Wifi! And a Reflection on GJV

It's probably very stereotypical of people from my generation to be lost without Internet connection. You just think of the cranky teenager on a camping trip in the middle of the woods complaining about a lack of signal. Well that's been me a couple of times here. But not for the reasons you may think. I didn't realize how much I was dependent on my support system back home until I no longer had access to it. It makes a huge difference in this difficult process to be able to talk to friends and family. And my only way of doing that is through the Internet. I'm at my home away from home, Decker until Tuesday morning. So at least I will be connected until then. I know some people have been wondering why I haven't posted and its because of a lack of wifi. I have been journaling on paper though. So hopefully this weekend I will be able to type some of those up for you to read. In the mean time, here is part of the first reflection I had to do for GBGM.

GJV Reflection

Brielle Hohne

July 25, 2014

Reflection #1

Board of Women's Work

Manila, Philippines

"What am I doing here?" 

Describe specific functions that you have accomplished to date while at this placement:

I am here to listen. It sounds like such a passive action, but it is one that I have come to find extremely important.  I have spent most of my time listening to people's stories. I have heard from typhoon victims, political prisoners, urban poor, human trafficking victims, families of migrants, and farmers at Hacienda Luisita who are being oppressed. Each one has a story to tell. Beyond the physical exhaustion of traveling to all these places, the emotional exhaustion is high. It's difficult to listen to testimony after testimony and see no hope for their situation. And yet, every time we visit, I have found we bring hope to the people. By simply lending my ears I have brought hope. By having someone care enough to come and listen there is renewed hope for a better and more just future. My presence and my prayers are enough for now, but there are high expectations for when I return home. 

The Board of Women's Work covers a wide array of organizations and issues. I have been exposed to many of the issues and the people that they help. The wide variety has allowed me to explore my passions  in the realm of justice issues. I have been able to work many days with Migrante International, an organization that works for justice for migrant workers of the Philippines. From this experience, I have acquired a resource book and the testimonies of several migrants and human trafficking victims to take home and use to educate my local community. As someone who has worked with the migrant ministry at my home church, I feel called to return to this ministry and share what I have learned to help the migrant community near me. This specific experience is only one of many that serves as a specific, long term purpose.