Day 4

Isaiah 1:17 "Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppresseed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow."

While many of us are familiar with the verse above, it is not often that we meet Christians who carry out this commandment through their lives. Today, our team had the privilege of meeting and learning from the individuals who are living out this commitment through their daily work through International Justice Ministry (IJM) and Kaya International, here in La Paz, Bolivia. In the morning, our team visited IJM office and learned about their mission and their work in Bolivia. Founded in 1997, IJM Iis a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. In Bolivia, where 5 out of 10 girls are believed to become victims of sexual assult in their lifetime, IJM provides a critically needed legal representation free of charge for the victims. In the country where the conviction rate of sexual perpetrators is 1 %, last year alone, IJM convicted 4 perpetrators, abeit slowly, changing the justice system in Bolivia. Our team was greatly inspired by the commitment of the IJM staff members to carry about God´s calling to bring justice to those who need it the most: the poor, helpless and needy. Some of the staff members of the IJM suffer threats and intimidation from perpetrators and their supporters, but their courage and faith have enabled them to continue their work for the cause of bringing justice to the
poor.

In the afternoon, our team experienced the work of Kaya International first hand. Our team taught four different afternoon activities to the boys at Kaya Center: electricity, lego, art and craft and cross-cultural class. The boys were not only receptive and enthusiatic about the activities but displayed their natural curiosity, keen mind and creativity through their work. Our team enjoyed our time with the boys and getting to know them individually. Following our classes, we visited the "Rebirth" home, a transitional home for the boys who come off the street. On average, a boy stay at the house for 18 to 24 months before being stabilized and moving to a permanent home. The transitional home provides safety, routine and individual care for each boy who enters the home. Most of the boys who come to Kaya homes have experienced abuse, neglect, or drug addiction. For our team, it was heart wrenching to hear about the experience of some of the boys on the street before coming to Kaya. One boy wrote, "all a boy wants is love. All he wants is a family. Those who have been given much, please remember those who have less". Kaya International "defends the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widows" as we all are commanded to do as Christians. The boys who live on streets are the fatherless and the oppressed. They are oppressed by those in power and sadly sometimes by those who are obligated to care for them. Our team also learned that carrying out our responsbility to care for the fatherless often requires sacrifices of our time, finance, and comfort. Those at Kaya, along with Chi and Kristin, are making those sacrifices to care of the boys here in Bolivia. It is our prayer that God will continue to guide and bless their ministry to the boys. We also pray that God will stir each of our hearts to serve the fatherless in our midst when we return home.

Julie Lee