2.09.2009
Stallwitz Family
I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Judy over the last several months. She has such joy and passion and the love of Christ just flows so freely out of her. It was such a blessing to be able to have her in India with us, too! I think the trip would have been much different without her. Before we left we were able to get a session in while her boys were in town on their Christmas break. Let me say that this was the most fun I have ever had on a family session. I mean how could you NOT have a blast with a leather couch and dogs out in the middle of some random field and dirt road??? Here are some of my favorites from their session. Enjoy!
2.02.2009
Abigail::Newborn
I still have a thousand images (literally) from India that I want to show you but I also have quite the work load that I came home to. Between editing family sessions from the beginning of the year, photographing new families every weekend, and designing 3 wedding albums this month, I'd say I have my work cut out for me.
Here are some of my favorite images from Abigail's newborn session. You might remember my dear friend, Lara, from her fabulous baby bump session back in November. We got together to do sweet Abigail's newborn photos right around the time she turned 3 weeks old. Even at 3 weeks she was still a pound or more smaller than Ella was the day she was born. She sure is a little bitty thing! This was by far the easiest baby I've ever photographed. She did not fuss once...although she did tinkle on her Mommy at one point (haha!). My favorite moment from this session though...watching Kevin with Abigail. There is something to be said about the bond a father has with his daughter. She has him wrapped around his finger for sure! I hope you enjoy these images as much as I enjoyed creating them! Love.
Here are some of my favorite images from Abigail's newborn session. You might remember my dear friend, Lara, from her fabulous baby bump session back in November. We got together to do sweet Abigail's newborn photos right around the time she turned 3 weeks old. Even at 3 weeks she was still a pound or more smaller than Ella was the day she was born. She sure is a little bitty thing! This was by far the easiest baby I've ever photographed. She did not fuss once...although she did tinkle on her Mommy at one point (haha!). My favorite moment from this session though...watching Kevin with Abigail. There is something to be said about the bond a father has with his daughter. She has him wrapped around his finger for sure! I hope you enjoy these images as much as I enjoyed creating them! Love.
1.28.2009
Jai Masih Ki! (Praise the Lord in Hindi)
I am home!!! After what felt like an eternity on planes and in airports yesterday wouldn't you know our flight from Dallas to Amarillo was cancelled due to bad weather. Half of our team took a cab from DFW to Love Field and caught the next flight out on Southwest. The other half of the team was able to get on an afternoon AA flight out of DFW. I'll tell you the extra money I had to spend on the Southwest flight was well worth it to be able to see Jeremy & Ella a few hours earlier. I am so happy to be home, to hug my family, and to get to sleep in my own bed! I'm excited to get back to work too. I have several sessions to edit and wedding albums to design over the next few weeks. I'm praying that I can get well caught up very soon!
I experienced so many great things in India and still have tons of photos to show you all. I'll continue to share with you some of what I experience here on my blog over the next week. We were able to do a bit of sight seeing while in India. You definitely can't go to India without going to the Taj Mahal! What an experience that was...I was speechless the whole time. It was such a blessing to get to see it with my sweet friend, Ashley, too. We took an overnight train (an interesting experience in and of itself) to the Taj, got there before sun rise, and drove around tho the back of the Taj across the river to watch the sunrise. Unfortunately, it was extremely foggy and hazy and the river was way down so I didn't get any great pictures of the sun rise or the reflection of the Taj in the river. It was so surreal to stand in silence and look at that world wonder though. I will never forget it! Due to the overnight train ride we don't look too hot in the picture below...haha!
We also went to tour the Khajuraho Temples. One thousand years ago 85 temples were erected, 20 of which remain standing today. The architecture and sculptures of these temples are absolutely amazing; although, not entirely G, PG, or even PG-13 rated. You see these temples are also known as the Kama Sutra temples. Needless to say, I won't be showing you any close up shots of these temples as they are quite graphic (as was our guide!). You can see the intricate detail of the carvings even from far away! They truly are a marvel to look at.
I experienced so many great things in India and still have tons of photos to show you all. I'll continue to share with you some of what I experience here on my blog over the next week. We were able to do a bit of sight seeing while in India. You definitely can't go to India without going to the Taj Mahal! What an experience that was...I was speechless the whole time. It was such a blessing to get to see it with my sweet friend, Ashley, too. We took an overnight train (an interesting experience in and of itself) to the Taj, got there before sun rise, and drove around tho the back of the Taj across the river to watch the sunrise. Unfortunately, it was extremely foggy and hazy and the river was way down so I didn't get any great pictures of the sun rise or the reflection of the Taj in the river. It was so surreal to stand in silence and look at that world wonder though. I will never forget it! Due to the overnight train ride we don't look too hot in the picture below...haha!
We also went to tour the Khajuraho Temples. One thousand years ago 85 temples were erected, 20 of which remain standing today. The architecture and sculptures of these temples are absolutely amazing; although, not entirely G, PG, or even PG-13 rated. You see these temples are also known as the Kama Sutra temples. Needless to say, I won't be showing you any close up shots of these temples as they are quite graphic (as was our guide!). You can see the intricate detail of the carvings even from far away! They truly are a marvel to look at.
