A week after returning home from Honduras, I am temporarily calling it quits on the blogging front. I say temporarily because I will be back. If I have learned anything about myself over the two weeks that I have been purging my heart and mind in such a public fashion, it is that I care too much to let this most recent adventure become the memory entitled "2010 Spring Break Trip." I care too much about the people of ASJ to close the book on a message that continues to write itself on the page. I will return to Honduras, and I will continue to do justice by ASJ's work through revealing the incredible ways by which they are doing justice in Honduras. I do not expect you to stay in your swivel chairs waiting for the next blog post to appear, as I know mi cuate Abe will most likely send all of you un aviso when I decide to write some more. Hehe. In addition, I hope you have already found a way out of your stationary spot and into the current that is the justice movement. But if not, at least point your browser to www.ajs-us.org or www.transformemoshonduras.com to find out how you can become engaged in the powerful, life-affirming, redemptive work of social justice.
Speaking of that work, allow me to share with you a few of my final thoughts and reflections on la Asociacion para una Sociedad mas justa:
1. Small focus, big results:
It is true that ASJ is solely focused on the situation in Honduras, but I hope you have seen just how miserable that situation is and how much work is required just to solve even a small portion of that gigantic problem. But like a skilled and patient mathematician solves a complex math problem, the individuals who make up ASJ are steadily making progress and continually advancing. They know there is no going back (despite the threats, despite the false accusations, despite the constant suffering of the people they support), so they are all committed to moving forward. I think about the strides the organization has already made--laws passed, court cases won, titles secured, crime rates decreased, and I am amazed at what a seemingly small operation is capable of. Like I have said countless times in my colloquial way, these people are for real. ASJ is a force to be reckoned with.
2. Mission accomplished:
ASJ's mission (and all of the people working in the office with me last week can recite it not only from memory but also from believing in it) is to be a group of brave Christian leaders who make the system of government work and bring justice to the most vulnerable populations in Honduras. Time and time again I witnessed this mission carried out in each and every one of the ASJ projects. Through a project like Peace and Justice/Rescate, you can see justice brought to an innocent child who was sexually abused by a security guard at her school, and through a project like Land Rights you can see laws being proposed AND passed to ensure that even individuals without representation have a way of taking ownership of hearth and home. By teaching pre-teens the value of honesty, you are impacting the individual, but by training dozens of able-bodied young men to fix automobiles, you are ultimately ensuring that your community replaces destructive, misguided youth with productive, proud members of society. I don't think I have to explain the brave Christan leaders portion of the mission...
3. Intentional & purposeful:
ASJ starts and ends an initiative with the end in mind. They see a need, and they approach it with as much precision and purpose as they can. Think about Peace & Justice: the violent offenders are taken off the street while trained youth are cleaning up the streets. Or how about Revistazo.com: the Labor Rights team investigates a story and feeds the information to the Revistazo.com team to ensure that the world knows what is going on.
4. Unique:
Aside from perhaps Jesus, ASJ is not following in anyone's footsteps; this organization is paving the way for countless other organizations and individuals to do justice in Honduras and all over the world for that matter. Sure, they align themselves with other organizations and follow the example of others who do similarly beneficial work, but ASJ is a unique body with a unique vision and a unique approach.
5. The perfect alarm clock:
In the United States we realize that our interests must be served by those who choose to represent us. If we feel that this is not being done appropriately, we express our discontent via the voting booth, petition drives, or even movements (think Tea Party). Sadly, these same feelings of ownership and power are not embedded in Honduran society, resulting in a devastating amount of apathy on the part of the people who are more than willing to tell you over their lunch break that they are not happy but who wouldn't a. be able to give you specific justifications for their anger or b. be willing to express their frustration via action. Enter ASJ and the Transformemos Honduras movement, two extremely obnoxious despertadores (alarm clocks) that want only to get the groaning people out of bed so that they will act on their own behalf. This for me is how justice can truly flourish; in Freire-fashion, ASJ is making the people truly conscious of their situation so that they will in turn demand justice for themselves (instead of expecting 50 individuals to do it for them).
Like I said, volvere. In the meantime, WAKE UP!
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