Dear Readers,
Did you ever have a problem with doubting yourself? This has been an issue with which I have dealt since childhood, so when I received a sense of confirmation from God yesterday, I was and still am overjoyed!!! The doubt was: am I doing the right thing by painting prayers for Haiti and blogging about it; the confirmation is that a friend of mine asked to buy Painted Prayer for Haiti #2 when she gets some money in Feb.!!!
I plan to use the money to open a special savings account to save money to take my husband, our teenage son, and myself on a mission trip to Haiti next winter. My husband, Roger, and our son, Seth, are as just as excited as I am about the idea.
Of course I worry about exposing our son to so much poverty and suffering at a young age, but that is the point of this trip. I know it will transform him into a person who will spend his life serving others in a compassionate way, no matter what career he chooses. He already is a caring kid, but this will make him more so.
Plus it will give him a chance to do some fun things along the way, like snorkeling in the coral reef and enjoying the beauty of the tropics in some of the more remote areas of Haiti.
In our little household, we call ourselves, "The Trowbridge Trio." The dynamic in our family has been especially sweet, since I resolved to give up criticizing others. It's amazing how even parenting a teenager can be done without criticism! I simply ask him politely to do what I would like him to do and to my amazement, he does it most of the time!!!
This dream of taking our trip is bonding us even more closely. There is nothing like feeling close to our kid again after feeling distant for the last year, when I was in a power struggle with him. My loved ones advised me to lighten up on him and I did. Thank you, Jesus for good advice from those who love me!!!
I love my life! I love God and my family and my friends! I love my work! I am in love!!! It feels soooooo GOOD!!!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Shopping in Haiti
Dear Readers,
Thank you for signing into my blog. I hope you have something special to do today that nurishes your soul.
One half of a suitcase doesn't afford space for a lot of things to take on a 10 day trip to Haiti. Plus I am good at forgetting things, so I found myself without a towel in a compound outside of a village in Haiti and I did not appreciate the value of a towel until I tried to do without one. I was fortunate enough to be able to break rank with our group and go with our Haitian cook to the market to buy one. I was hoping for a beach towel, but what I found was a dinky bath towel with blue and white flowers on it. I didn't speak Creole and the woman with the towel didn't speak English, except to say, "Eight dollars." I had a ten dollar bill and of course she didn't have change so I paid ten for the towel, then found our cook and we walked back to our camp.
When I told my savvy colleagues how much I paid for the towel, they laughed at me. They said that merchants give a price that is four times what they expect to be paid and then the buyer is supposed to dicker with them until they arrive at a price. Buyers are not supposed to ask for a price on something unless they intend to buy it or they will insult the seller.
I argued that the woman was poor and I didn't mind paying the price she asked and they laughed again. They said that it was just not the way things were done.
Despite the laughter, I found that my towel was perfect! When I took my shower with cold water under the mango tree, I looked up and felt like I was in paradise. I dried myself inside of the skimpy four walls with provided a little bit of privacy and put on clean clothes and felt refreshed!
After my snorkeling adventure I used my towel to remove the salty water and wrap it around me for the chilly boat ride back to shore. I loved that towel.
I kept my towel for years and years until it finally turned into a rag. It was a reminder of special moments in the tropics, like showering under the canopy of a mango tree.
I'm glad I paid ten dollars for that towel. Perhaps a family got to fill their stomachs that night, rather than go hungry. Plus I got a keepsake to treasure!
Thank you for signing into my blog. I hope you have something special to do today that nurishes your soul.
One half of a suitcase doesn't afford space for a lot of things to take on a 10 day trip to Haiti. Plus I am good at forgetting things, so I found myself without a towel in a compound outside of a village in Haiti and I did not appreciate the value of a towel until I tried to do without one. I was fortunate enough to be able to break rank with our group and go with our Haitian cook to the market to buy one. I was hoping for a beach towel, but what I found was a dinky bath towel with blue and white flowers on it. I didn't speak Creole and the woman with the towel didn't speak English, except to say, "Eight dollars." I had a ten dollar bill and of course she didn't have change so I paid ten for the towel, then found our cook and we walked back to our camp.
When I told my savvy colleagues how much I paid for the towel, they laughed at me. They said that merchants give a price that is four times what they expect to be paid and then the buyer is supposed to dicker with them until they arrive at a price. Buyers are not supposed to ask for a price on something unless they intend to buy it or they will insult the seller.
I argued that the woman was poor and I didn't mind paying the price she asked and they laughed again. They said that it was just not the way things were done.
Despite the laughter, I found that my towel was perfect! When I took my shower with cold water under the mango tree, I looked up and felt like I was in paradise. I dried myself inside of the skimpy four walls with provided a little bit of privacy and put on clean clothes and felt refreshed!
After my snorkeling adventure I used my towel to remove the salty water and wrap it around me for the chilly boat ride back to shore. I loved that towel.
I kept my towel for years and years until it finally turned into a rag. It was a reminder of special moments in the tropics, like showering under the canopy of a mango tree.
I'm glad I paid ten dollars for that towel. Perhaps a family got to fill their stomachs that night, rather than go hungry. Plus I got a keepsake to treasure!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Out House at Night in Haiti
Dear Readers,
What a priviledge you have given to me by taking the time to read my stories and my theological reflections on them. Thank you!
