Justice…it is the heart of God. He instructed the Israelites in Isaiah 1:17, “learn to do what is right, seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” Christ reprimanded the Pharisees for following the minute details of the law but neglecting “the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness.” (Matthew 23:23) This call to justice has taken us on a very challenging and painful pursuit over the last 4 months, culminating with 5 courageous girls traveling to the United States to face an evil giant in a U.S. Federal Court trial.

The painful, emotional journey to face their abuser, to speak of their horrific experiences in pursuit of this justice, began for the girls in February with interviews by the U.S. prosecuting attorneys at Agape Restoration Center in Cambodia. Then, a 24 hour trek across the pacific to begin trial preparations at the end of April. Preparation for testimony meant reliving painful details of their rape and torture, and preparation for cross-examination was harsh and emotionally exhausting. D-day became a reality and a week-long process of testimony and cross examination was launched. As each girl took the stand and faced the evil giant, she was armed with God’s TRUTH:

The TRUTH of knowing God’s love and hope personally.

The TRUTH of receiving love from God’s family. One of many acts of love came from a young teenager in Rocklin. During February, March and April, she took several babysitting jobs, saved the money and bought beautiful, soft stuffed animals for the girls, which each of them carried with them for comfort on the witness stand.

The TRUTH of the knowing her identity and purpose. Each girl bravely carried an ID badge with her name, photo and the title “Hero” on one side and on the other side was written the word “TRUTH” and the scripture, “A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.” (Proverbs 14:25)

The TRUTH of the strength of God’s Word. The Bible tells us that David faced the evil giant Goliath in the name of the Lord and defeated him with one small stone. As a reminder this strength was available to them, each girl carried in her pocket a small stone with the word “Truth” painted on it.

Questioning and response began, and for some it went as long as five hours. The direct examination was very difficult. Cross examination was brutal and even lewd at times, forcing the girls to relive the ugliness of their abuse. Finally, after a very long week, it was over, and the girls emerged true heroines. Their courage was amazing. They never gave up; they never gave in, and they spoke the truth.

So, where does that leave us now?…with questions, prayers, thanksgiving and hope. We are asking questions such as, “Why were these girls called upon and put through such great trauma?” In 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act which seeks to ensure just and effective punishment of traffickers was initiated and passed by Congress and quickly signed into law by President Bush. In 2003, President Bush also signed a National Security Presidential Directive on trafficking in persons requiring all relevant Executive Branch agencies to create a strategic plan to advance America’s fight against trafficking in persons, and congress did its part to curtail the role Americans may have by allowing for the prosecution of a United States citizen for pedophilic acts committed in foreign countries. This is particularly important in countries such as Cambodia where the justice system is corrupt and criminals can easily buy their way free and clear of prosecution and/or jail.

This is the first case to be tried in U.S. Federal court under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act where the crime was committed in Cambodia, and a first for us at AIM. It was a difficult learning process for everyone involved. Our experience brought to light the reality that the extent of protection the U.S. justice system provides for the rights of a defendant minimizes the protection of the rights that can be given to a child witness, especially to a child from a developing country with the corresponding language and cultural barriers. (Perhaps someday we will broaden our pursuit of justice to include advocacy for the rights of child-witnesses.)

Prayers – We are praying the girls’ experiences will in the end empower them to overcome the trauma from their abuse and the trauma of reliving it through their testimony, ultimately bringing each girl to the place of forgiveness for her abuser, the place where true freedom can be found. We are praying for justice to be done in this case. As of this writing, the trial is not over, and the jury has not yet begun deliberations. We are praying for the defendant. We admit our frailty in finding it difficult to pray for this man. We know God cares about his soul, and we pray that some way, some how, the power of the love of God will penetrate his heart and mind and he will find God’s amazing love and mercy.

Thanksgiving – We thank the Lord for all of you, our partners. You are essential to this ministry. Your prayers have been a great source of encouragement and strength every step of this journey. We also thank you for your grace and patience. The preparation for the trial and lengthy stay in the states is why you haven’t heard from us in awhile. We are also thankful for the loving care and attention of the prosecuting attorneys, the I.C.E. agent, and witness assistants. They gave great attention to our care and physical protection during our stay. We are also grateful the girls’ schedule allowed time for devotions and school, and we were blessed to visit some Cambodian churches during our stay and are grateful for the love and generosity they showered on us.

Hope – Hope in Christ for the future. Hope that God’s justice will be established. Isaiah 42:4 states, “He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.” Hope for the future of every girl God entrusts to our care. Hope for the future of our heroines who courageously faced an evil giant with truth.

A few days after their testimony was complete, the girls were blessed with the thrill and joy of Disneyland. Much fun and laughter was had by all in the magical kingdom, and we found ourselves with five beautiful princesses…princesses not only through the magic of Disney, but princesses through the TRUTH that they are children of the King.

Our love to you all,

Your Staff at AIM