The first couple of months...

I sit on the top of the cattle truck and hold on with both hands to the hot metal bars. I have blisters on the palms of my hands but that’s the least of my worries. The truck lurches terrifyingly over a huge sharp rock as smaller ones scatter into the valley below. In the belly of the truck, where cattle is normally carried, are piles of feed sacks, replacement tyres and people. A woman in traditional Samburu tribal dress, beaded necklaces piled high on her regal neck, sits on bags; her little grandson slouched in her lap.  I was amazed that he had not complained so far on this 18 hr trip. Next to her is a schoolteacher. Over the roar of the engine we talk about Kenya, education and Jesus. I’m on my way to Lake Turkana, in the far north of Kenya on the border of Ethiopia. I’m travelling with two others, only have about 100 dollars and am not sure how long this trip will take. We know the Turkana tribe are one of the least reached people groups in the world and we want to find out how we can interact with them, photograph them and serve them.

A free ride on the back of a police ute, going further north.

I’ve always known God wanted me on the edge, in the dessert of Northern Kenya, the streets of Kabul or in the red-light districts of Eastern Europe. To go where few want to go, to go where there are no roads, go where there is no water and take the love of Jesus. I am a part of a collective of artists who burn in a crazy way for people to know our amazing Creator. We feel the burden of responsibility that knowledge brings. As a group we support and motivate each other, live in a simple way and keep Jesus at the center of our lives. Together, as friends and part of a larger movement, we want to see lives redeemed by newfound understandings of generosity and initiative.

I spent the first couple of months this year in Kenya. I was able to return to an orphanage that I was involved with a few years ago. It was amazing to see how much Watoto wa Baraka has developed since my last visit. I adore each of the 33 precious kids and I love to see that they are being taken care of, are happy and are succeeding in school. During my time there, I served in a variety of practical ways. In a rural orphanage environment there is always plenty to do, so I spent my days feeding the animals, cleaning and helping to cook over a wood fire.  At nighttime we would tutor the children and put them to bed.  Mostly though these kids just need someone to care about how their day was, put a band-aid on a hurt knee and give them a million hugs. After a couple of weeks another member of Pick a Pocket joined me and we were able to shoot a short film about the orphanage. A Kenyan orphan, who was sponsored as a child, started the orphanage; I love that the story of Watoto wa Baraka is one of hope.

Sean, my fellow Pick a Pocketer, and I felt led to go and explore the north of Kenya, specifically visiting Samburu and Turkana tribal villages, in the hope that Pick a Pocket would be able to start something long-term in a place that desperately needs it. We were told that this no-mans land was dangerous and unpredictable. During our couple of weeks in the north of Kenya we sought for God’s guidance and saw his hand in everything. We hiked out to a remote Samburu village and shared in their way of life. We were able to network with existing organisations and assist them in their projects including delivering solar Bibles to the Turkana people. As we got further north we were overwhelmed by the needs of the people living in this harsh landscape. It was during a fine-art photo shoot with some Turkana refugees that we got a bigger glimpse of their struggle to survive. We heard stories of violent tribal warfare, of people being driven off their land by the government and forced to live on the outskirts of a town. The Turkana are pastoralists who survive mainly on a diet of milk and blood provided by their precious horned cows. Without the grazing land, without the cows, families were struggling to survive. As we talked with, and photographed, these amazing women, we found out that many had not eaten for days. Their babies were lethargic and covered in flies and the women were grateful of the food we gave them on the spot. We were able to give them money for them to buy enough basic groceries to last their families for a few weeks. At the moment we are working with another woman, Robin, to develop a long-term solution. Unfortunately desperation led some of the woman, together with their teenage daughters, to start making and selling home brew. The police recently discovered the operation. They took their meagre profits, and sentenced the young girls to a year in prison. Robin is currently working with the authorities to get the girls out of jail; she could use your prayers.

On returning from Kenya to my home base in Germany, I was able to slot into place in an editorial role on the Marriage of the Arts (MOTA) DTS magazine. It is predominantly a student magazine but there is some of my writing in it as well. Please check out the online copy http://issuu.com/movemeant/docs/atom for amazing stories of God’s work in and through people eager to discover more.  

Currently I am working at organising a mini- Pick a Pocket tour to the UK at the beginning of May. It has been on my heart for sometime to take a small group of people to speak at universities, events and churches about how art can be used to fight injustice and spread the gospel. At the moment we have an opportunity to give a photography workshop at a university specialising in human rights and give a presentation during an awards ceremony run by Amnesty International. Please pray that people are inspired to explore art with purpose and are moved to help fight injustice.

From the bottom of my heart, it means so much to me to know that there are people scattered all over the world praying for me. It is such a joy to be able to be used by God at the front line of missions and I want to live in a way that honours the support of the people that partner with me.