Story Behind the Photo: China- The Great Wall

I'm just gonna be honest, I flat out love my husband and I's love story. It didn't come without challenges but it has been full of many joys as well. While we were dating, I lived in China for six months and taught English. During the last ten days of my time there, Drew came over and we traveled around a few cities, Beijing, Xian, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

There were several defining moments in our relationship that occurred during our trip. We said "I love you" for the first time, discussed marriage and a potential timeline for our engagement and definitely fell more in love with each other.

A few nights before Drew arrived to Beijing, I had a dream that he proposed to me on the Great Wall. As the day arrived where we would be hiking on the Wall, I was so excited and slightly nervous thinking about the possibility of my dream coming true. As we were walking on the wall that day, we stopped for a little break and I noticed Drew was digging in his backpack for something. I remember thinking, "Oh my stars, this is it. He's going to propose!". And then he proceeded to pull out a water bottle from his bag. My heart sunk a little and then just as quickly, I forgot about it and moved on.

While I wasn't proposed to that day, what I do remember is trying to soak up every moment of it. Even though it was February and freezing cold, the views were breathtaking, the stories our guide told us were incredible and we fulfilled a dream of mine to be in another country side by side. It was astounding thinking about how this ancient fortress was made, brick by brick by so many men, so many hundreds of years ago.

I'm so thankful that I had my camera with me that day and the picture below is my favorite view. I will never forget the feeling of standing on top of that Wall, holding the hand of the man who would one day be my husband and dreaming about what the future would hold for us. Do you have a similar story? What moments have been the most monumental in your life as you have traveled?
                                                                                                   

Story Behind the Photo: San Marcos de Colon, Honduras

I have realized that I live for moments that take my breath away. The goose-bump giving, mind blowing, God given revelations that assure me of His presence in the day to day. This story is no exception. As I mentioned the previous Story Behind the Photo post, a few years ago I visited a small village in the heart of Honduras. As my heart often tends to do on trips like these, I was drawn to the children living there. 

At first your heart breaks for their meager living conditions, their dirty, shoe less feet and their tattered clothing. My heart ached for them and secretly wished that I could scoop each of them up and take them home with me. But then the Lord pushed me to look deeper than their circumstances, their living conditions or just simply the location of their homes. He was asking me to look and find Him in the moment. A few seconds later, I turned around to see two brothers riding bareback and ecstatic to see a group of Americans close to their home. And I saw joy. All over their precious faces. I saw love in the way that they interacted with each other and their families. Yes, they needed medical care. Of course their home could use a little tender loving care. But it was almost as if I saw a small picture of how the Lord sees us in that moment. Tattered, in need of repair, in need of rescue, just waiting for a glimpse of glory to give us hope. 

The remainder of that week I kept thinking of that moment. Just like Jesus, our rescuer, riding up on horseback to save the day. I'm so thankful for the small moments that I was able to spend with the children in that tiny village. To encourage a smile, to play a simple game of hide and seek, to give a hug or a piggy back ride. And to be reminded in the midst of difficult circumstances that Jesus is there. He patiently waits for us to look to him when we are in need of rescuing and healing.

                                                                         

Story Behind the Photo: Honduras

Happy Monday! Drew and I just got back from our weekend getaway in Atlanta and I can't wait to recap the festivities that my hubby surprised me with. I am so excited about the new series I am beginning, Story Behind the Photo. One of the best parts about being a photographer is the story that you can convey in a single photograph. Even better is hearing the details behind that photograph. I have enjoyed reminiscing as I have looked back over these photos and I can't wait to share each one with you.

Back in the Summer of 2009, I had the incredible opportunity to join a medical mission team's trip to Honduras and Nicaragua. I had some nursing assistant experience and knew a bit of Spanish and was itching to love on some people overseas. It was an eventful trip to say the least but it had the Lord's hand all over it! Just hours after we landed, the President of Honduras evacuated the country as the people were threatening to overthrow the government. We left the same area just as the military arrived and we so happy to arrive safely at the ministry house that afternoon.

Of all the people that we met over the course of that week, I will always remember this man...

The pastor had told us that the village we would be traveling to that day, rarely receives medical attention and often wait years to receive care. We drove for hours on steep, curvy roads without guardrails, driving past beautiful lush mountains and small slum villages. When we arrived, a line had already formed at the church and later that day, a few of us decided to do some exploring a few streets down. As we walked down the dusty dirt road, a few children greeted us and a few adults tried to explain that there was someone who needed help.

They led us to a small mud hut at the end of the road before the fields that they were farming. We called inside the house but no one answered. Just as we started to walk away, a small frail looking man stepped out of his home. We could tell right away that he was having trouble walking and that one of his legs had a festering wound.We started to ask him questions and found out that he had diabetes and that due to poor circulation in his legs, he had gotten an infection a few weeks ago. We said that we would return and brought one of the doctors inside his small home. We carefully washed and bandaged his wounds and prayed that the Lord would heal him.

Though I sadly can't recall his name, his face full of humble gratitude is forever etched in my mind. His pockets overflowing with extra bandages and medical supplies. His weathered skin from years of working in a small field. And the view that kept me glancing back at him as he stood in front of his mud shack, waving his hat goodbye as we walked away.