and person after person approached us to say “thank you, thank you” over and over again. After just a day, it was hard to say goodbye to the laborers and children, but what an incredible blessing to know that they were now home, living in freedom. What a powerful picture that amidst the darkness in this world, God remains sovereign. He holds true to His word that, “when they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them” (Isaiah 19:20).    

I cannot thank you enough for your prayers for me and the work that IJM is doing. This work would truly not be possible without them. If you would like to read more about the rescue, check out this report from a local News Report: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/eight-bonded-workers-freed/167618-60-120.html

Kyleigh

“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:9-11)

Cultural Challenges

After a week of feeling both physically sick and homesick, this city is finally beginning to feel a bit more “normal.” Although you can familiarize yourself beforehand on the numerous stages of culture shock, nothing really prepares you for actually experiencing the emotional ups and downs involved. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the different stages of culture shock, the entire process is supposed to take place in 4 or 5 stages. The first stage is often called, “The Honeymoon Phase.” Usually entering the country in some state of euphoria, you are able to view the new cultural differences as a new and exciting adventure. This stage is often short lived and you then move into phase two, “The Negotiation Phase.” At this point, the cultural differences become very apparent and you often become moody, impatient, frustrated and even angry as you try to adapt to the new culture. [This is the stage that I’ve been experiencing this past week]. But finally you are able to move into the third stage, “The Adjustment Phase,” where you begin to develop a sense of direction and the new culture starts to become more normal. Thankfully, at this point, I feel like I am now beginning to enter into this adjustment phase. To walk you through this process on a more personal level, let me use the example of my shifting attitude towards the whole means of transportation here: the “auto.”

Week 1:
“How fun! We get to ride around on these little rickshaws with a moped-sized engine to anywhere in the city that we want to go! Sure, their driving can sometimes be a bit scary and the continuous honking a bit annoying, but it’s so energizing to be able to negotiate a price!” [Perfectly illustrated by my first blog post]

Week 2:
[The reasonable (& fair) equation for determining the price of an auto: 1st Kilometer = 14 rupees + 6 rupees per additional kilometer]

Prices I paid:
Auto to work: (<1K) = 30 rupees
Auto home from dinner: (4K) = 150 rupees
Auto to the grocery store: (1.5 K) = 80 rupees
Auto to the mall: (3K) = 100 rupees

In addition, if any of these trips are at night, add 50 rupees. If it is raining out, double the normal price. And heaven forbid you actually want to be dropped off on the correct side of the street (so you don’t have to risk your life braving the traffic), 20 extra rupees. Overall attitude: “Negotiating is pointless, I have white skin. I hate autos.”

Week 3: “Perspective…if I don’t gain some quickly, I’m going to lose my mind. Autos are a necessary part of life and like it or not, I’m going to have to get used to them. Yes, they can be frustrating, and I will be charged extra as an American, but I can’t change that. Most of the drivers are very poor…some live in the slums, some even sleep in their autos. Even though I hate being ripped off, I can and must set aside my pride because the fact is that I can afford the extra 50 rupees, especially when they need it much more than I do. New strategy: approach each driver with a smile…it will transform the entire encounter.”

This is just one small example of the emotional roller coaster I’ve been experiencing the past week and a half, which is why I’ve been a little reluctant to blog. There are certain aspects here that are just really hard to get used to…such as the daily power outages and the lack of clean air. It’s only when these “luxuries” are taken away from you that you truly realize how much you take for granted on a daily basis.

Even though it’s been a tough week, there have also been some really huge blessings as well. First off, we finally found a place to live! Thank you for all of your prayers. I think that God used the entire housing situation as lesson one in South Asia on learning to depend more on Him. Last week, I finally came to the point where I realized that it was ridiculous for me to claim that I trusted God regarding the work of IJM, but not trust him regarding the logistics of my own life. Within hours of being more at peace with the housing situation, the doors opened for us to move in to an apartment that is safe, close to the office and reasonably priced. The apartment is less than a 10 minute walk from the IJM office and is located above a really nice Hindu family. We moved in on Thursday night and the only downside of the place is that my room faces a nearby temple so every morning I am abruptly awaken at 4:30 a.m. to a 10-minute serenade of religious chanting. It’s almost impressive that the man is able to project his voice well enough that it seems he is on my balcony with a megaphone. I think some earplugs might be my next purchase.

Things at work have picked up for me as well! My number one job is to find another legal advocate for the office. The process entails reviewing numerous resumes and making the initial phone interviews for potential candidates. If I find the person to be qualified for the position, I then arrange to bring them into the office and set up interviews with several of the advocates, as well as the legal director. This process is a little overwhelming because I feel far from qualified to determine who is suitable for the position but I think this might be lesson two in learning to depend more on the Lord.

I cannot believe that I have already been here for 3 weeks. The time has already flown by. It has been so encouraging to skype with friends at home and to receive so many emails and facebook posts, thank you SO much! Please feel free to email me or add me on skype: Kyleigh.Jung and I will do my best to respond quickly :)

Also, for those of you who haven’t checked out the recent CNN videos on IJM’s recent bonded labor rescue, they are definitely worth your time. The first one includes actual footage of the raid on the brick kiln. The second focuses on what life is like for the victims after they have been rescued and the last one is an interview with IJM founder, Gary Haugen, on the Indian government's role in the anti-slavery movement . If you have some time, please check them out!

http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2011/06/28/kapur.cfp.india.brick.kiln.cnn.html

http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/29/whats-next-for-rescued-slaves/

http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/29/governments-role-in-anti-slavery-effort/

A Day In The Life...

