Justice

I've never really understood injustice or been closely associated with injustice until recently.  It's never been too close to home for me to really think about.  But now I have seen it first hand, and know how God can overcome and fight for the innocent.

There are so many verses about fighting for justice.
Isaiah 10:1-2 says, "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people..."
One of our Chinese friends, Holly, and her husband have just faced an uphill battle here in Beijing because of the law of the land.  They moved to Beijing about 6 years ago from a small village town so that they could make more money and have better education opportunities for their son.  They went on to have a daughter as well who is ready for public school.  Basically, if your family, including your extended family were not born in Beijing, you are not given the right to attend the Beijing public school system.  This is a way to deter people from moving to the city in order to limit the growth of an already overcrowded city. It would be like Jeff and I who both grew up in Sedalia, move to Blue Springs and they not accept Jack and Grace because they don't have to.  IF you have enough guanxi (know the right people) or have enough money, then you can "find a spot" in one of the schools.  Going to the right elementary school, will get you into the right middle school, and so on because only some of the high schools prepare you well enough for university.  So, it all begins now.

Well, if you can't get into the Beijing public school system, you can either pay a little money to go to a migrant school for migrant workers families or the child can go back to the family's hometown and live with grandparents.  Anyone who knows Chinese cultures knows that children living with grandparents is extremely common.  A lot of times it is actually the grandparents who do most of the child rearing while the parents work full-time jobs.  This is not what Holly and her husband desire.  They want their daughter to stay here in Beijing with them.  They did look into the migrant school, but like I said before, if she starts at a migrant school, then there will be hardly a chance for her to attend the Beijing public schools later.  

So, for months now, they have been trying to find a public school that would "have enough room" and accept her. But they were getting the run around.  "Not enough room" was the answer given by most.   As of last week, they had pretty much given up hope of her attending here and were starting to prepare for her to go back to their hometown.  But, through continued prayer, the prayers of their small group, the prayers of so many people, and the work of the Holy Spirit putting ideas and energy into the hearts of people, today was a VICTORY day!

After acquiring the correct documents from their hometown, having a family member bring them to Beijing, then her husband and daughter going back and forth around the city by public bus all day yesterday collecting more documentation, paperwork, and talking with people, there was a glimmer of hope.  Then today, with the help of some dear, giving friends who helped them meet with some more people and get more paperwork filled out, she was accepted to a Beijing school!!! This was the LAST day that schools were registering children and by 5:30 this evening, she was registered.  She will start tomorrow!
 
Isaiah 5:23 says, "Woe to those...who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent."

God performed a miracle here in Beijing.  He proved himself to their family and gave them a great testimony to share with family and friends!  When Holly got the call today she was overcome with relief and joy.  She KNOWS it was God, she trusts in God and sees Him at work.  I am so excited that I just got to witness the whole thing and be blessed by watching.  

Isaiah 30:18 says, "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for him!"