by Jaron | Aug 15, 2014 | India, Travel
There are not enough blog posts in the world to properly express or explain all the incredible work that is being done in this place. Everything from taking in orphans, to a women’s sewing school, bible college, paramedical school, and more. I’ve been here a few days now and still am not sure of everything that they do in this fairly remote village. Eventually I’ll get around to sharing a full blog post about the MAN that God used as his hands and feet to build this remarkable place from nothing, but I want to make sure I have everything I need to fully tell his story and express who he is through photos. It’s worth the wait.
On arrival we were greeted with fireworks, flowers around our necks, and the entire campus to say hello. Oh, and a giant photo of us that you’ve seen before haha! From there it has been very fast paced. We started the evening with Curt sharing a message to all the students and kids, then there was a baby dedication that evening. The next day we began training students in Remix’s Methods by doing an actual show for them.
by Jaron | Aug 13, 2014 | India, Travel
This is FAR from all of the students at living hope, but it gives some faces to those that so many are praying for. These students are from all over India, Nepal, and other surrounding countries. I have loved getting to see these people and visualize them going all over Asia telling others about the Lord. Each one is unique and has so much personality and love to offer the world. Not to mention loads of passion. Many of them have risked and are risking their lives to pursue God’s will for them, and are a remarkable inspiration. Please, while you view these photos, say a prayer for them each and for all of the other students at the school now and in the future.
by Jaron | Aug 11, 2014 | India, Travel
I was incredibly excited to have my three friends Matt, Jenny, and Curt joining me in Chennai, India. What did we have to welcome the exhausted travelers with after their long flights halfway around the planet? They had to do a Remix show at a school with over 1,200 Indian children! This was an awesome way to start things off with a bang. If you are unfamiliar with Remix, you can find out all you need to know at www.remixeducation.com, and was the driving force for me and the other three all finding our way to India. Even though we had no idea how things were going to go in this new environment, we were thrust into an outdoor show in a village outside Chennai on dirt and rocks, with somewhere around 95 degree heat, kids as far as you could see, with half the equipment we needed (one checked bag had not yet arrived), and a translator (who is far more than that but you’ll have to wait to hear about that amazing man of God) who had never actually seen a Jiggy show before. It did not quite go down without a hitch, but it was still a very successful show. I think the kids expressions you’ll see below prove that, and above all else, the Gospel was shared. It was certainly a wild experience, but an excellent one.
![The Taj Mahal and Other Sights in New Delhi + Agra]()
by Jaron | Aug 10, 2014 | India, Travel
Finally I get to share some of the interesting sights I got to see in New Delhi and Agra. To be standing in front of the Taj Mahal, one of the “New” 7 Wonders of the World was an awe inspiring experience. To see something I had seen photos of for my entire life, and seemed so distant from, directly in front of me, and under my feet, was surreal. However, I can’t wait to show you more of what God has been doing for the last week. I can say without hesitation that it puts the Taj Mahal to shame. Eternal Value. Keep a lookout for my next blog posts, but until then, the Taj Mahal should suffice 😉
Humayun’s Tomb – New Delhi
Red Fort – New Delhi
Taj Mahal – Agra
Agra Fort – Agra
by Jaron | Aug 6, 2014 | India, Travel
This was possibly the most fun I’ve ever had as a photographer. I don’t know that there is a more perfect place for street photography than Chandni Chowk, one of India’s largest and most certainly well known Bazaar’s. People EVERYWHERE. Rickshaws, food, spices, clothes, cards, glasses, bikes, parts, religions, wealth, poverty. You can find almost ANYTHING in Chandni Chowk. As we didn’t think it wise for me to just walk around with my camera in such a crowded place, we decided to take a rickshaw ride (Bicycle drawn cart) through the massive bazaar just after a rain. It felt like a video game of sorts as we sped by shops and people at a rapid pace. I would have one chance at a shot of anything at I saw. Only one chance. Many images ended up out of focus or terribly composed, but as I got adjusted I think I got some real gems. This was probably the only way this white boy with a camera could have caught anyone in the Bazaar off guard enough to get natural shots of life in India. Enjoy!
![The Taj Mahal and Other Sights in New Delhi + Agra]()
by Jaron | Aug 5, 2014 | India, Travel
Flash back to New Delhi in 1989. A small child from the slums knocks on the door of Dr. Jebasingh, not knowing that God had led her there to be the beginning of something huge. God used that child to awaken a calling within Ananthi. After a year of many children from the slums coming to Dr. Jebasingh desiring to be taught, she began her mission in a small garage. By the next year, 1991, the school had grown to over 600 children and had to be moved into meeting at a toilet complex in the slums. In 1998 God led some unsuspecting American’s into the slums to find the Good Samaritan School working daily to feed, teach and love an astounding number of children, and forever bound their hearts to the work that was being done here. As of the last 4 years, God has blessed the work with an amazing facility (plus another smaller facility in the slums), and already has it busting at the seams with over 2,000 children!
I don’t know that I have ever seen a more incredible and worthwhile ministry. Through Ananthi’s original willingness to answer God’s call, these unbearably poor children are given some medical care, food, a quality english medium education, and above all else, HOPE. They learn science, english, reading, computers, math, social studies, and of course about the ONLY God who could possibly make all of this happen. I encourage anyone who is interested in helping with this school to check out their website below for more information about the school and about sponsoring a child so that even MORE children can experience God’s grace in possibly the most tangible and practical way I have ever seen!
http://www.friendsofthegoodsamaritans.org/sponsor.htm
As an added bonus, I was gifted with the opportunity to teach a class on photography while I was at the school. After one period of teaching, the students actually said they wanted to continue for another period! Maybe I’m not as bad a teacher as I thought 🙂 These very enthusiastic young men in the class below requested a special photo of them to be taken as well. Who am I to deny them that privilege!