I had my 30th birtday in Haiti on Dec. 29, 1984 and was grateful for the cake and the birthday song sung in Creole. I don't remember what my wish was when I blew out the candles, but I was at a pivotal point in my life. Like Jesus I was taking the leap from a career as a craft worker to a life in the ministry at age 30. He went into the wilderness for a period of time at the onset of his ministry and Haiti felt very much like wilderness to me at that time.
We were met at the airport and rode in the back of a large pickup truck to our compound in a village a couple of hours away from Port-au-Prince. The air smelled like burning rubber from people who were melting new treads onto bald tires. Everything was loud: dogs barking, roosters crowing, people making music, rickety vehicles revving their engines to climb up steep hills. The colors were bright everywhere! Houses were painted four different colors, taxis (called tap taps) were painted with tropical flowers all over the entire vehicles and women wore brightly colored clothing. It was my first time out of the country, other than Canada. and my eyes must have been as big as saucers.
When we got to our "dormitory" we had cots with lice infested pillows and there was a small turantula spider on the wall, about the size of a quarter. I am not afraid of any bugs, even spiders, but did I mention that I am terrified of rats? That is what we saw in the dining room when we ate supper, not one rat, but a small heard of large ones running across the floor. I started to think, "what did I get myself into?" The ultimate challenge came when I had to use the outhouse in the dark with no flashlight. Why didn't anyone think to bring a flashlight? I didn't even think of it and there wouldn't have been room in my half of the suitcase anyway with all of my snorkeling gear.
I asked the other ladies with me to hold the door open while I did my business, so I could get the light from the moon. That totally dark outhouse terrified me after I saw those rats. I was sure that one was going to bite my butt, so I pushed as hard as I could to get it over ASAP!
I survived!!! I went to bed and prayed a prayer that went something like this: "God, I don't have enough faith for this! Please help me to do this! I'm scared!"
About an hour later, we heard drums and someone asked, "Are those Voodoo drums?" Someone else said, "Yes." I felt afraid and started praying again.
When we left the compound in the morning the sun was up and the foliage was beautiful!!! We stepped out onto the road and saw that someone had drawn Voodoo symbols in the sand at our gatepost. This too frightened me, but nothing came of it.
After a day or two, I had learned how to cope with my fears and felt at ease with our surroundings. I didn't use the outhouse in the dark again and I learned to take a shower with cold water (that's all there was) in the middle of the day when it was hot, etc..
I could not get used to seeing the malnurishished children though. It broke my heart. We were strictly warned and forbidden to give to beggers, because they said that we would be swarmed. I regretted not doing it though and those big brown eyes still haunt me.
In the Bible, Peter steps out of the boat onto the water to walk toward Christ who was walking on the water toward him. I felt like Peter, out of the boat, walking on the water, aware of the wind and the waves and having to keep my focus on Christ in order to proceed. Perhaps those experiences we have that are way outside of our comfort zones are how we grow spiritually. We certainly don't want too many of them, but when we find ourselves in the midst of one, it is a great opportunity to change for the better.
What a priviledge you have given to me by taking the time to read my stories and my theological reflections on them. Thank you!
I had my 30th birtday in Haiti on Dec. 29, 1984 and was grateful for the cake and the birthday song sung in Creole. I don't remember what my wish was when I blew out the candles, but I was at a pivotal point in my life. Like Jesus I was taking the leap from a career as a craft worker to a life in the ministry at age 30. He went into the wilderness for a period of time at the onset of his ministry and Haiti felt very much like wilderness to me at that time.
We were met at the airport and rode in the back of a large pickup truck to our compound in a village a couple of hours away from Port-au-Prince. The air smelled like burning rubber from people who were melting new treads onto bald tires. Everything was loud: dogs barking, roosters crowing, people making music, rickety vehicles revving their engines to climb up steep hills. The colors were bright everywhere! Houses were painted four different colors, taxis (called tap taps) were painted with tropical flowers all over the entire vehicles and women wore brightly colored clothing. It was my first time out of the country, other than Canada. and my eyes must have been as big as saucers.
When we got to our "dormitory" we had cots with lice infested pillows and there was a small turantula spider on the wall, about the size of a quarter. I am not afraid of any bugs, even spiders, but did I mention that I am terrified of rats? That is what we saw in the dining room when we ate supper, not one rat, but a small heard of large ones running across the floor. I started to think, "what did I get myself into?" The ultimate challenge came when I had to use the outhouse in the dark with no flashlight. Why didn't anyone think to bring a flashlight? I didn't even think of it and there wouldn't have been room in my half of the suitcase anyway with all of my snorkeling gear.
I asked the other ladies with me to hold the door open while I did my business, so I could get the light from the moon. That totally dark outhouse terrified me after I saw those rats. I was sure that one was going to bite my butt, so I pushed as hard as I could to get it over ASAP!
I survived!!! I went to bed and prayed a prayer that went something like this: "God, I don't have enough faith for this! Please help me to do this! I'm scared!"
