Jamie has new legs!

Dear Friends, 

Remember back in September, we wrote about a girl named Jamie* who was abused and lost both legs below the knee after a fire? Click here to read that update. 

http://mearsfamilylife.blogspot.com/2013/09/hope-in-midst-of-loss.html

In the last few months, more has progressed in her story...  

- She has been very encouraged by being at the rehab clinic with other amputees and seeing that her life is not over, but there is HOPE. 

- Thanks to funds from donors, Jamie has new prosthetic legs!! 

Jamie* learning to walk again. 

- Her legal case went to the courts here in Rwanda and the two men who abused her were found guilty. 

- And she was also accepted into the boarding school at the rehab clinic. This is great news since she did not have a viable home to return to after her rehab was complete. Now, she has a place to go and not just anyplace, but a place to give her hope about how to live and walk with prosthetics. 

Her case has captured the hearts of others outside of Rwanda!

So, IJM is sending 3 people from the communications team at IJM's headquarters in Washington, DC to capture Jamie's* story.  This team arrives tonight and stays through Sunday. 

Can I ask for your prayers today?

- Pray for Jamie - for continued healing of her body, rehab therapy, and for her to feel the love of God each day of her life. 

- Pray for the communications team - that they will be able to document her story in a way that honors God and is respectful to her.

- Pray for the details of their trip - flights, photography & videography equipment, transport to the rehab center, translators, health. 

* Jamie is a pseudonym. 

Thanks, 

Anna & Lane

Hope in the Midst of Loss

JAMIE

Jamie's burned hands

The accommodations of the windowless house seemed to mock her: a bed, a nightstand and a single candle for light. She was not a guest in this house; she was a prisoner, locked inside by two men who had promised her a job but instead abducted and raped her the night before. As memories of the attack and the resulting despair overcame her, she fell asleep.

She awoke to smoke and heat. Disoriented, it took her a minute to realize that the house was on fire. Then, terror struck as she recalled that she was locked inside. She banged on the walls of the house and screamed for help. Meanwhile, the fire raged. Eventually, she heard voices outside the house calling her name, and she screamed all the louder. Yet, the flames found her before others could. When the neighbors finally broke down the door and pulled Jamie* to safety, they could see that her chest, arms and legs had been badly burned.

At the hospital, it was evident to the doctors that her legs were burned so badly that they were beyond their power to save. They amputated both legs below the knee. It seemed clear she would never walk again.

Lane and his Dad - Father's Day 2013

Thankfully, someone at the hospital knew of IJM, and referred the family to us for assistance. IJM immediately began to ensure that the abusers were arrested, and their files were sent to the prosecution so the men could be held accountable for their heinous crimes. IJM also worked to have Jamie transferred to a rehabilitation center, and arranged for prosthetic legs to be made for her. Upon her arrival at the rehab center, Jamie saw that she was not alone in her plight, and began to have hope that she might indeed walk again.

Today, Jamie is still at the rehab center and is taking part in IJM’s trauma counseling program. She seems to have hope, and is thankful that IJM staff and those praying for and supporting IJM are with her. Please pray for Jamie, as she is not out of the woods yet. When the doctors amputated her legs, they did not believe that she would be able to afford prosthetics. So, they amputated the legs in a way that was not compatible with prosthetics, and now Jamie may have to undergo a second surgery on her legs so that she can wear the prosthetics. Also pray that she would continue to recover emotionally and spiritually from the trauma, and that her abusers would be held accountable under the law.
(*Jamie is a pseudonym)

Caleb and his Great-Grandmother

*          *          *

Our Life in RWANDA
Greetings, friends and family. It’s been months since we posted an update of any real substance, and for that we apologize. The longer we live overseas, the more routine life here becomes and the less we are prompted to write. But, the truth is, I need to write. It’s cathartic, and I’ve sensed a growing need to do so.

It’s been a season of transition and loss over the last several months. Several families in our inner circle of community left Rwanda in May/June, generally for new opportunities in the US. Over a period of two weeks, it seemed we were at the airport seeing dear friends off three times a week. It caused us to reflect how blessed we have felt here to develop such solid friendships in a relatively short time. And it caused us to mourn the fact that we might never see some of these dear friends again, let alone have deep conversations, memorable times and sweet dance parties with them. Such is the life overseas: very transient. 

