Back to the blog...India & Russia

A year and a half between posts is way too long! It wasn't intentional by any means. I do like to write. Working several jobs however has taken its toll on my free time, or should I say lack thereof. So consider this a catch-up post. I did travel last year and so there are really two events to share. 

INDIA
May 2013 I spent a month in India. From the arid North with a dry but energy-sapping triple digit heat to the tropical south where just walking outside caused the sweat to pour. It was an eye-opening experience. The colors are like you imagine in the brightly colored clothing, and the spices in the market. The insanely crazy traffic and hundreds of thousands of people however are not something you can truly know until you are in the middle of it. As a foreigner you are always being watched but there is also a friendly curiosity. Everyone wants your photo and everyone has a camera phone. It was unusual being on the other end of the camera at times but we were able to use it to start many conversations.

The VFCC team just outside the Taj Mahal looking at one of the other 

structures on the property during a sandstorm raging up the river 

in the background.

NOTE: my new masthead image for this blog also came from this portion 

of the trip while visiting a village in Uttar Pradesh.

The first 10-days I traveled with a great group of young people from VFCC. We learned first-hand about the culture in Northern India. We visited several sites in New Delhi and in Uttar Pradesh. We did a lot of praying and talking to people, learning first hand what it is like in a Hindu / Muslim culture. We visited the largest Mosque in that part of Asia, the Taj Mahal and did a 13-mi prayer walk at the birth place of Krishna (and no we weren't chanting Hari Krishna rather praying for the area). We learned a little Hindi, ate lots of Indian food and experienced life on that side of the world. I am thankful for this time because it prepared me for the remainder of the trip. After the team left bound for the states, one of my students, Autumn and I flew to the south.

At the last Hope Center of many that we visited on this leg of the trip in Pune.

Immediately after leaving the airport in Chennai we could see and feel the difference of the South...palm trees and humidity, a little bit calmer traffic, a few churches and a more laid back atmosphere. For the next couple weeks we traveled in Chennai, Mumbai and Pune, not seeing a single Western face, documenting stories of hope for OneHope, an organization I have long been associated with. We traveled out of the city to small villages, as well as into several slums and it never ceases to amaze me the places that you find God at work. It is always such a privilege and honor to document the stories of others. Here is one story we came across of a young boy born blind that received his sight as a result of the hearing the gospel and believing. However there are so many that I can't even begin to tell even a fraction of the stories we encountered here but I often see and remember them when I close my eyes at night. The thing that always leaves me with hope is when I meet the dedicated men and women who work tirelessly to reach the children and youth of their area and there were many on this trip. I know I left with a greater understanding for that part of the world and those trying to reach it. I am not sure when, but I had a strong sense while riding in the back of a taxi through the congested streets of Mumbai that I would return one day...even as culture shock and fatigue were having their way with me.

RUSSIA

Photo taken by Andrey Kovalev, also a 

Communications alum from Regent 

University who I had the pleasure 

of meeting in St. Petersburg.

Russia always seems to be a place of new beginnings for me. At least that has been the trend. I taught my first photography class in Russia five years ago, then not long after the doors opened up for me in the US to teach photography at the University level at VFCC. This time I was invited back to speak at a media seminar in Nov 2013. Really it was a dream come true. Actually it was beyond my dreams...you know the kind you have tucked away that you don't dare utter, but you know when they happen it is a God-thing. I was one of three speakers at this media seminar in St. Petersburg for those in the church who wanted to strengthen their media skills. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the participants did as well. I spoke about story-telling in Photography and told many stories from my travels as well as how to capture them. I also spoke about Info graphics and how to create them. Then we flew to Perm where I taught several more master classes and had a little bit of time to dream about the future. I am not sure where some of these things will lead but it felt like catching my breath after a very hectic fall semester which in turn gave me the necessary push to carry on when I got back. 

VFCC's first photography Student, Autumn Granger and I at her senior show. 

The photos in the background to the left are from the India trip specifically
of the story link from above. Photo taken by another up-and-coming
VFCC photography major Jenessa Tomassacci.

Even now at the end of my spring semester remembering that time gives me hope for the future. This summer I will spend time developing a few classes for a new Graphic Design major at VFCC. The first 4-year photography major is graduating with several more to come. Ideas are flowing once again. I am excited to see what will happen next. 

