Restoring Grace

When we talk about artist rescuing beauty, we arent talking about the traditional view of photojournalism. The type that records what is there from no objective angle and easily manipulates the emotions of their readers. The artists who aim to rescue beauty are the ones who jump into the action on a personal level, who invest in their subjects, who want to show the love of God to everyone who may be a part or involved in the story.

This is what Hannah and Sarah are endeavoring to be a part of.

To this end, let's pray today that the girls will see this story the way Jesus sees. It's not worth it for them to be "just another team" of photojournalists working on a human trafficking story. It needs to be much more than this. It needs to be inspired of God and from an angle that only He sees.

May our creative and awesome God inspire Hannah and Sarah to this end today.

___

Interested on other ways to get involved with the plight of Human Trafficking? Check out Call and Response. The first full length feature documentary created by an undercover team of philanthropists to raise awareness and give outlet for involvement by ordinary citizens. I found it super cool.

Today I was reading in The Valley of Vision - an old book of Puritan prayers given to me by a dear friend. In it, is an appropriate prayer that we can pray for Hannah and Sarah today.

Oh Lord of Grace
The world is before Sarah and Hannah this day
and they are weak
but they look to you for strength.
If they venture forth alone they will stumble and fall
but on the Beloved's arms they are firm
as the eternal hills.
If left to the treachery of their hearts
they shall shame your name,
but if enlightened, guided, upheld by your Spirit,
they shall bring You glory.

Be thou, their arm to support,
their strength to stand,
their light to see,
their feet to run,
their shield to protect,
their sword to repel,
their sun to warm.

Today, pray that Hannah and Sarah keep up their endurance as they are making their way to the half way mark! May they be kept in health, spiritual strength, and safety through this journey!

Here's an update from Hannah!


Blog Thoughts – 2.16.09

“I love you…SO, so much.” These are the words we hear every day. Words that are always accompanied by a hug or kiss on the cheek. The girls here at House of Grace may not have many possessions of their own, but they are abundantly rich in one thing: love. And the more they give it away, the more capacity for love they seem to contain. Everything about their lives evidences the power of God’s love. Their exuberant love for each other. Sisterly affection. Adoring love for the amazing staff who care for them day in and day out. Patient love. Unrestrained love for two strangers who walked into their lives a short week and a half ago.

We did not expect to be the recipients of such love. We came prepared to reflect the love of Christ to these precious girls. Instead, we find ourselves learning and relearning about love, as Christ's love is reflected to us. We find our hearts expanding to love more fully and more completely as a result of the love poured onto to us from these girls.

What is the source? These girls have been trampled and rejected and abandoned, and have every reason to want to harden themselves. Many have been emotionally crushed by those closest to them-- their own families. Most were raised with no perception of personal value. Yet they willingly make themselves vulnerable, and pour out their love upon others.

We can find only one explanation: the amazing grace of God. Somehow, someway, these girls have found the ability to entrust their hearts to God, to allow Him to restore them, and to open them up to new life and new love.

They share Christ’s love, not their own. Every moment. Love is not something they force. The dictionary definition of love is “an intense feeling of deep affection; a deep attachment to someone.” The love that the girls exhibit here goes far beyond this. They have tapped into something deeper than human love. They access Christ’s love, fully and abundantly. Because they live in Christ’s love.

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and be so pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:9-11

Their love is not given out of ignorance. They bear the scars that remind them of their hurt. But they choose to love anyway, with nothing held back. It is a pure love that they give, straight from the heart of God… and it is indeed bringing glory and praise to Him. Listen to the voice clip. It’s a recording of some of the girls in worship. Hear it and know that God is still performing miracles. Never again doubt the power of His healing grace. And claim it for yourself.

So, imagine what it would be like to try and communicate deep subject matter with someone who didn't speak your language. Then, try to imagine what it would be like to hear a highly emotional story - through broken english. This in a large sense is what Sarah and Hannah are dealing with in the Thailand project.

Pray that God will do as He has in the past - bring clear communication between Hannah, Sarah, and all the girls they are profiling from House of Grace. We know He can.

Oh, and just as promised, here's a new wallpaper to remember the girls in prayer!
Click Here to download!

Hey Everyone!

Check out this update from Sarah Danaher! And look ahead for a new updated wall paper to keep reminding you to pray for this project!

Today, pray that Sarah and Hannah would be able to establish good and strong relationships with the Thai girls. That they would connect despite cultural, language, and lifestyle barriers. That the love of God would be felt and shown through this project!

___

Feb 9
February 9, 2009
Chiang Rai, Thailand

Thanks for the prayers. I'm feeling much better. The horrible cold and fever that bombarded me the day before I left home has almost completely subsided. I still have a lingering cough that I can't seem to shake, but other than that, both Hannah & I are healthy and well.