Here are some pictures to represent what a typical day looks like for me! Yes, some (maybe even all) are just a bit staged :)

Locking up at our new apartment :)

The New Place...the tree in the front is such a luxury here

Our previous means of transportation to work

Me and my roommate, Amy, on our walk to work

We are now just a 6 minute walk from the office!

Quick stop for an egg puff breakfast for the low price of 8 rupees (less than a quarter)

Our favorite juice stand where you can get pretty much any type of fruit juice (I think watermelon might be the best)

On a good morning, we have time to stop before work :)

 Work is from 9-6 every day. From 9-9:30, we have personal "stillness time" each morning and from 9:30-10, we have office worship and devotions. Such a great way to start each day!

My desk...every day at 11 & 4, a guy in our office brings everyone tea or coffee

Walking to lunch with Neesha, an Aftercare intern from Alabama who will  be here with me until April (and also will be my 3rd roommate)

Lunch at Polimar, a vegetarian restaurant near the office

Lunch...served on a bamboo leaf!

Legal library in the office

The office walls are covered with stories and pictures of families rescued out of bondage

Our walk home

Traffic really  never slows down...

Shops along our street

Finally moved into my new room! Purple bed spread and all :)

World of Difference

I must be honest in admitting that I have been reluctant to write a blog because I don't really feel like the blogger type. But after numerous requests,  I am reluctantly giving in.

I have officially finished my first week in South Asia and it has been full of many ups and downs already! Even after just a week, I am quite certain that it is going to be a year of growth, excitement and adventure. Everyone's prayers were answered for safe travel. There were absolutely no complications and I was even given a seat upgrade on one of my flights so I was able to get some sleep fully reclined. I arrived around 3:30 a.m. and it took another hour and a half to collect my luggage and get through customs. I was greeted by several other interns, which was such a pleasant surprise considering the ungodly hour that I'd flown in.

On the way home from the airport, I was able to get my first real glimpse of what my life was going to look like for the coming months. Even in the middle of the night, the traffic was absolutely insane. The roads were packed with every type of vehicle, from American cars to auto rickshaws to pedal bikes and it appeared that there were no street rules besides the necessity of horn honking. Crossing the street might be the most terrifying part of life here and really, the only time that I feel unsafe. I feel like I am playing a live game of frogger and I must strategically plan my route across the street or risk my life :) To get around, we must take motorized rickshaws, called "autos" here. Instead of the prices being metered like most cities in the country, we have to negotiate the price beforehand. Although I typically pride myself in my ability to negotiate, my white skin has pretty much diminished any bargaining powers I may have. It is not usual to argue with about 4 or 5 autos before we find a driver to agree to our price. After about 15 minutes of sheer frustration, we arrive at work feeling satisfied that our persistent arguing has saved us a total of around 10 cents.

Last Wednesday, I headed in for my first full day of work. The people who work in my office are absolutely incredible. They are all passionate people who love their work, but more importantly love the Lord. Each morning, we get to work at 9 for thirty minutes of "stillness," which is basically a time for personal devotion. From 9:30-10, we have office devotions, which is a time for the office to join together in prayer and thanksgiving for the cases we are currently working on. It's really awesome to be working for an organization with such a strong foundation. In so many ways, I am reminded of my own lack of faith but I know that this is going to be a time of immense growth for me.

Besides orientation in each of the office departments, I have spent much of my time searching for housing. This has proved to be a very challenging task. Once again, my diminished bargaining powers have not been very helpful as they jack up the prices when they hear "American English" on the other end of the line. I have learned that "fully furnished" does not always include beds, couches or kitchen appliances and often A/C and 24-hour water supply are considered "luxury amenities." In replacement of a one-month deposit in the states, all rentals require an advance of 10-months rent, which comes close to $9,000 total. There are just a few of the challenges we have been facing regarding housing, but we have a wonderful staff member who is helping us out so hopefully things will be arranged shortly! Please pray that we will find a place that is A) safe B) close to the office and C) reasonably priced.

Overall, it has been a really great week! There are still several uncertainties but I am trying to focus on the incredible things about this city, especially the work that I am so privileged to be a part of and the people I am able to work alongside. I have attached a link to a short film that I watched during orientation that paints an accurate picture of the lives of many of the victims we work to rescue. The film centers around a young boy, Kavi, who wants to escape from a brick kiln where he is forced to work as a modern day slave. It does cost $2 to watch but it is definitely worth it. If you are interested, follow the link below:

Kavi the Movie

I am committed to giving this whole blog thing a fair chance but might need a little time to figure it all out. I have taken some pictures and will do my best to post them soon! Lastly, I must give credit my dad for the blog title. For those of you who know him, this probably does not come as a surprise. After several rejected proposals that, of course, included some type of pun, we were thankfully able to settle on one. (Also, if you choose to "follow" my blog by clicking the link on the right, it will update you whenever I put up a new post)

Thank you so much for all of your prayers! I truly have appreciated all of the support and encouragement that I have received; it's made a world of difference.