Vatawaqa

I miss this place. I miss the people. Their faces. I promise you haven’t seen smiles like theirs. They are contagious. At first I walked timidly to the door of their homes. “May I take your photo, please?” I shyly asked.

“Yes, of course! Where are you from? Come in! How long are you staying? Do you like Fiji?”

Yes, I do.

I love the way they insist on getting to know a person. I adore their generous spirit. They would literally give you the shirt off their back… or climb a tree to find you the best mangoes ever. That’s no exaggeration either. I love the way they laugh even though I couldn’t tell if it was with me or at the way I stumbled through their culture. (I’m pretty sure it was the second ; ) And I had a huge fat crush on the soft light that fell through this neighborhood and all the colors and textures that made up the homes.

This is Vatawaqa, a squatters village, in Suva Fiji. The government does not want them here. Most of the people who call this home do not have jobs. They have nowhere else to go. But they are beautiful, and God loves them beyond measure.

Inland Empire Thanksgiving Outreach

Oh yeah, my brother and I were there too.

FEED

A while back I had the privilege of taking some photos for Delaware City Vineyard, specifically their food pantry. They provide food and basic hygiene items for those need around the community. They have an awesome outreach happening and it's continuing to grow. Check it out.

Ensenada. Mexico

Last month I had the opportunity to go down to a women’s shelter in Ensenada with a group from my church. The plans to put up a power pole/fix the roof were quickly changed when a storm rolled in and poured buckets of rain. (I’ve never seen so much mud in my life.) Instead we ended up playing with the kids and visiting with mothers. I had a blast taking some family portraits for the women. Here are just a few of my favorites.