About an hour later, we heard drums and someone asked, "Are those Voodoo drums?" Someone else said, "Yes." I felt afraid and started praying again.
When we left the compound in the morning the sun was up and the foliage was beautiful!!! We stepped out onto the road and saw that someone had drawn Voodoo symbols in the sand at our gatepost. This too frightened me, but nothing came of it.
After a day or two, I had learned how to cope with my fears and felt at ease with our surroundings. I didn't use the outhouse in the dark again and I learned to take a shower with cold water (that's all there was) in the middle of the day when it was hot, etc..
I could not get used to seeing the malnurishished children though. It broke my heart. We were strictly warned and forbidden to give to beggers, because they said that we would be swarmed. I regretted not doing it though and those big brown eyes still haunt me.
In the Bible, Peter steps out of the boat onto the water to walk toward Christ who was walking on the water toward him. I felt like Peter, out of the boat, walking on the water, aware of the wind and the waves and having to keep my focus on Christ in order to proceed. Perhaps those experiences we have that are way outside of our comfort zones are how we grow spiritually. We certainly don't want too many of them, but when we find ourselves in the midst of one, it is a great opportunity to change for the better.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Snorkeling in Haiti
Dear Readers,
I am grateful for your time. Thank you and I hope your days are going well.
In 1985, I went snorkeling in Haiti. I was 30 years old and just about to enter seminary at Boston University. I went with a United Methodist group led by Rev. Dave Strong and there were lots of college students on our trip. We were allowed 1/2 of a suitcase for our belongings on the way down, so there would be room for meds. and soap for the mission we were visiting. I used most of my alloted space in the suitcase for my snorkel, mask, fins and bathing suit. I am happy I did, because my snorkeling experience was one of the highlights of my time here on earth!
The coral reef was beautiful!!! The colors were fantastic and everything was so exotic, like underwater photos I had seen in National Geographic magazine. I found a live star fish, sea anemonies, and blue and yellow fish. The coral came in various colors and I wanted to pick some to take home, but knew I shouldn't. I had to come up for air and the reef was a little bit deep so I had to strain a bit to hold my breath long enough. On one of my trip to the surface I found myself in the middle of a school of baby jellyfish and I was scared. I tried to swim away, but there was no avoiding them. I felt a sting on the inside of my arm and I had no idea what would happen after that, so I felt anxious about it.
After I got back in the boat, the string kept hurting, but I didn't get sick. The pain lasted for about a 1/2 hour and then went away. It was like a bee sting! I had endured plenty of those as a barefoot child.
My fears felt silly to me after that.
My family was afraid when I went to Haiti, but they knew better than to try to stop me, because as my husband says, I am a "determined" person. Their fears for me were unfounded as well. I was not harmed in Haiti in any way. In fact I was a better and far more grateful person afterwards.
I had complained many times about my job before my trip to Haiti, but afterwards I was aware that most of the people in that island nation would have gotten of a boat and risked their lives to have that job. Before my trip to Haiti I took my morning shower for granted, afterwards I couldn't take a shower without thinking of the people there. Formerly my prayers of thanks before meals were simply words in my mouth, after the trip, the words took on a whole new meaning.
I wish everyone in America could take a trip to Haiti. We would be better off because of it.
I am grateful for your time. Thank you and I hope your days are going well.
In 1985, I went snorkeling in Haiti. I was 30 years old and just about to enter seminary at Boston University. I went with a United Methodist group led by Rev. Dave Strong and there were lots of college students on our trip. We were allowed 1/2 of a suitcase for our belongings on the way down, so there would be room for meds. and soap for the mission we were visiting. I used most of my alloted space in the suitcase for my snorkel, mask, fins and bathing suit. I am happy I did, because my snorkeling experience was one of the highlights of my time here on earth!
The coral reef was beautiful!!! The colors were fantastic and everything was so exotic, like underwater photos I had seen in National Geographic magazine. I found a live star fish, sea anemonies, and blue and yellow fish. The coral came in various colors and I wanted to pick some to take home, but knew I shouldn't. I had to come up for air and the reef was a little bit deep so I had to strain a bit to hold my breath long enough. On one of my trip to the surface I found myself in the middle of a school of baby jellyfish and I was scared. I tried to swim away, but there was no avoiding them. I felt a sting on the inside of my arm and I had no idea what would happen after that, so I felt anxious about it.
After I got back in the boat, the string kept hurting, but I didn't get sick. The pain lasted for about a 1/2 hour and then went away. It was like a bee sting! I had endured plenty of those as a barefoot child.
My fears felt silly to me after that.
My family was afraid when I went to Haiti, but they knew better than to try to stop me, because as my husband says, I am a "determined" person. Their fears for me were unfounded as well. I was not harmed in Haiti in any way. In fact I was a better and far more grateful person afterwards.
I had complained many times about my job before my trip to Haiti, but afterwards I was aware that most of the people in that island nation would have gotten of a boat and risked their lives to have that job. Before my trip to Haiti I took my morning shower for granted, afterwards I couldn't take a shower without thinking of the people there. Formerly my prayers of thanks before meals were simply words in my mouth, after the trip, the words took on a whole new meaning.