1.22.2009
Namaste
I have so many images that I want to show you but am completely overwhelmed! I have shot something like 2500 images so far. And I feel like I haven't told you all much of what we are doing or how I feel about some of the things I have seen while in India. Some of the other team members are much better writers than I am and have expanded on each day over on the Hillside Missions blog (link located on the right). I'll let you know a bit from my perspective though.
I do feel like I was pretty prepared (as prepared as one person can be) to come on this trip and see the things I have seen. People that have gone before me had said that I would never see poverty until I have seen the poverty in India. Now, mind you, this is not my first mission trip. However, all of the other mission trips I have been on have been in Mexico...and none lasting more than 5 days. I do agree with that statement about poverty though. I have never seen poverty like this. Our days are very surreal to me...like something straight out of a movie or off the National Geographic channel. A few of the people on the team have been not once but two or three times and have been great about letting us know the things we need to know. In the face of such poverty, persecution, and hardships I have been surprised to see joy in the faces of India. :)
One of the great things we have had the opportunity of doing is touring the Mid-India Christian Mission facilities. Oh my gosh! I am humbled and...well extremely humbled! The first place we went to is the school. I am amazed and a frankly a little embarrassed to see the level at which these children are learning. Pre-schoolers sit for around 4 hours at a desk like the "big kids" and learn in a class room setting. Five year olds are multiplying! A lot of the students are seniors when they are 16 years old. The discipline and respectfulness of these children would put shame to the children in America.
The hospital's facilities are primitive at best. It is amazing to hear that they are able to do 100+ eye surgeries per month with the equipment they have (or don't have is more like it). We also visited the Woman's Rehabilitation Center where woman who have overcome abuse etc come for some Jesus love. ;) They make beautiful sweaters and other things to sell. They work with old Singer sewing machines from what Ashley & I thought were maybe the early 1900's. Again, I have been humbled by the experience thus far.
I have to cut this a bit short b/c I just found out I'm speaking tomorrow morning (it's almost 8pm here) and need to prepare.
I am enjoying staying here at MICM...lizards and all. Haha! (One in Ashley & I's toilet and one in my pants yesterday.)
I'll post more pictures and blog more of my experience tomorrow!
I do feel like I was pretty prepared (as prepared as one person can be) to come on this trip and see the things I have seen. People that have gone before me had said that I would never see poverty until I have seen the poverty in India. Now, mind you, this is not my first mission trip. However, all of the other mission trips I have been on have been in Mexico...and none lasting more than 5 days. I do agree with that statement about poverty though. I have never seen poverty like this. Our days are very surreal to me...like something straight out of a movie or off the National Geographic channel. A few of the people on the team have been not once but two or three times and have been great about letting us know the things we need to know. In the face of such poverty, persecution, and hardships I have been surprised to see joy in the faces of India. :)
One of the great things we have had the opportunity of doing is touring the Mid-India Christian Mission facilities. Oh my gosh! I am humbled and...well extremely humbled! The first place we went to is the school. I am amazed and a frankly a little embarrassed to see the level at which these children are learning. Pre-schoolers sit for around 4 hours at a desk like the "big kids" and learn in a class room setting. Five year olds are multiplying! A lot of the students are seniors when they are 16 years old. The discipline and respectfulness of these children would put shame to the children in America.
The hospital's facilities are primitive at best. It is amazing to hear that they are able to do 100+ eye surgeries per month with the equipment they have (or don't have is more like it). We also visited the Woman's Rehabilitation Center where woman who have overcome abuse etc come for some Jesus love. ;) They make beautiful sweaters and other things to sell. They work with old Singer sewing machines from what Ashley & I thought were maybe the early 1900's. Again, I have been humbled by the experience thus far.
I have to cut this a bit short b/c I just found out I'm speaking tomorrow morning (it's almost 8pm here) and need to prepare.
I am enjoying staying here at MICM...lizards and all. Haha! (One in Ashley & I's toilet and one in my pants yesterday.)
I'll post more pictures and blog more of my experience tomorrow!
1.20.2009
Hatta
We went to Hatta yesterday...and I feel in love. I did not want to leave that place.
Bugagee is the leader of the Christian movement in Hatta. This man has such a passion for Jesus and was so welcoming to us. Judy wrote more about our experience there on the Hillside Missions blog. I plan to blow these images up and hang them in my house.
They made us coffee in a pot on a small fire. The milk they made it with came from the cow standing right outside the second photo. Bugagee broke bread with us (hand-feeding us and then us feeding him). It is a huge deal to break bread with white men.
They ride bikes everywhere. The traffic in India does not just consist of motor vehicles. It is pedestrians, rickshaws, tractors, bicycles, motorcycles, cows, dogs, etc all over the street all the time.
This woman was washing dishes with mud. She was very shy but let me take her picture anyway. :)
Bugagee is the leader of the Christian movement in Hatta. This man has such a passion for Jesus and was so welcoming to us. Judy wrote more about our experience there on the Hillside Missions blog. I plan to blow these images up and hang them in my house.
They made us coffee in a pot on a small fire. The milk they made it with came from the cow standing right outside the second photo. Bugagee broke bread with us (hand-feeding us and then us feeding him). It is a huge deal to break bread with white men.
They ride bikes everywhere. The traffic in India does not just consist of motor vehicles. It is pedestrians, rickshaws, tractors, bicycles, motorcycles, cows, dogs, etc all over the street all the time.
This woman was washing dishes with mud. She was very shy but let me take her picture anyway. :)
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