Misheck

This was a visit that took some effort. After all the traveling by plane and jeep to get the southern part of Malawi, the jeep had brought us as far as we could go. No more roads and paths anymore. We had come inland enough that it was time for a hike where no vehicles could travel. We were hot and exhausted, the temperature was +36C at nearly 100% humidity and the sun was like a laser. We were both given hats by one of our team members to keep us from overheating, and off we went. After over a hard half hour of brisk hiking in the heat, we were met on the trail by friends and family of the sponsored child. They greeted us with song and our spirits lifted. Not an easy visit, but one of the best and most memorable. It gave us new respect for the local World Vision workers who have to trek back and forth to bring letters from sponsors in Canada. Visiting Misheck was easily worth the walk.

Everyn & Stephano

In preparing for our visits in Malawi Christy and I realized something peculiar. Two of the children we were to visit, who had been sponsored by two unrelated families, had sequential ID numbers from World Vision. That meant that they had likely been entered into the program at the same time. They looked a bit alike, so we did some digging and found out they were indeed siblings. So Christy’s parents, and a family Christy had met at the preschool where she works, together are giving these siblings hope for a better future. Travel along with us in meeting Everyn & Stephano!

Falida E

This video is a good example of the child visits we did in Malawi. The technical aspect of capturing these visits was challenging. Many days we were worried about batteries running out and memory cards getting full- so it was hard to chose what to shoot. We wanted to capture it all, but technically that was just not possible. We had to pick and choose what would be important. Sometimes we missed things, and sometimes we got lucky. It was very hard to predict what was going to happen. This particular day things were going well. We had full batteries, room on our camera cards and got great footage. This video also gave us some technical issues with the audio timing and took a great deal of effort to get it all fixed and up on the web- but I think it’s worth it. This is on my Vimeo account as well, but due to their file size limit, the resolution was reduced. So here is the sharper 720p version from Christy’s YouTube account. You may have to select 720p on the bottom to get the full sharpness as YouTube will probably default to a lower resolution. Enjoy!

Reflective Dissonance

I am through the holidays and feeling a bit unsettled. My brain has not wanted to create easily, not sleeping the best. I saw so much in Africa. At the end of my Christmas break from work, I was just beginning to feel like I was ready to write and edit more video footage. I begin to start, but then I feel like I want to sit on the couch, watch old movies and sleep. Why?

Well I am not really sure, but I suspect my brain is full and still processing. I chose to show the picture above with many faces and expressions and moods because in a small way, it encapsulates what I experienced. I feel deeply and have a sensitive tactile memory of their eyes, hands, face, energy, hope, and lust for life. The stories and videos will come, but for now it seems they cannot be coaxed out easily or predictably. Reflecting well and honestly is hard. It takes a lot of effort; but is worth the work. Africa is sweet and sour, simple and complicated. It is the best place in the world, and worst at the same time. It reflects the shiny brilliance of the children’s eyes’ and the grimy mud between their toes. It is soul filling and heartbreaking. It is worthy of reflecting, despite the dissonance.

Brian

Generosity is real and makes a difference. Whether its here at home, or on the other side of the world- it creates lasting change. My words will be few, the video is more than words…

Gifts in Life and Death

This is a great post Christy wrote about the donation we were able to make with the support from our friends and family to the area we visited in Malawi. Once again, big thank you to everyone who made this trip possible!
Gifts in Life and Death

The Gift that Lasts

How many times have you opened gifts Christmas morning, and a week later they are forgotten or broken? Some are better than others, but what if you could give a gift that lasts all year, and has an impact for a lifetime? This is a gift that one family has chosen to give to a child we visited named Harris. Truly a gift that lasts.

The Stories Begin

We have started the process of editing the video and pictures of our sponsored child visits in Malawi. This is the first one out of the gate, and with permission from the families, we are posting them online to share the great stories with everyone. First up, Shamadu!

Talented Little Drummer Boy

Just watched this video and I had to blog about it. I am also a drummer and aspiring filmmaker, so this really resonated with me. He did pretty much everything himself and wound up with a great piece of music and some great filmmaking- and to boot the kid is only 16! He is interviewed about how he made it here-

Drummer Boy CBC

Why?

Why do I already miss being in Africa? I am tired, very jet lagged and trying to come to terms with the contrasting nature of everything I experienced. Most days we were up by 6:30, breakfast just after 7, on the road just after 8 (well actually off road much of the time) for an hour and a half, just to start the day. After a long day in the field of visits, projects and/or photography workshop with the kids, the long commute back to our lodge, hungry for supper- often the power was out, or went out just as we pulled up. Once we had eaten, if the power was back on, we started downloading our video and pictures and charging camera battery’s, hopefully have a quick shower and possibly blog, then fall into bed and do it all over again the next day.

Why? It’s not a rest. It is however an invigorating soul experience that forever changes how you view humanity and the world in general. It is hard won first hand knowledge. You smell the fires, feel the dusty grit in your eyes, get the same mud caked on your shoes that squishes through the toes of the children’s feet after a heavy downpour. You see first hand the lights come on in a child’s eyes as they learn to frame a photo, when just days before they have hardly seen a camera, let alone use one. You touch their world and their lives for a few brief moments that both sides will remember for a lifetime. After being flooded with tastes, touch, sights, smells and sound for two weeks, the question changes from why did I do this, to why didn’t I do this sooner. It is not for everybody and it is challenging, but like the training that pays off on marathon day, the payoff for an experience like this is immeasurable. Yes it was hot, a lot of work, and not very convenient living and traveling day to day, but very worth the effort. I will not soon forget the warm heart of Africa, and my why will be answered by the how. How to help, how to tell the stories, and how successful they can be given sustainable tools. Why sponsor a child? Investigate the how. How it works and how easy it is to make such a huge lasting difference.