As a good friend wrote me just after this trip, "with each new journey comes a greater level of anointing". I believe that for my life but also for my students as well.

Uganda in Three Acts

Jesus feeds 5,000: God's Big Story

ACT ONE: This is where I got to do more OneHope work. The first few days in any new country are an adjustment period. Learning the terms and customs especially when it comes to interviewing. The first thing I need to learn is how the school system is set up and then how to phrase things to get the answers that I am seeking. I had the privilege of spending a week with the OneHope staff in Uganda where I did 95 interviews! I believe this was a personal record for one week. No matter what, I wanted to spend quality time with each interviewee. The majority were children and for those 15 minutes the one in front of me had my full attention. A handful of interviews were excellent and will be used by OneHope as tools to continue the work, but more than anything after recording the child's story I always want to encourage them or pray for them regardless of the results. After all, it is another point of contact where they can be strengthened in their faith.

Happy

And so I will not forget the story of Happy, a 14 year old confined to a wheelchair who converted from Islam at 9yrs. His real name is Saddiq but when he came to Christ they said to him "we will no longer call you Sad (the nickname for Saddiq) you are now Happy." I was able to observe him as he taught bible stories using OneHope's God's Big Story. It gave him great pleasure and encouragement to be used to teach others. I will never forget the teen boys who confessed pornography addictions that have now been broken thanks to reading the Teen edition of the Book of Hope. And then there was the one young man who attended a predominately Muslim school who was saved when someone gave him a Teen edition Book of Hope and in the couple of months since he has personally distributed and witnessed to 29 others in his school as well as the surrounding schools. One girl however wanted to become a Christian but she feared her parents and so she kept her book at her friends house to read whenever she wanted. I encouraged her that when she was ready that there was a very special page that would help her with that decision.

The Girls with their favorite card: God's Big Story

I spoke with children whose parents were incarcerated, orphans, those in public schools, Christian schools, and Muslim schools. I was also privileged to visit one of the Watoto campus's and interview a few of their kids and I believe that experience pretty much summed up many things I noticed throughout Uganda. I first talked to a few kids that were new to Watoto, they were quiet and shy. They still were uncomfortable with strangers and had a lot of hurts to be dealt with from past abuse and abandonment. They were learning and could tell me the stories from God's Big Story without problems but still needed something more. But then the others who have lived in a loving nurturing environment for a while spoke easily and confidently about their personal stories and their experiences of ministering to their peers. And it is in those kids I knew Uganda was in good hands. Both situation still exist in Uganda today, but what I noticed was where the Word went deeper, true healing and transformation took place and there are indeed pockets of that throughout. Photos: OneHope Uganda

ACT TWO: This is where I met up with a team of 14 from my church (Victory) and 26+ others from 8 different nations to do some amazing ministry with Adonai Partners literally to the "least of these". I was so happy to be in Africa with some of my own people. It just made me proud seeing people I knew step up and help others. I felt like my leadership skills were suddenly catapulted into another level as I was asked time and time again to speak on various topics to pastors, kids, women and the team. I have to say that the knowledge I acquired just the week prior in my interviews came in handy on several occasions.

Heading up to Gulu was very eye opening. While I had been confronted with extreme poverty before in places like Haiti and West Africa I was able to do ministry for a short time and leave. But this was different as we ministered to the same people all day for several days at a time. There was no quick escape. It was disheartening to have 200 kids for 8 hours who were literally starving, who are so lethargic that they just sat there. Those who craved attention so badly and anything you could give them. We gave them what we could...the Word and a meal, but it just didn't seem like enough. I can say that I am still trying to come to grips with it because it was an experience I was not prepared for. We used God's Big Story which they loved, lots of songs and games. And when our interpreter grew weary we did a lot of mimic games and taught English word to things we could point out.

