Appreciative...

Yesterday I had the amazing opportunity to go with a team out to a poor village to do a portrait shoot for the local families.  I won't post a lot of photos from the village (I didn't take many) out of respect for the people.  But, I want to tell you about this amazing time of outreach!

I often take so much for granted.  The living conditions of this little village were just heartbreaking.  We went to a brother's house who reaches out to these people.  He had gathered a small group of families and children in his tiny home.  They were eager and waiting for us!  A couple of the ladies in our group set up a hair and make-up station, while the brother who lived there started singing songs with the children.  When each family group was ready, they came out to a crude "portrait studio" which we set up in the yard outside.  A local helper positioned the people, explaining in their language how to pose.  They liked to look distinguished and serious in their photos.  It was quite an exciting experience for me as a photographer to learn their culture in this way.  It was humbling also to see how much it meant to them to get their portrait taken.  I am reminded of how often I am not appreciative for the "little" things in my life that would mean SO much to these people.

These are the families we took photos of, mixed with those of us that came to show them some love.  The guy in the hat with a camera is the man who sets up these trips, and he taught me so much about how they operate!  He allowed me to do all of the portrait shooting, and was just so gracious in letting me learn!


Today, I have edited the portraits, and will set out in hopes of finding a print shop where I can get them printed and laminated.  The lamination will help preserve the photos against the tropical elements here.  Next week we plan to return and distribute the photos.  Many will also bring lessons next week.  I believe Jason may do a simple English lesson, and a health professional here will talk about basic hygiene.  I'm so excited because we can come along side a brother already in the village and help build relationships with these people.

Adventuring!

Normally to get around, we take a taxi here in Yangon.  The taxis are somewhat inexpensive (under $4 to go anywhere in the city) and we can usually convey to the driver where we need to go.  Yesterday, however, we had the luxury of walking a few miles from downtown past the main Buddhist pagoda (The Shwedagon Pagoda) and met up with some friends in another part of the city for dinner.  Here are a couple of snapshots I got along our walk, and the view of the pagoda from the restaurant.

 This was a busy market outside of the pagoda.

This adorable little girl was so happy and just would not stop smiling and laughing! I asked the woman holding her if I could take her photo, and obviously the baby didn't object either. :)

A sad, but beautiful place.

Adjusting...

This post has been simmering in my mind for a good week now.  All the new sights, tastes, and smells caught me off guard quite a bit.  I guess they call it culture "shock" for a reason!  As I stood in my hotel room  the second or third day we were here, looking down on the bustling life below, so different to what I'm used to, I started to think...  It was starting to set in, how out of place I felt, and so alone.  My mind started to give in to the thoughts, you know, the dangerous ones:  "I don't belong here", "This land is weird with many odd ways of doing things",  "I don't think I can survive living here!"  "I'm not like them, and I don't like the way they live", etc... I started to try and convince myself of the importance of learning some of the language, the customs, and yes, even learning to enjoy the strange smelling food... All of a sudden a sense of despair overcame me.  How could I do that?  How could I adjust enough to come along side these "strange" people?  How could I eat their food, learn their language, live along side them in conditions that made me pull back in disgust?  (I'm being honest here, I'm not proud of my lack of empathy...)  A new wave of feeling came over me - guilt.  How could I be so spoiled, so cold towards these people who have a fraction of what you have been blessed with?  How can you stand yourself, gagging at the smell of the only meal that person might be able to afford all day?  Shame.  And so the roller coaster continued for a few days - feeling alone, repulsed by offending smells and tastes and strange behavior, feeling despair at how to adjust, how to live along side them, and then guilt for having such a struggle.  Then, it happened.  Not as a Paul-on-the-road-to-Damascus moment, but as a slow churning in my mind and spirit - God seemed to impress on me something amazing.  Jesus - He came to earth - to a "strange" new place.  He tells us that "our ways are not His ways, nor our thoughts His thoughts".  He didn't come and live in the wealthiest mansion available, or eat only the food he liked...  No, He came to serve, not to be served, He came and humbled himself, being found as a man - a human, dirty, "strange" human being!  He BECAME one of us, to give up His rights and privileges all to show us the way to relationship with the Father. Wow.  Am I still struggling with adjusting? - oh YES!  But, do I have a whole deeper sense of thankfulness to Jesus for what He did for me? - oh YES!  What an amazing lesson of love and sacrifice!  May I keep Jesus' sacrifice in mind next time I am given the opportunity to show love to these people, as much as I am able!    

Arrived!

We have arrived safely in Yangon, Myanmar!  Jason was horribly sick on our long flight over the ocean, due to something he ate, but we were extremely grateful to arrive at our hotel four days ago:

We are going to start looking for an apartment soon!
Jason starts teaching tomorrow at the Yangon University of Education tomorrow.  Here is a photo of his school:

We have been walking about a bit, and let me just share a few photos of people/things we have encountered.  Please excuse the quality so far, I am trying to be conspicuous with my camera until I know what is ok to take photos of, and what is not. :)