Once upon a time... [Yes, that is how all the best stories begin, so this is your cue to grab that mug of coffee or glass of lemonade and get all cozy, cause this is gonna be good. I know, you've been waiting long enough. *grin*] I had a dream... [yes, also a wonderful start to the story] a dream of using photography in the mission field.
The idea wasn't just a romantic notion of glamorizing missions, it was a genuine desire to capture the work of God in images to be able to share and use those to communicate to others the hand of Jesus at work around the world. It was a dream that was birthed quite a few years ago... I don't quite know when it happened, how or what triggered the notion. Isn't that often the case? It seems like it is a gradual working of the Spirit, birthing and growing desires in our hearts for the glory of Jesus and the benefit of the Kingdom. It's not about a time and a place as much as it is about being active and intentional with seeing it come to pass.
Years have come and gone. Both ideas and opportunities came and went with them. With each passing one, I felt my heart sigh, wondering if I was just "dreaming" up this idea, forcing the issue and wanting it too much. I trusting Jesus would make it clear in HIS time. Not mine. Yeah, that is the hard part, isn't it? Waiting. Waiting and, well, waiting... then last year, I felt Jesus nudging my heart to obtain my passport.
More waiting, and then A Tale of Two Cities happened this spring.
The dream was being birthed, it was happening... for real, I was going to Colombia!
Many people are often given a burden for a specific country or people group... they have a passion for a certain language and their vision for missions is birthed out of that. It was not at all the case for me. I had countries I would loved to visit... places we had missionary friends who would welcome me with open arms anytime I wanted, and honestly, it didn't matter where I went, as long as there were darling-orphaned-kiddos to love on. There were many places I thought about going... but Colombia was not one of them. I could write a blog post just on the reactions I got from people when they found out I was praying about, let alone had decided and felt God calling me to go to Colombia... yeah, it doesn't necessarily have the reputation for being the safest place in the world, however... the safest place in the world is being in the center of His will and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was leading me on this trip.
So... I've been to Colombia and back again.
So... I've fallen in love with Colombia [South America in general] and want to go back.
"It's like America, but South!"
There was eleven of us on the team.
Team Leaders:: Daniel and Elizabeth
Photography Leader:: Christina
Photographers:: Marrissa. Greg. Ashlyn and myself
Team People:: Daniel D. Brandon. Ashley and Benjamin.
Five of our team members [Christina, Brandon, Benjamin, Daniel and Ashley Dickson] are siblings, so that was pretty awesome . Especially since the latter four are a fabulous, and I mean fabulous string quartet and they brought their instruments. Within the first day, we were pretty well meshed as a group. Kinda like family. Halfway through the trip, the Dickson guys decided to adopt me into the family and make me an adopted sister. I think that was after the fact that I declared that I can take faster showers than my brothers, and that girls do not need to take forever getting ready... hehe.
Sunday was a day of worshipping in two languages [that will bring you to tears, completely], exploring, meeting fellow Believers, laughter, good conversations, taking pictures, trying all kinds of meats for dinner [including goat] and settling into our home for the next three days... a Catholic Seminary that rather reminded us of the cemetery scenes in Sound of Music. Without boring you with details think of:: singing monks, flying cockroaches, dark hallways and echoing rooms, yeah. Let your imagination take flight. But it made for tons of memories, promise!
Monday the adventure began.
Monday, I fell in love with Colombian kiddos.
We taught at a public school, nestled in outskirts of Chia, Colombia... located with an incredible view of the mountains.
For three days, we taught. We loved. We smiled. We hugged. We laughed. We took pictures... We attempted to pick up more Spanish and make out broken English.
We photographers taught the "English" class of all grades all three days. Basically, class was 45 minutes long [though we quickly learned that changes as well as the order of class on a regular basis] And within that time, we would teach a basic photography lesson and then split the class up into three groups and give them five minutes of taking pictures [we had ten digital cameras we bought and brought down with us] five minutes of listening to one of us photographers give a photo-story and five minutes of review of other images. We did that every 45 minutes from like 9am - 3pm all three days. It was pretty intense but crazy amazing. Key words were: flexibility. Smile. Enthusiasm. Willingness. Prayer... mhmm!
I learned that hugs have no language barriers.
I wished I had made myself memorize more spanish phrases.