I wish everyone in America could take a trip to Haiti. We would be better off because of it.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Thoughts on Love
Dear Readers,
Well it's Monday and I imagine you are back at work, of one sort or another. I hope that your hands, mind and heart are all satisfied with your occupation.
What do you think of love?
I find that I learn more about it every week. I am blessed to have a lot of people to love, both family and friends, who teach me how to love more completely as the days, weeks and years continue.
Isaiah prophesied that the wolf would one day lie down with the lamb and that the leopard would lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together.....for the earth would be full of the knowledge of the Lord.
What is the knowledge of the Lord?
This is what I believe. God has given us time and relationships. The very nature of our being requires relationships; that is how we were conceived, nurtured in a womb and born. Without others we would not survive infancy or childhood.
Hopefully, these relationships were good enough for us to learn about the knowledge of the Lord which I interpret as holy love, true love, unconditional love, love that is felt, love that lasts forever.
Sadly, there are 80 million orpans in the world that do not have permanant families. There are also people who have families, but the dynamics in the family are far from loving. We have not yet reached the place where the earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord.
What can we do? We can take steps daily toward this vision of an earth filled with unconditional, true, committed, unending love in the circle of our own relationships. Plus we can expand our circle, bit by bit, until the whole world knows this kind of love.
One of the steps I have discovered for myself is to resolve to stop critcizing people. I am growing in my resolve and I will never be perfect at this in my life on earth, but I can do my best. I have taken good strides in reducing the criticism I give to my husband and I cannot believe the difference in our marriage! I am embarrassed to admit to myself how often I did criticize him and now I can see the damage that I was doing, all "for his own good" I thought.
The change in him is remarkable! He is doing sweet little favors for me often. He smiles at me and speaks kind words more readily. He picks up the cat more often to pet her and talk to her. He is cheerier in the morning and less discouraged when other people are unkind.
We all need relationships that are sanctuaries; we need safety and encouragement. We need to feel loved and accepted, even appreciated for who we really are, deep inside. We start by accepting God's love. God teaches us how to love in return. Then we learn to forgive and accept ourselves, and when we do that we are able to forgive and accept others. It all boils down to the two commandments that Christ taught us: love God and love one another as we love ourselves.
Love has ingredients: attraction, admiration and devotion. Devotion is the bottom line, it will keep us together through thick and thin. Love begins with attraction and admiration, which leads us toward devotion. But when attraction and admiration fade, devotion will help us to revive them over time.
The world is constantly evolving. We can all work together to fill the world with the knowledge of the Lord so that everyone can use the time given to them for the ultimate satisfaction which can only be found in devoted love. As this change occurs, perhaps nature itself will evolve to the point that the wolf and the lamb will lie down together!
Well it's Monday and I imagine you are back at work, of one sort or another. I hope that your hands, mind and heart are all satisfied with your occupation.
What do you think of love?
I find that I learn more about it every week. I am blessed to have a lot of people to love, both family and friends, who teach me how to love more completely as the days, weeks and years continue.
Isaiah prophesied that the wolf would one day lie down with the lamb and that the leopard would lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together.....for the earth would be full of the knowledge of the Lord.
What is the knowledge of the Lord?
This is what I believe. God has given us time and relationships. The very nature of our being requires relationships; that is how we were conceived, nurtured in a womb and born. Without others we would not survive infancy or childhood.
Hopefully, these relationships were good enough for us to learn about the knowledge of the Lord which I interpret as holy love, true love, unconditional love, love that is felt, love that lasts forever.
Sadly, there are 80 million orpans in the world that do not have permanant families. There are also people who have families, but the dynamics in the family are far from loving. We have not yet reached the place where the earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord.
What can we do? We can take steps daily toward this vision of an earth filled with unconditional, true, committed, unending love in the circle of our own relationships. Plus we can expand our circle, bit by bit, until the whole world knows this kind of love.
One of the steps I have discovered for myself is to resolve to stop critcizing people. I am growing in my resolve and I will never be perfect at this in my life on earth, but I can do my best. I have taken good strides in reducing the criticism I give to my husband and I cannot believe the difference in our marriage! I am embarrassed to admit to myself how often I did criticize him and now I can see the damage that I was doing, all "for his own good" I thought.
The change in him is remarkable! He is doing sweet little favors for me often. He smiles at me and speaks kind words more readily. He picks up the cat more often to pet her and talk to her. He is cheerier in the morning and less discouraged when other people are unkind.
We all need relationships that are sanctuaries; we need safety and encouragement. We need to feel loved and accepted, even appreciated for who we really are, deep inside. We start by accepting God's love. God teaches us how to love in return. Then we learn to forgive and accept ourselves, and when we do that we are able to forgive and accept others. It all boils down to the two commandments that Christ taught us: love God and love one another as we love ourselves.
Love has ingredients: attraction, admiration and devotion. Devotion is the bottom line, it will keep us together through thick and thin. Love begins with attraction and admiration, which leads us toward devotion. But when attraction and admiration fade, devotion will help us to revive them over time.