The rest of the team was involved in Medical clinics and I am happy to say did a great job helping it to run smoothly. They saw patients all day long and at the end of the day we all came back to the hotel sufficiently worn out. We also did community cleanup, a technology workshop, medical & health training, a leadership conference, women's and children's meetings just to name a few things. It was so cool to see everyone speak, pray or do whatever was needed. And for that this leader was very satisfied. See http://www.422churchmissions.blogspot.com/ for more. Photos: Uganda 422 Church

ACT THREE: This is were I succumbed to exhaustion and the flu and were I learned to let go. One of my concerns going into this was letting go. Having led teams for a different organization I knew having to do things a different way would be a challenge. I was surprised at how easy it was. Okay, I caught myself saying a few times in the beginning..."this is how I would do it", but then I immediately stopped. The one thing that was hardest was the children's ministry, but then I got sick and had to let go. And you know what...things continued without me. We had a good core group that knew what they were doing.

It's been a long non-stop year without much rest. Unfortunately, I had to come to Uganda to realize I needed a break and need to slow down once in awhile. But it was a point well taken. It was a blessing not to have to travel home alone and to know people were looking out for me...but not an experience I want to repeat (the flying while sick part). For the first time in a long time I do not have another trip lined up. That probably won't last for long but I am okay with that for now. I think it's finally time to process life after full/part-time missions.

Hopeful Nepal

Nepal is like an little gem nestled between the two giants called India and China. Two weeks prior to boarding a flight to Nepal I knew very little about the country except that Mt Everest was on the Northern border and that several of the worlds highest mountains reside there. I knew that it had been closed off to the world for many decades and that only in the last several years have they had any semblance of freedom. Nepal is primarily a Hindu nation with a little bit of Tibetan Buddhism in the mix. But to be honest the only exposure I had ever had with either religion was in an Asian Art history class many years ago. You could say this was a very educational trip. 

Nepal is a landlocked nation but has a very diverse terrain and population. The southern plains area is flat and very hot. The people are dark and look very much like those in Northern India. A portion of the border is above India's Bihar state, said to be the graveyard of Missionaries and a little bit of that oppressive influence crosses the border. The mountainous north is extremely difficult to traverse but the views are amazing. When there are roads in the North, they are treacherous. Most travel by charter plane or on foot, sometimes for days at a time. There are several Mongoloid tribes that live in this region causing the people to look very Chinese. The central area is very hilly and contains a wide combination of people and tribal groups. The people are very gentle and polite. The children are inquisitive yet shy.

The OneHope program in Nepal is brand new. They received newly translated Books of Hope and The GodMan film the early part of 2011. In March 150 leaders all across the country were recruited and trained. They were then send back to their areas to train more people. In homes, churches and on local cable tv's the gospel is going out in video format. I was privileged to visit several of these people in four different areas of the country and see for myself the early impact. I cannot wait to hear the stories that will come from this. The pastors are very eager to use these tools as it has helped them in networking and getting close to the people. The children love watching movies and are sure to watch this one again and again. It is said that where there is no Christian context they must see the film at least three times to truly understand that it is not just a nice story but one that will change their lives forever.

Lessons from Africa

Niamey, Niger--I've traveled a lot the last three years but nothing prepared me for the W. African bush. It truly was a blessing and a gift from God. The end of September I flew to Burkina Faso and Niger on assignment from OneHope to photograph and interview churches who had been formed by using OneHope materials. The faces and the stories will be forever etched in my heart. I visited places with names like Ouagadougou and Ufuamou. I thought, "I've been to Haiti, this will be easy..." I was wrong, conditions are different. There are places in this world where people think they are entitled to have what they have or to be given their fair share but then there is this part of Africa where they keep living with nothing and do not expect a handout, they do what they can to just to survive. They do not get any media attention even though there is drought and starvation in one area and flooding and clean water issues in another. Where wild animals attack and travel is difficult. The heat and dust are a way of life that most outside cannot fathom. There were times on this trip that I felt like I had stepped into the pages of National Geographic but after talking with the people and praying with them I realized it came down to one thing...the love of God sets all people free regardless of possessions or entitlement or lack thereof.

Our travel team in Niger, consisted of two pastors, a young bible student and myself. We would travel from Niamey to the small towns in our 4-wheel drive vehicle and pick-up the local pastor or someone from the village that we were about to visit. After leaving town a typical trip would start down roads between the mud brick homes of town, into “the bush”, down the red dirt roads through river beds and sand patches, and finally narrow paths through corn fields. Sometimes we had to leave the vehicle and walk short distances through the corn to another area that usually contained a structure made of sticks, although a few of them did have metal roof canopies but no walls. It wouldn’t take long for villagers to begin walking out to greet us and assemble in the church. They would heat up the box drums by a fire to make them good and tight and soon began singing to the beat of their drums. They sang songs of gratefulness and of God’s goodness, some to a very African beat and others were the hymns of old in their own language. After a short meeting where our team spoke and prayed, the congregation would gather outside under the tree or they stayed under their roofs in the shade where we would interview several of the people.