I taught about Jesus through photography, but through my actions.
I realized in a deeper way that hugs and smiles have no language barriers.
I wanted to stay there and love on, pour into and disciple all 600+ kids at Sherwood School.
I longed to give them truth... truth about relationships, truth about love, truth about life, truth about
I prayed that Jesus would protect, guard and nourish every seed planted in the hearts of the kiddos.
It was incredible, so many Jesus moments. Like the time that one of the teachers didn't want us at the school because we were "sharing the gospel" which didn't reflect the school's views... and a bunch of meetings and randomness with that, which turned into an incredible blessing a day later when that same teacher completely became one of our biggest fans when the Dickson's brought their instruments and played wonderful classical music which this teacher happens to adore. Who would have known? God did. Then the moment when I was giving a photo-testimony about how God works in our lives which was supposed to be five minutes long and I ended up having the kids for fifteen minutes and God gave me other amazing stories to share of HIS goodness, His faithfulness and His personal workings... some of the kids were in tears.
One of the best moments was on our second day, one of our crazy-Red-bull-tenth graders [the teacher called them that, and we found out why] left class and yelled: "This class is SO AWESOME!!!" With his arms in the air for enthusiasm and exclamation. It was hilarious. Oh, to have had it on camera. hehehe. In case were were in doubt, apparently at least some of the kids were getting something out of it. Leaving was difficult for me... in many ways, I felt like we had just gotten started and it was already ending. I wanted to continue to build these relationships and love these kiddos more. They showered us with cards, notes, wrote their emails in our notebooks, asked for pictures and more pictures and asked over and over: "Do you have facebook"? And then we had to leave.
In three short days, my life had been changed. Looking into the dark-chocolate eyes of countless kiddos... your life would be changed too.
These kids were not orphans, nor did they seem necessarily needy [although compared to the abundant-accessive-wealth of America, the entire country of Colombia seemed needy in ways] but they were needy for Jesus. For real, abundant life...
Who will tell them about Jesus... that He is alive! That He loves them! That He has a plan for their lives! Who will love them and show them Jesus?
I know that was our desire. I pray that it will make a difference, not just now, but for eternity.
It isn't just a "missions trip" issues... I know that is my entire life desire, to make Jesus look good... to represent Him well and show Him to tall those lost and dying around us. They are everywhere, at Wal-mart, driving on the highway, at the Doctors office, at Panera Bread... in your work place. Needy souls are everywhere, do they see something in you they want... something that is Jesus?
“Trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you." ― Corrie Ten Boom
More adventures coming soon!
This was just the beginning...
-KM
Here is a video interview of one of our photography kiddos.
[Ignore the annoying parrot voice in the background... hehe]
This is what it was like to arrive every morning...
I think they were just a little excited about getting to take pictures...
Oh, those boys... my heart completely melts. The one in front was so precious, eager to learn and eager to please.
Yeah, this was pretty much happiness... *sigh*
This is my friend, Jhon Steven. He was not in our photography classes, but he spoke English quite well and would come up to our classroom every chance he got to come talk with me and practice his English. His smile melted me into a puddle. We would chat and talk and he would tell me how if I came back to Colombia he would teach me Spanish. He asked me about America and if I liked Colombia better? He wouldn't let me take his picture, but finally agreed to take one with me. I pray that Jesus works in Jhon Steven's life and makes him into a mighty man of God for the Kingdom and the Gospel. I miss that boy.
These girls became our biggest "fan club", each day when our van would pull up to the school, they would lead the kids in cheers of: "Kristi! Kristi! Greg! Greg! Christina! Christina!" and whichever other names they could remember at the moment. Then, like Jhon Steven they were not in our photography class, but would come visit every opportunity they had. They spoke very little English, but they were thrilled when we signed their notebooks, smiled and hugged them. Their smiles made my heart go pitter patter.
[Thank you, Greg for the last two images!]
More to come soon...
This is obviously reflected in her Senior pictures. When Olivia emailed me about using her "art" work in her Senior pictures and possibly setting up a "gallery" in the woods, I was doing happy dances on the SPOT! Can we do that? Of course we can!! It was a blast. I love it when my clients get super creative about their shoots. Thanks for the amazing time, Olivia. You were a complete natural! 
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