It seems only fitting to share this on Independence Day.
Ya’ll know that I had the privilege in March to lead a team to serve at the orphanage in China where our daughter was. With 12 other people from all over the United States, we held babies, taught preschoolers how to play London Bridge and blow bubbles, and built relationships with the staff (a process that involved a whole lot of leafy water) who serve the 300 orphans in their care day in and day out. When it was being planned, we were hoping we’d get to go back but were holding that loosely. But, before we even flew home from China, it became very clear that that first trip was a foundational trip in an ongoing work and we’d have to go back.
It didn’t take long to get that next trip in the works. I hoped to be able to recruit 9 team members—we got 14. And, those 14 are going to rock it in Shaanxi this fall. Among them are teachers, a neonatal nurse, occupational therapists, orphan advocates…and a professional photographer.
Ben Leaman has been volunteering for The Sparrow Fund with his wife Abbey for a few years now. They both were a part of the team in March, and they are the only ones from that team to join me again in October. As we dreamed together about this next trip and future trips, something incredible was born—a photography workshop that Ben could teach for 10 older orphans there to teach them photography basics but also speak to their hearts to show them that they are beauty makers and creators and that their vision is valuable.
Yeah, pretty exciting stuff, right?
The curriculum is written, and everything ready to go…except for all the hardware to make it happen. As Ansel Adams pointed out, you don’t make a photograph with just a camera. But, we do need equipment or we cannot offer this program. We can’t teach photography without cameras. So, we dreamed up something else—Valuable Vision sponsors, people like you who understand the significance of what we’re doing and want to come alongside a specific child to allow him or her the privilege of joining us to be mentored in photography and heart.
It sorta rocks. Through a tax-deductible donation of $200 to The Sparrow Fund designated for this purpose, you will be sponsoring one orphan to join the class. Your $200 will pay for the camera, camera case, and memory card he or she will use for the class (note that we have been given a discounted price for the equipment…yahoo for that). Your donation will also cover the in-country printing of some of the child’s shots for him or her to keep as well as the printing of a portrait for the child to keep as well as to be placed in his or her orphanage file—a shot that could be potentially used for advocating for that child as well if he or she becomes available for adoption. Once we’re home, sponsors will receive professionally printed artwork of one of your child’s prints (an 8×12 freestanding Standout) as well as your child’s portrait and a small gift purchased specifically for you during the trip (mystery gifts are super fun, aren’t they?).
However many sponsors we get will determine how many children can join the program with a limit of 10 sponsors/kids. And, I really don’t want to have any less than 10.
Do me a favor—go to this link where there is a button for people to click to become a sponsor. Consider sponsoring a child as a family and SHARE the link until all 10 sponsorships are to. tal. ly. full.
