![]() “There were a lot of natural fits between Jesse’s work and mine - it was really interesting to me that Jesse’s art, like my work in brain science and philosophy, itself explores themes of exploration and discovery. “These conversations were just fantastic,” explains Palmer. Follow Begeman on his blog.Their initial phone conversation spanned two hours as Jackson drove through the snow from his home country of Canada back to Irvine. When he's not working at Midcontinent Communications he is often on the road photographing our prettiest spots around the state. If it wasn’t for a little Mayan boy full of excitement and love, I would have.Ĭhristian Begeman grew up in Isabel and now lives in Sioux Falls. However, don’t get so caught up in “getting the photo” that you never really meet the people or learn about the culture you visit. Going on vacations or mission trips are a great reason to take your camera and document where you’ve been and what you’ve seen. I realize this column is supposed to be about photography, but I guess I wanted to point out how a hobby or passion like photography can be a means to change in your life. It is how Jesus ministered 2,000 years ago. Getting to know people and loving them is what matters. Volunteering in poor countries continues to teach me that truly helping the needy means more than just handing out food and saying a prayer. ![]() The fact that I don’t “need” anyone’s help to live comfortably has made me selfish and even a bit arrogant without even realizing it. This American rugged individualism that has shaped me has left something important out. He may experience poverty materially but he’s showing me by example that I experience poverty relationally. He’s not short on gratitude and hospitality. He probably hasn’t seen his daddy in weeks…if at all. Yeah, he might be short on food and clean clothes. The fact is I need him as much as he needs me. This kiddo was teaching me the lesson I needed for the trip. I pick him up like I do my nephew and hold him above my head and he laughs harder as he soars in the air. I don’t know Spanish, but he doesn’t care. I kneel down and try to interact as best I can. That was when the “aha” moment started to happen. Then class breaks and this little guy makes a beeline for me and proceeds to clamp onto my leg in what for him must have been a massive bear hug. The kids were great subjects, full of life and happiness. As usual, I am loving every minute of the photographic experience. I’m busy doing my “get the award-winning photo” thing so we can tell the story of VisionTrust to our church. I’m there to assist a friend of mine learn how our church can become involved in helping the less fortunate and orphans of the world. I find myself in the small yard of VisionTrust Guatemala’s Learning Center in a poor, indigenous village of Guatemala when God blesses me with another “aha” moment. I wasn’t the same after that.įast forward to this February. The other more important moment came when a handful of four-year-old orphans stole my heart on the shores of Lake Victoria. One was confirming my love of travel and the wonder of creation as I reveled in the sights and sounds of Serengeti National Park. I experienced at least two “aha” moments on that trip. I’m pretty content living here in South Dakota where I have family close by, a good job and good friends.Ī couple years ago, I was asked by a good friend to consider helping an orphanage he was involved with to make a video presentation for their supporters. You see, like most people, I don’t like change all that much. ![]() ![]() Such moments have been few and far between for me. In either case, these “moments” soon become part of who you are. It may be a small change or it may be huge. These moments become, for lack of better words, mental photographs of a specific time that changed your life. Sometimes in life we are blessed with “aha” moments.
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