gloria baker feinstein's blog

downsizing

2012-02-05T11:02:00.006-06:00

"Are you changing the truth, or is the truth changing you?"

Eddie asked me this not long after my first trip to Uganda, shortly after I had dreamt up the idea of Change the Truth.

It was an amazingly astute question. One that I continue to ask myself.

The biggest change is about to happen. This week Eddie and I will begin moving our stuff to the small apartment we bought in September. The new floors have been laid and polished, the fireplace has been built, bookshelves have been installed and the shades on the windows replaced.

Each year when I return to my big (six bedroom), old (built in 1915), rambling house after being in Uganda, I wonder how in the world can two people (Eddie and I) justify living with such excess. There are rooms we don’t step foot in for days! There are closets full of things we haven’t touched in years! There are stacks of books, clothes and “keepsakes” we have managed to ignore for decades!

Yes, we’re downsizing, or as a friend who has already done this smugly calls it: rightsizing.

And I’m terrified.

Eddie’s wanted to do this for years. He’s tired of shoveling snow, pulling leaves out of the gutter, replacing broken furnaces and worn out roofs. He’s done with home ownership. It was exciting years ago. Now it’s a pain, and frankly, it’s difficult for him given his issues with Myasthenia Gravis.

But me? I like our yard, the tree lined street, the mail carrier coming up our sidewalk and the kids playing basketball on the driveway next door. I like the way our stairs creak and the absolute quiet that surrounds me each morning when the sun peeks through our bedroom windows. I like having so much wall space I can still feel like I’m a gallery owner. I like peering into our children’s bedrooms now and then, even though Abbie and Max don’t live here anymore.

There are so many pros and so many cons. Believe me, I’ve made countless lists over the past few years. Each column is long.

Well, the pros finally won out, and now we are schlepping our things a few blocks away to the fourth floor of a 12-story building on the Plaza. It’ll be cool to be right across the street from a park and just steps away from great stores and restaurants. Our carbon footprint will decrease in size. We’ll feel more urban. We’ll only keep and use those things we really need.

In a way, it’s like starting over. Fresh with a clean slate. Getting married to each other all over again. Designing a new place. Picking out some new (smaller) furnishings. Deciding on new paint colors for rooms.

I bought new dishtowels. And new pillows for our couch.

But change. It’s scary and difficult. Lord knows I’ve shed some tears over this upcoming move; I’ve questioned the decision a hundred times. But change can mark the beginning of something exciting and adventurous and can open us up to so much we hadn’t considered before. And getting rid of all the stuff we don’t need... I think we’ll feel lighter and freer!

Did I mention there is always free hot chocolate available in the lobby?

lenscratch

2012-02-03T07:39:00.005-06:00

I am so excited to be featured on Lenscratch today!

Lenscratch is considered one of the top photography blogs in existence. And Aline, its founder... well, she's not so shabby either. A truly lovely and passionate mother/photographer/writer/friend.

Thank you so much, Aline, for including me in your "Success Story" lineup. I am truly honored.

new color work on the website

2012-02-01T22:25:00.009-06:00

The new color work I made in Uganda this past December is now on my website. If you've been following this blog for the past six weeks, you've seen most of it. There are a few new images I haven't posted, though, including the following small selection. Please take a look at my website (the gallery is called Uganda Color) if you'd like to see the complete body of work. (Knowing myself as I do, I'm sure I will sift through the files again at some point and rescue one or two pictures that will have taken on more meaning for me.)

My website is www.gloriabakerfeinstein.com

backlit birds

2012-01-31T19:53:00.006-06:00

I saw this flock of birds as I was leaving my studio the other day. Their wings were backlit by the late afternoon sun.

Have you watched Portlandia? Put a bird on it.

douglas

2012-01-30T05:08:00.011-06:00

Douglas and CTT Team 1 member Jane got into a conversation back in 2007. Jane asked him what he wanted to be if/when he graduated from secondary (high) school. Douglas told Jane that day that he had always dreamt of becoming a nurse.

Jane took him seriously and offered to help. She eventually became his "mama" and his sponsor.

Douglas enrolled in the Mengo School of Nursing, a well respected institution not far from Kampala. He turned out to be a stellar student and loved soaking in all the information and new skills he could.

Last May, Douglas became CTT's first post secondary school graduate. It was a day for great celebration.

CTT hired Douglas to work part-time at the orphanage. He will maintain this "paid internship" for a year. He's a dedicated, talented, compassionate medical care provider, and we're extremely lucky to have him on board.

Another cause of celebration came last month when Team 5 was at the orphanage. Douglas had just gotten word that after all the tests and various calculations had finally been completed, he was number one in his class! Numero uno. Top dog. Creme de la creme. Top of the heap.

Douglas beamed. We all did. There was back slapping and hugging, even a couple of speeches. He emailed Jane with the good news. We had cake and took pictures of the proud young man.

You know, on that day back in 2007, when Jane and Douglas stood by the jackfruit tree, red dirt under their feet, hot east African sun beating down, talking about the future - his truth really did change.

Congratulations, Douglas!

oliva

2012-01-27T08:29:00.007-06:00

Before our trip, I reminded the team that it would be such s gift if they each took the time to seek out a quiet, shy child and become his/her friend. Too often it's the gregarious, charming, handsome, articulate, talented children who capture our attention so much that we don't notice those tiptoeing around the edges of our activities. (Tony was actually one of the withdrawn children on my first visit in 2006. He has blossomed so much, in part because of the attention and opportunities CTT has swung his way.)

Suzanne is one who has taken this charge very seriously. Last year she befriended quiet Beatrice (with whom she has a meaningful and unbreakable bond), and this year it was sweet Oliva.

In Suzanne's own beautiful words:

"It’s hard to describe in words exactly how a child captures your heart or takes your breath away when there are so many at SMK that you want to connect with in that special way. Her name is Alari Oliva and she is 10 years old. She is from Northern Uganda and has an older sister; Fiona who, like many of the sibling groups at SMK, has taken on the role of mother to Oliva. Fiona bathes her, watches over her and makes sure she is safe. It’s tender to see and heartbreaking at the same time because I often wonder who is taking care of Fiona.

I spotted Oliva one day in P7 quietly sitting on a desk with her small hands folded in her lap watching the dance performance for Team 5. She had this beautiful brown patterned dress on, and I asked others who she was. No one seemed to know, so I set out to meet her. It was challenging to communicate at first because I did not know Luganda and her English was spotty, but there is the language of a simple touch. I held her hand, and I signed to her that I loved her. She responded with the same, and I knew that we were going to be connected from that moment on. Her hand and mine were intertwined from that day forward until I left. She reminded me so much of myself when I was 10, shy and reserved, existing in the shadows. Often the children from the North keep to themselves at SMK. They go about their chores everyday and you often witness them staying together as a group, because they share some of the same sad stories of parents lost to the war or AIDS.

My goal with Oliva was simply to get her to smile, and a bonus would have been to hear her laugh. I was rewarded tenfold because she gave me so much more. She held my hand. She smiled, giggled, hugged and gave me a piece of herself: her heart. There is no greater gift than that of a child’s love, and I am blessed to have felt that love everyday at SMK with her and so many of the children. I only hope that with the distance we now share from Uganda to Wisconsin that she continues to feel how very much I love her."

- Suzanne

sister berta

2012-01-26T09:41:00.013-06:00

One of the co-founders of Operation Breakthrough, Sister Berta, had quite the adventure this week. She attended Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night! This article about her appeared in the KC Star on Tuesday. Definitely a good read. Here she is pictured with Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, who invited her to Washington.

christmas gifts

2012-01-26T07:42:00.014-06:00

After we handed out the Christmas gifts to the children this year, it was fun to watch them discover the goodies inside the brightly colored plastic wash basins that contained them. Included among the various groupings of gifts were:

handmade dresses/shorts
t-shirts
flip-flops
soaps
lotions
toothbrushes and toothpaste
decks of cards
beanie babies
handmade necklaces and bracelets
hand knit caps

The handmade items were donated by groups of caring, talented, generous people from various parts of the country. The dresses/shorts came from a Minnesota based non-profit called Little Dresses for Africa and from a very kind and dedicated group of women from St. Andrews Christian Church in Lenexa, Kansas (spearheaded by CTT friend Bernadette). The necklaces, bracelets and caps came from CTT friends in Wisconsin. All of the items were big hits with the children, who don't get to change into new clothes very often.

Above is a great photo taken by Suzanne showing happy kids donning their new clothes and "jewelry".

Here is a letter written to the Wisconsin knitters. It's from CTT friend Mary Sue, who organized the cap drive. It will appear in their church bulletin this weekend:

Webale! (Thank you) from Uganda

Many thanks to our Quad Parish knitters for your overwhelming response to make hats for our friends at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage Motherhood in Kajjansi, Uganda! We asked for 180 hats and we received more than 400! The children were thrilled to say the least when they opened their Christmas gifts. They loved the different colors, textures and patterns of the hats – and in the heat, our little friends wore their hats morning, noon and night. They even had fun trading hats! Thank you again for the time, effort and love that went into each of these hats. You brightened Christmas morning for these very appreciative and deserving children.
- Mary Sue

It's so cool how the ripples generated by these children continue to move outward.

Thank you, knitters, seamstresses and crafters. You made the children feel loved and very special.

their faces

2012-01-24T22:18:00.013-06:00

All night I have been working on a selection of snapshots I made at the orphanage last month. They are for an upcoming event that will be a fundraiser for Change the Truth.

I simply can't keep them to myself any longer. Just look at these beautiful faces.

shane gets a wake-up call

2012-01-24T07:37:00.007-06:00

Yesterday morning, Change the Truth Team 5 member Shane Evans was awakened by a phone call.

"I got a call early this morning (6:30am) from an unfamiliar number... (you know when that happens...you're like WHO IS CALLING ME at this hour!?) I missed the call and saw there was a message... as I listened... there was a voice on the recording sharing... 'Mr. Evans... I am calling to inform you you have won the CSK Award for your book UNDERGROUND...' I sat in a moment of TOTAL thought... silence... and then I said out load... 'thank you GOD...', I began to think of ALL that it means... it is an honor to MANY that this is shared with a project like 'Underground'... family... friends... community... This book is the 'experience' of the underground... THE SPIRIT... this a spirit of HELPING... WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE... I thank you all for your thoughts... prayers... words... I am truly honored."

For those of you who don't know, the CSK Award is the Coretta Scott King Book Award. A very big deal.

Read all about the exciting news here.

Congratulations, Shane!

hava nagila

2012-01-23T07:12:00.007-06:00

No, you're not at a Jewish wedding or even a Bar or Bat Mitzvah! You're at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage.

Here are Oscar and Tony, along with Change the Truth team member Monique, belting out the traditional Hebrew folk song "Hava Nagila" ("Let's Rejoice") at the music performance held at the end of our visit in December.

Oscar and Tony both used to play the trumpet in the SMK marching band. They had never even held a saxophone in their hands until Monique arrived last summer for her first stint as music teacher at the orphanage. Not only have the boys learned to play a new instrument, they are now also reading music!

Monique taught them this song, in part, because of Mama Gloria's ethnic heritage. It was a real treat for me to hear "Hava Nagila" floating in the breeze on the days they were practicing. On the day of the performance, I literally had chills running up and down my spine.

Thank you, Tony and Oscar, for your dedication to learning. Thank you, donors, for providing the saxophones. Thank you, Monique, for the gift of teaching. And thank you, Avis, for catching the performance on video.

Stay tuned until the end. The three really get going, and it's a pretty smokin' rendition of the song, especially when you consider that the boys are new to the instrument, they'd never heard the song before and this all takes place at an orphanage in the middle of east Africa!

party for melissa

2012-01-22T07:51:00.015-06:00

Our fabulous "on-the-ground" social worker/liaison Melissa has been visiting home in the US for the past couple weeks (along with her son Antwain). Last night CTT team members got a chance to see her and catch up. We all agreed that Uganda has been good to her (one comment was that she looked 10 years younger!) She confessed that while it's been absolutely great to see family and friends she's ready to go back home to the kiddos (and put on her flip-flops!).

Jane (Team 1), Melissa, Leroy (Team 5)

Lonnie (Team 1)

Max (Team 2) and his friend Jill

Michelle (Team 5), Dawn (Team 5), Avis (Teams 4,5)

Eddie (Team 3) and me

David (Team 4)

Jennifer (Team 4), Lynne (Teams 1,2,5) Jeff (Team 4)

the "henry special"

2012-01-19T07:48:00.009-06:00

In honor of my grandson Henry and my new Hasselblad camera, I’m offering a studio portrait special.

YOU: Book appointment and come to my studio during the month of February.

ME: Shoot, edit and provide you with ten gorgeous, finished high-resolution digital files, ready for sharing and/or printing.

YOU: Pay a flat fee of only $125!

[My sitting fee is usually $325, which includes low-resolution proofs and an 11” x 14” portrait.]

ME: Happy to be shooting during this ordinarily slow time.

YOU: Happy to have beautiful files to print and share as you please.

[I will, of course, be happy to make archival ink jet prints from these files on special museum quality paper in sizes ranging from 5” x 7” to 30” x 40” at an additional charge.]

Book your appointment now! gbfeinstein[at]aol.com

henry's in the house

2012-01-17T11:19:00.005-06:00

Grandson Henry is in town for a visit, and we are having a good time hanging out together! Here he is at the park where his mom and uncle used to play when they were his age.

shane: angels

2012-01-16T21:50:00.002-06:00

Team 5 member Shane did these sketches of some of the girls at the orphanage. It was one afternoon while they were watching the boys play football (soccer). Shane gave all the girls wings and proclaimed them little angels.

That they are.

more new work

2012-01-14T11:19:00.006-06:00

I have been working with my friend (and printer extraordinaire) John Hans on one of my new images form Uganda. I was curious to see how large we could go before losing any of the magnificent detail of the Hassie capture. John made a 30" x 40" print, and wow, is it gorgeous!! I believe a 40" x 60" would look just as wonderful; I suppose we could go even larger. I am just amazed at the rich, saturated colors, the perfect rendering of detail (even in the shadows) and the overall power and intensity of such a large image. This is new territory for me!

