Jezi se selma solucion pour Ayiti – Jesus is the only solution for Haiti

Today we walked the streets for a couple hours near where I am staying here in Port au Prince, Haiti. Collapsed buildings were everywhere and a haunting reality of the roughly estimated 300,000 lives lost here in the earthquake. Finding a house that was still standing and in livable condition was the rare exception. It is estimated that at least 1 million people are homeless now and even the majority with homes having no electricity or running water. They cook with coal on the streets in front of their destroyed homes, very lucky if they even have a tent and it’s not uncommon to see people defecating and urinating on the sidewalks right next to where they are living. With the coming rainy season disease is likely to increase and as I write, now, it is raining.

It’s easy for anyone to look at the situation here and be overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness because of the magnitude of the need. In the clinics and food distribution centers there is seemingly endless lines of people waiting, sometimes half a day, to receive some of the aid that is available. Thousands of bodies still lie under the concrete rubble, impossible to clear without the use of heavy machinery. Legal documents and records of all kinds can be found blowing in the streets outside the national courthouse. And even now, tons of food, water and medicine lie in containers at the airport and docks as the government tries to tax the incoming aid to profit from this disaster and suffering of the people.

I don’t assume to be an expert on Haiti, or even that I can adequately assess the gravity of this crisis, but I know that one of the simplest and greatest practical examples of love is to clothe the naked and feed the hungry, and there is ample opportunity here for that. And though the problems the Haitian people are facing are not going to go away anytime soon, many remain hopeful and encouraged that their nation can change.

The problems here are nothing new and they are as complex as they are desperate, but I believe that now, God is calling out those willing to dedicate themselves to the rebuilding of this nation for the long-term. That Haiti would be a nation built on foundations of Christ, an opponent of political and social injustices, and a blessing to the world! These unique and beautiful people are not defeated easily and as you walk the streets you see people surviving. I believe that now there is more need than ever for those that would answer the cry of the oppressed here in Haiti and be a part of the discipling of a this nation for the glory of God.

Isaiah 58:6,12

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: 
to loose the chains of injustice 
and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free 
and break every yoke?

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins 
and will raise up the age-old foundations; 
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, 
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Terry Snow, national leader of YWAM in Haiti, says “Our vision is to see Haiti becoming a blessing!” – “As you have been an object of cursing among the nations, O Judah and Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.” (Zechariah 8:13)

For years a big part of my vision for myself is to provide more opportunity for people throughout the world to communicate better and share their ideas with each other for the benefit of those in poverty and desperate need. Currently I am working on several projects that I hope will be the beginning of seeing this vision progress into a massive network of creative minds being encouraged and empowered to use their talents to impact the world for good.

Artists Inspiring Action is currently the name that I am working under but I’m not so much as interested in starting a new organization as I am connecting and improving communication between the hundreds of organizations already out there doing great work. I have some more information under the About section of this site on how you can partner with me in prayer and also financially if you feel inspired! Please contact me if you would like to share any ideas. Ciao!

(Editorial Pending)

It wasn’t until 2008 though that I thought about the YWAM base in Ålesund that Jeremy had mentioned to me. I looked it up on the internet and instantly began to dream of the idea of doing a DTS (Discipleship Training School) there. Over the next few months I just started taking steps towards going to see if God would open the doors for me. Well miraculously God provided financially for me to go.

Despite all rationale going through my worried mind about my debt and responsibilities at home, God paved the way for me to go to Norway and spend 9 months there soaking in a creative atmosphere of inspiration. It was… freeing… and challenging… and incredibly life changing. It was by no means a walk in the park. I had already spent a lot of time previously at bible schools in England and Austria and I do NOT do well in a classroom atmosphere! On top of that, Norwegian culture could likely be the 100% polar opposite of Hawaiian culture. Hawaii is warm, VERY laid-back and relaxed, all about relationship and FOOD! Norway on the other hand, is cold, rigid and scheduled, all about productivity and bread. A complete clash for me. I gave the staff a really hard time, constantly arguing about coming to class a few minutes late or taking a day off here and there. But it brought out some things in my heart… that I am very impatient, selfish, and prideful. Of course. But I was faced with this and had to continually think about what my place and purpose was there.

In the end, God used my time in Norway to awaken a creativity I thought I had lost when I “grew up.” I realized that it was time for me to take big steps of faith into using my creative gifts as my primary calling and vocation. It’s been a treacherous road of trust and I’m not looking forward to the pain and stretching that following my passions will require. But I know in the end that it will be far more satisfying.

Australia is for sure one of my favorite places on earth and it was my last stop before heading home from my 15 month trip. I love the laid back culture and attitude of the people, probably cause they remind me of home in a lot of ways.

This was the second time I was visiting Oz and God has used my time there on both trips to teach me so many amazing things. The beauty of the people and the landscapes has further fueled my desire and passion for photography and the creative atmosphere of cities like Melbourne really inspired me towards pursuing my artistic talents.

Some of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken have been in Australia and I’m sure that I will be back again to take more.

After visiting with the Metzgers in Malawi, I stopped in Thailand for a few weeks to visit some other missionary friends from Kauai. The Nakatsukasas have been living in Thailand since about 1999 and were living in Phang Nga when the tsunami hit in December, 2004. Though the tsunami was a tragedy in it’s destruction, the Nakatsukasas had new opportunities to help the people rebuild their homes and display the love of Jesus in a practical way in Muslim and Bhuddist communities that were previously very reluctant of their help.

While I was there they were in the process of starting an orphanage on their property and I was able to help a little with some manual labor. I didn’t take many photos while I was working so these shots are from a trip that I took to Phuket and Phi Phi towards the end of my time there.

At the end of 2005 I found myself in an interesting situation. I had been working in the mortgage business for a couple years and I had made more money then ever before in my life. I had accumulated just about every material possession that I had ever wanted, including a house. I was 23 years old, I had over $30,000 in the bank, and I quickly realized how unfulfilled I was with it all. So I looked at a map and picked out a few places I wanted to visit and bought an around-the-world ticket and left about three weeks later for a trip that lasted 15 months.

Along the way God showed me things that could never be expressed with words or pictures or videos. But I decided it was time to start pursuing photography as more than the hobby that it had been to me since I was in high school. The beauty of the people and places I visited awakened a new passion and desire to share God’s magnificent creation through photographic storytelling. I didn’t just want to take pictures, I wanted people to see and feel, as much as possible, the awesome and beautiful diversity of the world.

Malawi was the first place I started using my new camera and was a first step in what God has cultivated in my life as one of my primary passions. Our friends LeRoy and Cindy Metzger had moved to Malawi about a year before we got there and we were overjoyed to share in the work they were doing with the people. We visited orphanages, refugee camps, and rural villages, sharing the love of Jesus in any way that we could. It was an experience that has changed my life and I will never forget.

These are just a few photos from the month that we spent there.