culture, violence, creativity

This past week, I have said goodbye to a friend, translated a personal hygiene/gynecology workshop, eaten in a classy German-Bolivian home, worshiped at a wonderful church, visited an art exhibit, done some homework at my favorite coffee shop, and (of course) gone on many photo walks. There is a rhythm to things, but there is also constant change--new people, new circumstances, new expectations.

out on a photo walk [early July]

 





 

I've caught myself feeling pressure from who-knows-where quite frequently over the past few weeks. In part I think it is because of my large and looming independent study project (ISP) which, while I am very excited about it, seems a little daunting at this point. I'm doing an ethnographic study of the intersection of culture, violence, and creativity, which will involve teaching and talking to the girls at Albergue about their art, going to art exhibits/arts-related events, and interviewing artists, cultural directors, and art teachers. I am slowly figuring out how to break into the "art world" and am beginning to process how it is that my students perceive beauty and exercise creative agency, but I am still left a little overwhelmed and confused about the whole thing right now.

At the same time, as I put all this pressure on myself I am reminded that I by no means am doing this by my own power. Walking with God means acknowledging His power that works through me. It means allowing His peace to be bigger than my problems. It means I am dependent. Yet again, I am re-learning this very simple yet so very challenging lesson.

The covenant that the other interns and I wrote reminds me of this beautiful dependency each day:

Lord, like Peter, we are a people who,

Seeing You before us, step out into the waves.

Acknowledging our fearfulness, we trust that You meet us.

With Your strong and steady hand,

You hold us in the storm.

And when we sink from the weight of fear and doubt

We reach for You, knowing that You save us.

Upheld by your strength, we commit to

Listen to the unheard voices and know them by name,

Love our neighbor out of the love that You have shown us,

Anchor ourselves in hope in the midst of injustice,

Pray for the people with whom we walk,

And give thanks in all circumstances.

Lord, weave us into your story.

Help us;

hold us.

La Marcha

Last Friday, Mosoj Yan participated in "La Marcha contra El Abuso Sexual" (March against Sexual Abuse), along with dozens of other organizations in Cochabamba. It was such a gift to see all these organizations coming together to raise awareness, and to march alongside the girls in their protest.

persistencia

Coroico with Dr. Folch

Last week was both a highlight and in some ways a turning point of my time here in Bolivia, thanks to a visit from one of my favorite Wheaton profs. It was a refreshing, conversation- and adventure-filled time, and has given me a new outlook on many things. In particular in our conversations, I was able to re-think my photography project, what works, what doesn't, and what can be improved--I was finding that classroom lecture/discussion wasn't working, but that "photo walks" were. Almost every day, I go out walking with 2 or 3 of the girls at Albergue to let them take photos of whatever they like, and each walk is filled with moments of pride and excitement as the girls take photos of dogs, flowers, graffiti, trash, etc. and then get to show them off. I hadn't really thought much of these walks because they weren't fitting into the structure of my class curriculum, but now I am seeing more how I can use these walks as my main teaching tool--and how they have already been doing so much good.

For one thing, these walks mean I am not forcing creativity in the classroom, and for another, it means I can teach good composition experientially through the photos that they themselves are taking. After each walk, I sit down with the girls and go through their photos with them on my laptop, and we discuss which photos they like or find interesting or strange, and then I pick out my favorites as well and say what I like about them. I've already sensed a lot more learning going on in the past week than in the whole first month. Praise the Lord for answered prayers! Also, considering that one of my learning objectives at the start was for them to be empowered through this project, I would say the freedom that they have in these photo walks, which they don't have much of anywhere else, is indeed a significant thing. I am so grateful that I am now seeing this more for what it is.

Some other things that have been on my mind lately:

This quote

“Those who love their dream of Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest, and sacrificial.”

-Bonheoffer, Life Together

This painting (Persistencia, Fernando Montes)

This hymn

“O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
...
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.”

-George Matheson

El Chapare

Here's a few photos from Albergue's mini-vacation a couple weeks ago to El Chapare. Jungle-hiking, monkeys, swimming, waterfalls, picture-taking, and lots of yummy Bolivian food and beautiful mountain views along the way.

Apologies that I haven't posted lately. Things have gotten very busy--and also a lot more challenging. I am still struggling to figure out what my role is at Albergue, I am frustrated that relationships haven't developed more at this point, and I am unsure how to teach photography to unwilling students.

Here's a snippet from my most recent assessment letter regarding the photography project:

My thoughts in regards to this feel kind of ethnocentric and I am still sorting through them, so bear with me. In various conversations lately, I've been learning that in the Bolivian school system—and to some extent in Bolivian culture in general—creativity and critical thinking are painfully absent. Everything is rote memorization and regurgitation of information. It is no wonder, therefore, that I get blank stares when I am explaining an open-ended portraiture assignment. It grieves me that creativity could be so absent from an entire culture, while it also makes me want to teach it well all the more. The question still remains as to how I should go about doing that, because to force creativity is essentially oxymoronic.

Please pray for inspiration in teaching; for God to work through and strengthen relationships with the girls; and for grace and rest amidst the busyness and ambiguity of this season. 

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." -2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Cuesta Punta

Here are a few photos from our trip this past weekend to Cuesta Punta, where there is nothing but mountains, farmland, and tiny adobe homes. It was wonderful to get to see a new place, and to hike some more of the Andes.

Off with the girls from Albergue tomorrow to adventure around El Chapare! Pray for safety, for fun,  for bonding, and for growth & learning in the photography-related activities on the trip.

Blessings.

escalando sacando fotos

This past week at Albergue has been so full of physical activity that I haven't gone a day without feeling sore or bruised. Honestly though, it's been a blast. Soccer, swimming, and yesterday a four hour excursion in which we hiked up the cacti-covered, rocky backside of the mountain on top of which sits the iconic Cristo statue [pictures above]--what gifts these are.

Also this week, I officially started teaching my photography classes! In one sense, it's been a success because all the girls are eager to take photos. It was so great to see them so excited about using the cameras on our hike yesterday. But in another, I am frustrated/anxious because they are neither super engaged in the classroom setting nor very eager to do the "homework" assignments which I give them... How can photography be a means of empowerment and healing, as I am hoping and planning for it to be, if I cannot get the girls to delve into the material? However I am trusting that, with patience and prayer, it will all come together in its own way. Though most likely not in the way that I expected.

This next week is full of travel (!) which I am very much looking forward to. More updates on that when I am back.

keep walking, though there's no place to go

"Keep walking, though there’s no place to get to.
Don’t try to see through the distances." -Rumi

In the past couple weeks, it has been tempting to look at the rest of my time here and be filled with questions and doubts about the purpose of it all. However, it has proved to be a lesson in trust--trust that God knows what He's doing, and that all I have to do is keep walking. All these moments of doubt and fear I think have been God's way of revealing to me His faithfulness. Not one of my weak prayers has been left unanswered and His strength fills me with hope. 

At Casa Albergue

At Casa Albergue, I am finally settling into a routine and learning the rhythm of the place. My "role" in many ways is just being a friend to the 16 girls who live there. It is challenging and awkward and joyful all at once. There is a lot of room for creativity there, and a lot of time in each day which gives me the opportunity to head up any number of workshops and activities--photography being one of them, of course, but that only takes so much time out of the week (and I still haven't started). I am coming to believe more and more strongly in the important role that the arts can play in bringing about healing, and I feel so privileged to be a part of that here at Albergue.

First big snowfall up in the mountains last week!

Pray for a deepening of friendships here, particularly with the girls at Albergue, and for inspiration and creativity to abound over the next several months.

Blessings.