"We for 3 and a bald FOD!"

Learn to do right; seek justice.  Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; Plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17

Remembering what God did
in 2011 with a plaque for the office

To kick off the year of 2011, IJM Rwanda set a goal to assist in ensuring the conviction of two sexual abusers of children. We call these convictions “Perpetrator Accountability.” The reason IJM makes Perpetrator Accountability one of its main targets is because we believe that a justice system that consistently, fairly and effectively punishes those who break the law will deter others from breaking the law. [I am asked from time to time about why IJM only focuses on intervening in cases of sexual assault that have already occurred and why we do not focus more on prevention. My answer is that it is IJM believes that a functioning justice system is the best prevention against injustice, and that our work ensuring that justice systems work for the poor will prevent the greatest number of children from suffering sexual abuse in the long run. So, our casework and work to change the systems in place in Rwanda is prevention work. May it be so!]

One of the little girls who
IJM helped in 2011

So, our 2011 goal for convictions was two. We reached this goal by July. Around that time, one of our American volunteers jokingly wrote on our goals board “If we double our convictions, Lane will shave his head!” I eagerly accepted the challenge, as that would mean two more girls affirmed by the system (and I’ve secretly wanted to shave my head for years anyway). Throughout the remainder of the year, the original IJM Rwanda 2011 motto of “We for 3!” became “We for 3 and a bald FOD!” [FOD = Field Office Director = me]. From time to time when we’d have a breakthrough in a case, one of the Rwandan staff would tape scissors to my door. They really enjoyed the thought of me shaving my head.

Anna with the clippers

Well, on December 29, 2011, we secured our fourth conviction! We are so thankful that God granted justice to these four little girls and that the justice system clearly stated that they matter. To celebrate all God had done in and through us in 2011, IJM Rwanda had a party on January 11, 2012. We ate, drank Fantas [flavored sodas, mandatory at all events here] and prayed and laughed as a staff. Then, the fathers of two of our clients spoke about the events surrounding their daughters’ abuse and how they were thankful to God that IJM was on their side in pursuing justice for their children. They were powerful words.

Then, it was time for me to put up or shut up. The time for the shaving had come. Anna broke out the clippers, I sat in a chair and pulled a sheet over my shoulders . . . and off came my beautiful locks. My intention was to go all the way, to “bic it,” Mr. Clean-style. But, once Anna had gotten down to the shortest clipper setting the staff begged me to stop. It turns out, they had never expected me to shave my head. So, I stopped at the buzz cut. And, with surprise, they said I looked much younger.

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Baby Joshua, so sweet!

Muraho (Hello) from Rwanda! It has been a few months since we have written. Since we last wrote, many things have happened. Let me take a moment to fill you in.

As you know, our 4th child Joshua Lee Mears was born in Texas on November 7th. We enjoyed the rest of the month including Thanksgiving with family and friends while there. And we managed to get lots of doctor's appointments and check-ups for all of us while we were there. Not fun, but something you gotta do.

Anna, Kelley and kids with our airplane
in background

In December, we all came back to our home in Rwanda.  Lane came first to get back to the office.  Then Anna and her sister Kelley travelled with the 4 kids on Christmas Eve and Day back to Rwanda. Abigail even said she saw santa and his reindeer out the airplane window :-).  It was great to have Kelley there to help me travel, plus it was fun to host her for 10 days afterwards.

We loved showing her our life here as well as meeting some of our friends. She enjoyed visiting Mother Theresa's Home of Hope orphanage run by nuns.  Kelley also brought a suitcase full of art supplies to bless a friend, Jennifer Jukanovich, who has a ministry with Rwandan street kids in her neighborhood.

In January, the IJM office had their time of celebration for what God did in 2011. I (Anna) really enjoyed being there to hear two of the fathers stand up and share how much it meant to them that IJM had helped their daughters.  While court cases are in progress, the trauma counselors at IJM meet with the girls to help them deal and heal emotionally from the awful abuse that had happened to them.  I hear that these counseling session really help in the healing process and the staff can see huge leaps in progress for each of the girls.

New family photo with 4 kids now!

Caleb and Abigail started back to school and were very excited to see their friends again. Caleb is playing soccer at school and loves it.  Last week both of the kid's had a Reader's Theater in their classroom and so that was fun for the parent's to come watch.  This week both classes will have a field trip to visit a local Rwandan school as part of a partnership between the schools. I look forward to seeing how this partnership develops.

Anna is continuing with the Ladies Bible study each week as they are doing Beth Moore's study of the book of Revelation. Whew, deep stuff to wrestle with, but good. And I love that it says "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy...and take to heart what is written in it." Revelation 1:3.

In the meantime, life is back to normal and we are getting used to having a newborn in the house again.  Joshua is a good baby and the big kids are really taking to him. Abigail even changes a few diapers, while Luke is eager to fetch a toy for Joshua to play with. I think he likes being a big brother.  While the older kids are at school, Luke and I read books together, play, and work on his alphabet, numbers, and colors.

Lane's new haircut

Some have asked about the weather here in Rwanda. Well, it is usually between 60-85 degrees each day and we are currently in the dry season.  I hear varying reports about when the rainy season will arrive, but I think it will be here sometime in March/April. Seasons like spring, summer, fall, and winter do not exist here. It is either dry season (Dec/Jan/Feb or June/July/Aug) or rainy season (Mar/Apr and Oct/Nov). I hope that helps!

Oh, and thank you to the many of you who sent us Christmas cards to our box here in Rwanda or to our PO box back in Texas. We are still receiving the ones sent to Rwanda and it is such a treat for us. Thank you!!

Thanks again for all of your prayers and support!

Lane and Anna for the Mearskats
Caleb, Abigail, Luke, and baby Joshua