Family wedding

But, God has been very good to us. Not long after all these friends left, some old friends arrived. Our best friends when we lived in Nairobi were an American family with two boys Caleb and Abigail’s age. Just last week, this family arrived in Kigali for a 2-3 year Foreign Service assignment. We are very thankful and excited to have them here, as our families get along famously. And, we’re beginning to develop good friendships with other new families as well. We are seeing God’s provision for our emotional and spiritual needs in these new, and old, friends.

Catching up with long time friends

Trip to USA
This summer, we headed back to the US for our annual home leave. We are thankful that we got to spend some good time with our families and friends (Lane for a month and Anna and the kids for nearly 2 months). 

We were a part of Anna’s sister Kelley’s wedding in DC, spent lots of time with our parents in Dallas, had eight great days in Austin seeing friends, went to three baseball games, and I (Lane) got to visit my sister, Cara, in San Diego, along with my brother-in-law, niece, and four-day-old nephew, Cason. 

Kids seeing their Great-Grandfather 

The time went by so quickly! We are so thankful that IJM provides this great benefit, so that we can remain connected with those people and things we miss most. 

Praises:
- God answered so many prayers about our time in the states. From providing a car, to housing, to flights, and so much more. We give God the glory for walking ahead of us and providing in abundant ways!

Park and picnic with Nana

- Thank you for your prayers for Lane's knee. After seeing a specialist in Dallas, we found out Lane did not need surgery. yeah! Thank you Lord. However, the pain he feels now is due to arthritis, so pray for continued healing as Lane figures out ways deal with this new diagnosis.

- The kids are back to school and settled in quickly with their new classes. Luke started Kindergarten and is thrilled to be at the same school as his big brother and sister.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for our IJM office in Rwanda. We are going through the annual process of registration. Pray for favor and all of the details with this process. Many of the staff are setting aside a day of prayer and fasting during this next month. If you want to join with us, please email Anna for more details.

Playdates with friends from school in Austin

Thank you for your prayers. Any scriptures or prayers that you want to share with us, we would love that. Thanks again for walking with our family as we live overseas working for justice for the poor. We truly believe that each one of you are in this with us. WE are a body, we are the hands of Jesus ministering to the poor.


In Christ,
Lane & Anna Mears

Pruning

Here in Rwanda we have a guy that helps us with the yard and gardening at our house. It is a treat for me because I get to pick out the plants or vegetables and he does the work. Yesterday, I asked him to cut back the long row of geranium flowers on our fence line because they were getting too tall. When, I came home a few hours later, I almost cried. What I saw was not what I expected. He was halfway down the fence and my beautiful pink flowers were in piles on the yard. Now, they looked even worse in my mind but I didn't know what needed to happen in order to fix what I saw. I tried to cut some myself and see if I could fix it or what I would have done differently if I was the one with the cutting shears. But, that didn't do any good either.

Before...way overgrown!

My first thought was to put a row of small grassy looking border type flowers between the grass yard and the mess of cut flowers. I had wanted to do that for a while anyways. I thought it would create a nice border and so now may be the perfect time for that. So, I went down the street to the guy selling flowers and bought 20 of these small border plants. I brought them home and placed them where I wanted them planted. I was beginning to have hope, I liked these new little plants. Then I looked back at the stringy geranium mess and struggled with what to do with them and in a moment of defeat told the gardener to just cut them back all the way to about 10 inches from the ground, which would leave them totally bare, no flowers, no leaves, just stalks. Also, on the fence there is a white ledge on the bottom and so I asked him to sweep all of the old brown leaves and dirt off so we could see the nice white ledge.