I continue to process and work on new pictures. Here are a few more.

hip to be square

2012-01-11T08:14:00.009-06:00

Having worked with a square format for years and years, I am still quite partial to it. The digital Hasselblad is not like it's 6 x 6 analog ancestor; it is 6 x 7. I am growing to like that arrangement, but on occasion I find that nothing but the lovely square will do.

It simply means I have to pre-visualize the square when I'm shooting. Sometimes it doesn't work.

But other times it does.

new bedding

2012-01-10T09:42:00.012-06:00

As hard as they try, the children at the orphanage cannot prevent extreme wear and tear on their few belongings. Between the dirt floor that is just outside their dorm (mud when it rains), bare feet, no running water (bore-hole well only) and a variety of nearby goats, pigs, chickens and cows, things just get dirty and worn out.

Especially clothing and bedding.

Three years ago, thanks to the generosity of a concerned donor, CTT was able to replace all the mattresses, sheets and blankets at SMK. It was an exciting day for the children. You see, their beds are their “homes” within the dorm. At the foot of their bed is a metal case that houses all of their belongings (clothes, books, letters, shoes, soap). Once they snuggle up under their mosquito net, they are surrounded by everything they own. We wanted to make that place as nice as it could be.

[You have to understand that the mattresses of which I speak are not Posturepedics. Not even close. They are made of foam and are about four inches thick. The children try their best to care for the mattress, but it is difficult, especially if he/she is a bed-wetter. Even if a sheet of plastic is placed on top of the foam, the bed eventually becomes, well, for lack of a better word, a mess. It gets dirty and smelly, and parts of the foam break off. The sheets and thin blanket are not washed very often; you can imagine the accumulation of debris that is collected there.]

CTT replaces a percentage of the bedding each year now. Melissa walks through the dorms to determine whose mattress, sheet and/or blanket (and mosquito net) cannot be stretched another twelve months.

This year we purchased (thanks again to the donor who set this all in motion in 2008) about 70 new mattresses and sheets, as well as many new mosquito nets.

Many of the children, hoping for a new set, removed their bedding the morning the team was set to bring in the new goodies. It was simply their way of saying, “Please, I need a new mattress and sheet. Believe me when I tell you my old one is tired and worn.”

This created quite a nightmare for us, because suddenly we weren’t sure where the new bedding was supposed to go! As much as we would have liked to replace them all, we had only allowed for replacement of the absolute worst. And there we stood, looking at dorms full of bare bunk beds.

The matrons of each dorm finally got it all figured out, and after some delay, we were able to install the new bedding. (Huge thanks go to the older girls who assisted us in this project.) The new sheets looked so beautiful and fresh. The mattresses felt soft and smelled clean.

I congratulated many of the children whose bedding was in good shape, though it was clear they were sad not to receive a new set.

It takes a lot of work to maintain your own things when you’re just a child.

cream of the crop

2012-01-08T15:15:00.007-06:00

Change the Truth currently sponsors close to 30 students in secondary school, vocational school and university. Providing educational opportunities for children who have the talent to succeed but do not have the resources to give it a shot is the cornerstone of our organization.

The cost of school fees in Uganda has risen significantly over the past couple years; CTT has been forced to impose stricter standards on its sponsored students simply because it has had to limit the number of scholarship recipients.

The children who receive the sponsorships know that they must continue to perform well each year in order to maintain their status with CTT. Not only do they have to achieve a certain academic level, they must fulfill other obligations (such as engaging with and assisting the CTT teams each December).

While at the orphanage in December, I had the privilege of meeting with our top performing secondary school students. They received my heartfelt congratulations and lots of encouragement for the next school year, which will begin the first of February.

From left to right, our outstanding students are:

(front row)
Sheila, Anthony, Sunday, Rachael, Catherine
(back row)
Caleb, Joseph, Brian , Sam

a new batch of photographs

2012-01-06T07:50:00.017-06:00

One of the best things about our team trip this year was the location of our hotel. The first few years we stayed in Kampala. While it was nice being in the big city (easy access to great restaurants, markets, etc.) this required a long, traffic snarled, fuel fume laden trip in the van each morning and afternoon. Last year we stayed closer, but we still had to take a boda or taxi to the orphanage each day.

Thanks to Melissa, this year I learned about The Lodge. It's a sweet little place in the village of Lweza (which is in the larger town of Kajjansi). It is owned by a safari operator and staffed by the friendliest, most helpful folks. Once our team moved in, we took over all the rooms, so we truly felt like it was our own.

The Lodge is close enough to SMK that we were able to walk back and forth. It was a great way to start and end each day - walking through the village greeting our "neighbors" as we trekked to and from work. The team felt like it was part of the neighborhood, rather than being "bussed" in and out of it each day. I think it added a lot to everyone's experiences.

I often used the opportunity to make portraits with my Hassie. At first, I appreciated the assistance of one of the kids from SMK (thanks Tony, Rachael, Rosette, Cissy and Tina) to help with my light metering. After a while, though, I was able to make fairly accurate guesses and use my histogram to fine tune exposures. The Hasselblad is not a small, discreet tool. Once I find a person whose portrait I'd like to make, plop my 30 pound camera backpack onto the ground and pull out the big guy, everyone within a few houses or shops knows I'm photographing! It kind of became a bit of a ceremony, and that brought back fond memories of working with my old film Hassie.

Photographing with this camera makes me slow down. I find I am much more methodical and deliberate, carefully framing and composing the shot and possibly making only a handful of captures of each subject. I like working this way. It seems more purposeful, zen-like, conscientious. It also connects me more to the subject, because I am definitely not "shooting and running." A more heartfelt, meaningful rapport is established; I'd like to think this is reflected in the resulting images.

I will make prints of these pictures and send them back to Lweza via Melissa. Tony told me that people love to have their pictures taken by visitors like me (tourists wielding cameras!) because it costs a lot of shillings to hire a photographer in the village. If they can get a free picture from someone like me, that is a wonderful gift, he said.

It is the least I can do, since they gave me the wonderful gift of collaborating with me for these portraits.

t-shirts

2012-01-05T15:34:00.007-06:00

Another gift given by Team 5 member Shane was a basic lesson in silk screening. He brought plenty of screen with him and showed the "art club" artists how to stretch it into place so they could continue to print after we left.

Willy was one of the artists who watched the silk screening demonstration. He soaked it up like a sponge, and I could see the gears turning in his head while Shane taught the lesson.

One morning not long afterward, Willy motioned me into the art room. He showed me a stencil he had made and printed. It was the CTT logo! He had painstakingly cut it out with a razor (using the logo on one of our brochures for reference) and had silk screened it onto a piece of paper. He had also made a stencil of a map of Africa with a heart, based on a necklace I had been wearing. I suggested he go to the market and purchase some second hand t-shirts, that surely he could sell some CTT shirts to the team members. In fact, the first two who came into the art room to see what was going on immediately announced they wanted to buy one!

What Willy did instead says so much about how thoughtful these kids are. He proceeded to print a t-shirt for each team member, personalizing some with the individual's name. He then wrote beautiful notes, wrapped the shirts in newspaper and handed them out as gifts.

Knowing how to silk screen could open up all sorts of opportunities for SMK artists. Willy could easily begin a small t-shirt printing business, and I wouldn't be surprised if he does!

nicky's day to shine

2012-01-04T12:56:00.013-06:00

You've often heard me speak about Nicky. He was one of the first orphans I met at SMK in 2006; we established a quick friendship that has continued to blossom over the years. Nicky is one of our sponsored students, and he's a talented artist.

Two years ago at the annual Christmas Day talent show, he blew everyone away with his spot-on Michael Jackson dance moves. Since then, he has added song writing and singing to his repertoire. Monique taught him how to play the guitar when she was at the orphanage this past summer.

He and Team 5 member Shane latched onto one another right away. It was a match made in heaven. Shane provided Nicky with the opportunity to record his music with "Garage Band." Turns out the budding songwriter has eight songs under his belt already! The one the guys worked on with dogged determination and passion is called "Cool Cool Life." It didn't take long for Nicky to understand the elements of laying down tracks, and soon the dynamic duo was busy recording percussion, back-up singers, harmony, etc. "Cool Cool Life" is a really catchy song; I found myself singing the chorus over and over again in my head the first day I heard it. Shane and Nicky did a masterful job of recording it, and I hope you will all have the opportunity to hear it soon.

Watching Nicky and Shane work together made my heart soar. Shane simply gave my young friend the tools and the encouragement he needed; once those were in place, there was no stopping the aspiring artist (who, by the way, is often called "Nicky Bieber" around the orphanage). Nicky definitely knew the sound he wanted to achieve. He directed the group of back-up singers/dancers, and he made suggestions to Shane regarding the recording. It was as if he had already done this a thousand times. (I guess in his head, he probably has.)

On our final day at SMK, Nicky got to perform two of his original songs: "Cool Cool Life" and a thank-you song to Team 5. Nicky was in his element, and was he ever happy! His back-up singers (notice all the children were wearing Shane's "Africa Dream" t-shirts... his gift to them) were awesome, and he even had a horn section! Shane, you made this young boy's dreams come true.

I could not have been more proud of both of you.

Move over, Justin B.!

update on brian

2012-01-02T20:22:00.004-06:00

Brian has been released from the hospital and is now being nurtured back to health at Melissa's home at SMK. His family of brothers and friends are by his side. Mel reports that he's weak, but is walking with assistance and has a good appetite.

Thanks for all the love and support sent his way. Brian is happy to know he has such a huge, devoted family.

brian

2012-01-01T03:46:00.015-06:00

Uganda is all about stark contrasts. I’ve known this from my first trip: joy is often juxtaposed with sorrow and hope coupled with despair.

On Thursday afternoon a group of the children were heading over to our hotel. Earlier that morning I had been sitting around Melissa’s kitchen table with the Okecha brothers. We were reading the blog post I had written about them, and they were absolutely beaming. We were smiling and laughing.

Oscar, Brian and Willy were part of the posse that walked to our nearby hotel. They decided to hitch a ride on the back of a truck so they could get there faster. When it came time to jump down off the truck, Brian’s timing went horribly wrong, and he jumped as the truck was still moving.

He came down hard on the dirt road, hitting his head and presumably rolling some distance. Between the quick thinking and assistance of some nearby boda drivers, the police and the rest of the kids, Brian was quickly taken to Mulago Hospital in Kampala. Fortunately, nurse Douglas had just arrived at the hotel. He and team member Leroy stayed by Brian’s side for the next couple hours as he went to the hospital and was admitted.

The good news is that Brian seems to be doing much better now. He’s still in the hospital and probably will be for two more days. But it was scary for a while. Having must likely suffered a concussion; he was out of it until this morning. We could rouse him, but he would stay awake only for a short while, and if he spoke, he didn’t make much sense. It was obvious from his writhing when he was awake that he was in a lot of pain.

I had never before stepped foot into a hospital in a developing country. Mulago Hospital is a public institution (that’s why the police took him there… most accident victims end up in its wards). I was shocked by the deplorable conditions. I suppose I’d seen pictures of places like this hospital, but to smell it, hear it and move among its sea of injured, ailing and deceased was more than I’d bargained for when I woke up on Friday morning. Lynne and I spent nearly twelve hours there caring for Brian and trying to navigate our way through the system. (We could never have done it without the help of young nurse Douglas, CTT’s first post secondary school graduate and current medical intern at the orphanage.)

I took pictures at first because I wanted to be able to show Brian how attentive and loving his brothers were toward him. Over the course of the long day I took pictures of things and people around us because I wasn’t sure I would be able to adequately describe with words what I was seeing.

Willy would not leave his brother’s side. He was heartbreakingly tender toward younger Brian. Oldest brother Mande stepped in to relieve Willy after the first sleepless night, and Oscar quietly sat wide-eyed by his brother’s bed during the day. (At Mulago Hospital, the patient must have an attendee. This is apparently a family member or friend. The attendee brings along supplies like a sheet, blanket, washing basin, food, plate, cup, fork, washing cloth and even some meds. The patient is crammed into a ward with countless other patients and attendees, the latter sprawled out on extra beds or on the floor.)

We are all hoping for a full recovery for Brian, a treasure of a young man. And I, personally, feel nothing but the utmost respect for and inspiration from this close-knit family of five special boys.

more jajas

2011-12-28T13:10:00.017-06:00

Rosemary, director of the orphanage, has always made it a priority to provide for the widowed, old and/or ailing grandmothers in the community surrounding SMK. She gives them food and supplies when needed and offers a place at the school for their grandchildren. The Jajas adore her and consider her a hero of sorts. They consider SMK home... a place they can always come for respite and support.

Rosemary has introduced me to these women over the course of the past couple weeks. It has been a wonderful experience for me. The women invite me into their homes and sometimes even offer me a soda. They usher me to a couch, chair or woven mat on the floor. They have very little. They get by somehow, usually while taking care of countless orphaned grandchildren and great grandchildren.

All of the neighborhood Jajas were invited to SMK for Christmas. They arrived early, dressed in their best clothing. They sat in the the hot sun (in a row of chairs set out especially for them) for hours before we finally got started with the day's program. They sat for so long, some got very hot and tired and moved to the shade to take a nap on the cool concrete. Once the festivities began, the Jajas sat in the front row for the talent show. Each clutched a purse in their lap, held their heads high and were pretty stoic during most of the program. They watched as the kids performed dances and songs. Then they saw their new friend, Mama Gloria, teach the crowd the "Hokey Pokey."

After a few rounds, some of them started smiling and actually began to participate. When I encouraged them to "put their right hip in" they did! What a sight it was for me, standing at the front of the room, singing the Hokey Pokey with my fellow talent show singers, leading the group in the song and movements and then finally seeing the older women in their Sunday finery move one hip, then the other as I encouraged them to "shake it all about." Now that's a memory I will keep with me for a very long time.

Here are a few more of the Jaja portraits I have made. Enjoy!

suzanne

2011-12-28T00:34:00.004-06:00

"Three-hour tour

Field trip African style to Lake Victoria we went, Team member Dawn, 12 children and me. It was your typical sunny, hot day in Uganda. The kids were excited to go. They were eager to show us the way through the fields and over the streams. We walked single file along the red clay path. Dawn and I kept asking the kids how much longer and somehow no matter how far we walked the answer was always the same, ‘not too far, we’re almost there, it’s very close, close.’

Eureka, we finally see water! We arrived at Lake Victoria, and within seconds the clothes were off and you could hear the splash of water as they ran into the lake. Giggles and excitement filled the air.