The world is constantly evolving. We can all work together to fill the world with the knowledge of the Lord so that everyone can use the time given to them for the ultimate satisfaction which can only be found in devoted love. As this change occurs, perhaps nature itself will evolve to the point that the wolf and the lamb will lie down together!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Photo of My First Painted Prayer for Haiti
Dear Readers,
I hope your weekend is going well.
Below is a link to view a photo on my facebook page of my first painted prayer for Haiti. This composition was inspired by a child I saw in 1985 outside of a village in Haiti. She was under a tree dancing. The idealization of the scene in this painting is my prayer for all of the girls in Haiti to be healthy and happy enough to want to dance.
www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1054&id=100000235247355&1=b0bda2654f
I hope your weekend is going well.
Below is a link to view a photo on my facebook page of my first painted prayer for Haiti. This composition was inspired by a child I saw in 1985 outside of a village in Haiti. She was under a tree dancing. The idealization of the scene in this painting is my prayer for all of the girls in Haiti to be healthy and happy enough to want to dance.
www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1054&id=100000235247355&1=b0bda2654f
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Hope for Haiti Telethon
Dear Readers,
Were you blown away by the music and scenes from Haiti on the Telethon last night? I LOVED it!!! I can't get Justin Timberlake's soulful song out of my head and I don't want to let go of it!!! There were so many touching moments in the show that brought tears to my eyes.
I love how artists respond to tragedy with music, paintings, dance, film, etc.! There is something in us that has to cry out in a creative manner, or we will burst! Perhaps that is why there is so much art in Haiti; the human spirit must express itself when emotions arise, due to hardship. Artists have to create beauty out of pain in order to endure the pain.
I am awed by the compassionate response of so many people around the world. It's overwhelming and gives one hope that the world is going in the right direction, at least in some ways.
Another thing that impresses me are the videos of Haitian people gathering to sing and dance in praise to God in the midst of such grief and want for the simple basics of life, such as water, food and shelter. I would like to believe that my faith were that strong, but I wonder, not that I really want to know! These are not fair weather believers!!! Their faith is rock solid and it's awe inspiring!
The Telethon spoke to my soul, reasurring me that I am on track by responding to the horrendous news with creativity, it's natural and it's helpful in a number of ways. Not only does it release pent up emotion in the ones who create; the artwork itself brings people together. The therapeutic effects of art are huge, for artists and art lovers alike.
Were you blown away by the music and scenes from Haiti on the Telethon last night? I LOVED it!!! I can't get Justin Timberlake's soulful song out of my head and I don't want to let go of it!!! There were so many touching moments in the show that brought tears to my eyes.
I love how artists respond to tragedy with music, paintings, dance, film, etc.! There is something in us that has to cry out in a creative manner, or we will burst! Perhaps that is why there is so much art in Haiti; the human spirit must express itself when emotions arise, due to hardship. Artists have to create beauty out of pain in order to endure the pain.
I am awed by the compassionate response of so many people around the world. It's overwhelming and gives one hope that the world is going in the right direction, at least in some ways.
Another thing that impresses me are the videos of Haitian people gathering to sing and dance in praise to God in the midst of such grief and want for the simple basics of life, such as water, food and shelter. I would like to believe that my faith were that strong, but I wonder, not that I really want to know! These are not fair weather believers!!! Their faith is rock solid and it's awe inspiring!
The Telethon spoke to my soul, reasurring me that I am on track by responding to the horrendous news with creativity, it's natural and it's helpful in a number of ways. Not only does it release pent up emotion in the ones who create; the artwork itself brings people together. The therapeutic effects of art are huge, for artists and art lovers alike.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Haiti project
Dear Readers,
Thank you for logging in today. I hope you are happy and well.
Yesterday, I was able to paint all day on my Haiti painted prayer project. I changed the sky and ocean in the second painting. It takes at least two and sometimes three coats of paint to get the perfect blend that I love in the sky. I must have varied skies in my paintings or I'm not happy.
I discovered the beauty of blended skies one day when I was in an apple orchard painting on site. When I looked up the sky was bright blue and when I looked at the horizon it was light blue. I think it is because we are looking through so many more particles in the atmospere when we are looking at the horizon.
Now I am blending skies with a spiritual intention in mind rather than trying to create a sense of natural realism. I use the technique to create auras around people, trees or animals. I feel the spirit of trees and animals like I feel human spirits. This is because of a holy experience I had.
When I was 19, I received my call into the ministry for the first time, as I was out on a dock listening to a friend play guitar and sing a song of praise to Christ. I heard the lake, the hills, the trees and all of nature join in singing that song with my friend and all of heaven! It lasted for maybe one or two minutes, but those moments have defined the rest of my life and I try to put the ecstacy of that event into everything I paint.
These images I am painting of Haiti are in direct contrast to the photos we see on the news. I am painting the reality for which I am praying and hoping for the children, women and men of Haiti. These images are inspired by some of the beauty and hope that I witnessed when I visited in 1985, 1989 and 1990. I saw plenty of horror and dispair, but there was also love, kindness, and even bits and pieces of joy here and there.
