[#25for25]

A little over a month ago, just before my 25th birthday, I saw a movie that I believe has changed my life. Not My Life is not your typical documentary, and it definitely does not tell your typical story. In fact, it is so atypical that it literally shows the reality of millions of young people all around the world. "How can one, two-hour long documentary tell the story of millions?" you may be asking. Well, my answer comes in the form of two words which, when said together, define some of the most horrifying, inhumane, and degrading acts known to humanity. And these two words, this sad truth is: HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

After watching Not My Life, I wasn't sure what to do. After all, human trafficking is this HUGE thing, and it's happening all over the world. What could I do to change it? But something inside me wouldn't stop being bothered, and I knew that I could do more than just sit back. And so I decided to start with myself, and do all that I could to learn as much as I could about human trafficking.

And the result was this: #25for25, an online commitment that I made to myself and to all of my "friends" and "followers" to post a different fact/video/website/resource about human trafficking EVERY DAY for 25 DAYS in commemoration of my 25th Birthday. It was an amazing experience, and I can only hope that I was able to share even a fraction of the information that I learned about in those 25 days.

Here are those 25 posts. I hope that you can use this as a resource to empower yourselves and others to work towards ending human trafficking today. Human trafficking IS modern-day slavery. It affects millions around the world, predominantly women and children, and it takes many forms. From the sex-trade industry to child labor, it is ALL human trafficking, and it must be stopped. Together, let's become more aware, more conscious, more active, more upset, more defiant, and more committed to changing the painful reality of human trafficking in our world today.


25 Days. Advocating against Human Trafficking. For my 25th Birthday.

Day 1: Go to www.notmylife.org.
See a clip from this film. Get uncomfortable. Spread the word.Today, I saw the documentary, Not My Life, and was all at once amazed, enraged, and disgusted by how we as human beings have come to treat one another, especially in the exploitation of the most vulnerable children of our world... Equally upsetting is how not enough people know about the prevalence of Human Trafficking in our towns, communities, villages, maybe even our own families... So since I will be turning 25 in a couple of weeks, I think I'm gonna try something different this year. For the next 25 days, I will be posting a status about human trafficking in the hopes that you will read it and pass the message along. The first step to working for justice is to educate ourselves, so let's work together to make this happen. Because no one should NOT be bothered by this issue...
Go see "Not My Life," and help me out with my 25 for 25... Nothing would make me happier this birthday than to see you post a status this month advocating against human trafficking. #25for25 #endhumantrafficking


Day 2: Human Trafficking IS Slavery.Visit www.endslaverynow.com. It takes several forms. From drug trafficking to domestic servitude, sex trafficking to the training of child soldiers...is there no end to the depths of evil that we humans will succumb to?


Day 3: 10 FACTS ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 
http://www.endslaverynow.com/?goto=home&section=home&video=1&item=2&feature=3
Watch this short video to see 10 Quick Facts about modern-day slavery and human trafficking.
FACT #1 WILL SHOCK YOU!!!!


Day 4: SEE SOMETHING? SAY SOMETHING!http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/national-human-trafficking-hotline/the-nhtrc/overviewHow much evil do we ignore or turn a blind eye to on a daily basis. Human trafficking is happening all around us. If you see something, say something...and report it!


Day 5: SIGN A PETITION. http://www.change.org/topics/humantrafficking
Think the issue is too big and that there's nothing you can do? Well, can you sign your name? 'Cause that's one way to get involved! Visit: http://www.change.org/topics/humantrafficking. Read about some open petitions that other "bothered" people have started. ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST!  Or start your own petition!


Day 6: LISTEN! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1usmQ5wks0s&fea...ture=player_profilepage
Here are 5 stories of human trafficking told by the victims themselves. Take the time. Be moved. To action.


Day 7: The numbers and facts are astonishing...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snfZdSsYTB4&feature=youtube_gdata_player
MILLIONS are affected by human trafficking everyday. I love this tagline: "They are invisible. And they are everywhere." Let's open our eyes, voice our outrage, and give one another our humanity back.