It was mid-day now and the sun was baking the troops. The trek back to SMK was a long one, even with a shortcut. The pace was slower as the kids had exhausted their energy playing in the lake. Along the path the kids found mangos, jack fruit, and sweet potatoes to refuel their weary bodies. It was a three-hour tour that Dawn and I will not forget. Not because we were dripping from the heat, but because the sheer joy of playing in the water is something every kid, big or small always remembers.”

- Suzanne Garr

[This photo of Suzanne was taken just after she returned from the beach trip, sunburned face, wilted flower and all.]

the okecha boys

2011-12-27T23:41:00.010-06:00

If you've ever been to one of the CTT fundraisers, you've no doubt been captivated by the amazing artwork of one of the Okecha boys. There are five brothers, four of whom always actively engage in the art making process when the team is at the orphanage. All five of the boys are talented and never fail to blow team members away with their artistic and musical gifts. This trip is no exception.

Mande (not pictured) is the oldest. Then there is Willy, who will turn 18 in February. Brian is 16, Oscar is 13 and Enock is 11.

The boys' mother, who passed away some years ago, liked to sketch. Willy told me she was not very talented, but that she derived much pleasure from it. Brian said he remembers a drawing she made of a family sitting together. Their paternal uncle, on the other hand, was a very good painter. Willy and Brian both recall a large canvas (made by the uncle) of a zebra that used to hang in their home. The boys both told me the painting always inspired them when they were young.

These guys are not only talented; they are extremely gentle and kind. They are good students, strong leaders among their peers, and they are kind and humble souls. The Okeche brothers always help make our visits to SMK an even more inspired and enjoyable experience.

(Photo: from left to right are Oscar, Willy, Enock and Brian)

team 5

2011-12-26T14:40:00.002-06:00

It's hard to believe, but already it is time for one of our team members to head back to the USA.

This has been a fantastic team with which to experience the journey to Uganda. I can't thank these wonderful people enough for giving of their time, love and creative energy... especially at this time of year when it is nice to be at home with family.

We'll miss Dawn! She's lively and fun and full of positive energy.

Here's a quick glimpse at her and the rest of the members of Team 5 doing their thing here in Uganda these past few days. What a great group of people!

dawn

2011-12-25T02:13:00.001-06:00

"Do you remember the slogan 'the toughest job you’ll ever love' from a few years ago? I think it was for the US Army recruitment. Well, Change the Truth’s Team 5 'recruits' take that message to heart during our stay at St. Mary Kevin.

It’s indeed tough here in central Uganda. The roads are tough. The lack of clean, running water is tough. The access to opportunity is tough. The loss of parents and siblings is exceedingly tough.

The sun blazes, the traffic snarls, the electricity vanishes.

But there is so much life and love here. The streets are alive with people at all hours and on every square inch of this dry, red ground. Cows and goats and chickens roam close to cars and trucks. Cooking fires light the day as well as the night. Young children carry heavy loads (literally and figuratively) on their heads.

There is a rhythm to the children’s daily life that is a wonder to behold. With very little supervision, the SMK children wake up early, do their chores, bathe, brush their teeth, and start their day.

During the kids’ holiday break (December and January), the rhythm is quite different. Children walk around SMK with their friends, they play football and cards, they tidy their bed and [few] possessions in the dormitory, and they eagerly soak up time with the Change the Truth team. It will be tough for them when we leave.

I am loving this tough job and loving these special young people. I know it will be tough for me when it’s time to leave Kajjansi. But my heart has been filled with incredible love and a special bond that will stay with me forever.

Perhaps you will 'enlist' in Team 6 next December. I guarantee you’ll love it."

- Dawn Taylor

a natural talent

2011-12-25T00:57:00.005-06:00

Suzanne and I have been teaching photography to young Tony. He hardly needs any instruction. Though he has never worked with a camera before, Tony has a instinctive feel for composition, an appreciation of light, an understanding of texture and a sophisticated way of framing. He's been shooting with a Canon Power Shot, one of the donated cameras our team brought over. He is very deliberate when shooting; he takes his time composing. These images are not simply happy accidents. Tony really seems to know what he is doing.

Yesterday I introduced him to PhotoShop. Together we selected his images that looked the most interesting. Already he seemed to be a good editor. I showed him how to lighten and darken, crop, spot and desaturate. His friend Francis, who has also been attending some of my little photo classes, looked over Tony's shoulder and chimed in now and then. The three of us came up with the following "exhibition" - Tony's first.

I asked Tony to write something to include with his pictures. In his own words:

"About Tony With the Photos"

On the side of the photos, when I photo a good photo, I feel like I am not the one who has made that photo. I feel so happy, but in my heart I ask myself am I the one who has made that? And if I hold the camera, I feel like I am not the one who is holding the camera."

Self-portrait

michelle

2011-12-24T01:04:00.007-06:00

"We went to the beach today. It was a great adventure, just watching their faces, seeing their smiles and their fascination from seeing the world through just the taxi ride there alone. My Girls and I took a picture looking out over the water, all in our own thoughts. I wish I knew what they were thinking. I look at them and wonder what their futures will be like. Who will they be in ten years, and how can I help shape that future? I ask myself will these beautiful souls have a chance to soar and become what they dream. It's hard to imagine for them, but then I think... if I can get others involved just maybe one of their dreams will come true. It saddens me to say just one but I've learned that saving just one can mean a lot."

- Michelle

friday

2011-12-23T22:36:00.005-06:00

It takes a huge amount of preparation to make the Team trips happen. With the help of Melissa this year, we have had every detail covered. Mel even produced a calendar for each day - outlining what time the team meets for breakfast, how we’ll be transported to the orphanage, what time projects begin and end and which older child will assist which team member, what we’ll have for lunch (she and a group of older girls, along with one of the SMK staff members have been preparing delicious spreads each day for us) what afternoon presentations will take place (performances by the choir, the marching band, etc.) and where we’ll have dinner.

The only thing the advanced planning cannot take into consideration is who’s going to get sick when. It’s inevitable that a minor injury (last year Bobbi split her toe open) or a physical ailment will strike one or more of us. We always try to be smart about what we eat, but invariably team members have to resort to Imodium or, worse yet, Cipro.

It was my turn yesterday.

Which was a big bummer because it was the day we assembled the Christmas gifts for the children. That’s a pretty big job, especially when you’re talking about 150 – 180 kiddos. Team members had carried over a lot of the gifts in our extra checked duffel bags, including the adorable dresses and shorts that were hand sewn by “Little Dresses for Africa” and a Kansas City group of seamstresses from St. Andrew’s Church. We brought beanie babies, toothbrushes and toothpaste, silly bandz, hand made knit caps, necklaces and bracelets, decks of cards, t-shirts, etc. Once here, Mel helped us purchase lotion, soap, flip-flops and the washbasin into which all the gifts will go.

So, the team had to carry on without me yesterday. Melissa called last night to say that I would have been very proud of them! Of course, this work can all be done without me now since we have so many veteran team members, but still, I was happy to have confirmed that my absence didn’t slow things down a bit!

Monique (Amsterdam) and Shane (Kansas City) have finally arrived, so our team is complete. We have installed new mattresses and sheets in the dormitories, painted and freshened up the Big Boys dorm, taken the kids on field trips, held art classes, provided therapy, played games, taught music, offered yoga and photography classes and toured one of the secondary schools our sponsored students attend.

And we have so much more to do!

Team 5 consists of an unbelievable group of people, and I am indebted to them for the amazing work they are doing with the kids at SMK. It’s obvious that some really wonderful relationships have already been established between team members and with so very many of the children. Wish we could slow the days down. We’ll be leaving all too soon.

portraits of some of the children

2011-12-22T12:03:00.008-06:00

Working with the new camera and loving the results.

emerging artists

2011-12-22T03:14:00.007-06:00

Yesterday I broke out the watercolor paper, brushes, watercolors and pastels and invited a group of young artists to the art room. Usually this room is occupied by the older, more established artists (primarily boys) such as Willy, Nicky, Geoffrey, Issy and Brian (some of you have no doubt seen and/or purchased their artwork at our annual fundraisers).

The young ones I rounded up have shown a love for art and definitely have talent! They include, among others, Elias, Kato, Irene, Diana, Petra, Enock, Margaret and Leo. I first asked them to paint the friend sitting next to them. Then I asked them to draw an animal of their own creation. They spent a long time working and took great pride in what they made. The results are delightful!

The really exciting part of this is that two of these young artists are Beatrice and Evalyn, children who previously have been quiet, shy and lurking in the shadows. They were befriended last year by Suzanne and Avis respectively. Because of the love and attention these team members continue to shower on Beatrice and Evalyn, the girls have really blossomed. They are engaged, more talkative - and sometimes I even catch them smiling!

all is well!

2011-12-20T22:52:00.011-06:00

Our official welcoming celebration yesterday was the best ever! The marching band performed, the choir sang, the sponsored students introduced themselves, and, yes, there were some speeches Ugandan style. The team members were thanked over and over again for their tireless efforts and the sacrifices they have made to be here over the Christmas holiday. We all felt wonderfully appreciated.

And then there was a huge throng of hugging, which turned into dancing, which turned into general merriment! All incredibly joyous. The kids are so happy we are here.

And we are happy, too. Can you tell?

Team members are keeping very busy. Leroy has made it his business to whip the BIg Boy's dormitory into better shape. He has made local contacts and purchased paint, lumber, tools, and other supplies and has gotten his "construction company" up and running. New windows and doors will be framed in, leaks in the roof and holes in the floor repaired - and a few coats of paint will finish it all off. The boys are working hard under Leroy's firm and loving guidance. It will be an amazing and exciting transformation to witness.

Dawn has done everything from play football (soccer) with the boys to taking a group of children on the very long, hot walk to the beach. She has quickly made herself at home here and always has children near her side. Suzanne had done some fun art projects with the children and is always doling out her huge amount of tenderness and love. Avis is working her miracles with therapy and helping the children make paper beads, Michelle has treated the young children to art classes, Bobbi has picked up where she left off last year with yoga classes and pen pal letters and Lynne is working hard to film it all!

We are really making an effort to include all the children in a field trip or something as simple as a long walk. It's a great way to let each child know we truly care about him/her; they are grateful for the time and attention.

I feel we are making such a difference in their lives.

Melissa has been a super star! She is organized, calm, efficient, gracious and thinks of EVERYTHING! The details and logistics of the trip are so well planned and executed with her at the helm.

This afternoon I took six young artists to the beach. They wanted to time it so that we would be there for sunset. It was a lovely setting, and the kids seemed so happy to have the opportunity to experience it. They sketched and painted, dug their toes in the sand and waded in the water. I rode on my first Ugandan bus. It was a great adventure for all of us!

Some lasting friendships have already been formed. This is a great team, and the children already understand that.

grandmothers

2011-12-19T12:42:00.006-06:00

So many grandmothers/great grandmothers are the ones who end up caring for the young children in Uganda. Their own children's generation was hit hard by HIV/AIDS, so they have had to step up to the plate as caretakers of the little ones left behind.

Since I am now a grandmother, I feel it is fitting for me to honor these Ugandan women in my work. These portraits represent the beginning of my photo project about the "jajas".

more team members arrive

2011-12-18T09:20:00.003-06:00

Such an exciting day at SMK! Dawn, Lynne and Suzanne have arrived. Tomorrow the (nearly) complete team begins to dig in. The kids are so happy to see old friends and new.

day four: leroy

2011-12-17T12:02:00.000-06:00

"Through my own eyes and heart, I opened the door of understanding. Landing here in Uganda and not knowing what to expect was not the challenge or question, but being able to take my trade and talents God has given me and give back to others has been my goal.

St. Mary Kevin Orphanage has become an important focus and has allowed me to make a difference. I find that I’m giving with my heart with the hope of touching others. I wonder why we allow our children to live a life of uncertainty; these children have so much joy in their faces and seek to learn so much in spite of the uncertainty they face.

I say to you who have not experienced this journey to wake up your heart (and to those who have) let’s change the way we treat our young people. Look at the pictures and read the stories; they are real. Do not turn a blind eye to the many who are in need. SMK is one of many here in Uganda and all over the world. It is not about how much you give, but that you DO give."

- Leroy Beasley ("MePho")

day three: a joyful welcome for the new arrivals

2011-12-16T13:05:00.016-06:00

Michelle and Leroy enter the gates of SMK for the first time

The girls loved Michelle right away

Bobbi gets reacquainted with Moses, the headmaster of the school.

Rose's smile says it all!

Avis greets Melissa.

Leroy gets down on Evalyn's level for a conversation.

day two

2011-12-15T11:14:00.010-06:00

I’ve just sent my seven dinner guests on their way. Time to get in a little nap before heading to the airport to pick up team members Bobbi, Avis, Michelle and J. Leroy. No sleep for the weary on this trip!

Yesterday I was telling Tina and Claire Faith that I was looking forward to my dinner date with Melissa, that we would conduct business but also have kind of “girl’s night”. The latter part of that statement intrigued them. They asked me several times about the “girl’s night” aspect of our upcoming evening together. After I finally explained it, and it was clear to them, they suggested we have one. And why not?

Late this afternoon I hopped on a boda, picked up some pizzas, samosas, cookies and soda and then opened my door to Tina, Claire Faith and their invited guests: Rosette, Issy, Rachael, Joan Faith and Rose. It was a girl’s night filled with lots of fun conversation, singing and dancing - and a ton of laughter. It was a blast.

I spent the earlier part of my day getting sun burnt (ouch, forgot to apply sunscreen this morning) photographing and hanging out with the kids. Melissa prepared another stellar lunch; the team members are in for some fine eats when they get here! The fruits and vegetables are so delicious. I'm particularly partial to the regionally grown avocados, potatoes, pineapples and tomatoes, as well as anything matooke related.

While we were eating, we could hear Oscar belting out "Amazing Grace" on the saxophone. It was enough to just put me over the edge with joy for being here. The sounds of that song wove their way into the air high above our heads and then drifted down on us like a slow-falling rain.

