Meet Janae - NeighborLink Intern

I’m excited to introduce you to the new NeighborLink intern, Janae. Interns bring new life to NeighborLink every time they come to work for us. They bring unique views and energy that give us all a boost. Janae will spend a lot of time interacting with our recipients who are requesting assistance, as well as doing quite a bit of writing. She has journalistic aspirations and I have lots of stories to tell, so it’s a win-win for both of us. 

Here is her 1st post introducing herself:

As a new intern with Neighborlink, I should probably introduce myself. My name is Janae and I’m a student at IPFW. Like many students I’m not entirely sure what I want to do after graduating, but I’m learning to trust God and let him guide my path. I’m excited to be here with Neighborlink, and I think it is part of God’s path for me. My heart is drawn to people who need help, and here I’ve found a fit that allows me to offer help to people who need it most. One thing that I’ve really enjoyed so far is hearing people’s stories. I’ve really just started to learn the importance of each person’s story, starting with an encounter I had a few weeks ago that really challenged me to think deeper about the importance of each person’s story.           
Recently I spoke with a woman who was a mentor-like figure for me during much of my high school years. She told me something that really made me think. She made the comment that everyone you meet has a story, something is going on in their lives right now, or they have gone through in the past, but whatever point they may be at, they still have a story. What I got from this was that every person I meet, whether it is while I’m serving a customer at work or making a phone call for Neighborlink, has a unique path in life. Taking the time to simply listen and hear the stories may be what the person needs. I’m learning how to slow down and take time to really listen to people, even when they may not say clearly what their story is, often it may be hidden in the background.
 I’m excited to see what God has in store for me here and I’m looking forward to being a part of the change Neighborlink is making in this city. We can offer a hope to those who have none and as they share their stories we can share that of God’s love with them. Not only through words but through our actions and willing hearts.