We went to village after village in the middle of the bush where people were hungry for the Word. Person after person would tell us how they used to sacrifice to idols, how they were very sick and angry but then they saw a film that showed them something better. They now worship the One who heals all their diseases and takes away their nightmares and brings peace to their souls. Other were bound by the rituals of Islam, a stronghold in the area and a bondage that has entrapped them, leaving them without knowing true hope. A couple of ladies opened my eyes when I asked them what the difference was between their old way of life and now and they said, "fellowship". They were now free to meet and talk with others, to encourage one another and love each other. They said before they were bound into a world that was controlled and isolated and subject to criticism. Many receive persecution for their faith which is why I cannot mention them by name but they are resolute and would not think of turning back.

The last two villages will stand out as being in one of the "uttermost" places. We were on the Niger/Nigeria border speaking with a tribe that did not have a formal church yet but were in the beginning stages. When several teens responded to the message. Then they began to ask questions such as if they didn’t read how will they learn more about the Lord? And if they accepted Jesus do they need to pray like the Muslims? And how can they grow? They received wise council but it was also agreed upon to send several of them to a four month training to learn how to read so that they could bring the scripture to others. There also were three Christian young men working in the area at a medical clinic and EHFC who will work with these new believers until a pastor can be found. Then as we were finishing up at this village another chief sent a guy to ask if we would come speak to his village. So we went, and presented the gospel to them for the very first time. Our team spoke directly to this chief while the entire tribe gathered around to listen. Several responded and I am pretty sure they will be getting the opportunity to view the GodMan film in the very near future.

All of these people live off the land by farming and raising animals. Most do not read. They do not live by the clock just the light of day and night. They do not live in fancy houses, just a small shelter for protection. Most walk to town on market days but if they are fortunate they may own a donkey or a bicycle or a motorcycle. They are very family oriented and when one member accepts Christ they all do and when one village comes to Christ the next one is interested which is why one young pastor we met was pastoring 10 churches. He was exhausted and my heart went out to him, but it made me realize that we have something that everyone needs because God is love, and that makes all the difference.

Photos can be seen at www.flickr.com/photos/kimart4ch or on Facebook

Heart for Brazil

May 2010--Three weeks in Brazil and my heart swells with many emotions and memories. Where can I even begin? It starts with a team..a team of all girls from California. Ten woman willing to do whatever was asked, to step out of their comfort zones and go into schools and neighborhoods to bring the message of good news. Ten women willing to adapt to new situations, a new language, new people and foods. It also involves a local church called Filadelfia in the city of Limeira and a group of 20 or so young people from this very large church, who faithfully joined us for daily ministry. Some standing along-side of us; translating, praying, signing, singing, and teaching. And others in support by cooking, driving and always there to do whatever was needed. And there was our AMME/OneHope Brazil staff working so hard behind the scenes with all the day-to-day details.

Next came our work with the kids. Nothing brings me more joy than walking up to a group of kids, it doesn't matter if I speak their language or not, and interacting with them. We went into primary schools, pre-schools, high schools, and deaf schools. We spoke about self-esteem, anti-bullying, making decisions and our best friend. We went into neighborhoods and did a VBS style ministry called Aquila Circuits that contained a pro-family message. One principal came back to us a week later and said that some of her students wanted to make a play for the whole school. They performed one of our skits flawlessly and so the message was being carried on by other children as well. The real impact may never be fully known, but I know we left our mark in the schools and in the hearts and minds of all involved. We gave out 5,498 books but more than that we interacted and reinforced our central message that there is hope.

I think our most powerful time came when we visited the High Schools. There is nothing like walking into an auditorium full of teenagers. You start off feeling like chum in a shark tank but then when the fun and the dramas are over and the message is spoken and you see the work of the holy spirit so visibly evident on the teens faces, you leave feeling God did something amazing through you beyond your own natural abilities. We almost always got to hang out with the kids during break times and this was when many would come to the girls asking questions as they boldly told their stories and prayed with many right there on school grounds. Many are forever changed including the ones delivering the message.