Tomorrow begins the first round of team projects. Melissa and I have put together a busy schedule for our volunteers. The next two weeks will be the culmination of a lot of hard work on our part. All the hours of planning will pay off when I see the first little hands slip into those of our team members tomorrow morning.

tuba

2011-12-15T01:35:00.013-06:00

Getting friendly with my new camera yesterday, I made this portrait (among a few others). I'll get comfortable with this big gun yet!

day one

2011-12-14T16:19:00.033-06:00

What a wonderful first day. I got to spend precious "alone time" with some of my dear young friends. I wandered around the neighborhood. I walked in the rain with Rosette. I found myself exclaiming over and over again to kid after kid: "You've grown so tall!" Nicky serenaded me with a Michael Jackson number on the guitar Monique left behind. I got many hugs that were seriously heartfelt. I got crackin' with my Hasselblad. I was treated to Melissa's homemade vegetable soup for lunch. I got to watch Douglas teach dancing to the girls troupe and hear Antwain play the drums. (The harp players are a nice addition to the drumming. They're really good.) I got to play baseball. I traveled by boda-boda. I got to sit next to Boy-Boy and rub his back, which he had ever so slowly inched in my direction. I got to see (and hear) the long awaited addition to the marching band: a very cool tuba. I got to spend a leisurely dinner out with Melissa. We talked and talked and also admired the ink black star studded night sky.

Hard to beat a day like this one!

Tomorrow night four team members will arrive, followed by three more on Saturday. The kids are really excited to get this party going!

Here are some opening shots from the day. Hopefully they will load. The internet connection I have is very slow, and it's ridiculously late. I don't know how much patience I'll have. OK, some loaded. I'll try the rest tomorrow.

(Happy birthday to my lovely daughter, Abbie! I wish you could be here. The kids want to know EVERYTHING about Henry. Of course, I'm happy to fill them in.)

Melissa in her kitchen

The two Glorias

Douglas teaching the girls dance group

Antwain!

The harp players

Neighborhood

Neighborhood

Neighborhood

Neighborhood

back in uganda

2011-12-13T16:25:00.012-06:00

I am in Uganda! I will see the children in the morning, but the following message from director Rosemary greeted me upon my arrival. This missive is for all of you who have helped CTT in any way, large or small! We really have made a difference, and we should feel very good about that.

"Mama Gloria,

WELCOME. You are welcome back to your children. Look at them carefully. Look into their eyes, -- and you will see happiness and joy. Look at their faces – and you will see lovely fat cheeks. Try to lift a few of them – and you will feel the change in weight. This is the result of the support that Change the Truth (CTT) has given to SMK Orphanage over the years.

LIGHT THAT BRINGS OPPORTUNITY. The orphan children are proud of CTT and you Mama Gloria because you gave them a new lease on life and hope to realize their dreams in an atmosphere of Love, Care, Counselling, and the light of Education in a healthy environment. The management of SMK Orphanage wishes to acknowledge your efforts as team leader, plus contributions from the other members of CTT Board and sponsors, plus the work of the CTT Resident Social Worker Melissa.

Thank you from Mama Rosemary."

kids helping kids: guest post by team member suzanne

2011-12-12T10:37:00.002-06:00

“‘I was most impressed when I saw what they wanted to be when they are older,’ commented Caroline Arnold, an 8th grade student at Mercy Academy in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

It all started with my sharing the story of St. Mary Kevin Orphanage and Change The Truth (CTT) to a Tuesday night knitting group in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Jan Arnold, one of the knitters in that group, went home and told her two daughters, Caroline (14) and Emily (13) about CTT and the kids at SMK. Caroline watched the video on the CTT website and commented, ‘I was completely changed.’ She emailed me and asked if she could meet with me to talk about some ideas she had about how she could help.

We met one Sunday morning and from that brainstorming session came the idea of making Christmas cards for the kids to be included with their gifts. From that point on Caroline took the project and ran with it. She secured permission from her principal, invited 20 fellow classmates (grades 5-8) reserved the room, made up the blank cards and supplied all the art materials. Her mom made rice krispie (yum!) treats for the kids and after school on May 6th, these new friends of SMK sat in a room and made 180 Christmas cards.

I went to lend support and answer any questions the kids had about Uganda and SMK. They were very interested in their school, what sports they play and what their days are like. I interviewed some of them about why they were doing this. John Paul Elfelt (age 13) said, ‘It’s kinda cool to do something for kids half way around the world.’ Mary Lautz (age 13) was an orphan herself in Ethiopia. She said, ‘I know what it’s like to live in an orphanage.’ Mary understands what it means to live in that situation and receive something made especially for you.

When all the cards were made and signed by each artist, I showed them the video that is on the CTT website. You could have heard a pin drop in that room while it was playing. It was as though their worlds had just been expanded from Wisconsin to Uganda. When we were packing up all the cards, I asked Caroline if she had any thoughts about having done this project, and she said, ‘ Since I started this project, I’ve just felt very happy and excited to help people. I plan to do a lot more volunteer work in our local community as well as around the world.’ Perhaps we have fostered a future team member for CTT. Kids helping kids, isn’t that what it’s all about?

Webale (‘thank you’ in Ugandan) to Caroline Arnold for her inspiration and vision to reach out and help…and to the students from Mercy Academy (listed below). Thanks also to Caroline’s mom, Jan, for all the yummy treats, including this giant map of a cookie.

Students who made the cards: Mary Rose Courchaine, JP Elfelt, Jon Cobb, Meg Swietlik, Mary McIlheran, Charlie Klein, Matt Murphy, Emily Arnold, Keara Tuttle, Oliver Grassmann, Andy Swietlik, Mary Lautz, Katie Cobb, Annie Elfelt, Peter Klein, Marlena Sturtzen, Thomas Courchaine and Sam McIlheran.”

- Suzanne Garr

help for the "big boys"

2011-12-11T11:35:00.006-06:00

The following project proposal was presented to CTT from Melissa, our on-the-ground liaison. It is one of many that Melissa has sent my way. I thought this one in particular was worth sharing. You can clearly understand the amount of in-depth research and analysis Melissa does on our behalf. Down to the penny, we know exactly what is being covered with our funds. And we have a good description of the need itself.

As you will see below, the dollar can go a long way toward helping ease certain problems for the children to whom we have committed our assistance.

CTT Special Project: Dormitory Painting and Repairs for Older Boys

Objective: Ensure a clean, healthy and safe living environment for older male orphans.

Practical Issues: The dormitory for Secondary School aged boys is one of the older dormitories at SMK. The dormitory consists of two small, separate rooms. There are 20-25 boys who call these rooms home on a full or part-time basis (depending on whether or not they board at their respective schools).

Despite the best efforts of SMK Administration and the older boys themselves, the dormitories are in desperate need of repairs and repainting. Insects (like bedbugs) have infested parts of the dormitory, and there is also a problem with rodents.

Patching of small holes in walls and foundation, complete painting of walls from ceiling to floor, spraying of bedding and linens for insects, minor repairs to roof leakage and rebuilding of shutters on existing windows would help immensely.

Wall Paint
3 jerry cans @ 53,000 shillings
159,000 shillings ($63.60)

Paint Thinner
2 jerry cans @ 20,000 shillings
40,000 shillings ($16)

Painting supplies (brushes, basins)
50,000 shillings ($20)

Insect Chemicals
1 Litre
60,000 shillings ($24)

Cement
2 bags @ 29,000 shillings
58,000 shillings ($23.20)

Iron Sheet
1 sheet @ 30,000 shillings ($15)

Lumber
10 timbers @ 10,000 shillings
100,000 shillings ($40)

Total cost of project 497,000 shillings ($198.80)
**Prices based on 2,500 shillings per dollar conversion.

CTT has agreed to take on this project. Team 5 will hopefully be able to help with the work while we are there. When I informed Melissa of this, here is what she wrote:

"Great news. And if you close your eyes and listen hard enough the echo of cheers from the Big Boys will most definitely be heard across the ocean!!"

eco abet / plans for a new kitchen

2011-12-09T23:08:00.013-06:00

Eco Abet is a nonprofit design organization based in Kansas City. It was co-founded by Charmalee Gunaratne and Mary Deacy, architects and gracious women who have been very good friends to Change the Truth for the past three years. Eco Abet is working with Change the Truth to provide design services to St. Mary Kevin Orphanage. The process has been a true collaboration between all three organizations.

Each December when the CTT team of volunteers visits the orphanage, Eco Abet takes the opportunity to send over the architectural drawings of the grounds of SMK that they have pieced together from photos, from Google Earth and from measurements the older boys have taken. The older boys go over the drawings and make corrections and tweaks, then send the drawings back with the CTT team. Happily, Team 5 will present (what we hope is) the final round of layout plans on this upcoming visit.

Once the drawings are deemed accurate and delivered back to Kansas City, Eco Abet plans to design a brand new kitchen facility for SMK. Jointly, CTT and Eco Abet will then attempt to find a grant or an individual donor to pay for its construction. (The existing kitchen does pose some potentially dangerous problems, all of which could be alleviated by the design the Eco Abet architects have in mind. Children walk barefoot near the open hearth and breathe in the thick smoke from the burning firewood, among other things.)

Last year I put the drawings into the hands of Nelson, Billy and Saka, all older "Big Boys" who have a real interest in this type of work. I am excited to deliver the next round of drawings to them and hope there won't be too many adjustments this time. Eco Abet is eager to move forward on this exciting design project!

I am grateful for Eco Abet's persistent and creative approach to getting these drawings finished. I know it has involved a lot of time on their part. I admire them for what they have set out to accomplish in the world. Read their general mission statement below:

Ninety-five percent of the world’s designers focus all their effort on developing products and services exclusively for the richest 10% of the world’s customers. Eco Abet was incorporated as a non profit organization in June 2010 with the intention of redistributing design efforts toward the remaining majority – that is, those individuals who cannot afford these services and, yet, whose need for economical, sustainable, and safe living and working spaces is immense. As a nonprofit organization, Eco Abet's mission is to provide design and architectural services to impoverished, underserved, and traumatized communities both locally and globally. Provision of these services is intended to positively impact the physical, economic, social, and emotional well being of the communities served.

the night was a big success!

2011-12-08T22:21:00.006-06:00

Thanks to all who turned out for the 10,000 Villages fundraiser. It was great to see you! I really appreciate your continued support of CTT.

Can you tell we all had a good time shopping?

ten thousand villages shopping night

2011-12-08T10:09:00.003-06:00

Today from 4 PM to 8 PM, anything purchased at the non-profit fair trade store, 10,000 Villages in Overland Park, Kansas, will help the children at St. Mary Kevin’s. Please do your holiday shopping tonight and join us as we benefit unemployed and underemployed artisans from over thirty developing nations, as well as the orphans in Uganda. I guarantee you'll find something you love for someone on your list. And the best part is that 15% of all sales will go directly to Change the Truth.

10,000 Villages is located at 7949 Santa Fe Drive in old Overland Park. See you there!

fraction magazine holiday print sale

2011-12-07T17:21:00.007-06:00

I have made available 5.5" x 5.5" signed (not numbered) archival pigment prints of "Jump Rope, Kajjansi, 2010" in the annual Fraction Magazine Holiday Print Sale. Buy art this holiday season for yourself or those on your gift list at very reasonable prices. (Mine is only $50 plus shipping.) The photographers included in the sale are those whose work has been featured in Fraction. A big thanks to David Bram for organizing the sale, which you can peruse here and a big thanks to Andy Adams for including a selection of images from the sale on Flak Photo.

operation breakthrough lobby portraits

2011-12-06T15:59:00.007-06:00

Each day now is filled to the brim. Last minute preparations for the trip, working on the remodel of our new place (more on that later), shooting in the studio, printing orders and tying up lots of loose ends before I leave make me wish there were a few more hours in each day. I am galloping around the track at full speed.

Yesterday I finished framing and installing the new portraits I made for the lobby of Operation Breakthrough. Thought I'd share a few of my favorites.

eddie

2011-12-04T23:04:00.030-06:00

Eddie and I first met in the summer of 1972. We were part of a group of prospective students participating in summer orientation at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Go Badgers.

We all hung out in dorm rooms, classrooms, barrooms and in colorful metal chairs on the terrace of the Student Union (which happens to overlook beautiful Lake Mendota and where we incoming freshman had no trouble getting mugs of ice cold Leininkugel or Point beer delivered to our tables.)

Eddie was older than me, and he was way cooler. I don't think he even noticed me in the crowd of outgoing, sophisticated kids we hung with, most of whom were from the east coast. My Kentucky accent kept me pretty quiet. But I couldn't keep my eyes off him. He had a long, thick beard, the likes of which I'd never seen. He biked a lot and looked super cool in his biking gloves; I'd never seen toe clips on pedals.... he had them. He was tan, his hair was long, he wore hiking boots even though it was hot and muggy that August. He drove a VW bus. He was even Jewish.

Getting his attention was a long shot. But somewhere along the way, I guess he noticed me.

The first time we sat close to each other, I told him I thought his hands were amazing. I ran my 17-year old fingers along the map of bulging veins on his hands. I'd never seen anything like them.

He told me later he liked the way I looked in the yellow Army t-shirt I often wore.

By the end of September, he asked me to go to the movies. I brought along my roommate, Judy. Eddie was kind of surprised to see her and even more surprised when she sat between us. The movie was "2001 A Space Odyssey" and I remember very little of it. I was too busy looking over at Eddie and wondering if he was thinking more about me than what was on the screen.

We started taking a lot of walks together. Time passed. We were constantly meeting new people on campus. I started hanging out with a guy named Mark; he with a girl named Mimi. But by December we officially became an "item". He was my first true love.

We've been through a lot over the last 39 years. A lot of good stuff and our share of bad.

Today I still consider him the love of my life.

We had our portraits made tonight during a private lighting class held in my studio. I've been staring at these images for a while now, trying to find the kids we were when we met and fell in love. Did we have any idea back then that we'd really still be together after lines had etched their way into our faces, when hair turned gray, when illnesses beat us down, when challenges got overwhelmingly complicated?

Yet here we are. Eddie is the most supportive person in my life. He is my cheerleader, my biggest fan. He tells me I'm pretty, he sings Allan Sherman songs to make me laugh and he cooks dinner to take care of me (and also impress me).

As I get ready to leave the country for three weeks, I want to take a minute here on the blog to say thanks to this man. He not only encourages and honors the things I do, he gets involved as much as he can. His positive energy, his smarts and his willingness to work hard have helped make Change the Truth everything it has become. He's a behind-the-scenes kind of guy, but trust me when I say that so much of what has happened with the growth of CTT is because of Eddie.