I saw kindness when we gave a school girl a sandwhich and she broke it into pieces to share with her school mates. I saw joy in the faces of the kids at Grace Children's Hospital who were getting well after being well fed and receiving the medicine they needed for TB. They climbed all over us and coudn't get enough of our hugs and smiles. I saw hope and beauty on top of the mountain in the worship at the church with open windows looking out over the sea. There were brightly colored rectangles of tissue paper attached to strings that were strung over our heads in the sanctuary that fluttered in the breeze as we praised God. Toddlers sat silently next to their moms for the two hour service without squirming! The pastor was honored with a donkey to ride up the mountain before church. He was an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and had a 72 point charge! There were lay pastors at the 72 churches and whenever Rev. Moise Isadore came, they had communion and baptisms.
I started a third painting of that church on the mountain surrounded by a small circle of Haitian worshippers. In the border surrounding the central composition, is the rubble of the earthquake.
I am putting the rubble in all of the borders and hope, worship and joy in the spiritual "window" at the center of the canvas.
The images for the first two paintings are inspired by some darling girls we saw in the outskirts of the village of Petit Guave. They saw us from a distance and started dancing and yelling, "Blanc! Blanc! Give me one dollar!" They were under a canopy of trees and were as appealing as could be!!!
Thank you for logging in today. I hope you are happy and well.
Yesterday, I was able to paint all day on my Haiti painted prayer project. I changed the sky and ocean in the second painting. It takes at least two and sometimes three coats of paint to get the perfect blend that I love in the sky. I must have varied skies in my paintings or I'm not happy.
I discovered the beauty of blended skies one day when I was in an apple orchard painting on site. When I looked up the sky was bright blue and when I looked at the horizon it was light blue. I think it is because we are looking through so many more particles in the atmospere when we are looking at the horizon.
Now I am blending skies with a spiritual intention in mind rather than trying to create a sense of natural realism. I use the technique to create auras around people, trees or animals. I feel the spirit of trees and animals like I feel human spirits. This is because of a holy experience I had.
When I was 19, I received my call into the ministry for the first time, as I was out on a dock listening to a friend play guitar and sing a song of praise to Christ. I heard the lake, the hills, the trees and all of nature join in singing that song with my friend and all of heaven! It lasted for maybe one or two minutes, but those moments have defined the rest of my life and I try to put the ecstacy of that event into everything I paint.
These images I am painting of Haiti are in direct contrast to the photos we see on the news. I am painting the reality for which I am praying and hoping for the children, women and men of Haiti. These images are inspired by some of the beauty and hope that I witnessed when I visited in 1985, 1989 and 1990. I saw plenty of horror and dispair, but there was also love, kindness, and even bits and pieces of joy here and there.
I saw kindness when we gave a school girl a sandwhich and she broke it into pieces to share with her school mates. I saw joy in the faces of the kids at Grace Children's Hospital who were getting well after being well fed and receiving the medicine they needed for TB. They climbed all over us and coudn't get enough of our hugs and smiles. I saw hope and beauty on top of the mountain in the worship at the church with open windows looking out over the sea. There were brightly colored rectangles of tissue paper attached to strings that were strung over our heads in the sanctuary that fluttered in the breeze as we praised God. Toddlers sat silently next to their moms for the two hour service without squirming! The pastor was honored with a donkey to ride up the mountain before church. He was an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and had a 72 point charge! There were lay pastors at the 72 churches and whenever Rev. Moise Isadore came, they had communion and baptisms.
I started a third painting of that church on the mountain surrounded by a small circle of Haitian worshippers. In the border surrounding the central composition, is the rubble of the earthquake.
I am putting the rubble in all of the borders and hope, worship and joy in the spiritual "window" at the center of the canvas.
The images for the first two paintings are inspired by some darling girls we saw in the outskirts of the village of Petit Guave. They saw us from a distance and started dancing and yelling, "Blanc! Blanc! Give me one dollar!" They were under a canopy of trees and were as appealing as could be!!!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Painted Prayers for Haiti
Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010
Thank you for reading my blog! I am in the midst of a project to paint as many prayers for Haiti as I can and write a blog about it. Many of you I are devastated by the news from Haiti and I share your grief, which makes me want to do more than simply sending my money, although that is an important part of the Haitian recovery. (I give through UMCOR, United Methodist Committe on Relief, because 100% of the money goes to the needy because our denomination covers the administrative costs. Their address is UMCOR, PO Box 9068, NY, NY 10087, or www.umcorhaiti.org.)
In addition, I believe in the power of God through prayer and creative prayers satisfy the soul of the one praying, plus they seem to connect us strongly to the Great Creator. In fact I feel that these creative prayers are a collaboration with the the One who created the world and all of the natural beauty that surrounds us. By working with God, we discover more than we would on our own and the communion with the Holy is wonderful! It's also a way of sustaining a prayer for hours over the course of a day.
I am missing my artist friends with whom I paint every Thursday in Craig Bishop's class at the Art Center in Battle Creek. We have been painting together for well over a decade and are a committed group of friends. The reason I'm not with them today is because I have a cold that I do not want to share with them.