After...pruned and new plants added

Now, I am looking outside after he has been working this morning and it hit me! I was afraid to prune these flowers. I loved them. I looked at them everyday. But they needed it. They will grow bigger and thicker after being pruned. I am such a novice at gardening that I couldn't see past the pain to know what it will look like some day after they regrow. Now, it looks clean, a bit bare, but clean and no longer an overgrown tangled mess. These little border plants are spaced enough so that they have room to grow, but they are pretty enough now, I think, just as they are. I have hope for the geraniums to grow back. Maybe someone with a little greener thumb, might read this and tell me I did it all wrong and cut them too much. But, today, I am hearing God speak to me and I will accept this message. It is a season right now for me, of feeling the pain of loosing the daily relationships that are now many miles away. This whisper from God to me today says, that those relationships do value but there is a season and a time for everything. New relationships will grow, new things are happening, new plants are being planted near me. I hated cutting those plants, but after wrestling with the decision, I finally did what needed to be done. Is OUR HEAVENLY FATHER the same way? Does he hesitate in pruning us? Does he shed tears when he sees the blossoms cut and laying on the grass no longer attached to the plant? But, unlike me, does he have the experience and all knowing and all loving power to see to the other side that ... THIS IS GOOD.

Surprise blessings

I couldn't stand to see handfuls of these pruned flowers on the grass just get tossed into the compost pile. So, like little children, I scooped them up and took them in the car with me on the way to pick up my kids from school. Maybe, just maybe, my 3 kids could give them to teachers to bless and encourage them. That is what we did and I found a joy in seeing each child hand their teacher a bundle of flowers from our own yard. They enjoyed doing it and you could see the delight in their teacher's eyes. A surprise blessing. Again, thank you Lord!

Thank you LORD for this lesson today. I write with tears to know that YOU DO CARE and I am thankful that you do speak in the everyday moments of my life. You do want to show me things and yes, I want to listen. If it takes the geraniums in my yard to reach me then go for it. It is a sweet reminder for me to keep my eyes open to other areas and ways that you show yourself to me.

Anna

She was abused and alone...until you sent IJM

Read about one of our IJM Rwanda success stories....
(a featured story on IJM's official website. http://www.ijm.org/node/1973 )

Now a brave young woman, Mimi is safe at home with her family.

Twelve-year-old Mimi* knew her family was desperately poor. Hoping to help, she left their Rwandan village to work as a maid in the city—a common step for rural girls her age. But after years of hard labor and cruel bosses, she was barely earning enough to survive. Then, all at once, her fragile world fell apart: Mimi was raped by her employer's brother and cast out to the streets.

Soon, Mimi discovered she was pregnant. She had nowhere to go and thought no one would help her. Mimi was still a young girl, but too far and too ashamed to return home. Her baby came early, and they spent months in and out of hospitals—weak, penniless and quickly losing hope.

The home where Mimi grew up.

Abused and afraid, girls like Mimi often feel powerless to seek help. But, in her darkest time, Mimi found the courage to share the truth.

She bravely told her story to nurses at a local clinic, who called police and IJM Rwanda. Suddenly, Mimi had powerful defenders on her side. She was not alone anymore.

Right away, IJM social workers made sure Mimi and her baby got the care they both needed. IJM worked with local prosecutors to fight for justice in court. And, with strong evidence, the man who raped Mimi was convicted and sent to prison.

Mimi's mother celebrated her return, saying, "We will share whatever we have."

Mimi flourished in IJM's trauma-focused therapy program and prepared to return home with IJM's help. She worried how her family would see her—gone five years and now with a baby born from abuse. But her mother welcomed her with open arms, joyful after years of worry.

Today, Mimi has graduated from a career training course in sewing. With new confidence and a new sewing machine from her friends at IJM, she can help her family and continue to heal with those she loves.

Kigali City, Rwanda

"Now that she's skilled in a trade, Mimi has a firm footing," says her IJM social worker. "You can see the future shine in her eyes."

Will you send IJM to bring rescue and restoration to more children? Your gift changes lives.

*A pseudonym. This IJM client is now a major and has consented to the use of her image. 

Lane's Knee

Dear Friends, 

I would like to ask for your prayers for Lane. On Friday, he injured his left knee and today was able to see an orthopedic doctor here in Rwanda. After examination, the doctor thinks Lane tore part of his meniscus, but can't verify that until doing an MRI of the knee. However, the doctor wants to wait 6 weeks for the swelling to go down before doing the MRI. Depending on the type of tear, it could mean surgery. 