Eduardo, I wish you were going to be on Team 5. The children will ask how "Papa" is, and I will tell them you are thinking about them and always working hard on their behalf. Thank you for all you do to make sure the financial aspects of CTT stay on course, for loving the children and for helping me be the best Mama G. I can be to them.

(The studio shot was taken by photographer extraordinaire and my new lighting mentor, Chuck Arlund.)

mother bear project

2011-12-02T13:13:00.003-06:00

Remember the lovely hand knitted bears we took with us to Uganda last year (thanks to the suggestion of team member Suzanne)?

Heather Michon blogs about the wonderful organization responsible for those bears (and features a Melissa Mosher photo of Petra and Margaret with their bears!) here. It's a good article, well worth your time.

art club

2011-12-02T08:14:00.013-06:00

Each year when I return to the orphanage at St. Mary Kevin, I am blown away by the progress the young artists continue to make. Those of you who have seen their artwork in at our fundraisers or on the CTT website know what I'm talking about. These kids are amazing.

The secret weapon behind these blossoming creative talents?

Michael Stanley Kolulye, volunteer art teacher extraordinaire.

Michael makes the trek to the orphanage whenever his schedule allows. He gathers together those kids who have incredible promise and/or obvious skills. He puts canvas and paint in front of them. He utters soft spoken words of instruction and encouragement. Michael gives these children everything they need to soar.

The SMK Art Club, as it is now known, consists of some of my dearest young friends. Pictured in the top photo are, from left to right: Brian, Oscar, Nicky and Geoffrey. They're showing off their new, hand painted club t-shirts. Michael sent these photos via Facebook this morning. I couldn't post them here fast enough. In the second photo are Michael and sweet Oscar. Aren't these boys and their work beautiful?

I am a lucky girl. In 12 days, I'll get to attend a meeting of the SMK Art Club. I'll be the one bringing the treats, as well as good wishes from the many friends of CTT who made the treats possible. The duffel bags full of canvas, acrylic paints, paint brushes, sketch paper, craypas, watercolors and drawing pencils will be unpacked, and these artists will happily get to work.

Michael's an angel and has become my good friend over the years. The work he does with/for these creative children has truly been an inspiration to me. Thank you, Michael, for all you do.

world AIDS day / uganda

2011-12-01T10:37:00.003-06:00

Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. This is a day set aside for reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 34 million people living with HIV. During 2010 some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus, including an estimated 390,000 children. Despite a significant decline in the estimated number of AIDS-related deaths over the last five years, there were still an estimated 1.8 million AIDS-related deaths in 2010.

The vast majority of people with HIV and AIDS live in low- and middle-income countries. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.

Uganda is often held up as a model for Africa in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Strong government leadership, broad-based partnerships and effective public education campaigns have all contributed to a decline in the number of people living with HIV and AIDS.

Although there is a lot to learn from Uganda’s comprehensive and timely campaign against the AIDS epidemic, emphasising Uganda’s success story must not detract from the huge consequences that AIDS continues to have across the country.

There are an estimated 1.2 million people living with HIV in Uganda. That includes 150,000 children. Over a million children have been orphaned by this devastating epidemic.

Today I think about those children I know who have been affected and those I will surely come to know.

adventure

2011-11-30T22:59:00.003-06:00

Tonight I am thinking about the photographs I hope to/intend to make in Uganda. This will be my sixth trip. There are challenges inherent in that. An Arbus quote I just found has inspired me to try and see the place and the people there in a brand new way, as if I've not been there before.

“I tend to think of the act of photographing, generally speaking, as an adventure. My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.”

melissa

2011-11-30T18:30:00.009-06:00

Melissa Mosher has been living and working at St. Mary Kevin orphanage for 15 months now. The work she's doing with the children and for Change the Truth is nothing short of miraculous. I thank her (daily in my thoughts and once a month on the phone) over and over again. Truly, she has made the work we are doing more meaningful, relevant and effective.

Pictured above is Melissa, Issy, Melissa's mom, Pam, (who recently visited Uganda for seven weeks) and Rosette. A day at the beach. Can't wait to have my own day the beach with the kids soon!

The following is a piece Melissa recently posted on her blog. It's about how thankful she is for the opportunity to work with these special children. Melissa, please know how thankful WE ARE for you!

"I am ever thankful for St. Mary Kevin Orphanage Motherhood. (Hold on cause there are a lot of thanksgivings to follow!) First of all, I am thankful to the orphans that call SMK their home. Despite personal tragedies that have brought them to SMK, they are sincerely the most loving, friendly, inspiring, talented, spirited children I have the pleasure of knowing and loving with all of my heart. From the youngest orphans in pre-Primary to the older orphans in Secondary school, I have such fondness for each age level in different ways. (But yeah, nothing could compare to my love of the Big Boys!) I am thankful for the vision and tireless dedication of SMK’s Administration. There are very few people that I admire and respect more than Rosemary and Joseph Kavulu (and their daughter, Joan Faith) for their years of unconditional love and support for these children. Without their direct interventions in the lives of the orphans at SMK, it is frightening to think of where some of them would be today. I am thankful to a staff of teachers, matrons, cooks, and coaches who work together as a tight-knit community to raise these orphans. Finally, I am thankful for the unique atmosphere of SMK that is truly blessed. From my first visit at SMK, I could feel something special in the air in and around SMK. The more time I have spent here, I honestly believe it is LOVE. SMK is truly one of the most special, contagious, gracious, friendly, loving places in the entire world!!"

team 5: meet bobbi

2011-11-29T20:26:00.007-06:00

"This is my 4th year spending the holidays with the kids, and I feel more connected to the children - and to Uganda - each year. Two years ago, I taught yoga for the first time and was overjoyed to see the kids take on the practice during the year. Joseph, one of the older boys who became one of the teachers, said to me 'after doing yoga, you can't be angry anymore.' The kids taught me more that I did them. I am inspired by their desire to learn, contribute, and become the best that they can be. It's always hard saying goodbye at the end of our journey, and know that they so look forward to this time of year...as do all of us. So this year I'll be teaching yoga again, and I look forward to connecting or reconnecting with the members of Team 5." - Bobbi

Bobbi wins the award for having been a CTT Team member the most often! It's hard to believe this will be her fourth trip. Bobbi has a huge fan club at the orphanage. These children will be very excited to see her again. Watching Bobbi teach yoga to the kids is inspiring. She is able to connect with them in a special way on a physical, as well as spiritual, level. The respect, admiration and love that goes back and forth between the kids and her is a powerful thing to witness. I am grateful to her for offering this opportunity to the children at SMK yet again.

team 5: meet avis

2011-11-28T10:53:00.005-06:00

Avis Smith is a licensed clinical social worker with over 25 years experience in child/adolescent mental health. She is Director of Prevention and School-Based Programs for Crittenton Children’s Center and an instructor at of The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. CTT is extremely fortunate that she chose to be a team member not only last year, but this year as well! Avis will be returning in two short weeks to the children at SMK - the children with whom she fell head over heels in love.

Avis made a particular point last year of seeking out the quieter children at the orphanage - those who were on the shy side, those who had very painful pasts. She was able to get them to open up to her and recount their sad stories. Often I would see Avis sitting on the dirt ground with a little hand in hers, listening intently and respectfully to the child seated next to her. She encouraged and supported so many hurting children last year. She knew she had to return so that her work could continue. Those children will be so happy to see Avis. They will be comforted knowing that the safe place she provided will be available once again.

I have gotten to know this smart, caring, hard working and well respected woman pretty well over the past couple years. I am grateful for that. And happily, this past year, Avis accepted my invitation to join the Board of Directors of CTT.

I'm so looking forward to traveling with her as a team member again this year and to learning from her astute insights and perspectives. Avis is a gem.

josh

2011-11-23T15:59:00.006-06:00

Since this is the time of year to give thanks for our friends and family, I’d like to use this forum to mention how grateful I am for the wonderful family that I have. My husband and children, my dad, siblings, nieces and nephews are all really, really good people.

They’ve been supportive of my work in all its various incarnations over the years. Especially Change the Truth.

In honor of Thanksgiving, I’d like to share my CTT story of Josh.

Josh is my nephew. He lives in California. He’s a super nice guy who has a super nice identical twin named Andrew. I’ve loved these boys since the moment I first laid eyes on them 32 years ago. They’re sweet, funny, personable, smart, kind, family-oriented - and cute to boot! They’re also huge sports fans.

Every year the boys participate in a giant sized March Madness pool. So colossal that it attracts people from all across the country. Believe me when I say that Josh and Andrew (and their older brother Sam) know sports. They started reading the sports page when they were about two or something. Well, at least drooling on it. I’ve been with them when they’ve made their selections for the much more low key family March Madness pool we sometimes put together. Even then, their picks are extremely well studied and carefully made.

But back to the giant sized March Madness brackets.

Josh actually won it this year!

It was amazing! Kansas had to lose in order for him to win, and I wasn’t too happy about that, but he won! It was so exciting!

The organizer of the pool had stipulated that the winner must donate a certain percentage of the winnings to charity.

Guess who called Josh right away once she heard that little piece of information?

Josh was the good guy I’ve always known him to be, and he said “yes” to me right away. We talked about what he might want to fund at the orphanage; it didn’t take us long to come up with the idea of something sports related.

Football (soccer) is where it’s at with kids in Uganda. They can’t get enough of it. I’ve watched them play in their bare feet (navigating their way around sharp stones and mud). I’ve watched them kick around a ball that has little air, many scrapes and tears and is nearly the color of the rust-orange soil. Last year I noticed that Francis played goalie by putting flip-flops on his hands. Melissa, CTT Social Worker, wrote that “Children in Uganda play football on a recreational level in any dirt laid area large enough to kick a football around and in an organized level through school teams. For the past several years, St. Mary Kevin Orphanage Motherhood has had a school football team competing against other local Primary schools in the surrounding villages during the academic year. Once these exceptional athletes advance to Secondary School, they are often recruited to join their school’s football team. One of the largest challenges has always been adequate football equipment for these players. Most of the orphans at SMK have learned to play football in their bare feet and with substandard equipment.” Here is a picture Melissa sent of one of the SMK kids playing with no shoes during a school match. She wrote that of the ten players on the 2010 school team, only four had football shoes.

Thanks to my kind and sports savvy nephew, the kids now have: ten pair of football shoes, 14 uniforms (shirt and shorts), a goalie uniform, 15 pairs of football socks, an air pump, three footballs, and two basketballs. And, there was enough money left over to help pay the school fees of one of our sponsored secondary school students.

How cool is that?

Thank you, Joshua, from the kids at SMK and me. You’ve made Tony, Francis, Kato, Moses and many, many others a very happy crew.

You’re a mensch. And please tell my brother I said so.

felt squares threaded with love: guest post by suzanne garr

2011-11-21T22:59:00.015-06:00

Team 5 member Suzanne writes:

"Almost every time I share the story of the kids at SMK, the person who's listening asks: 'How can I help?' That was Julie Armour’s immediate reaction. Julie's been an elementary school teacher for the past 30 years and has a background in art. Even though she retired from teaching a few years ago, she continues to be involved in children’s lives through her at-home tutoring programs.

Julie has always loved art, particularly making crafts from felt. She was trying to think of something that the girls at the orphanage would like, but would be easy for me to carry to Uganda. As we were sitting around the dinner table one night, Julie ran upstairs to get her book of felt craft, and as we were flipping through the book we came across these felt necklaces. They seemed easy to make, small enough to stuff into a suitcase and, most of all, they looked fun. I asked Julie how she makes them, 'First I choose the colors. Then I cut the felt into small squares. I take the thread and needle and string the felt squares and small beads together.' Pictured here are just a handful of the fun color combinations that Julie has made so far. I will pack the finished necklaces into my extra duffel bag,and they will be part of the Christmas gifts we'll bestow upon the children at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage Motherhood.

Thank you Julie for being a part of the SMK family and giving of your art, time and heart."

- Suzanne

new ctt t-shirt

2011-11-20T16:59:00.011-06:00

I bet you didn't know that a new CTT t-shirt has come into the world! The shirt this year features a beautiful painting of a mother and two children. The original artwork was done by 16-year-old Leku Ivan, one of the brightest and most talented of all the art super stars at SMK.

The shirt is now available in adult sizes S,M, L and XL. It's $15, and you can order one at the CTT website store.

My model, for the second year running, is lovely 12-year-old Leah. She's been a huge fan and supporter of CTT for several years. She has chosen to make CTT the beneficiary of her Bat Mitzvah community service project this February, and she really and truly hopes to make the trip to Uganda with me one of these days. (I hope so, too!)

bernadette

2011-11-19T15:01:00.011-06:00

One thing I've learned since establishing Change the Truth is that there are so many people who have huge hearts and who want to help. I have been blown away many, many times... by a high school student who approaches me after a presentation to say she wants to go to Uganda with me, by a Bar Mitzvah boy who wants his community service project to benefit the kids at the orphanage, by a teacher who wants to showcase CTT at her school's "Africa Day", by an old friend who brings over 200 beanie babies for me to take to the children, by a complete stranger who makes an anonymous donation, by an eight-year old boy who wants to send his Ugandan pen-pal a new soccer ball. The list goes on and on, and as these positive ripples spread out over more and more people, more and more good things continue to happen. I feel ever so lucky to be part of such an outpouring of love.

Bernadette is one of those people who stepped up after a presentation and offered to help. Here is her story:

"I first heard about ‘Little Dresses for Africa’ from a high school friend. After checking out their website and getting a dress template I decided to sew a few just for fun.

Soon after my sewing adventure began, I attended a presentation by Gloria Baker Feinstein about CTT one evening at St. Andrew Christian Church in Olathe. After talking with Gloria and discussing the dresses I had brought along to share with the same group, I dreamed of creating as many dresses as I could for St. Mary Kevin Orphanage. But with that dream I knew I had to ask for help, and boy did I get help!

I soon spread the word about St. Mary Kevin Orphanage to anyone who would listen, along with my dream of creating dresses and shorts. To my wonderful surprise I have received donations of cash, fabric, trims, and sewn dresses and shorts from a great variety of people including members of Curves, former co-workers, friends from Minnesota and Kansas, and of course, many women from St. Andrew’s. Because of their generosity, a total of 117 dresses and 43 pairs of shorts will be on their way to St. Mary Kevin Orphanage in December!