We ended our time in Brazil with a trip to the beach, which I can confirm as some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Next up....Haiti

For more photos see my Flickr pages @ www.flickr.com/photos/kimart4ch or my photo albums on Facebook.

Don't forget to Pray, Give (www.onehope.net/kimclark), and Write

Tour de Mexico

April 2010--Four flights, three areas of the country, two six-hour bus rides, another 10 hours in a car, and at least 40 interviews in six days. I am constantly amazed by the passionate and tireless people that I meet around the world. In Mexico, I met some of the most dedicated and boldest men and women around. Here are just a few of their stories:

Northern Mexico (Antiguo Morelos):

     Pastor Hugo works in a church without walls literally and figuratively. His actual church building is nothing more than what we would call a car port to hold the hot sun and rain at bay. But what amazes me is that he is willing to hold services anywhere that people want to hear the gospel. Because his church is so portable he just brings the chairs and sound system to the people whether that is a nearby ranch with many workers or an empty lot in town or his church shelter. He goes to the ranches with his barber scissors to give free hair cuts and then ministers to the children and adults using the Book of Hope. He says that the books help the children to engage in the message.

While talking with Pastor Hugo we met with a young man whose life was radically altered after a bad accident. Pastor Hugo goes regularly to disciple this young man even bringing services to him when he could not walk. Then we met a  family next to an empty lot that could not help but hear the message being preached when it was brought to their area. Their four year old was so taken by the word that he was the one leading to the family by example to receive the word. Pastor Hugo is not only a light to this community but also a father figure to the fatherless. As we drove about town he would stop the van to talk with children walking the streets, inquire about their well being, invite them to his next service an give them a Book of Hope if they had not yet received one.

Southern Mexico (Chiapas):

     Pastor Jose is a missionary in a very persecuted area of the the country. He lives in a very modest home and has a church down the street but his real work is out in the jungle and difficult places. He works with many of the indigenous peoples. Some of which have little contact with the outside world: the Lacandones, a people that dress very simply in a white dress, do not cut their hair and speak a Mayan dialect; the Tojolabales, another Mayan tribe, while many dress very traditionally, they do not live as isolated. He also works with those persecuted because of their Christian beliefs. We drove by a village of people that had all been displaced because of their faith. Another group that he has worked with are the Zapatisitas, a revolutionary group. You might say his work is dangerous but he is driven and passionate. He gave out 80,000 books last year and continues to work tirelessly among these people groups.

Central Mexico (Mexico City):

     I was privileged to join two ministries in action in the greater Mexico City area: Comodores de Amor and Talita Cumi. The first one feeds children after school in areas of need and provides additional learning opportunities for them. They feed not only the stomachs but also the souls, using the Book of Hope as a tool. I must have spoken to more that a dozen children whose lives had been changed after reading the Championes (soccer) book or Solo Nosotras, a book for girls, both version of the Book of Hope. Then I joined a group of Clowns that go regularly to the children's wards in hospitals through out the city; performing, giving gifts and words of encouragement as well as Books of Hope and prayer. It was inspiring to join these groups of dedicated people, but even more that that to see the fruit of their labors in the faces of the children.

Adventures in Missions

There are benefits and there are trials in doing what I do. There is joy and there is sorrow. Being away from my missions work the last six weeks has given me time to reflect on this life and to realize that this is where I am called to be at this moment in time. Some of you have been asking so here are some of the highs and lows and near misses of missions.

Once in a lifetime opportunities: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; Dune 7 in Namibia; Cape of Good Hope and Cape Town, South Africa; Copan--Mayan Ruins in Honduras; Lemurs in Madagascar; Moscow, Russia; York,UK; Montevideo, Uruguay; Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Near Misses (timing is everything and God's hand of protection): Hotel Montana, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Zimbabwe the day before elections; Honduras just days before the President was ousted; a park in Perm, Russia the day before a major bus crash at that location.

 

Joys: Taking photos, covering events, interviewing kids, praying with and encouraging kids, showing a film or giving books to kids who have never heard the gospel, leading some to the Lord, training others to reach kids, teaching photography and seeing first hand the impact a photo can have on someone, giving kids hope, passing-on media skills, interacting with college students, being part of a communications team, and new friends around the world.