I want to ask for your prayers during these next six weeks - March 11th through April 22nd, that God would COMPLETELY heal Lane's left knee. So much so, that when he goes for the MRI, that no tear is found. I am asking for prayer that as the swelling goes down that God will heal all of the tissue around the knee and restore anything that is possibly damaged or torn. 

Thanks for praying with us and to God be the glory!

Thanks!

Anna

Merry Christmas 2012 from Rwanda

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2: 11-12

Merry Christmas

From the Mears family in Rwanda

Lane, Anna, Joshua (1), Luke (4), Abigail (7), Caleb (9)

The (St.) Nick of Time - December 2012 Update

One of the IJM client children who completed her

counseling and is receiving her certificate. So young!

By Lane Mears
It is Friday afternoon in Kigali at IJM’s office. Storm clouds are moving in, bringing a cool wind to the gathered crowd of local leaders, government officials, and our staff and ministry partners. We are gathered to celebrate.

We celebrate…

• 13 Clients - child victims of sexual assault who have completed their trauma counseling, a process which takes around 6 months to complete;
• 8 Mothers of our clients  - who completed a support group that helps them deal with the grief of their child’s rape; and
• Lay trauma counselors - people from local churches and other ministries in the country, who completed a series of trainings on how they can counsel trauma victims in their communities.

We celebrate because out of devastating grief and tragedy, God has brought healing and hope.

IJM clients dancing at the graduation celebration! Dressed
in traditional skirts and headbands.  

At the celebration, April*, a now-18 year-old client of IJM, stands in front of the gathered crowd to tell her story. One day nearly two years ago a man came to April’s house and asked her mother if she knew of a young trustworthy girl that would be willing to take on a housemaid job. April’s family was very poor, so April’s mother said her daughter was trustworthy and could do a good job.

The next day, the man took April to the home of woman who put her to work as a live-in housemaid. Two nights later, the same man came to the house with a friend and the two men drank beer with April’s new boss. April eventually went to bed. In the middle of the night, April woke up and immediately realized that her hands were tied and that one of the men had his hand over her mouth to keep her quiet. He then proceeded to rape her. After the rape, April ran from the house and a neighbor took her to her mother. Eventually, the police filed charges against the abuser and the criminal case process began.

A young teenager IJM Client, with a baby sleeping
on her back under the blanket, receiving her counseling
certificate. Her face is hidden in the picture to
protect her privacy. 

Understandably, April was distraught that such a thing would happen to her. While the criminal case against the rapist moved forward, April discovered that she was pregnant as a result of the rape. As a poor, single 16 year-old girl carrying a child conceived of rape, April lost all hope. She decided to end her life, and purchased natural oils she had heard would do the trick. As she was about to ingest them, however, two of IJM’s client care specialists arrived at her mother’s house, in the nick of time, to provide counseling and a plan for recovery.

Over the next 18 months, April gave birth to a baby boy, spent months counseling with IJM staff and eventually completed her treatment plan.

And today, as the rain begins to fall, April stands before the crowd gathered to celebrate with her and she speaks of a new hope, a new joy and a thankfulness to God that He did not leave her alone in her shame and despair but He sent people to rescue her and give her new life.

A new hope, a new joy, a new life!!

------------------

Merry Christmas, friends and family! We have much to celebrate. Chief among our causes to celebrate is the reason for Christmas – to celebrate God’s gift in Jesus. He came in the nick of time to rescue us from death and offer us a new hope and a new life. John 10:10 records Jesus' joyful words: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

It’s been WAY too long since our last update – sorry! Our family of four kids is hopping and busy with daily life. Joshua just turned one year old and is crawling everywhere. He can stand up and even take a few steps on his own but still prefers to crawl.