This experience has been the perfect match for me….my love for sewing and my love for children."

- Bernadette Kautio

Thank you, Bernadette and friends. People like you inspire me to keep going.

team 5: meet monique

2011-11-17T17:30:00.018-06:00

(this is Monique and her newly made houseboat when it arrived in Amsterdam)

I am looking forward to meeting Monique. She and I have only communicated via email. She spent a month at the orphanage this summer; that was a huge gift for CTT, the children and me. When I got the news that she had chosen to be a member of Team 5 and make her second trip to Uganda, I felt extra lucky! I know her music students at SMK will be so excited to see her again in four short weeks.

Not only has Monique gone to the orphanage and taught music, she is the person who was responsible for the donation of a set of hearing aids for young Moses. She also wrangled a gently used tuba for the marching band, wrapped it in clothes, included some sheet music and shipped it from the Netherlands to Uganda. And yes, after a couple months, it finally arrived! (More on that later.)

It was a good day when Monique discovered Change the Truth on the internet. It was even a better day when she chose to contact me. And it will be the best day when the children see her climb out of the van soon after her arrival at the Entebbe airport in December!

In her own words:

"Less more than one year ago, I discovered Gloria’s blog on the internet. After some e-mailing with Gloria, SMK was where I wanted to go in my summer holidays of 2011.

As a music teacher with a passion for traveling I like to teach around the globe. More so, I like to work with talented kids who don’t have the privileges of wealth, supportive parents etc. Reading Gloria’s blog made me realize SMK surely was a place to go.

I stayed at SMK in July-August this year and it was so great that I simply have to go back to continue what I’ve started. I was blessed with the most devoted saxophone pupils I’ve ever had, a lovely group of young recorder players, a talented guitarist, very interested marching band members and so on.

During my stay, the children embraced the music and the instruments to a point that you could hear music coming from every corner. After four weeks, the children were firmly settled in my heart and it was soon after returning home that I booked my second ticket to Uganda.

As an ‘outsider’ from the Netherlands, I’m looking forward to be a member of Team 5 and to share the joy and power of creativity with these wonderful children."

review of suzanne's exhibition

2011-11-17T09:05:00.004-06:00

Suzanne Garr's exhibition/fundraiser in Milwaukee has met with great success. She has done a fabulous job of raising awareness and funds for Change the Truth. I thank her from the bottom of my heart.

Read the review of her show here.

musings on a tuesday morning

2011-11-15T11:29:00.006-06:00

What exactly are our responsibilities as grandparents to young Henry and his future siblings and cousins?

Our first job was to figure out what we wanted to be called by the little whippersnappers. Eddie didn’t skip a beat when he announced he’d be “Zayde” (Yiddish for grandfather) and it made sense that I continue being called G-Lo, a twist of my nickname Glo (and a nod to J-Lo says my son-in-law Sam, who has a sly sense of humor and who had already bestowed the name upon me a couple years ago.)

Now our job is mainly to have all sorts of fun and laughter. We teach new words and animal sounds, wonder out loud which color streetcar will come down the track next or where “Spot” is hiding in his cute little board book. We entertain with abandon (and without talent) by singing and dancing; we sneak in tiny bites of ginger cookie next to the peas and prunes at lunchtime and we buy too many toys.

We don’t have to change diapers or get up in the middle of the night for any reason. Unless we really want to.

Our job as grandparents is a good one. Easy and immensely enjoyable.

But this morning I've been thinking about the enormous responsibility we have when it comes to teaching or sharing things that really matter…. lessons and information we wise and life-worn grandparents truly owe our precious new little family members.

Like stuff about all the curious and baffling matters of the heart.

And how easily a heart can break.

The importance of knowing about the family members who came before, who paved the way, who carried us to this point… whose shoulders are the ones on which we now stand.

That it’s necessary to help a stranger in need, and it’s really important that you do so without expecting anything in return.

Like how being fully present for a friend, sister, brother, mother or father in times of pain, loss, sadness, confusion and especially in their joy is what will make you a good, fulfilled and well-loved human being.

That being honest with yourself is the key to being honest with others. Honesty is a very good thing. There will be countless lessons on this topic as you grow up.

It’d be cool if you could give others the benefit of the doubt. Everyone’s just trying to do his or her best.

Be quiet sometimes so that you can listen

carefully

to your own voice and to the voices of those around you.

Know that your parents and grandparents can and will screw up from time to time. This does not mean that they/we do not love you. It’s just that we are probably trying to love you so much that we inadvertently make a mess of things.

I think it makes a lot of sense to give yourself a break. Often.

It makes sense to make plans. But be aware that situations can and do change, and often they're just out of our control.

I have found that if you're having a bad hair day, it's best to just put on a hat and keep moving forward.

And I do think it'd probably be a good thing if you could forgive me for putting up any pictures of you or information about you on my blog that may later embarrass you.

I've only been a grandmother for 14 months now. I know there's a lot for me to learn. Figuring out my responsibilities is only part of the journey, but one I happen to be devoting some thought to on this particular foggy, Portland morning.

occupy portland

2011-11-14T10:22:00.007-06:00

I took these pictures yesterday afternoon. The Portland police had just completed the process of forcing the Occupy Portland participants out of a park encampment. The two groups were at a standoff in the street.

shelby lee adams

2011-11-13T10:04:00.021-06:00

Adams' fourth book "Salt and Truth" is featured is today's NYT Sunday Review.

Some of Adams' work has been an inspiration to me. Some of his work has also always made me feel uneasy. As a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin in 1978-79, I traveled back to my home state of Kentucky several times to work on a photo project about Appalachian musicians. The work of Shelby Lee Adams has since hovered in my head and challenged me. While some of it appears honest and heartfelt, often I am struck by how contrived, posed and somewhat slick it can be. The uneasiness i frequently feel has to do with the perpetuation of stereotypes. Beautiful and striking (Adams expertly and admiringly employs a large format camera and lighting), I feel that the portrayals of the poorest, most primitive, unclean and possibly inbred sector of Appalachian society outweighs those of the larger majority of people living in eastern Kentucky.

This bio is from the Catherine Edelman Gallery website:

Shelby Lee Adams was born in Hazard, a small town in eastern Kentucky. Although he grew up in the back seat of his father's car, moving from place to place, he always returned to Hot Spot, living with his grandparents while he attended high school. Living between the worlds of country and town kids, Adams didn’t always feel he fit in, immersing him self in art and photography books and most things affiliated within the visual the arts.

This was the mid 1960s and the Peace Corps and other government agencies had a great interest in the poverty sweeping the people of Appalachia. When the media visited his home town, Adams naturally wanted to help, taking them to meet his grandparents and his uncle so the media could be introduced to the area. When the media described locals as malnourished and poor, his friends and family felt betrayed. This devastated Adams, who felt he had misled the people he so dearly loved -- an experience that had a profound impact on him, leading him to later photograph the people of Appalachia.

It wasn't until he left Kentucky and attended the Cleveland Institute of Art that he understood the lessons he learned from the country people. Finally surrounded by artists, he experienced a complete culture shock, embarrassed by his Appalachian upbringing, telling people he was from Cincinnati. As an art school student for a short time he stayed away from Hazard and his family, searching for a new identity. By his second year in art school, Adams was exposed to the FSA photographers who were sent to the South to document people who were living in hardship. Although initially defensive about the FSA work, Adams submerged himself in documentary books, showing them to his family on a summer visit. His uncle, a county doctor, took him on house calls to meet people similar to the ones in the books. More than thirty five years later, Shelby Lee Adams is still visiting these people, returning year after year, visiting, studying and documenting their lives.

In his new works, Adams introduces us to families who have moved out of the remote mountain hollers into trailers, where satellite dishes dominate the landscape. Whether photographing a father and child surrounded by their cows, a family gathering on a porch during Halloween or an older couple posing with their dog in front of a new satellite dish, Adams's images are compelling, we want to both turn away and stare. That Adams returns to the mountains year after year is a testament to his dedication to work within their challenging environment while expressing their vulnerability, yet maintaining and expressing their dignity. Although he now lives in Massachusetts, Shelby Lee Adams's heart is forever in Appalachia.

He has worked in color, but I prefer the work Adams does in black and white. Here are a just a few of the many, many images he has made in the hollers of eastern Kentucky.

henry: parting shots

2011-11-12T16:22:00.011-06:00

henry's hands

2011-11-09T16:50:00.005-06:00

granny photographer

2011-11-07T21:59:00.012-06:00

I am joyfully spending the week helping look after my grandson Henry. This kid is clever, good natured, silly, curious and affectionate. He's a good dancer, loves pesto and thinks it's funny when I put a bowl on my head. Such a wonderful little boy. Not a bad model either.

last night

2011-11-06T16:05:00.002-06:00

I noticed a lot of birds at sunset.

And I experienced the rattlings of an earthquake for the very first time.

my studio

2011-11-05T19:19:00.017-05:00

Here are some pictures I took just before the open studio last night. As you can see, there are a few things mixed in with my photographs, like the Change the Truth store and some pieces I made recently in my ceramics class.

open studio

2011-11-04T08:49:00.009-05:00

Tonight many of the artist's studios at the Livestock Exchange Building,1600 Genessee, will be open for touring. It is part of a "Hello Art" event, but please feel free to come down even if you're not signed up for that. Eighteen studios will be open, including mine.

I spent the day yesterday getting my place all spiffed up. I'll be there from 5:30 - 9:00 PM; please come by for a visit. I'll have old and new work available for viewing; the Change the Truth store has found its way there, as well. I might even have some wine.

Hope to see you tonight! I'm in studio #525, just as you get off the elevator on the fifth floor. There will be lots of fun studios to visit, and there are great places to eat right across the street (The R Bar and Genessee Royale) so make a night of it!

There's plenty of parking next to the Golden Ox. Now when was the last time you were there? Add it to the list of possible places to dine...

suzanne's photographs

2011-11-02T19:07:00.012-05:00

Change the Truth Team 4 and 5 member Suzanne Garr has been quite busy lately! She's been preparing for an exhibition of the photographs she made in Uganda last December. The cool news is that this is not only an exhibition, it's also a fundraiser.

The show opened last weekend at Marian Gallery, Mt. Mary College in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. This Sunday, there will be an opening reception from 2 - 4 PM. Suzanne will celebrate the children from the orphanage by sharing the beautiful photographs she made, showing the Change the Truth documentary (made by Lynne Melcher) selling crafts from Uganda and showing/selling artwork made by the children. All the proceeds taken in that day with go directly to CTT and then back to the very children Suzanne is honoring.

Suzanne has been a loyal and strong supporter of CTT for a couple years now. How lucky we are to have her as one of our greatest cheerleaders!

Her photographs are lovely. They come straight from Suzanne's heart.

If you live in the Milwaukee area, do check out the show. I think you'll be very moved.

team 5: meet lynne

2011-10-31T13:25:00.008-05:00

The children at the orphanage will be thrilled when they see that Lynne Melcher is part of Team 5. She is a beloved friend to so many of them. Even though the kids haven't seen her since 2008, they still ask about her and write pen pal letters to her. There's a big "Lynne fan club" in Kajjansi, Uganda!

Lynne has been the magician behind all of the Change the truth films. Her documentaries about the children and their plight have enabled CTT to raise awareness, as well as significant funds. We have been so lucky to have Lynne in our corner. I know we would never have been able to spread the word about the children as effectively as we have these past four years had it not been for Lynne's talent as a filmmaker and her generosity as a human being.

Personally, I am thrilled that Lynne is returning to SMK. I look forward to traveling again with her; she's one of my closest friends!

"Although it’s been several years since my last visit to St. Mary Kevin Orphanage, the children remain a constant presence in my mind and heart. The process of creating documentaries for Change the Truth has kept me connected to them- to their smiles, their stories, their spirit, even when geographically far away. When reviewing footage from my first two trips, or looking at Gloria’s photographs, I often find myself smiling.... just smiling away, which is rare in the labor intensive process of editing. But that’s the effect these children have on me.

The children have also affected the way I think about things.... about life and loss, pain and resilience, struggles and survival. And as a filmmaker, they unknowingly make me want to tell their stories in the most dignified, empowering and compelling way possible.

As I prepare for my third trip to Uganda, I feel honored to once again have the privilege of documenting the children’s lives at St. Mary Kevin, and the efforts of team 5. My goal, as always, is to capture a sense of who these children really are, beyond what we see on the surface, and beyond their circumstances. Ultimately, I hope to educate, inspire and promote change, all of which they have done for me in countless ways."

- Lynne

trip to boston: haley house

2011-10-29T17:36:00.017-05:00

We just returned from a visit with our son, Max. Let me tell you about the place where he now lives and works. He has written about it before for me to post on the blog. But now I have seen it for myself!

Haley House has been in the Back Bay area of Boston since before it transitioned into the upscale neighborhood it is now. It’s odd to find a soup kitchen, flanked by boutique shops and restaurants, situated on a beautiful tree lined street. The house itself was built in the mid 1800’s and still has some of the original pine plank floors. It slants and slopes a bit and needs work, but it is home to a group of inspired, compassionate and dedicated staff members and residents. The soup kitchen is on the first floor; the other floors accommodate administrative offices, a few cats, the residents and storage areas.

Max is one of five residents. The residents are wonderfully gentle, kind people who believe in making a difference. They live in very simple accommodations. I was struck by the peaceful, quiet and supportive nature of the place. These four guys and one woman work really well together and have become good friends. They are responsible for getting the food (which comes from the Haley House farm, local food banks and various grocers), planning the menus and then leading the groups of volunteers that arrive each day to prepare and serve the nutritious home-cooked meals. (The volunteers come from surrounding colleges, universities, churches, civic organizations, etc.) The residents take turn leading the meal shifts. Breakfast prep starts at 5:30 AM and is served to 50 – 80 men (the number varies depending on weather, the time of month, etc), who are referred to as Haley House “guests”. Most of the men are homeless, living in shelters or on the street. Many have addiction issues or struggle with mental illness, problems that are, of course, common to the disenfranchised. Some are just down on their luck. At Haley House, they know they can find a safe, warm place, a good breakfast and the pleasant and supportive camaraderie of the residents and volunteers. “Elder Care” lunch is served at noon to homeless men and women over the age of 55. There is also a clothing and food pantry.