Day 8: Prayer. Dear God, I pray for all those who are suffering everyday as victims of slavery and human trafficking -- for all children who have had their innocence stolen from them, for all women who are abused and mistreated daily, for all people who are enslaved, and especially, for all those whose life circumstances, personal choices, and decisions have led them to act with such hatred and evil. Help us to act justly and empower us to find a way to end human trafficking soon. Amen.



Day 9: Get Creative.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_HL2JSzYyo
People everywhere are using their individual gifts and talents to advocate against human trafficking in their own ways. Watch this video of shadowhand master Bob Stromberg as he helps to tell the story of a young victim through his craft...


Day 10: What is REAL LOVE? Valentine's Day Post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-EYIY287LI
Human traffickers have manipulated love to fit their own selfish and evil needs. Many promise loving parents a better future for their children.... Others offer a false sense of love and security to women and children in exchange for sexual acts, forced labor, or commitment to violence. Instead of receiving real love, these victims have just been forgotten.
Today is Valentine's Day. REAL LOVE is Universal. REAL LOVE is a Human Right. Celebrate REAL LOVE today by giving a voice to the world's forgotten...


Day 11: Born. Birthday Post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrCYdypmdis
Many children are born directly into the hands of the sex trade/human trafficking/modern slavery industry without a choice of their own to have a better, safer life.
Today is my birthday. And while I am thankful for all of the gifts and graces that have been a part of my life, I am incredibly pained and saddened that not everyone has been born into the same circumstances. With privilege comes responsibility. I do believe that EVERYONE has the same rights to a happy and safe childhood like I had, and so I will continue to speak out against human trafficking. I hope you will join me.


Day 12: SLAVERY FOOTPRINT
http://slaveryfootprint.org/
Think that nothing you do on a regular, everyday basis advances the human trafficking industry? Yea, I thought the same... Until I visited this site, completed the survery, and found out that I was wrong....Visit the site, take the survey, be amazed. I just found out that I currently have 37 slaves working for me, providing me with products that I feel like I need on a daily basis. Now I'm working to lower that number to 0. Thanks to Elizabeth Donohue for sharing this link with me: (http://causerelatedmarketing.blogspot.com/2012/02/seven-things-you-can-do-to-fight.html)


Day 13: LOVE146
http://love146.org/videos/love146-overview
LOVE146 is an incredible organization which works towards the prevention of human trafficking, as well as in the very difficult world of aftercare for survivors of child sex slavery and exploitation. Here is one video giving an overview of LOVE146's work, but please take the time to explore their website further, hear some amazing stories, and spread the word. We can all do something to #endslavery!


Day 14: Support Empowerment. Made by Survivors. http://www.madebysurvivors.com/documentary
Check out MadeBySurvivors.com, just one great organization providing economic empowerment for survivors of #humantrafficking. Watch this short documentary and spread the word!


Day 15: Sunday Prayer.
Dear God, I pray for all those who are suffering everyday as victims of slavery and human trafficking -- for all children who have had their innocence stolen from them, for all women who are abused and mistreated daily, for all people who work to advocate against trafficking, and for all who empower & support survivors. Lastly, let's pray for all those whose life circumstances, personal choices, and decisions have led them to act with such hatred and evil. Help us to act justly and empower us to find a way to end human trafficking soon. Amen.


Day 16: Very Young Girls. GEMS.
http://www.gems-girls.org/get-involved/very-young-girls
Sex Trafficking. New York City. Very Young Girls.
Watch this trailer. Be moved. Support GEMS. Spread the word.


Day 17: Somaly Mam.
http://projectfutures.somaly.org/ 
Have you heard of Somaly Mam? She's an amazing author, human rights advocate, and survivor of human trafficking. Through her work, her writing, and advocacy, she has given a voice to millions of victims around the world. Visit the official website of the Somaly Mam Foundation (somaly.org), and watch this video about Project Futures Global, the volunteer advocacy initiative inspired by her story. Get involved today!