Today I am working on my first two painted prayers for Haiti. Yesterday I loved the first and was unsure of the second. Now both are showing promise and I am off the the races with a new series. I had started painting backgrounds for a series called, "Windows of the Spirit" at the first of the year and now I am adding in the prayers for Haiti to that series, which will change some of the images. That's okay with me, because I love to allow my thoughts and plans to evolve as the paintings progress. The art seems to take on a life of its own and I feel like I am the first to discover what will emerge on the canvas. Perhaps that comes from collaborating with God. I have to let go of a strong sense of control over the piece and open myself to the leadings of the Holy Spirit in order to allow this teamwork to occur.
Sometimes I argue with my co-creator, being the fundamentally rebellious person that I am (just ask my husband!) For instance, I wanted to call the show "Windows of the Soul," but the thought came to me (in the shower) to call it "Windows of the Spirit." I knew that this thought was from God, partly because it occured to me when I was immersed in water. (Water is very spiritual!) I resisted for about 2 hours and then reasoned, "If I ignore this thought, I may not keep getting them." I surrendered and am glad I did, because all kinds of "God moments" have been coming my way and I feel blessed.
Well, back to Haiti. I went on a second trip to Haiti in 1989 with a United Methodist group led by another pastor whose name slips my memory at this time. We stayed in the United Methodist guest house in Port-au-Prince and worked at the Grace Children' International Hospital. Dulavalier had been overthrown which was a blessing, but the government was not stable and there had been violence during the elections. Baby Doc's army, which the U.S. had armed, because the Duvaliers were not Communist and Cuba was, created havoc during the elections in an effort to hold onto their power. Duvalier's army was feared among the people, not only because of their weapons, but also because of their connections to the Voodoo priests, according to our Haitian aquaintances at that time.
We visited the markets where the art work was incredible!!! Being an artist, I was fascinated by the artwork of the Haitian people. It seemed that many of the artists were men, probably because of the gender roles at that time. Most of the women were busy carrying water on their heads, washing clothes by hand in the streams, cooking on small charcoal fires or selling food. Some of the artists painted in oils on canvas made of cotton flour sacks, some carved figures or animals out of wood and some painted in water colors on paper. There was an identifiable Haitian style, but most artists had their own way of working that was distinguishable from the others. They sold their artwork for about $30 for a 16 x 20" oil, which meant they made very little money per hour, but they were thrilled to get that much. The tourists were often the ones to buy their work or Americans and Europeans who lived and worked in Haiti.
We met an American nurse who had a fabulous collection of Haitian art. This was the good stuff, from the galleries, not the street vendors. When I inquired about it, she told me that whenever she got angry at someone, she bought herself a new piece of art in lieu of losing her temper at the person who was the target if her anger and telling them off!!! What a great idea! Perhaps all artists could earn a living if the whole world subsribed to that practice!!!
Thank you for reading my blog! I am in the midst of a project to paint as many prayers for Haiti as I can and write a blog about it. Many of you I are devastated by the news from Haiti and I share your grief, which makes me want to do more than simply sending my money, although that is an important part of the Haitian recovery. (I give through UMCOR, United Methodist Committe on Relief, because 100% of the money goes to the needy because our denomination covers the administrative costs. Their address is UMCOR, PO Box 9068, NY, NY 10087, or www.umcorhaiti.org.)
In addition, I believe in the power of God through prayer and creative prayers satisfy the soul of the one praying, plus they seem to connect us strongly to the Great Creator. In fact I feel that these creative prayers are a collaboration with the the One who created the world and all of the natural beauty that surrounds us. By working with God, we discover more than we would on our own and the communion with the Holy is wonderful! It's also a way of sustaining a prayer for hours over the course of a day.
I am missing my artist friends with whom I paint every Thursday in Craig Bishop's class at the Art Center in Battle Creek. We have been painting together for well over a decade and are a committed group of friends. The reason I'm not with them today is because I have a cold that I do not want to share with them.
Today I am working on my first two painted prayers for Haiti. Yesterday I loved the first and was unsure of the second. Now both are showing promise and I am off the the races with a new series. I had started painting backgrounds for a series called, "Windows of the Spirit" at the first of the year and now I am adding in the prayers for Haiti to that series, which will change some of the images. That's okay with me, because I love to allow my thoughts and plans to evolve as the paintings progress. The art seems to take on a life of its own and I feel like I am the first to discover what will emerge on the canvas. Perhaps that comes from collaborating with God. I have to let go of a strong sense of control over the piece and open myself to the leadings of the Holy Spirit in order to allow this teamwork to occur.
Sometimes I argue with my co-creator, being the fundamentally rebellious person that I am (just ask my husband!) For instance, I wanted to call the show "Windows of the Soul," but the thought came to me (in the shower) to call it "Windows of the Spirit." I knew that this thought was from God, partly because it occured to me when I was immersed in water. (Water is very spiritual!) I resisted for about 2 hours and then reasoned, "If I ignore this thought, I may not keep getting them." I surrendered and am glad I did, because all kinds of "God moments" have been coming my way and I feel blessed.
Well, back to Haiti. I went on a second trip to Haiti in 1989 with a United Methodist group led by another pastor whose name slips my memory at this time. We stayed in the United Methodist guest house in Port-au-Prince and worked at the Grace Children' International Hospital. Dulavalier had been overthrown which was a blessing, but the government was not stable and there had been violence during the elections. Baby Doc's army, which the U.S. had armed, because the Duvaliers were not Communist and Cuba was, created havoc during the elections in an effort to hold onto their power. Duvalier's army was feared among the people, not only because of their weapons, but also because of their connections to the Voodoo priests, according to our Haitian aquaintances at that time.