Difficulties: Replenishing funds in a bad economy and during an international disaster, Haiti in Aug, Haiti in Sept, and Haiti now, loneliness, singleness, in some cultures just being a woman, constant change, all the people that come and go so quickly, living in FL especially with an unairconditioned car that is falling apart, spiritually recharging, missing family and friends, really bad foriegn roads, culture changes and adjustment and readjustments.

Thankful for: an innovative, cutting edge, and always on the go organization that has huge goals and expectations, that believes in reaching every child in the world, makes the Word and prayer a priority and many new friends along the way.

Favorite country: I am asked this question a lot. My response is usually the last one... which at this moment is Russia (I loved it). But let me qualify this a little bit. My favorite place to go is South Africa, favorite country for ministry is England, favorite place for the people is Madagascar, favorite place for food is Argentina. The place that affected me the most is Haiti, although I would not call it a favorite. And my favorite place to come back too is the USA.

As you may have figured out I am currently raising funds to continue doing what I love and where God has called me. A friend so nicely reminded me today that I am not raising funds for myself but to reach others. I can definitely tell you there is NO profit in missions. I often question why I am doing this when I look at my checkbook but then I think of Chesney in South Africa whose life was forever changed for the better. The girl in Russia who wanted to know why a photo of a boy in South Africa was so peaceful, or the many hundreds of faces I see when I close my eyes that have hope tonight because they responded to page 33 in the Book of Hope or saw a film and now attend a kids club. I am willing to go, but I need people to send me. If you have wanted to give, but haven't yet NOW is the time. If you gave one time in the past, now would be a good time to give again.

A new photo site has been posted. http://www.kimart4chphoto.com/. The childrens portraits are the ones that you helped to reach and the many that they represent in their home countries. If you gave you also reached 2,700 kids in Haiti this past summer, you were a part of encouraging 700 kids at a school in South Africa and 50 young people in Russia.

I am excied about what 2010 may hold even though I have no idea what at the moment. Someone prayed over me not too long ago that 2010 would be a very fruitful year and I am believing it to be so.

Blessings,
~Kim

Please consider giving. Send a check, made out to OneHope, 600 SW 3rd St, Pompano Beach, FL 33060. Please use “Clark” in the memo line. Or you can give online at http://tinyurl.com/support4kim

Thank you for giving, praying and writing…

Coming Full Circle in Russia

As a child I would pull out the maps of National Geographic and study them for hours. Every time I saw a movie about Africa or stories of Russia my heart yearned to go to these places. I could never explain it but the travel bug has always been there. I’ve spent 9 months of the last two years in Southern Africa and just recently had the opportunity to travel to Russia.


Hamming it up for the camera at New Testament church in Perm, Russia

Russia was not at all what I expected. It was not the country I had heard so many stories about during the communist eras. It has changed. Yes it is true that there are still Lenin statues everywhere and in villages people still live the way they have for the last century without many common amenities. But the people of the cities are modern, professional, well-dressed, and very good at what they do. (Although since the previous place I visited was Haiti, the contrasts were probably more overt). As I sat in a food court in a bright and cheery Russian mall connected to wi-fi and eating a wrap from a Southern Fried Chicken place I was able to reflect on much of this and the fascination with Russia which really started for me more than twenty years ago in Belgium.

Living in Europe and working for an international organization brought a lot of people across my path. Several of those were Russian pastors. One in particular was a very young pastor who came to take a few classes at the Bible school. It was the late 80s and things had not yet opened up beyond the Berlin Wall, but the door was beginning to crack. I remember teaching Sunday school one weekend while this pastor visited the classrooms. He was amazed that children so young could be taught the gospel because it was illegal to teach their children about Jesus in those days. Fast forward twenty-one years later and I am the one visiting Russian Sunday school classes in a very large church in Perm. What I saw was a very vibrant ministry to the kids taking place, it definitely touched my heart.


Russian kids having a blast singing worship songs at New Testament church in Perm.

