Monday is Laundry Day

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 04/25/11

The city of Valparaíso sits facing the Pacific coast, one of the chief ports of Chile. It is built on a series of hills and gullies. There are more than forty hills and to pass from one to the other, one has to go up to the top of hill or down to area at the waterfront. Houses built on the sides of the hills seem to defy gravity. The houses have no patios or garden areas where clothes might be hung so the string their clothes line out the window. Painting these houses is no easy task but the people want to make their city attractive. Many talk about the sights and the sounds and the smells of Valparaíso. Each is unique but unable to be captured by a photograph.

It was to this city in November of 1959 my wife, Evelyn, and I, along with our daughter Kathleen, arrived by boat. It was not to be our place of residence as we were embarking on our missionary work. However, we have returned often to visit churches in the area. We also have returned with visitors from abroad who never find enough time to take in all there is to see in the city, even scenes showing washing hanging from windows of colorful houses hugging the hillside. This picture was taken from a street on one side of the gully. Steps close by were available to walk down and across to the other side.

Photographer: David Jones, Chile. “Our home is inland in the city of San Felipe which lies in the foothills of the Andean mountains where the main highway connecting Chile to Argentina runs. We have nothing but praise to God for His keeping care for more than fifty-one years of missionary work. Each city presents a need that only Christ can satisfy and we seek God’s help to fulfill that need with the preaching of the gospel.”

Flowers Appear

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 04/18/11

On Sunday afternoons, I take my camera for a walk. It is part of my "resting." Resting for me comes in what brings joy to my heart. Photography is a hobby. Flowers are my favorite things to photograph. There are many wonderful gardens to photograph here. My "spiritual metaphor" is flowers and weeds. God uses nature to help me to see his full plan for my life. Flowers are things that I intentionally put in my life and cultivate to help me grow. Weeds are things that are in my life and often not by choice. Those weeds help me to grow as well and in different ways. One day the Master Gardener will cultivate the harvest in my life and separate the weeds from the flowers.

photographer: Jayne Russell, Ukraine. “I have been in Ukraine for eleven and half years with SEND International. For the past six and half years, I have taught at Kremenchuk Regional Bible College in Kremenchuk, Ukraine (4 hours south of Kiev). I teach and direct the Christian Education and Women's Ministry programs at the college. I designed the Women's Ministry program while in graduate school. We are finishing the first group this year as a two year program, Next year, we will enroll students for a Bachelor level (4 years) program in Women's Ministry and Educational Ministries. Students take the courses on a 'modular' basis so applying what they learn is always fresh. I love what I do....though grading papers is the hardest part. As a single woman, I am thrilled to be able to serve God in this capacity. In my "spare" time, I do a craft class for the kids at church on Saturday mornings and sewing class in the afternoons. Twice per month, I host a cooking/baking class for young moms. They love the fellowship and new recipes. There is time for good discussion while whatever is cooking/baking, then we eat!”

My Burden is Light

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 04/11/11

After almost 10 years in Africa, I’m so used to men and women carrying huge loads on their heads. Once in a while, though, an exceptional load catches my eye and almost immediately the verse came to my mind. Especially women carry heavy ‘loads’ here, in all kinds of ways. It’s my prayer that their burdens could be lighter and they would find peace for their souls. I shot this picture on a family vacation at the coast of Ghana.

Photographer: Ineke Van Dingenen, Burkina Faso. “I’m a mother of 4 girls and my husband is a doctor. We’re missionaries with Tearfund Belgium to Burkina Faso, West Africa. Our mission is to make good quality medicine available to all, including the poorest. I must say we are really stuck to our computer these days to follow on internet what happens in neighboring country Ivory Coast. We had quite a week last week here too with curfew, soldiers shooting in the air all night etc… there’s a lot going on nowadays, isn’t it? It’s good to know God has everything in his hands!”

Cheery Cherries

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 04/04/11

It was the height of autumn when I arrived in this city 6 months ago, and I was dazzled by the colorful abundance of fruit and berries growing everywhere. This photo was taken in a local park I walked through every day on my way to the mission base. It's a cerisier sauvage (wild cherry tree), a favorite with the local birds but - sadly - not for human consumption. Doesn't it look amazing - all that fruit... and no leaves!

photographer: Kathy Day, France. "I'm a single Australian WOTH, working in France with a media Mission team to produce radio, TV and Internet material for church planting across North Africa and the Middle East."

What's NEW This Week @ WOTH:

*WOTH Book Club: Starts TODAY...hop over to the blog and see what our Blog Host, Linda Swanson, is saying about our latest read, The Help.

*WOTH Retreats: Registration is now OPEN for our two remaining 2011 Retreats.

The Furlough Retreat @ Glen Eyrie, CO on July 11-14

The Fall Retreat @ Foz do Iguacu, Brazil on October 16-19 & 20-23