Abigail (7) did great on her solo in the elementary school Christmas musical.  She loves to sing around the house and really enjoyed being on stage for the two performances.  Say a prayer for Abigail if you think about it.  On Thursday, she will go visit 2 of IJM's clients at their homes here in Kigali. She decided a while ago that she wanted to give away some of her toys to the IJM clients.  So, she put the items in paper bags and put them under our Christmas tree. Tomorrow, she will get to deliver them in person. Thank you Lord for her heart for the poor and abused.

Joshua - 1 yr old

Caleb (9) remains a voracious reader. Most mornings, when I first come out to the living room, he is already awake and on the couch reading. Books! Thick books! Like with words and stuff!

Luke (4) can now count to ten in French (he attends a French pre-school). When I (Anna) went to his parent teacher conference today, the teacher said to the other teacher at the beginning of the meeting "for Momma Luke we must speak only English." Boy, did I feel like the silly mom who only speaks one language. But, they did recommend that I get some French story books for me to read at home to help him with learning the language.  

I, Anna, am really looking forward to these "holy days" ahead to spend time with my family, being creative at home and baking fun treats to eat. I am realizing how different it is having Christmas overseas. And, not in your home culture. We are learning to start some of our own family traditions.   I miss driving around looking at lights and time with cousins and grandparents. But, instead we will get together with friends here to sing Christmas carols.  The grocery stores here don't have displays at the end of the aisles for pumpkin pie, stuffing, candy canes, and hot chocolate. Instead, we have fresh mangoes, avocados, citrons, and carrots from our garden. The food may be different, but the reason for the season, the birth of our Savior, is still the same no matter where we live.

Abigail 7, Luke 4, Caleb 9
With fresh carrots from the garden!

Before I close, I must say, that I am so proud of Lane and the folks at the IJM Rwanda office for working so hard to exceed their yearly target of convictions in the legal cases they are working on.  They are "seeking justice" as in Isaiah 1:17. In 16 of their cases this year, the child rapist was convicted, well beyond their goal of 10 convictions. That is 16 sexual abusers who are behind bars and can no longer hurt any other children. Yeah team!

Merry Christmas!

From the Mears family in Rwanda
Lane, Anna, Joshua, Luke, Abigail, Caleb

Abandoned at Birth...

Dear Friends, 

These are true stories from Rwanda....

Baby G is a little baby girl who was abandoned in a field not too far from our house at 5 days old! Security guards found her in the field crying and brought her to the neighborhood leader. A missionary family at our church took her in to feed her and care for her until a home could be found.  She has been with this family for several months now and is growing and developing while they are waiting for a family for her. She was literally rescued from death that night when the security guard heard her little cries in the field. Thank you Lord!

Baby M is a little baby boy who was abandoned at a local hospital this summer! The doctors kept him there for 5 weeks hoping his family would return. However, after 5 weeks and no family to claim him, the hospital allowed this same missionary family to foster him until a home could be found for him as well. 

So now, this missionary family is fostering 2 Rwandan children in addition to caring for their own 4 children. Brett and Keli are those missionaries and they are personal friends of ours. I admire them so much for taking in these little babies and caring for them. They have accepted these 2 babies into their home to care and love them as long as needed. They are wonderful parents and their older children are helping as well. But, they need our help!! It is a lot to care for 2 foster babies. They need lots of attention and care. Baby M needs extra physical therapy, love, and attention due to help his delayed development from being in the hospital alone for so long.

I kept wondering how I can help, so I asked. We can pray for Brett & Keli. We can pray for Baby M's development that no serious medical conditions are found. And we can pray for 2 loving families to adopt Baby G and Baby M. There are also practical ways that we can help. Both babies need formula and diapers, and lots of them! Lane and I have already done this and if you are interested, you can donate online to the Shreck family on their ministry website. Just click on their family picture at the bottom of the webpage. When you complete the form, in the field for your phone number, just write "Baby G & Baby M" and it will go directly to helping the babies.

https://rocfoundation.worldsecuresystems.com/Donate

Also, I am happy to buy the diapers & formula for you and personally deliver them to the babies if you want to do that directly with me. Just email me at (annamears01@yahoo.com) and we can talk details.

Think about it, pray about it, and if you are interested please do what you can. Thank you for reading this and considering if and how you can help these two abandoned babies! God is watching out for these little ones and I want to help however I can. 

