Hey Everyone!
As many of you know, I LOVE to take photos! One of my goals this year is to use my photography to share my stories and experiences with you, and to help share the gospel with it as well. I have taken some photos from my first month here in Africa and here are some of my favorites (: The Lord has shown me so much with my photography in just the first month doing ministry and I am so thrilled to see all of the ways He uses my skills this year! I hope that you find enjoyment in looking at life in the Village of Diabo in Cote d’Ivoire through my lens!
I took this photograph the second day we arrived in the village. We were sitting outside of the house we are staying at talking with one another, when I look over and see one little boy peeking his head over the wall probably seeing a white person for his first time. Suddenly there were two heads, then three, and all of the sudden we have an entire group. We waved at them, and they excitedly waved back with big smiles on their faces. I waved both my hands and danced, and they stood up on the wall and did the same. It was such a JOY to see them get so excited to see us.
This little boy STOLE MY HEART. He is a twin to the girl in the photo below, and they are polar opposites. She is a little spitball of fire and he is very shy but so so incredibly sweet. It took a bit for him to warm up, but he has gotten much better with us girls since arriving. They are children of the pastor, and his wife cooks us our meals so they oftentimes will come over while she is here. A group of us went for a walk and he came up to hold my hand and for a bit it was just him and I walking with one another. Walking in silence because we both speak different languages, but just being in that moment with this little boy was more than enough to warm my heart.
As I had said before, this girl has got some CRAZY energy! She was shy towards us at first, and now you’d never believe it. She likes to just be with us when we are preparing for ministry, singing or humming, and sitting on one of our laps. Today she decided to finish my crystal light for me, she isn’t scared to be outgoing around us anymore which is awesome (:
When we were walking through the village on our way back home one day, I saw some children following us clearly very curious. I slowed down a bit and when they saw that I had noticed them they were a but shy. They all lined up against this building and I took a photo of them, but I did not even realize until I was looking at this later that the boy on the left has a fan blade in his hands. I find it amazing at the things they consider “toys” here. They are normally things that have been recycled or can no longer be used for anything else. I see children playing with tires in the streets or sitting in the roads playing with rocks. They are able to find entertainment in the most simple of things.
I went up to greet this woman’s baby and she was so happy that I did so, and I took a photograph of her sitting in front of her home. It is very common to see people outside of their houses because it gets too hot to be inside and many of their homes do not have fans or even electricity.
God Bless!
Adriana