Life here is great. It's so beautiful. The girls get up early (6:30am is sleeping in for them), and we are doing our best to acclimate our bodies to their schedule. We have a 12-hour time difference from home, so it's a bit of a challenge, but we're doing our best. You will be pleased to know that I am currently off coffee. =) They have some sort of single-serving coffee mix of sorts that I drink each morning, but it doesn't count as coffee, since the ingredients read "50% sugar, 45% milk substitute, 5% coffee." No joke. The days are slow and easy, but every night at 8:30 Hannah and I look at each other and wonder if we can even stay awake until 9. We're turning into old ladies.

Our first few days were consumed with getting to know the girls and adjusting to the lifestyle of House of Grace. Saturdays are cleaning days, so we spent our first morning photographing girls through clouds of dust, and walking around surrounded by at least ten smiling faces who regularly wanted to hold hands and give hugs. I stopped part way through the first morning and thought, "Nothing could feel more natural." Travel and photography feel like they're in my blood. Yesterday Jutiporn (the campus director) asked if we're dealing with culture shock, to which we both happily responded with a decided "no." We love this place, and we love these people.

The girls have such a sense of joy, and such a sweet spirit. There are 105 here, living together 24/7. They all share rooms. All of them. And yet they still enjoy being together. You seldom see any girl off by herself. Some of the older girls are "house/room mothers" for the younger grades, but they don't complain at having younger ones to care for when they want to spend time with their older friends, or when they have to work on homework and study projects. It's amazing. And very convicting. When I take a step back and look at my life and my attitudes, I am convicted. They have come from such hard backgrounds, and they have such joy. I want to see and love like they do. I came hoping to reflect the light of Christ to these precious girls, but instead I find Christ reflected back to me.

Schedule for time in Chiang Rai

Monday, February 9
Girl's birthday party

Tuesday, February 10
Go to Market with cook

Wednesday, February 11
Go with little girls to Mackorn School (ages 4-10)

Thursday, February 12
Free day
Possibly go to Chiang Mai, 3 hours away with A-Pae, one of the leaders

Friday, February 13
Shopping at night bazaar

Saturday, February 14
Day trip to Doichang village

Sunday, February 15
Join Wedding celebration at Pamee village

Monday, February 16
Free day

Tuesday, February 17
Go with older girls to Donchai School

Wednesday, February 18 -- Thursday, February 19
Village overnight

Friday, February 20
Time w/ girls

Saturday, February 21
Time w/ girls. Start packing

Sunday, February 22
Goodbyes and depart

Monday, February 23
In Bangkok (will head to airport around 10pm)

Tuesday, February 24
Fly out 1am. Arrive in Atlanta at 9:30am
(Sarah fly to Atlanta at 2:30pm)

In the middle of an emotionally intense story, how do you retain journalistic accuracy and the true account of what is going on? How do you not emotionalize a story but continue to capitalize on the pulling of heartstrings?

You can imagine this is a tremendous feat. Please pray that Hannah and Sarah that they would be given eyes to see how to clearly direct the story as witnesses, and not as emotionalist seekers.

The blessings of this trip started right away. The entire 36 hour journey from Atlanta, GA to Chiang Rai, Thailand could not have been smoother. Our connection in Seoul was a breeze and our overnight in Bangkok, although it seemed a little sketchy at times, went incredibly well. It gave us 3 ½ hours of sleep in a real bed, hot showers, and a great breakfast. I’ve never passed through customs so easily, and although waking up miserably sick by the time we landed in Seoul, when we hit Chiang Rai I felt like I was back to 100%. So everyone out there who prayed for our safe travel, thank you…we felt the prayers every step of the way.

The thought that hit me the first day here was “I didn’t know this was possible”. I didn’t know I could love people that I had never met. But when I arrived here in Chiangrai, I knew I did. I knew that I already loved the girls at House of Grace. Watching these girls, spending time with them, being overwhelmed by their selfless love, I cannot even begin to comprehend how anyone could reject them, and belittle their worth to that of trash. Their spirits and their hearts are so pure. True joy pours effortlessly from them. They have stolen my heart and I know that I will never get it back. I can’t help but feel that I will never have enough time here. Never enough time to get to know them completely, to understand their hearts, to capture images of their souls. What a privilege and honor to be documenting just a tiny piece of their story. I am not worthy. But I am called. And for that I am grateful.

- Hannah Brandau

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Let's pray that today, and through the entirety of this project, Hannah and Sarah would both be blessed with amazing and tremendous physical fortitude in the midst of new climates, unpredictable schedules, new diet, and sicknesses they aren't used to. Pray that God gives them the health and rest to see this project through with His grace.