God bless, 
Anna & Lane

The New Times talks to IJM Rwanda

Friends, 

IJM Rwanda is in The New Times, a local Rwandan newspaper. Check out the article!

Anna and Lane

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15105&v=239&t=International

International Justice Mission : Building for sustainable access to justice

Accessing justice is a right that every citizen of the world should enjoy without much ado. But usually, the most vulnerable, the poor and the marginalized are kept away from enjoying the fundamentals of justice. In Rwanda, the nascent justice system requires much support to ensure expeditious justice delivery and for all.

The IJM has provided a platform for such interventions. THE NEW TIMES’ THOMAS KAGERA talks to IJM RWANDA Field Office Director LANE MEARS to have an insight of how the Mission intervenes to secure justice for all.

International Justice Mission (IJM) is an American-based Non Government Organisation formed in 1997 by Gary Haugen, an American prosecutor who had a passion for Jesus and care for the oppressed. The mission of IJM is to ensure justice, rescue and work on restoration of individuals’ self esteem. IJM has 15 field offices in ten countries; Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, India, Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Guatemala and Bolivia.
As an organization that nurtures Christian values, it believes that some individuals cannot secure justice on their own so the IJM intervenes on their behalf. The major evils that the Mission fights are human trafficking, land, sexual assault and slavery grabbing.

In 2007, IJM opened shop in Rwanda to contribute to the improvement of lives through the legal interventions. The country has come a long way since the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, but the justice system is still a young sector where IJM stepped in to support and collaborate with the government in its development.

Supporting the land reform policies

The IJM in its first 3 years in Rwanda greatly contributed to the promotion of land rights by aligning with what government objectives are. The IJM drafted a law manual for the National Land Center that highlighted the rights of the land owners. The manual has been distributed to the district land offices throughout the country.

Through the advocacy programme, IJM has helped in solving 136 land disputes and trained more than 156 local leaders (including Abunzi) on how resolve land disputes and given advice to about 150 people on land-related issues.

Helping victims access justice

For the last one and a half years, IJM has been representing sexually assaulted children. More than 30 children have been assisted through trauma counseling and treatment. Since January 2011, 13 IJM clients’ cases have resulted in a conviction of te child rapist.

In October 2011 trained 25 prosecutors and judges with skills of handling sexual assault cases. Some 1000 local leaders in Kicukiro, Nyarugenge and Gasabo were also trained in handling such cases. IJM supports the Prosecution Authority in DNA testing in those cases that involve sexual violence.

Capacity Building

Sustainability is a key component in the IJM programmes. This explains why IJM works with MINIJUST, Prosecution Authority to train the professionals—prosecutors—to create capacity that ensures consistent access to justice,  but also the local leaders in how to effectively respond to sexual assault cases. They are empowered with skills and knowledge how to interact with the affected child, collect information, how to work with the police among others. IJM has also worked with such NGOs as ; Lawyers of Hope, Haguruka, social workers and trauma counselors.

Through the justice journey Programme, IJM also works with churches to engage them in justice issues in their communities. On two occasions, IJM has helped victims that were being abused by family members to be placed in boarding schools.

How IJM works on sexual assault cases

IJM usually gets referrals from local leaders, churches, NGOs, and individuals. After reporting the case to police, then a team of social workers makes an assessment to establish the emotional, legal and medical needs of the victim. The child is encouraged to tell the story. A legal consultant is then retained to provide the services until the case is concluded.

If the family from which the victim comes is identified to be in need of finances, then an income generating project may be started for them or sponsorship for the school-going children. The poorest are the most vulnerable to the assault crimes so IJM intervenes by breaking the cycle through education, jumpstarting the skills and income.

Challenges and way forward

IJM would like to do much more in Capacity Building, sponsoring the victims and get more in the loop for counseling but the resources at times limit what can be offered at a particular time. But IJM staff, on the whole, are impressed with the path the country is treading. There is still work to be done, but at least access to justice has significantly improved over the years. IJM commends the government of Rwanda and the Justice sector for their efforts.