Reconciliation of Heart & Mind

ineedtoputsomethinghere:

…National Adoption Month.  Here are a few FYIs.

Did you know…

• There are currently over 400,000 kids in foster care in the U.S.
• 104,000 are waiting to be adopted.
• 30,000 are or will be aging out.
• A report of child abuse is made very 10 seconds.
• A child is confirmed as abused or neglected every 35 seconds.
• More than 5 childrendie every dayas a result of child abuse.
• Every 13.7 minutes, someone commits suicide.
• Every 5 hours, a child or teenager commits suicide.
• Every 35 seconds, a child is born into poverty.
• Over 1 million children are homeless.

Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Correct oppression;
Bring justice to the fatherless,
Plead the widow’s cause.

-Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)

peter-says

One glance is all it took.

Polished for presentation and dolled for display, women filled the blocks ofZona Norte in downtown Tijuana. The weight of excessive make-up countered the lack in weight of adequate clothing - two wrongs never seem to make a right. Block after block I was greeted by lifeless expressions. Alley after alley I was met by dozens of hopeless souls silently screaming out. Step after step added pound after pound to this heavy heart. At a loss for words, I put my head down with my hands in my pockets. Shaking my head, I could only begrudgingly make out two words, “God, help.”

This is what You do. This is why You came. This is who You are.

Savior, Redeemer and Friend.

Help.

eunjeechii:

Answer: I have absolutely no idea…

I am someone that has lived in oblivion pretty much most of my life. I have been sheltered as a kid and grew up in such a “closed” community.

My heart for what I guess would be defined  as “social justice” first occurred after my very first mission trip to Yucatan in 9^thgrade. I knew that Mexico had a special place in my heart. I knew that missions was very dear to me as I continued to go every summer afterwards. I knew that one day when I grew waaaaay older, I would live in the mission field and spread love, joy, and hope to the children of impoverished areas. Without a doubt this calling came from the Lord and this compassion for children was my gift delivered from above.

But…that wouldn’t happen until AFTER I met my handsome husband, raised my four children, and had enough financial stability to support myself after they all went off to college. Until that day came though, I’ll focus on living a decent life with a good church and loving community. That should suffice…

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Human trafficking, brothels, abortion, drug cartels.All these terms were foreign to me just a couple years ago. I knew there was some sort of corruption going around in the world, but I never really knew how that had to do with me, my own passions, or what I could even really do for the victims of these circumstances. Some of these issues are very dear to several of myfriends, but not me. Probably never me, right? God already showed me the portion of His heart He wants me to reach, so I will do my duty to fulfill that. Right?

Far from it…

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This past year has been such a blur. One year ago I was saved from the depths of my sin and bondage. One year ago I was set free and fell in love with a Lord who has always loved me with a furious and ever redeeming love.

Exactly one year ago I watched the documentary Nefarious, a Christian documentary that explores and reveals the depths of sex traffickingand the extreme terror and trauma these girls experience in this terrible industry. As I saw the footage they caught in Cambodia, I was reminded of the same exact names of several girls I had met when I went there to visit my sister on the mission field. I realized I was blind to the reality that some of those girls may someday be sold into sex slavery as well for the financial welfare of their families. This documentary had an ever powerful impact in my heart. My heart began to break for things greater than I imagined. Those famous lyrics I passionately sang fromHosanna suddenly became tangible to my life.“Break my heart for what breaks Yours…”

Though my awareness for this issue had been ignited, I felt that my purpose and role was to simply share this documentary to the few previously mentioned friends who were far more passionate about this issue than I could probably ever be. So I did just that. I immediately told them about this documentary and recommended that THEY watch it so THEY could do something about it. I had done my “part.”So why did I feel like it wasn’t enough…

Last spring I joined World Vision ACT:S to support Sonya. Little did I know that the Lord knew my love to support a dear friend’s organization would be the perfect way to formally introduce me to the MANY injustices that are burning in His heart. My awareness slowly turned into passion. I was reunited with the issue of human trafficking. I was exposed to the Horn of Africa, ministries for homeless people across the Drag, World Vision’s Sponsor a Child program, and so much more. Suddenly I experienced my heart growing. How could my heart grow exponentially for things beyond myself? Next thing I knew, I had joined the leadership team of this organization. I barely even knew and still don’t entirely comprehend social justice, but now the Lord has called me to be a servant leader this year.

The more I sought the Lord in my daily relationship with Him, the more I grew in love and in intimacy with His beauty. The more intimate I grew with Him, the more He revealed Himself to me. (now I finally understand why He only told the secrets of His parables to his disciples. They were the ones that had walked in true relationship with Him at that time) I can confidently say I have a strong (albeit not perfect) relationship with the Lord, and boy has He been revealing the revelations of His heart to me. “Break my heart for what breaks Yours, Lord”

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The Lord began to put more weight in my heart for sex trafficking towards the end of summer break. That’s not my issue though, Lord. You gave me a heart for the children in the mission field and that’s what I will do. When various news of sex trafficking came trickling to my attention, I immediately told Stephanie about it. Lord, she is the one that is called to that area. I know you will do great things through her.

