This time of year, I find myself reminiscing about the importance of family, being faithful with little, planting and tending diligently when there is nothing but potential. I wanted to just say thank you to each of you for all the seeds you have sewn into Brasil and into my life over the years. There are no words to express how overwhelmed I have been and continue to be by your kindness and partnership.
Last year I was introduced to a type of social research called Photo Voice. This discipline is often referred to as visual anthropology, but also includes a therapeutic component of art making. I was captivated by the history and application of this technique. It seemed like I had stumbled across a vehicle for the work I had been doing for years. Long story short, I was granted a scholarship by Photo Voice International (one of the few organizations who trains on the methodology). Upon completing their intensive school, I began to incorporate what I had learned into the art classes and mentorship that I have been doing at the safe house for years.
We were in a very difficult moment at Project Bethany. Multiple suicide attempts leading into that week left 3 girls hospitalized during a statewide virus epidemic that left single beds being shared between multiple patients and staff sleeping on plastic chairs. I didn’t know if this was a good or bad time to launch something new, but I figured anything was worth a shot. We began more intensive photo lessons with included the girls photographing their response to certain questions regarding their identity and what they dreamed for their life.
Skipping to the end, the girls loved our classes and they were able to not only explore, but communicate some of their greatest strengths and challenges. I believe it was healing for them and the staff at the safe house to rebuild relationship in the midst of crisis. Shortly after this, I was chosen to present at the Photo Voice international conference on the project using the images and captions that my girls had captured in Brasil. Twelve adolescents from the safe house got to share their hopes, perspectives, vision, and stories with PhDs, researchers, social workers, and educators from all over the world. There are literally no words to describe how honored I was to carry their voices.
The following week I attended the Shared Hope International annual conference (the organization that my grandfather had volunteered for). Last year I had shared a lot with their team about using art as a way for survivors to communicate their lived experiences, and this year, they launched the first photo gallery during their annual conference. Even though this is normally a week of training focused on best practices for domestic rescue and restoration, I was allowed to bring my girls photos and captions from Brasil. Now I have said this a million times, but I will say it again, our girls in project Bethany know Jesus in a way few others know Him. They have experienced His salvation, His healing, His goodness in a profound way and almost all of them reflected this in their art. Neither of the conferences I presented at were faith-based arenas. These are judges, medical professionals, business owners, law enforcement, etc who are making decisions on social policy. In all their meekness and humility, these 12 girls from a safe house in Brasil, spoke their truth boldly about restoration, and Gods place in it. I continue to be overwhelmed with this grace, and dream about further ways in which the voices of those we serve can be elevated to places of power and influence. After all, they are the experts on what they need to heal. Below is a short video that shows the 11 year anniversary of the safe house. The girls all decided to display their work and several shared about how they were impacted. It was a beautiful night.
We have so much to be thankful for! My prayer is as the weather gets colder in the US and the earth goes into hibernation, that every area of your lives where you have planted seeds, would rest and begin to take the form of new life waiting to push into the light come spring.