The Haley House was founded by a smart, compassionate, socially and politically active, slightly irreverent woman named Kathe. She (and her husband) began doing humanitarian work by taking in destitute men they found sleeping on the street. Haley House is now a large and loving operation that not only helps feed the homeless, but also provides programs and support for the jobless and those transitioning out of homelessness. Haley House has a bakery cafe, an organic farm and residential properties that have been turned into affordable housing for low-income people.

Kathe has become a huge inspiration to Max. Eddie and I had a chance to chat with her, and we can see why. She has accomplished a tremendous amount of good work over the past 45 years and seems to have no thoughts of slowing down. She cares deeply for those who live in poverty and on the fringes of society and has motivated countless people to lend them a helping hand. Haley House functions on private donations and grants from various foundations.

Max heads up the clothing pantry, helps out with IT stuff and works several meal shifts. He LOVES what he’s doing. The residents and volunteers are encouraged to eat and mingle with the guests; since meeting and learning about people are among Max’s favorite things to do, he’s a happy camper! Part of the Haley House philosophy is “…the possibility of transformation through personal relationships, where the advantaged and the disadvantaged are valued equally, while the intrinsic goodness at the heart of every person in honored.” What a great lesson for Max to be learning (and living).

Organic chemistry class, biology class, homework, volunteering at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and tutoring a Harvard student in chemistry are what fill the rest of Max’s dance card. Needless to say, he is a busy boy. Since he sold his car, he has mastered the T and loves getting around Boston that way or on foot. He takes pride in the fact that he's living on $50/month: $30 for his T pass and $20 for the gym! He and the other residents get to eat all their meals at Haley House, where they have access to its large food pantry and a really nice kitchen.

It was great seeing our sonny boy and learning more about what he's doing!

Tom, one of the other residents. He and Max also go to school together.

Eddie and and Max washing dishes after breakfast. We loved helping and being part of such a wonderful community, if for only one morning.

Our happy young man.

more pictures from nyc

2011-10-28T22:19:00.008-05:00

I made these images at Penn Station.

times square

2011-10-27T08:06:00.009-05:00

A very quick trip to the east coast this week has included some time in Times Square. Here is a photograph I made there late yesterday afternoon as we were hustling from the matinee of "Billy Elliot" to the evening performance of "The Book of Mormon".

if uganda were your home...

2011-10-24T16:30:00.003-05:00

instead of the US, you would...

be 9 times more likely to have HIV/AIDS...
The number of adults living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda is 5.40% while in the United States it is 0.60%.

have 10.4 times higher chance of dying in infancy...
The number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in Uganda is 63.70 while in the United States it is 6.14.

have 3.4 time more babies...
The annual number of births per 1,000 people in Uganda is 47.55 while in the United States it is 13.83.

die 25.26 years sooner...
The life expectancy at birth in Uganda is 52.98 while in the United States it is 78.24.

use 99.5% less electricity...
The per capita consumption of electricity in Uganda is 62kWh while in the United States it is 12,484kWh.

use 99.38% less oil...
Uganda consumes 0.0163 gallons of oil per day per capita while the United States consumes 2.6400

make 97.2% less money...
The GDP per capita in Uganda is $1,300 while in the United States it is $46,400

spend 98.24% less money on health care...
Per capita public and private health expenditures combined in Uganda are $71 USD while the United States spends $6,719 USD

experience 1.56% more of a class divide...
The GINI index measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income. In Uganda it is 45.70 while in the United States it is 45.00.

To learn more about these Ugandan statistics or to make US comparisons to other countries, check out the website "If It Were My Home".

harold feinstein: when your mouth drops open, click the shutter

2011-10-23T21:20:00.017-05:00

Harold Feinstein was born in Coney Island, New York in 1931. He began photographing at the age of 15, and by 19 he was considered a young prodigy in the field, having his work purchased by Edward Steichen for the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. His career has spanned the greater part of the twentieth century, from his most notable work documenting Coney Island to his more recent color photographs of flowers and seashells. His portfolios cover a wide range of subject matter, including street work, nudes, landscapes and still life. Personally, I prefer his earlier black and white work, and that is what I’m sharing with you here. These images (primarily from the 1940's - 1960's) are from his Coney Island, street work and Korean War series. As far as Coney Island is concerned, he once said: “I feel like I fell out of my mother’s womb onto the beach at Coney Island with a Nathan’s hot dog in my hand." The man clearly has a great sense of humor and a deep appreciation for the joy of living and seeing.

In his early years, Feinstein collaborated closely with W. Eugene Smith, for whom he did the extensive layout of Smith's famous "Pittsburgh Essay." Smith said of Feinstein's work, "He is one of the very few photographers I have known, or have been influenced by, with the ability to reveal the familiar to me in a beautifully new, in a strong and honest way."

Feinstein was fundamentally self-taught and never graduated from high school. His teaching style urged experimentation and emphasized seeing over technique. It is best captured by his well-known statement, “When your mouth drops open, click the shutter.” Even though as a teacher he under-emphasized technique, the editors of Modern Photography, and later Popular Photography utilized his work frequently to showcase technique and asked him to contribute his own articles explaining darkroom technique, composition, and printmaking.

Critic A.D. Coleman wrote this about Feinstein: “Harold Feinstein is a true photographer's photographer, and one of the most seriously under-recognized senior figures in U.S. photography. Until the beginning of this new century he was best-known as a highly respected independent teacher of photography whose private workshops (conducted mostly in his Manhattan studio) influenced hundreds of people in the field, including Mary Ellen Mark. Yet at long last, as he nears the age of 80, Feinstein's work has begun to become familiar to an increasingly wide audience.”

I wish I could say we are related, but we are not. Wouldn't it have been fun to look at and talk about this work around the dinner table during family gatherings?

fire

2011-10-23T09:29:00.003-05:00

Designed by award-winning artist Barnaby Evans, WaterFire Kansas City, a multi-sensory experience of music, fire and water, took place last night on Brush Creek. WaterFire was originally created by Evans in 1994 on the three rivers of downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Now it travels around to many cities. It was a nice fall night, the music was cool, and yep, there was a lot of fire.

sukkah

2011-10-21T09:36:00.006-05:00

We recently had dinner in our friend's sukkah. For those of you who don't know, a sukkah is a structure built during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Here's Wikipedia's quick definition, one that is far better, luckily, than my own Sunday School recollections.

"A sukkah (Hebrew: סוכה‎, plural, סוכות, sukkot; sukkoth, often translated as "booth") is a temporary hut constructed for use during the week-long Jewish festival of Sukkot. It is topped with branches and often well decorated with autumnal, harvest or Judaic themes. The Book of Vayyiqra (Leviticus) describes it as a symbolic wilderness shelter, commemorating the time God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness they inhabited after they were freed from slavery in Egypt. It is common for Jews to eat, sleep and otherwise spend time in the sukkah. In Judaism, Sukkot is considered a joyous occasion and is referred to in Hebrew as Yom Simchateinu (the day of our rejoicing) or Z'man Simchateinu (the time of our rejoicing), but the sukkah itself symbolizes the frailty and transience of life and its dependence on God."

I am particularly grateful for the reminder of the frailty and transience of life.

I am also grateful for friends who continue to carry on these age-old Jewish traditions and who invite us to participate.

team 5: meet shane

2011-10-18T23:20:00.006-05:00

In the business of illustration, design and creative development, Shane Evans is a multi-talented artist and visionary who combines his world travels with his art to influence creative expression in others. Shane studied at Syracuse University School of Visual and Performing Arts and graduated in 1993. He then began traveling the world. In addition to contract work in illustration, graphic design and web design for major companies, he has conceptualized and illustrated numerous children’s books. Shane's books have been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, NBA Inside Stuff, Reading Rainbow and Letterman.

Shane has received much acclaim in the children’s literary field for his work on books such as "Osceola," "The Way The Door Closes," "Shaq and the Beanstalk" and "Take It To The Hoop Magic Johnson." His accolades include being honored by Laura Bush at the 2002 National Book Festival, receiving The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and The Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction for Children. Shane's latest book, done in collaboration with his close childhood friend, Taye Diggs, is called "Chocolate Me" and is receiving all sorts of rave reviews.

Shane’s talent does not end with illustration. His design work includes one-of-a-kind hand crafted furniture, clothing, CD cover art, photography and a number of other custom made items. He’s also a musician.

This will be Shane's third trip to Africa - his first with Change the Truth. He can't wait to get to work with the children at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage! He plans to incorporate music, art, dancing and theatre into his various projects. His laid-back and super cool style will surely win the hearts of all those lucky enough to get to hang out and work with him. I feel honored that this multi-talented and busy man will be part of Team 5. He has so much to offer the children. It will be great to have him on board!

henry fix

2011-10-17T08:54:00.011-05:00

Grandson Henry is 13 months old now.

Is that a sweet punum or what? [punum = face in Hebrew]

sunday morning

2011-10-16T11:41:00.000-05:00

joseph kony

2011-10-16T00:31:00.018-05:00

The first time I ever spoke with my buddy Nicky at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage (in 2006), he told me that both his parents had been killed by Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

You have probably read in the news that on October 14th President Obama sent 100 military advisors to Uganda to help regional forces track down Kony and his group. The LRA has been wreaking havoc in northern Uganda for 20 years. This action is long overdue.

From the New York Times:

"Joseph Kony is one of the most vilified rebel leaders on the planet. He stands accused of brainwashing countless children across northern Uganda, turning the girls into sex slaves and the boys into prepubescent killers.

His so-called Christian movement, the Lord’s Resistance Army, has terrorized villagers in at least four countries in central Africa for nearly 20 years, killing tens of thousands of people, burning down huts and hacking off lips. The fact that Mr. Kony, whose followers believe he is a prophet, rarely appears in public has only added to his brutal mystique.

Exiled to a fiefdom on the border of southern Sudan and the Congo, Mr. Kony in 2007 emerged from the wilderness indicating a willingness to sign a historic peace deal with the Ugandan government that would disband his army. But in April 2008, he backed out, saying he needed more time to consult Ugandan elders and contemplate the war crimes charges brought by the International Criminal Court in 2005."

There are many children at the orphanage whose parents were killed by Kony's LRA. I can't help but think of them now as the man may finally be brought to justice.

The reaction of "Invisible Children" to this news is worth watching. This organization has, after all, been greatly responsible for getting Kony's name out there and making young people in America aware of the hundreds of thousands of innocent children in eastern and central Africa whose lives have been horribly and profoundly altered by this maniac.

Watch "Invisible Children" founders express their support for Obama's decision to apprehend Joseph Kony. It's a first step, but a huge victory for the thousands of youths who have been lobbying Washington to take action against the LRA.

Nicky, Cate, Otim Isaac, Geoffrey, Lillian, Rebekka, Issy, Petra and the others: I'm thinking about you as I follow the news reports... thinking about what you have been through because of Kony and how his capture might (hopefully) bring you some sort of closure.

[JUST IN: This AP article presents the perspective of Uganda's president and clarifies the issues surrounding US involvement.]

new hipsta photos

2011-10-14T20:41:00.007-05:00

Here are some new images I made with my trusty iPhone camera.

butterfly portraits and facebook

2011-10-13T21:36:00.013-05:00

These butterfly portraits are from an Operation Breakthrough shoot I did in the studio yesterday. It was crazy fun.

I have started a Facebook page for Gloria Baker Feinstein Photography. If you're on Facebook, please "like" the page; that way you'll get notices of discounts, good deals and upcoming studio events. Currently I'm offering a 20% discount on sitting fees (either in the studio or on location). Join me on FB so you can learn of other offers in the future!

i can see clearly now

2011-10-12T18:10:00.002-05:00

Recently, Change the Truth paid for eye examinations for sponsored students who have been struggling with their vision. Now we have purchased glasses for those who need them. Here are Cissy, Nicky and Rachel showing off their new look (literally!).

team 5: meet dawn

2011-10-09T22:13:00.006-05:00

I first met Dawn Taylor at the Change the Truth annual fundraiser three years ago. She was enthralled with the artwork done by Nicky and had purchased a couple of his pieces. She continued to attend our event, always looking for more of Nicky's work. (She also purchased a wonderful drawing by Nicky's sister, Issy.) Dawn and I started talking that first year, and she told me she would like to accompany me to Uganda one of these days.

Well, that day is coming soon! Dawn will be a member of Team 5. She'll finally get to meet Nicky, Issy and all the other special children at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage. Dawn is so excited to be going, and I am thrilled that this talented, enthusiastic, gregarious and energetic woman will be part of our group. She's going to be a tremendous asset to our team. I know the children will fall in love with her.

A native of Oklahoma City, Dawn graduated with honors from Duke University. She moved to Kansas City in 1989 and spent a short time in the corporate world before recognizing that her calling was in the not-for-profit sector. It was a happy accident that landed Dawn at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, where she spent more than nine years in various membership and development roles. She was part of the team that developed the strategic plan that led to the historic expansion of the Museum, designed by Steven Holl.

Dawn then served as director of development for Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art from 2003 to 2010, raising more than $1 million annually. After 17 years of fund raising and friend raising for art museums in Kansas City, Dawn joined American Institute of Architects Kansas City as Executive Director in June 2010.

Dawn is a devoted Duke alumna, serving on the national board of the Duke Alumni Association for four years. She has chaired or co-chaired two of her class reunions and serves in an ongoing role as chairman of the Duke Alumni Admissions Advisory Committee for Kansas City. She currently serves on the board of Kansas City-based Quixotic, volunteers with Operation Breakthrough, and is looking forward to traveling to Uganda in December with Change the Truth. She is the mother of two teenage daughters, and they will host a foreign exchange student from Belgium in January 2012.

Dawn has been a staunch supporter of CTT since the day she first learned about us. I have a feeling she's going to be in our corner for a long time, especially after she gets to know the children up close and personal. Welcome to Team 5, Dawn! It's going to be an awesome adventure.

nelson and billy begin studies at makerere university

2011-10-07T00:14:00.005-05:00

Among the students being sponsored by Change the Truth are two young men who were accepted to and have just now begun attending University. This is a huge accomplishment! Billy and Nelson were sponsored by CTT while they were in high school. Both lived up to the high standards we placed upon them, and both continue to be exceptional role models for the younger children at the orphanage.

CTT gives a (gently used) laptop computer to any student who gains acceptance to University. Nelson and Billy were recently given theirs by our CTT/SMK liaison Melissa, who sent me these happy photos!

