A Weekend with IJM

TUESDAY

I call these two "double trouble"... of course, they're not really :-)

This guy has been particularly clingy and child #6, ha...

A little pre-dinner family ball game...

WEDNESDAY

Shauna, Titus and I hit the road after lunch to stay with my parents before a busy weekend with International Justice Mission. I took Titus in order to leave one less child (or "thinks and acts like he's a child") for Tony to have to care for in my absence...

Exploring the beautiful backyard...

Meanwhile, back in North Carolina for dinner... strategic leftovers...

Mom and Dad took us out to dinner in downtown Fredericksburg to:

It was delicious AND we got to see friends from years ago... added blessing. Had to pose in front of this humorously named tattoo parlor...

Of course, you can't go to downtown Fred'burg and not get Carl's Ice Cream?!. So good!

THURSDAY

Off to Base Camp...

After an informative time of hearing failures and successes from some great partner churches, we went out for dinner and debrief...

FRIDAY

Woke up to this view from our hotel...

And this reminder...

Finished up with the Church Partner Summit and headed upstairs to the Advocacy Leadership sessions... Great to hear updates and see friends...

Meanwhile, back on the home front... Tony picked the kids up from school a little early and hit the road for grandparents in Virginia... After some back roads from traffic, he dropped some exciting kiddos off at mom and dads, jumped in the car with Matt and headed up for IJM's Global Prayer Gathering. Here is our fabulous group of folks who participated from Imago Dei:

After an incredible time of hearing updates from the field, spending time in musical worship with Sara Groves, meditating on God's Word and interceding on behalf of the oppressed worldwide... we were spent... filled up... overwhelmed... poured out...

"Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Romans 8:26

SUNDAY

Everyone headed back down to North Carolina late Saturday night except Ellen and this little one... Whenever possible, we try to have some special one-on-one experiences with each of our kids. Her turn...

We attended the Advocacy workshop on Sunday afternoon together. She was so good and a treat to have with me...

Sunday evening, back in NC, Tony had to speak to the Board of Visitors. Sweet Jillian watched my other four kiddos while he was out. This picture's instructions were "Brush your teeth while acting like a monkey!" Ha ha...

Meanwhile, here's a glance of my Sunday night at my parents' kitchen table... reviewing my notes...

MONDAY

Bright and early morning for Ellen and I... catching the 6:18 AM train up to DC. Was fun to see family friend, Frank Connors, on board making his commute. It was especially fun to see his expression of "what are you doing here?!." His dear daughter and friend of mine, Noelle, and I used to commute to DC together back in 1998 when I worked there. Memories... Aging myself a little... Oh my...

Beautiful day in the District. Union Station:

Our nation's capital:

The group of IJM advocates (If you look closely, you'll see my eyes as I'm on my tip toes far left:)...

Final preparations at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation (our home base) together...

And off we went!

We had some fabulous meetings with staff on the Hill regarding the need to pass S. 1301 (TVPRA-Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act), particularly in this office:

Afterwards, I received text from dad from breakfast back at their house: (maybe just a little spoiled)...

After two productive meetings on the Senate side, we headed over for one last meeting on the House side. Another great meeting coupled with the opportunity to meet the congressman from Ellen's district who had recently spoke on the Floor on the issue...

We hit the pavement back over to catch the 12:55 train back to VA... but not without snapping a few pictures beforehand... Library of Congress:

Supreme Court building:

Union Station from another angle, ha...

Mission accomplished...

A little iced latte to add caffeine and something cool in the 90 degree heat... it was time to shed the blazers...

Enjoyed a little snack at mom and dads before driving home to NC... BBQ and chocolate face...

Ellen snapped this on our drive back...

Again, "meanwhile" back at home, Joshua was gearing up for his first baseball practice...

He was ready...

Excited and quite adorable...

TUESDAY

Back at home and attempting to settle back into routine. My morning jog was a challenge (ha), but a good time to begin processing everything from my eventful week(end). So much to take in and think through. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have participated in all of the above. I hope to share ideas and challenges in the weeks ahead for those of you who are interested in learning ways to do something. In the meantime, here are two resources:

1-Tony's sermon last Sunday (as IDC works through the book of Exodus)

2-International Justice Mission's website

"If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in." Isaiah 58:10-12