We visited the markets where the art work was incredible!!! Being an artist, I was fascinated by the artwork of the Haitian people. It seemed that many of the artists were men, probably because of the gender roles at that time. Most of the women were busy carrying water on their heads, washing clothes by hand in the streams, cooking on small charcoal fires or selling food. Some of the artists painted in oils on canvas made of cotton flour sacks, some carved figures or animals out of wood and some painted in water colors on paper. There was an identifiable Haitian style, but most artists had their own way of working that was distinguishable from the others. They sold their artwork for about $30 for a 16 x 20" oil, which meant they made very little money per hour, but they were thrilled to get that much. The tourists were often the ones to buy their work or Americans and Europeans who lived and worked in Haiti.
We met an American nurse who had a fabulous collection of Haitian art. This was the good stuff, from the galleries, not the street vendors. When I inquired about it, she told me that whenever she got angry at someone, she bought herself a new piece of art in lieu of losing her temper at the person who was the target if her anger and telling them off!!! What a great idea! Perhaps all artists could earn a living if the whole world subsribed to that practice!!!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Sue's Painted Prayers
Jan. 20, 2010
Like many of you, I am sickened by the conditions in Haiti. After giving my money, I felt I wanted to do more, so I am painting prayers for the people of Haiti.
Prayer is an important part of my life. I am a United Methodist pastor and five years ago, I believe that God called me from the pulpit to the easel. I have been painting all of my life and it is my greatest passion outside of my family.
Today I finished my first oil painting that is a prayer for a Haitian child. I started another one yesterday and am about 1/3 of the way done with that one. I can see that it has at least as much possibilities as the first one, which I love.
In 1985, I took my first trip to Haiti to work at a United Methodist mission in Petit Guave. It was an eye opening experience for me! Baby Doc was still in power and there were posters with his photo on it plastered everywhere. The malnutrtion was so widespread, that few Haitians had escaped its effects. Many toddlers had enlarged stomachs and skinny arms and legs. Most adults were small in stature, some were the size of 10 year old children from the U.S.. Teens were the size of upper elementary kids from the U. S., but their feet were the regular size for a person their age. Only 15% of the population could read and that was about the same persentage for the kids there who had the opportunity to attend school.
I was shocked by the prison system. Haitians told us that if a loved one were arrested, no one knew about it usually, unless they saw it. Families were not notified by the government. This was especially tragic, because it was up to families to provide food for prisoners. Our tour guide told us that he heard on the radio one day that his father was being released from prison. The father had been missing for several years and no one in the family knew where he was. Somehow the father survived and was reunited with his family.
We visited Grace Children's Hospital in Port-au-Prince where children were being treated for Tuberculosis. There was an older woman there from Canada who picked the chidren up one by one to rock them and comfort them. She said that it was hard for her to get out of bed in the morning, but that God helped her to get up so she could do her ministry to the sick kids. Holding the babies in that hospital myself broke my heart. Their breathing was labored and they were so skinny, it was unbelievable. I will never forget it for as long as I live.
Like many of you, I am sickened by the conditions in Haiti. After giving my money, I felt I wanted to do more, so I am painting prayers for the people of Haiti.
Prayer is an important part of my life. I am a United Methodist pastor and five years ago, I believe that God called me from the pulpit to the easel. I have been painting all of my life and it is my greatest passion outside of my family.
Today I finished my first oil painting that is a prayer for a Haitian child. I started another one yesterday and am about 1/3 of the way done with that one. I can see that it has at least as much possibilities as the first one, which I love.
In 1985, I took my first trip to Haiti to work at a United Methodist mission in Petit Guave. It was an eye opening experience for me! Baby Doc was still in power and there were posters with his photo on it plastered everywhere. The malnutrtion was so widespread, that few Haitians had escaped its effects. Many toddlers had enlarged stomachs and skinny arms and legs. Most adults were small in stature, some were the size of 10 year old children from the U.S.. Teens were the size of upper elementary kids from the U. S., but their feet were the regular size for a person their age. Only 15% of the population could read and that was about the same persentage for the kids there who had the opportunity to attend school.
I was shocked by the prison system. Haitians told us that if a loved one were arrested, no one knew about it usually, unless they saw it. Families were not notified by the government. This was especially tragic, because it was up to families to provide food for prisoners. Our tour guide told us that he heard on the radio one day that his father was being released from prison. The father had been missing for several years and no one in the family knew where he was. Somehow the father survived and was reunited with his family.
We visited Grace Children's Hospital in Port-au-Prince where children were being treated for Tuberculosis. There was an older woman there from Canada who picked the chidren up one by one to rock them and comfort them. She said that it was hard for her to get out of bed in the morning, but that God helped her to get up so she could do her ministry to the sick kids. Holding the babies in that hospital myself broke my heart. Their breathing was labored and they were so skinny, it was unbelievable. I will never forget it for as long as I live.
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