Nelson sent me the following email. This young man has been hoping to attend college his whole life. I think you'll agree: he's wildly enthusiastic about finally having the opportunity to do just that.

"Dear Mama,

You won’t believe what I am going through but still I keep my head just like I promised you. Ever since you left Uganda, there has been a lot taking place in my life and today I opted to share with you my experience at the university in the first week as a campuser.

On Monday this week the University was opened and students turned up in large numbers including your Nelson. We had our first lecture on the same day and everybody in the room was very [excited] to experience it all. We all kept on looking at our watches just waiting for that time of the lecture. In about twelve minutes she entered, introduced herself before us and started lecturing.

She was dressed to kill, with a fluent, dust-free voice, precise and strict with her classroom rules. I wonder the source of her stories; perhaps story telling may be a professional skill to every mentor. She`s one woman who can make a class laugh lungs out! This made me remember my high school mathematics teacher. I enjoyed the entire session and I think, if there is any good course, this should be Computer Science. She motivated us and envisioned us about the world of technology.

Now there is this one I cannot leave out: the one who teaches us communication skills. She enters with her register where everyone is meant to sign and tick against his or her name. She is also strict like the first one. She made the whole class make mistakes with her communication questions. To be genuine; I did not know that I wasn`t communicating effectively.

Thanks to CTT and SMK!

Each day throughout my week has been fun and more interesting than the other. Nelson is trying to make each day meaningful and count for something.

I have a lot of school mates around my course and we all go back walking together from the university til we reach town. During this moment, we get the time to brainstorm about computers, talk about our lectures and it is our rule that every one teaches us something new.

The resources of my course are too expensive and I have opted to become a resource of myself by selecting good associates. What I have also observed in this week about campus is that one has got to have good relationships, be self driven and self motivated, focused, believing in oneself, making a lot of research, consulting, reading extensively, knowing who you are and where you come from. The most important of all, are the last two.

My aim this semester is to be able to design a dynamic website using some programming languages like HTML, DHTML, JAVA, JAVA SCRIPT, PHP and others. I imagine myself doing it MAMA! I just see myself there!

There is nothing easy or hard at campus. Being good at something alone is not even ample; one has got to give his best all the time. I know, it is not going to be a smooth path either, there are always going to be challenges. But as I said, those are only challenges which can be solved!

God bless you, God bless your work

Much Love,

NELSON"

stay hungry, stay foolish

2011-10-06T05:22:00.002-05:00

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. ... Stay hungry. Stay foolish."

RIP, Steve Jobs.

suite of photographs

2011-10-04T09:09:00.015-05:00

For the upcoming holiday season, I have made available a group of 15 small color prints from my Ugandan series. These images are 5.5" x 5.5" and are matted to 12" x 12". I have selected my favorite color pieces; this is rare for me since the Ugandan work that has been for sale prior to now has been in black and white.

The prints are signed. They are not numbered.

I am offering these archival matted prints for $50 each. As you may know, my large gallery pieces start at $600, so this is an unusual (and first of its kind) undertaking.

If you would like to place an order, please contact me. If you are planning to attend the "Gathering of the Goddesses" on October 14th, a Kansas City benefit for Planned Parenthood, you can view/purchase the work there.

Enjoy!

Moon

Child's Drawing

Blue Curtain

Clothesline

Red Toenail

Classroom

Checkerboard

Shoes

Beauty Salon

Yoga

Wash Basin

Jump Rope

Christmas Morning

Coffee Beans

Basket

65th anniversary

2011-10-02T09:26:00.011-05:00

This past week was Ann and Isak Federman’s 65th wedding anniversary. Yesterday and last night was the big celebration. I was privileged to be able to participate, and I was very honored to make their portrait.

Ann and Isak are two of my favorite people - a couple I've long admired, loved and been inspired by.

They are fixtures in the Jewish community in Kansas City. They moved here only months before they married.

“We were on the second ship out of Germany,” Ann recalled in a recent KC Jewish Chronicle article. “We didn’t know what we were doing or where we were going to go, and after we got to New York, they sent us to Kansas City.”

"Ann is from Bendzin, Poland. In 1942 she was sent to a labor camp in Czechoslovakia along with her sisters, Gertrude and Lola. Ann was 20 when she was liberated in 1945.

Isak was born in Wolbrom, Poland. During the war he was imprisoned in 17 different concentration camps, including Bergen-Belsen. Sick and weighing only 80 pounds, Isak left Bergen-Belsen following the liberation.

A Jewish doctor in the British army took Isak under his wing. After spending a couple of months in a British hospital, Isak decided to return to Bergen-Belsen.

Following the war, Ann, Gertrude and their brother, John, also went to the Bergen-Belsen Displaced Persons Camp to search for other family members. (Lola did not survive the Holocaust. Both of Ann’s parents died shortly before the Holocaust.) Isak and John had met during the Holocaust, and found each other again at the DP camp. It was through John that Isak met his beloved Ann.

It was Isak’s idea to come to the United States. Isak, Ann and their traveling party — totaling 10 people — were on the ship for almost two weeks. An American Jewish social service organization welcomed them when they arrived in New York. They were taken to a hotel and told they were going to Kansas City because it was a nice place.

They came to Kansas City with each other. Other than that they had nothing.

Soon after they arrived, Isak became friendly with Rabbi Tibor Stern. Within a couple of months, the rabbi suggested to Isak that it was time to marry Ann.

As Ann recalls, it was the rabbi who actually proposed to her.

“He called me and asked me when is a good time to get married. I said anytime. So we did,” Ann said.

Because they were set to be the first Holocaust survivors to marry in Kansas City, the entire Jewish community was invited to the wedding. More than 500 people attended the ceremony on Sept. 22, 1946, three months after they arrived here. Ann was 21 years old; Isak was 24.

The ceremony itself wasn’t as joyous as the couple had hoped. In fact, Ann doesn’t even like looking at her wedding photo, because she remembers people crying tears of sadness at the wedding. That’s because Rabbi Stern chose to focus his speech on the horrors of the Holocaust, not the happiness of the day or the happy times that would be ahead for the couple.

“The rabbi gave a eulogy at our wedding,” Ann said.

Their past was indeed horrendous. All of Isak’s immediate family — two sisters, one brother, his mother and his stepfather — perished in the Holocaust. Several members of Ann’s family did survive the Holocaust and eventually two brothers and a sister — John (whose wife, Sonia, still lives and works in Kansas City), Aron and Gertrude moved to Kansas City. All of Ann’s siblings are now deceased.

Together Ann and Isak had three children and five grandchildren. A year ago their great-granddaughter was born.

The Federmans built a wonderful life for themselves. Isak was a successful businessman and Ann an amazing mother. Both have always been active in community service. Isak and his friend Jack Mandlebaum founded the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education.

My family and I have celebrated countless Jewish holidays with the Federmans over the years. My children have had the benefit of "surrogate grandparents" in them. We've built sukkahs together, sung songs at Passover together, shared challah on Shabbat together and enjoyed Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and weddings together. Their family has been such an anchor for ours.

To say that Ann and Isak are special, amazing, kind, loving, inspiring, beautiful people is simply an understatement.

Happy Anniversary you two. I love that you still always hold hands.

(In this post I have used a lot of information and several quotes from the Jewish Chronicle article, which was written by editor Barbara Bayer.)

team 5: meet michelle and j.leroy

2011-09-29T08:02:00.018-05:00

"We are J.LeRoy and Michelle Beasley, and we like to think of ourselves as just a 'couple' of fun loving artists! We found out how much we both enjoyed art two years after we met and have continued to encourage, as well as challenge, one another ever since. I paint watercolor on canvas and photograph objects and people at odd angles. LeRoy is gaining fame as a dynamic photographer and plaster sculptor.

J.LeRoy is humbled to have this opportunity to return to Africa. He went in 2008 with Shane Evans (also a member of Team 5). He photographed every person, place and thing he saw. When he returned home and talked about the difference the children made in his life and how powerful it was to walk in such a magnificent country, I almost felt like I had been with him.

Now I will feel the children's hugs, see those smiles and experience the land for myself.

Our most recent show was at the Jazz Museum - a group exhibition entitled 'Reflections in Jazz' and we will also be in a group exhibition at the upcoming Buck O'Neal celebration at the Negro League Museum (Kansas City) in October.

Please visit our website to learn more about us!"
- Michelle

I had the pleasure of meeting this energetic, joyous, generous, fun-loving and spiritual couple almost two years ago. One of the 2010 doll artists recommend I track them down because they "needed" to be part of the project. It took about two seconds for Michelle to say "yes" to making dolls, and she and J.Leroy have been friends of Change the Truth (and mine) ever since.

I smile and laugh whenever we get together. Or cry. Michelle admits to being a crier, and I can be one, as well.

Besides making art, Michelle and J.Leroy are committed to making the world a better place. I love being in their company. They lift me up, give me hope, make me feel good about myself, make me care, make me think about things in new ways, make me feel inspired and make me happy.

Can you imagine how the children at the orphanage will feel in their presence? It takes my breath away to even consider it!

I am so pleased that they are making the journey to Uganda as members of Team 5. It will be amazing for all of us to share the experience with them.

The following is from the "about us" page of their website:

"J. Leroy Beasley was born in College Station, Arkansas. He is a strong minded Tradesman who over the years has discovered and nurtured a passion for the Arts. He is a self-taught Sculptor who has added photography and painting to his repertoire of naturally developed talents. Sculpting has always come naturally to him. The most interesting part of his sculpting is that he uses no molds or pre-fired castings, all of the work he creates is passionately formed by his own hands, freeform. His photography, just as in his sculpting, is masterful at capturing strong, subtle & insightful details missed in the confusion of daily life.

Michelle Beasley was born, raised & studied in Kansas City, Missouri. She received a Bachelor’s of Art Degree from Webster University. Michelle is an accomplished, self-taught artist. She utilizes and is competent, working in a variety of media; charcoal, watercolor, acrylic, plaster, oil and photography. She is partial to the watercolor medium for its ability to portray layering in depth, defining her emotional investment in a piece better than any of the other mediums. As they work together combining all that they are as artist, you can be sure that you will receive completed works that are full of passion, perfection and love."

seamus murphy

2011-09-27T15:02:00.020-05:00

It's been a while since I have posted the work of a photographer whose work I admire. Seamus Murphy is near the top of that list for photojournalists. I was looking through his work today for some inspiration as I begin to think about my photo project this year in Uganda.

Here is the beginning of an article about Murphy written in 2009 by Beverly Spicer. Click here to read the entire piece (which includes an interview). The images I've posted are from the book "A Darkness Visible" which was published in 2008 and features Murphy's work from Afghanistan. He has photographed there since 1994. He also makes films.

"Seamus Murphy describes photography as 'part history and part magic.' This brief description could be a title for Murphy's entire archive, as he is the embodiment of the soulful photojournalist. A native of Ireland, he has worked extensively in the Middle East, Europe, Russia and the Far East, Africa, North and South America, and has to date won six World Press Awards.

Murphy's mesmerizing collection of black-and-white photographs tells the story of the Afghan people who, enduring a perpetual state of devastation, still maintain a vibrant culture. It also reveals a gifted journalist with the heart of an artist, compelled to undertake an epic project in a country entirely unlike his own. With each return Murphy seems to have become even more deeply involved with the fluctuating reality of the Afghan land and its inhabitants.

In his afterword for 'A Darkness Visible,' Murphy describes himself and other photographers as 'thieves who sometimes rob but don't pay back,' though 'by necessity.' However, his images speak volumes to the contrary. This remarkable photographer consistently gives warmly and wholeheartedly to his subjects, and his images display a bond rarely achieved even by the most ethnographically talented and artistic observers."

Here is Murphy in his own words (posted on the NPR photo blog today):

"Aside from the scale of the story and its importance, what draws me and countless others back again and again to Afghanistan are personal experiences with the Afghan people. ...

What I am usually looking for — in Afghanistan or elsewhere — are images that are a faithful record, but that stand alone as strong and visually interesting photographs. Images that feel like the beginning of a long story. I often hear from people looking at my work: 'But that doesn't look like Afghanistan, or America or England.' Or: 'But so many of these photographs show Afghans as happy.'

Maybe what they mean is that they don't look the way they have seen them or expect to see them. When I hear these reactions I feel I may have achieved something.

Too often Afghanistan is viewed through the prism of outside interests. I was there last year to shoot footage and to film interviews for a multimedia film I am producing. Like all my work in Afghanistan, it will focus on the Afghan people themselves. In reality, they are seldom heard."

View more of Seamus Murphy's work at his website.

guest post by suzanne: purls of love

2011-09-26T15:17:00.005-05:00

“Steek, skein, slip and popcorn stitch, oh and purl stitch too. Sound familiar to you? To a group of women, mothers and good friends, who have been together through babies being born and children graduating, this is their language on Tuesday nights at a local coffee café where they meet to knit and chat.

My good friend, Mary Sue, is a part of this Tuesday night knitting group. She has been involved with Change The Truth and SMK since last December 2010 when I was a member of Team 4. She asked her knitting group if they would be interested in knitting hats for the children at the orphanage. Their positive response was immediate, and they were hooked (knitting term, I think.) Some of women in the group are: Jennifer, Julie, Kathy, Sarah, Trish, Karen, Jan, Cas, and Katy. Some of them are master knitters; others have been knitting for fun since their mothers taught them at a young age.

The knitters asked if I could meet them one Tuesday night to talk about my experience at SMK. So, off I went with books, pictures and lots of stories to share. They were in awe as they watched the video. I pointed out certain children and told their stories. I was amazed that in just a few short hours that night they turned out several hats. As they were talking with me, their needles spun one beautiful hat after another. It was all a blur to me - stitches, needles, loving hands and yarn coming together. To date they have knitted close to 100 hats of various shapes, sizes and colors. Each one is truly special and is made with a mother’s love.

I will stuff these beautiful gems into my duffel bag for the trek to Uganda in December, and on Christmas Day each child will be sporting a new hat made by this small, but compassionate group of women who meet each Tuesday in Brookfield, Wisconsin to knit, talk and share life.

As they say in Uganda, ‘Webale’ (thank you) to the knitting group and my dear friend Mary Sue, who made this happen for the kids of St. Mary Kevin orphanage.”

- Suzanne