Watermark Justice

The Watermark Justice blog has moved to http://watermarkblogs.org/externalfocus/justice/. 

Continue to follow Watermark Justice on Twitter at www.twitter.com/watermarklawyer. 

Russ Brown

Watermark Justice attorneys Leah Boyd and Darren Harrington recently traveled with the Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCPC) Justice group to India to train International Justice Mission attorneys and investigators.  Watermark Justice attorneys have accompanied PCPC Justice on several prior training trips to India. 

Leah Boyd shared the following regarding their trip:

PCPC organized a trip to India from August 1 to August 7 to train IJM advocates, investigators, and aftercare workers in principled negotiating techniques.  The team, which included two attorneys from Watermark (Darren Harrington and Leah Boyd), spent two days with IJM personnel in Mumbai, where IJM focuses on helping women trapped in forced prostitution, and one and one-half days in Chennai, where IJM focuses on helping people trapped in bonded labor.  The training was well received, and the PCPC Justice group is working with IJM to develop some additional negotiation training material. 
 
Some of the highlights included God miraculously providing the necessary visas literally in the final hour before the trip was cancelled, a time of mutual sharing and encouragement with IJM staff (one woman shared that most people who come to help IJM never seem to need any help themselves), and getting to visit the site in Chennai where tradition holds that the Apostle Thomas was martyred.

Four Watermark Justice attorneys are part of a Watermark team sharing the gospel and working with Mission of Hope in Haiti.  The following message was delivered today from Rick Howard:

Tuesday was a day of tough conditions and an adventure as well. We rode in the back of a metal container truck 1900 feet up into the mountains of the island. The ride took a couple hours and seemed rough to us until watched the Haitians who live in the mountains walking up or riding a mule up the mountains with all their goods from market. I was once again reminded of how much I love comfort. We sleep in a bunkhouse with fans, an indoor shower, and protection from storms while Haitians sleep in huts, houses, or temporary homes provided by aid pegs. We ride up mountains on dusty unpaved roads in trucks.My Haitian friends walk or ride mules 14 hours up and back to market to get basics. Oh how I love my comfort. Lord, help me love it less each day.

In the mountains we got to assist in feeding kids lunch, playing some soccer with them, and to watch Koons, JP, and a terrified little boy tell and act out the story of David and Goliath. Awesome job. We also got to see and get in one of the most maginificent waterfalls you could ever see. A great reminder of the beauty and majesty of God even in a chaotic place like Haiti. Below is pic of Brooke as she shares the gospel with Smith and Peter who helped us make it to the falls. They see us as God’s provision, but Brooke explained to them what they need is Chist eternal provision.

Finally, after an amazing evening worship service at Moh, we listened to our Haitian friend from Moh, Reuben, tell us his story of being trapped in a collapsed 4 story building for hours and hours after the earthquake. He was initially saved because another was on top of him and absorbed the impact of the building collapse. He was later located and rescued after 5 hours in a “tomb.” 300,000 Haitians died in that quake, many in tombs like Rueben was rescued from, and many died thinking they had earned their way to heaven, but in reality they did know the one who can rescue us all if we respond to the message the Brookes of the world deliver. Into Pap, Haiti today on a scouting trip with World Relief.

Four Watermark Justice attorneys are part of a Watermark team currently working with Mission of Hope in Haiti.  Rick Howard delivered the following message regarding the first day of their trip this morning:

Greetings from Haiti,

We had a great trip down to Haiti. This is much easier traveling than 
to Africa. As we made our way from PAP to the Mission of Hope the 
devastation from the earthquake is unbelievable.  There are destroyed 
buildings and homes everywhere.

We arrived Mission of Hope around sunset and were reminded of God’s 
goodness that we see in His creation. Last night we got to hear 
stories from the Mission of Hope staff of the days and weeks after the quake. How 
incredible to meet 20 year olds who are serving sacrificially in 
really tough conditions because they have trusted God and answered the 
call.

Today we get to worship in the Haitian church and go see PAP up close 
this afternoon. Please continue your prayers for us and those we’ll be 
serving.

Rick Howard

• Why are a bunch of Dallas lawyers hung up on the Congo? Here are at least 150 horrific reasons: http://nyti.ms/9G5btX #

• Jeff Ward's 8/15 sermon:http://bit.ly/b7a6a5. Great Matthew 13 message; subtle biographical sublayer re his journey as a Christian lawyer. #

• Read about Watermark Justice lawyer Chad Pinson, his sweet daughter, Annalise, & how God opens doors for service: http://bit.ly/cl0T6b #

• Jeff Ward–External Focus leader, faithful WJ servant & lawyer–will give Sunday's sermon. Join us @ Watermark this Sunday! 9am;11am;5:30pm. #

• Big end to workweek: Final day of bar exam for new WJ lawyers and Dallas justice group heading to India to train & disciple. Pray for both! #