A domino effect of different “Godincidences” then took place that shifted my spirit and mentality:

- Joyce Kim,a staff on Exodus Cry (Nefarious), was a friend of my distant friend from Virginia. She was looking for someone to host a screening of Nefarious in Texas and personally contacted ME. Whoa. (Only a week before this, the issue of re-screening Nefarious on campus was a strong prayer topic during my fast.) That’s weird how this connected, but yeah I love event planning. Let’s get this ball rolling…

- Then an old professor of mine persistently sought to meet up with me. (what a blessing. how often does this happen) When we met up, she recommended I intern with Gen Austin, a rehabilitation program for girls who have been victim to rape, prostitution, abortion, drugs, and teen pregnancy, the following semester She also recommended I apply for the Teach For America program post-graduation. (I had been praying about applying for TFA just the week before. The Lord’s affirmation.) I asked her why she was recommending these things to me as I have never really shared much about my life with her. She said she could see mytransparent heart for justice issues. Glory. I know I am going in the right direction…

- I asked Sonya to ask Linda Unni in Korea for book recommendations on good Christian reads. I received word to read a book, Redeeming Love. Interesting, redeeming love has been the theme of my life. I’ll buy this book later when I have more money and definitely read it…then. But hallelujah, Julie surprisingly gifted me with this book via snail mail to Austin <3 Curious to read this book, I read the prologue and immediatelybroke down into tears. This book was about a girl who was victim to sex trafficking at a young age - a child. A book about the terrible struggles she had personally gone through during her times in the brothel and the equally terrible struggles she had in her freedom. A story about the hope of God’s redeeming love and His desire to raise up men like Hosea.

Too many incidences are coming my way…

Lord, I am not simply going to be a messenger to others who have the passion for this issue, huh? Lord, this issue is now my passion, isn’t it? Lord, continue to break my heart for what breaks  yours.  

Finally last week. It was a frustrating week. I was already at the point of being overwhelmed, tired, and simply burnt out. It just so happened that theAPRC Extravaganzadinner event was last week. The guest speaker, Stephanie Fast, was an orphan from Korea who openly shared her powerful story. She was beaten and bullied by other children at a young age. She was rejected by many potential foster parents and tied to water wells as parents allowed their children to throw stones at her. (This was my original heart. Freedom for children. Lord, I am listening.) But then she shared that she was also victim to sexual violation by many men in exchange for places of shelter and food. Collision. Alignment. How foolish I had been. I LIMITED my heart to simply be for children I had spent time with for only several weeks every summer at Mexico. My heart for freedom in children’s lives, was perfectly aligned with countless children who are sexually violated, abused, trafficked, and sold into slavery every day. These children are in even graver danger as their pimps entice customers at the advertisement of these precious girls’ virginity.

Everything made sense at that moment. He is showing me His heart for humanity.  when humanity is overcome by majesty

Lately people have asked me why I “suddenly: seem to have an interest in justice issues. Why sex trafficking? Why educational opportunities? Why abortion? Why this or that? When did YOU start liking that stuff? What can YOU even do.

Well I’ve searched my thoughts and wondered the same thing. I guess I am writing this entry to say I don’t really have an interest in the “justice movement.” I am not a political science major who is grounded in the myriad laws, policies, regulations, etc. necessary to logically overcome these injustices. I do not have any capability to free these captives nor break off their chains of bondage…on my own. I am not seeking to join the “justice movement.”

I am simply a girl, beloved. A girl in love with my Lord and desperately chasing after His heart. The more I have been praying that prayer, the more He keeps breaking my heart for these issues. Never in a million years would I have predicted my heart and mind to be where it’s at right now, but I stand confident. In my self, I lack e v e r y t h i n g. In Him, my cup is full.

Guys, if it’s on His heart, it should be in our hearts as well. And trust me, these issues are deeplyin His heart. It breaks His heart so much to see His beloved children in so much pain. Why this pain has to exist and why freedom can’t come right now, I do not have the answers to those thoughts.

What I do know is that there is power in prayer. Prayer to ask Him to break our hearts for what truly breaks His. Prayer to release freedom and truth into the lives of these victims. Prayer to heal the hearts of the bad guys. Prayer to open doors for us to have the opportunity to take greater action and bring greater awareness. 

Pray and I’ll hear from heaven and I’ll hear your land.

Ask and you will receive.

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Let’s chase after His heart, not the movement. 

Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours. 

Everything I am for your kingdom’s cause.

We are blessed to be a blessing!