Blessed to Be HERE !
For an extended period of time I got to attend a meeting wherein we would get to honestly exclaim “Glad to be here!” It’s a statement I’ve gotten to repeat rarely since then with complete and utter honesty. Two weeks ago we began to use a similar statement to close personal checkins before we got down to business during our Photo intensive at DESTRA with the GOALS dream team. It was an absolute blast watching these youth take ownership of the course as they moved from seeing themselves as just students to full spectrum collaborators.
Until recently I would have described my time in Haiti with a simple “Glad to be Here!” Whether rekindling my relationships with former workshop participants, building new and wonderful relationships with kindred spirits like Christina and Carl the trip has been nothing short of wonderful. My recent experience with Project Istwa has caused a shift in my perception of this trip. I can no longer simply say that I am glad to be here, honestly I am BLESSED. While I have always believed that people enter your life for a reason, I am still awestruck by the universes ability to connect kindred spirits.
Watching Fiona and Linda facilitate a great experience for both volunteers and participants has been an inspirtation. If dealing with the unexpected randomness that seems to accompany life everywhere in the world is a challenge, accomplishing your goals with poise and grace while simultaneously dealing with me is a MIRACLE. I can’t yet say with confidence that I have alleviated more stress than I have caused (I make promises to kids sometimes without making sure it’s possible, get myself sick drinking untreated water, and generally well act like more of a child than the youth we work with), a trend I hope to change in the coming weeks. Whether or not I am able to accomplish that goal I will be forever grateful for the inspiration I have received, and the model these young women have set for attacking a shared passion with professionalism and dignity. (I have to mention here that Kona Shen is always a massive inspiration as well. The women I get to work with in Haiti will never cease to amaze me.)
I count myself similarily blessed to have shared a few brief moments with all of the volunteers Aba, Bianca, and Emily. As most of you who read this are close friends and family you’ll already know two things about me. I’m rambunctious and have no filter, so you will also understand how much trepidation I had in stepping into this role. These women have embraced me as the only guy on the team, and made it possible for me to feel comfortable being me ALWAYS. On the first day of our time in Destra we were left in an awkward bind. As the only boy in a group of 6 I would need a roommate. “But by the grace of God” Aba choose to volunteer to be my roommate; I will never know what possessed her to do so but I will be forever grateful. On the first night we stayed up late talking of film and photography, cracking jokes about Toni Morrison (for whom I now have the utmost respect having read A Mercy in about a night; If you can get through the first chapter you will undoubtedly fall in love with a literary masterpiece. ) She helped nurse me back to health after my unfortunate incident with bag water, untreated water, shared food, (who knows what vector really caused my sickness.) More than anything else, I found a creative partner, our first proposed collaboration being the video for the “The Joy” a future piece to be created for Milo and Otis.
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INDIEGOGO LINK SUPPORT THE CAUSE ENDS 7/16/2012
