Operation RESCUE Update

Since the Taliban took power, many of us in the West have grown numb to the endless stream of bad news coming from Afghanistan. Perhaps the most heart-breaking reports were of parents selling their little girls as child ‘brides’ to older men, just so they could feed the rest of their kids a little longer. But as shocking as these reports were, what could we do? A sigh and perhaps a silent prayer was all.

Over the past weeks, however, we have seen that the hearts of the people of God have not grown cold regarding the suffering of these girls. When a heartbroken mother came to know Jesus Christ, a rare opportunity presented itself to bring her little girl, sold as a toddler, out of an abusive situation back to her mother.

Just 24 hours after asking our BTJ friends for help financing this rescue, we had to ask people to stop giving. Enough was raised and more to undertake this risky operation. Moreover, people prayed and even held prayer meetings to plead with God for her safety and the safety of all involved. These prayers were necessary, because an operation like this can go wrong in many ways, and people involved could get in serious trouble. It is not something we do regularly, and for good reason. But this time it seemed like this girl was placed in our path and we had to try.

Nothing about this operation was straight-forward. But God helped the people involved and we are so thankful we can report that the girl was reunited with her mother. This is not a happy end, but a first step on a long road of restoration. After an absence of several years, the girl no longer remembered her mother. She will need time to reconnect and form a loving bond with her mother and her sibling. Both mother and daughter carry the deep trauma of separation and abuse. Again, it will take time and patience to find a measure of security and peace. The girl will be taken for a medical evaluation. She may have injuries from her abuse and may need medical support.

Although the emotional challenges this little reunited family faces are huge, we have reason to hope. The young daughter is no longer on the road to destruction, but on the road to healing. Her mother has come to know the love of Jesus Christ and has seen in a very powerful way what it means to be part of the world-wide family of God. In a society where they have been treated as worthless, the church stood up and showed them that they are precious and worthy of our efforts, our resources and our love.

As bleak as the situation is for women in Afghanistan, our partners help to bring hope for the future. This mother needs more than her daughter back, she needs a way to provide for her children. Our partners have helped her to gain the skills she needs to make a living and are employing her in a home business. The extra money that was raised will go towards helping her expand this business, so she can train and employ other women in similar situations in her area. A very good outcome would be that these women will not have to sell their daughters to feed their other children, and other little girls can be spared this fate. In this way, the money that was raised for this one little girl can bless many girls in particularly vulnerable situations.

After the reunion, we received a picture of the little girl with her mother. She was smiling. It had taken her a while before she could, and it may take even longer before she will smile when she is not posing for a picture. But her beautiful little smile gave me hope that joy will be part of her future, and a time will come when she will flourish. Will you pray with us for her, and for the children of Afghanistan, that the hope and joy of the gospel will break their prison wide open.