What makes YOU get a lump in your throat?

Seeing the underdog or the oppressed NOT.GIVE.UP does it for me.  That person who, when everyone else has long completed the race, keeps on running, limping, or stumbling to cross that finish line. Wow.  I´m getting a lump in my throat just thinking about it!

Another thing that “does it for me”, are those people who come alongside of that faltering figure… encouraging them, spurring them on…  when the majority are already celebrating "the winner" ...

Maybe that is why one of my favourite all time books is “Good News about Injustice: a Witness of Courage in a Hurting World” by Gary A. Haugen.  The book walks you through verse after verse in the Bible pointing the reader to the God of Justice and what our response should be.  Phillip Yancey´s comment on this book is, “A book of prophetic and vital significance.  Gary Haugen has pioneered in a field where Christians should be at the forefront.”   Read it!

Years ago, I felt powerless as a firsthand witness of horrible injustices practiced by authorities against street kids in Bolivia.   International Justice Mission (IJM – the mission Gary Haugen founded) came in behind the scenes to stand up for justice and promote fundamental changes in our police force.  I am forever grateful for them coming… and being my voice when I didn´t know what to say.

One of their lawyers in Kenya was murdered this past week standing up for justice.  The letter they sent made me get a lump in my throat...

On Friday, you heard from our CEO, Gary Haugen, who shared the tragic news of the murders of human rights lawyer and IJM investigator, Willie Kimani, our client Josephat Mwenda, and their trusted driver Joseph Muiruri. Many of you expressed your outrage and the good people of Kenya are outraged as well. While police brutality has become part of their daily life, they are angry that an IJM staff member and client were abducted and murdered after appearing in court in a police abuse of power case.  This marks a turning point in Kenya.  Change must happen now. IJM is not backing down, and we are not going away.

Kenya needs your help in this fight for a just society for all. It will take inside and outside pressure for the police system of Kenya to change and actually protect the innocent.

Everyone involved in the murders of Willie, Josephat, and Joseph must be held responsible for their part in this horrendous crime. For real change to happen for the people of Kenya, the Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police must be removed. Please join the movement for change that is happening in the streets of Nairobi. Stand with the people of Kenya and add your name to the petition that will be sent to President Uhuru Kenyatta demanding these actions.

Willie loved his family, his colleagues and the pursuit of justice. We long to see Willie’s life honored, even in his death, that this might be the beginning of the end of impunity in Kenya once and for all.

I signed my name to the petition…  Will you?  “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”  Edmund Burke.

Another petition.  Tomorrow at 3 p.m., there is a court hearing for 6 girls who, for over three years, have been pleading to be heard.  It has been terribly frustrating for them to have hearings postponed… for pieces of evidence to go “missing” and on and on…  There is an amazing lady who has taken on this case pro bono and hasn´t thrown in the towel in spite of all the time and energy it has demanded of her over these three years.  What I would like to ask of you is for you to PRAY.  Our prayer request from the beginning has been:  that TRUTH would reign and any LIES would be frustrated.

Thanks.

5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the LORD their God.
6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
    and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free,
8     the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
    the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the foreigner
    and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
10 The LORD reigns forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord.

Psalm 146:5-10

Because HE is faithful,

Corina