Day 18: Polaris Project. PolarisProject.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpMBj1jeSRk&feature=player_embedded
I think I have shared about Polaris Project before, but I think it is worthwhile to post about it again... Started 10 years ago by a couple of recent college graduates, Polaris Project has grown to be one of the most influential organizations in the United States that advocates against human trafficking and supports victims. Their story is inspiring. It shows that ANYONE can make a difference. All one has to do is say YES to the call...


Day 19: International Justice Mission.
http://vimeo.com/4733514
The work that the International Justice Mission is nothing short of incredible! Watch this short introduction video to see what they do everyday to #endhumantrafficking!
Then, visit this link and sign a petition drafted by the IJM to be presented to President Obama urging him to #endhumantrafficking!
http://www.ijm.org/content/sign-your-name-stand-for-freedom


Day 20: Not For Sale Campaign.
www.notforsalecampaign.org
I cannot say enough about the Not For Sale Campaign and their incredible initiatives. Just visit their website once and you'll be drawn in! Particularly awesome are the "Student Abolitionist Movement" and their "Free 2..." pages. Please check them out and support them if you can!


Day 21: End Human Trafficking Now.
For all my business minded friends out there, please visit www.endhumantraffickingnow.com, a great website for the first worldwide initiative created to engage the private sector in the fight against modern day slavery and human trafficking. We can all do our part!



Day 22: Sunday Prayer. FREEDOM SUNDAY.
Dear God, I pray for all those who are suffering everyday as victims of slavery and human trafficking -- for all children who have had their innocence stolen from them, for all women who are abused and mistreated daily, for all people who work to advocate against trafficking, and for all who empower & sup...port survivors. Lastly, let's pray for all those whose life circumstances, personal choices, and decisions have led them to act with such hatred and evil. Help us to act justly and empower us to find a way to end human trafficking soon. Amen.
In addition, today is FREEDOM SUNDAY!
Learn more and participate here: www.FreedomSunday.org


Day 23: FreeTheSlaves.net + Congo Video
http://vimeo.com/freetheslaves/slavery-in-your-pocket-the-congo-connection
FreeTheSlaves is a great organization working on the front lines to eliminate systems that perpetuate human trafficking and slavery in countries all over the world. Visit their website and learn about the amazing work they are doing all over the world... Of particular note is this video about slavery in the mining industry the Congo. Be moved. And then Be Part of the Solution.


Day 24: Stay Educated!
Almost at the end of #25for25 and grateful for how much of a learning experience this has been for me... I hope to continue to stay informed and to keep fighting to #endslavery...I hope you will too!
Visit www.humantrafficking.org regularly -- hear victims' stories, be inspired by survivors, and join the fight today!


Day 25: From Facebook to...
Today is the last day of my #25for25 online initiative. But it is by no means the last of a lifelong initiative to advocate against human trafficking. I have learned so much this past month, and I want to thank you all for journeying along with me.

When I started this, the image that was fueling my resolve came from a scene in "Not My Life" where a young survivor said that people around her knew exactly what was happening to her, but chose to do nothing. I have been one of those people who chose to do nothing in the past, and I refuse to be that person anymore. Please join me in this fight. We can change the world if we want to...

HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE: http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/national-human-trafficking-hotline/the-nhtrc/overview

#25for25 #ENDHUMANTRAFFICKING

[Ambassadors] for Christ

When I was an undergrad at Fordham University, I was honored to be part of a group called the Rose Hill Society. Made up of 100 or so undergraduates, we volunteered for the Admissions Office -- giving campus tours, running information sessions, sometimes travelling with admissions counselors to different states to talk about the University, chatting up prospective students, and generally just busting at the seams to talk about how much we truly and genuinely loved Fordham University. We were called RHS Ambassadors, and that is truly what we were -- we were messengers, we were servants, we were campus leaders, and we were proud to drive forth the message of the University.

So what does this have to do with Lent?

Well, this past Wednesday, instead of taking my lunch break, I drove over to Villanova and participated in their 12:05 Mass. The place was PACKED! I'm talking shoulder-to-shoulder in the pews, doorways overflowing with bodies, people sitting in the aisles kind of full. It was a beautiful sight. And I wasn't even a little bit annoyed that I had to stand in the back with all the other latecomers. It was truly beautiful to see the Church teeming with people. And it really put it me in the right space and mindset to fully enter into the celebration of the liturgy with my whole heart and my entire being (which has been somewhat of a rarity this year).