I remember thinking as I packed my Bible in my suitcase that this was no longer an illegal book…I could take it in legally. I later held in my hands a legal Russian Bible copyrighted in the early 90s and the many different versions of the Russian Book of Hope; many of which started so many churches and changed countless children’s lives. Our purpose in Russia this trip was to film several recent testimonies, while we were filming children and their current stories I was amazed by all the adults that we met that had been transformed by the Book of Hope in the early 90s and were now working feverishly to do the same for the current generation.

In grad school I wrote a training manual for teaching magazine design and photography specifically for Eastern Europe but never had the chance to use it, until now. Our OneHope Russian office held a photo contest just recently using many of the themes from the Book of Hope for a new edition they have been working on. Many unchurched young people participated. We arrived just in time to see the finalists and the awards ceremony. A week later I was able to teach a photography class to many of these individuals. A couple of things stood out: 1. I was able to give my testimony halfway through as it relates to my photography work and 2. a girl approached me about one of my photos, it was the one of the boy with his eyes closed and hands raised from South Africa (posted several entries back) she wanted to know what he was doing and why he had that expression. It was a joy explaining it to her.

So many things came full circle on this trip to Russia; my curiosity of Russian culture, seeing the children being impacted in a positive way and my photography. I originally studied photojournalism because of a word I received in Belgium about my camera opening doors that the title of missionary might not be able to and here I was teaching teens and young adults that wouldn’t come to hear a missionary speak but were very interested in the words of a photojournalist.

As you can probably pick-up from the article above I feel like I am just now starting my real calling. As a missionary, it is a fact that I need your continued support and partnership to continue making an impact. But, I never dreamed as a photographer I could really touch others until now! I am currently raising more funds to stay-on another year. Please consider giving. Send a check to OneHope, 600 SW 3rd St, Pompano Beach, FL 33060. Please use “Clark” in the memo line. Or you can give online at http://www.onehope.net/pages/page.asp?page_id=68958 Thank you for giving, praying and writing…

Pay it Forward

Bolosse, Port-au-Prince, Haiti--The morning light was peaking over the tops of the buildings and down the cramped garbage strewn streets. Morning commerce especially the food vendors were off to an early start while the others were just setting up. Children in all different colors of uniforms were walking to school. Girls in yellow and grey uniforms walking one way, boys in green walking another direction, red checked, pink, and blue...children, parents, young ones, middle ones, and teens. The young girls all wearing over sized bows in their hair, the boys were in shorts. The day just starting to heat up in temperature and activity. It was a typical morning in the capital city.

We arrived in Haiti on a Monday and left on a Wednesday. Our job was to film and photograph a milestone event for OneHope...the distribution of our 600 millionth book. We were roaming the streets of one of the more difficult areas of town gathering footage and photos to tell our story. If we had been there at night the above scene would have been very different and safety would have been a huge concern.

Wednesday morning we pull up to the chosen school. It was a peaceful place on a hillside walled off from the slums below. However, it wasn't always so peaceful. Three years back for a period of two months the school found itself under demonic attack. Everyday a different child would manifest this evil: shouting obscenities, and words of violence and destruction. The message was loud and clear: that Satan meant to steal, kill and destroy the children of this nation. However the adults came together and fasted and prayed and things began to change. The children of the school are now a shining example of transformation. A young lady by the the name of Ruth Sara received the 600 millionth book. She was a bright and articulate 13 year old who wanted to be a Doctor, Lawyer and a Diplomat. She was so appreciative to be given this honor.

Onehope was founded twenty-two years ago when Bob Hoskins, had a vision of children and youth being destroyed by violence, disease, poverty and the evils of this world. Here we were in a place that embodied all of those things in such a visible way handing out the 600 millionth book world wide, knowing full well much had been done (600,000,000 is a big number and we have so many testimonies of transformation) but much more is still to be done as it is estimated that there are 2 billion children in the world.

Something I learned in Haiti this time around is that the people here are survivors. They know how to survive with nothing. True believers know how to combat the wiles of the devil. Prayer and the word of God in Haiti is a sharp sword. There are points of bright light shining in the darkness here. We realized that if God can transform this school in Haiti, he can transform the rest of the nation and the world. OneHope's goal is to reach every single child in the world with the Word. There is an ambitious plan in place and if we continue to tell the stories like the one of Ruth Sara's school in Haiti, hope will not be lost especially for Haiti and many more will be saved.