For me, it’s hard to categorize what we are doing here through pictures. Before leaving on the race I was all about capturing the moments and turning the camera on in every instance but now, it’s different. The life we get to take part in here in La Carpio isn’t one of great wonder and beauty yet for that very reason, it is.
I could paint a picture of kids and laughter or poverty and lifestyles (some of which would easily be viewed as chaotic) for you at home. I could snap pictures of the construction we have done around the site in La Carpio and show the progress that’s happening on our end and satisfy the thoughts of those who think this is a waste of time by emphasizing the things we are “doing.” These however would all be misleading conceptions of what’s really happening here. Pictures of the streets and living conditions would make your hearts feel sad, when really there is life and hope. Still shots of all the kids would turn them into a spectacle and exploiting them rather than the life they are. Yes, it’s drastically different then life in the states, but it’s home here for them and us now, and it’s hard to snap pictures and share them when their perceptions could easily be different than they really are.
How can I snap a picture of how families and people along the street react and welcome us when we return after just being gone 2 days? How can I share the simplistic love that is given between our teammates and local friends? Would a picture really show the affect kicking our host home family out of their house for the day, freeing them of household chores and opening room for a family day? Can it really invite you into feeling the deeper message of love we are blessed with discovering here? Maybe. Yet as of now the Lord seems to have me just in a ‘be’ state. Rather than capturing the moments with pictures, I’m capturing the moments with my heart fully here. I will snap pictures in future times don’t worry, I just wanted to invite you into where I am now with ‘media mentality’ at this moment while we are in La Carpio.
(When those times comes be sure to keep my Instagram #groundingways open to one of your browsers because this is much easier for me to post pictures to during times of little internet.)