The second reading was from Corinthians 5:20-6:2... I think it is worthwhile to include the entirety of the text here:

A Reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
Brothers and Sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: / In an acceptable time I heard you, / and on the day of salvation I helped you. / Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
The Word of the Lord.

From the moment these words were proclaimed from the ambo, I was immediately drawn to the phrase "ambassadors for Christ," and my mind was simultaneously reminded of the only other context where the word "ambassador" has meant so much to me -- as an RHS Ambassador at Fordham. Isn't it funny how your mind makes connections? Or rather, isn't it funny how God actively draws us to make these connections? I used to say that these were coincidences. But recently, my friend Fr. Tom Marciniak, SJ reminded me of what they truly are: "There are no coincidences in life, Roxanne... There are definitely no coincidences in the Life of the Spirit!" FT (Fr. Tom) calls these moments "God Winks" -- moments when our God grants us little tidbits of information (aka grace) that help us to see things or experience things more clearly. If you've read The Hunger Games, then you can also view them like I do: as little gift-wrapped packages floating down from the sky via parachute and holding something you desperately need. In my case, I desperately needed to make this connection...

To me, being an Ambassador at Fordham was a big deal. It was something I was incredibly proud of, and it was something that I was never scared to proclaim. I represented an institution that I not only respected, but also valued deeply and called my home. I wanted to speak continuously about my love for the Jesuits, for Ignatian traditions, for the Bronx, for faith & justice, for being "men and women for others." I wanted to boast about my amazing friends and the incredible faculty & staff that had become such important and influential parts of my life. I wanted to go on and on about the University Band, Campus Ministry, Global Outreach, the Center for Service & Justice, the Rose Hill Society, intramurals, CLCs, and all the other clubs and organizations that made Fordham what it was. You couldn't stop me from being an Ambassador for Fordham, and after a while, I became an Ambassador for the University beyond my campus duties, but in all my actions, words, thoughts, and commitments. Ambassador had fully permeated my being.

How much more, then, can I be a true Ambassador for Christ? Because I know and believe that my love for God and my pride in being a Christian go far beyond my love for and pride in Fordham. But have my actions truly shown that to be so? Has being an Ambassador for Christ fully permeated my being?

This is my prayer, especially for this Lent: to be a true Ambassador for Christ in all of my words, deeds, actions, thoughts, choices, and commitments. May I have the strength to proclaim my faith proudly, and to live the Gospel daily. Let me speak continuously of my love for Jesus, for the Liturgy, for the good and holy people who have graced my life. I want to boast of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, the Jesuits, the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Dominicans, the Franciscans, the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Missionaries of Charity, the Saints I hold dear, the Campus Ministers, and the holy lay men and women who have brought so much joy to my life and have given me such wonderful examples of lived faith. I want to go on and on about being a lay missioner, about feeling called to serve internationally, about my vocation in Campus Ministry. I want to speak proudly about my friends who struggle with their spirituality daily, who are studying theology, who lead CLCs, who worship at mosques, temples, and churches, who advocate for peace & justice, who work with the poor and the maginalized, who want to know God better. I want to be an Ambassador for Christ in the way that I live my life, in the ways that I love my family and friends, in the ways that I treat my neighbors and my enemies.

Let me be your Ambassador, O God.... Let me serve you as you deserve...
Amen.

"Live as though those who know you, but do not know God, come to know God because they know you."
-Anonymous

[BLAST]OFF!

So i created this blog months ago, and through the difficult transitions, the family emergencies, the homesickness, the adjustment to my new job, and moving (twice!), it pretty much got lost in the shuffle. My apologies... Better late than never, right?

I don't know why I chose today of all days to begin writing again. I mean, I have no particular attachment to Valentine's Day and being quite unattached myself this year, it really has solely become just a small reminder of how much I do love my family and friends EVERYday. Nevertheless, I felt the urge to put some stuff down on paper (even if it is virtual paper) and this day seemed as good as any. So here I go...

I am a Cabrini Mission Corps Missioner. I have been since August 2011. And it's taken me quite a bit of time (almost 6 months) to really define myself as such. For the longest time the major descriptive nouns in my vocabulary were exclusively daughter, sister, granddaughter, Catholic, student, friend, Mary Louis graduate, Fordham alum, youth minister. I am at ease with these descriptions. They are me, I am them. No explanations needed. MISSIONER has been a tougher addition, though. LOTS of explanations needed.

Issue #1: No one knows what a missioner is.
Nine times out of ten, people haven't ever heard the word missioner before. If you were to go on dictionary.com and search the word missioner, the definition for missionary would come up. People have heard of missionaries, but very rarely have they heard of missioners. Big difference? Not really. In fact, one online dictionary defines a missioner as someone "of or pertaning to a missionary or missionary work." Many circles would even say that they're the same thing. But I don't know... Somehow, I beg to differ...

Issue #2: Am I reluctant to call myself a missionary? Yes.
I know that I am with the Cabrini Mission Corps, which is run by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart and founded by a great missionary Saint (Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini). Don't get me wrong! I have no direct issues with missionaries. In fact, I love a lot of missionaries (my housemate, Sr. Grace, MSC being one them)! But I honestly think that the "old" definition for missionary no longer fits the needs and experiences of people today.

What usually comes to mind (at least in my mind) with the word missionary is a lot of proselytizing, a lot of suppression, much oppression, and a great deal of paternalism. How many of those first missionaries into Africa, Australia, Asia, North & South America destroyed some really beautiful cultural traditions and forcibly inserted themselves into the lives of groups of people who did not need them at all? (Ever read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe?) This is the main issue I have with the word missionary. I do believe that there are missionaries out there who are doing very good work in the name of God, and following in the good footsteps of Holy people like Mother Cabrini and Francis Xavier. But I also believe that there are many others who are abusing their rights, their power, and the Gospel, just as many of the missionaries of the Age of Exploration did. And for that reason, I am not ok with lumping myself into the same category.

Issue #3: I LIKE the word Missioner, but it needs a lot of explaning.
Which brings us back to the original topic of why including the word missioner as a desciptive noun for myself has been a challenge -- because it can be EXHAUSTING explaining what I believe it means. Quite honestly, over the past few months through the daily work of my ministry, my interactions with my community, and the ups and downs of my spiritual life, I have struggled with buying into the whole "missioner lifestyle." Is it for me? Does it fit my beliefs and the ways in which I've decided to live out my faith life? Can I call myself a missioner in public without cringing or saying the word "volunteer" instead? I gotta tell ya, being home for Christmas and seeing all of the extended family was pretty tough!

But it has been almost 6 months. I have been a CMC Missioner for almost 6 months. And those growing pains definitely helped me to state that proudly and know who I am.

I am a Lay Missioner with the Cabrini Mission Corps, rooted in the spirituality and mission of the MSCs and the legacy of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. I am a proud Filipino-Catholic, the daughter of my immigrant parents, the granddaughter of my Filipino grandparents, a sister to Andrea, a cousin, a niece, a friend, a woman of The Mary Louis Academy, an alumna of Fordham University. My desire to serve as a missioner has grown out of my upbringing, and has been fueled by my Jesuit education to be a "woman for others." Ignatian spirituality is at the root of my being, and I desire wholeheartedly to always be for Christ and do good for the Greater Glory of God. My relationships with the people of South Africa, Brasil, Australia, India, New Orleans, Mississippi, Spain, and the Philippines have taught me to treasure diversity and simplicity...and their plights have spurred me to work for justice in whatever ways I can. I am a missioner in that I am guided by the Gospel and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. I am a missioner in that I choose to go where I believe God is calling me to be. I do not impose, believe that I am better, or promise to do things that are beyond my means. I do promise to learn, grow, empower, live in solidarity, and appreciate generosity and the will of the human spirit. I will leave when I am no longer needed.

It took six months, but I have finally internalized my definition for the word.
And so, I am proud to call myself a CMC Missioner.

+AMDG+AMGSsCJ+