Peace Gospel International operates a school in the slums of Uganda’s capital city, Kampala. Here are some shots I took at the school and around the slum colony today. The start of the Ugandan school year is this week, however due to the disruption of somewhat tumultuous elections, our enrollment at the school is a little lower than usual; it will be back to normal next week. However, there were plenty of students to interact with today, and you can just tell they’re sharp kids. As you can see in one of the photos, part of our school here has some challenges with flooding but we have some plans to remedy that.
leica
Predawn Via Dolorosa, Holy Sepulcher, Garden Tomb, Yad Vashem
Our final day of the tour started before dawn at 5:15. We made our way into the old city via the Damascus Gate to find nearly empty streets surrounding the Via Dolorosa. As we journeyed through “The Way of Sorrows,” Pastor Chris led us in a solemn progression through what is traditionally believed to be the actual path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion, and the stations there, the actual places the events occurred. At each Station of the Cross, Pastor Chris read us the corresponding scripture describing what happened at that station. We ended at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher a little after sunrise.
Next on our schedule was a tour of the Garden Tomb, a rock-cut tomb in Jerusalem which was unearthed in 1867 and has subsequently been considered by many Christians to be the more historically accurate site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus. The site has some of the most beautiful gardens in Jerusalem, in my opinion. That’s why you’ll see me sharing several photos highlighting the garden in addition to the empty tomb itself. Pastor Chris led us in a very contemplative communion at the completion of the tour.
The gardener of the empty tomb…
Almond blossoms…
Next we arrived at the Holocaust History Museum which is always a profoundly moving experience, acknowledging one of history’s deepest wounds. Photographs are not allowed inside the museum so I have simply added a few of the outside architecture to remember our visit by.
Jordan River, Mount of Temptation, Qumran, Dead Sea, Jerusalem Old City
The day started with sunrise over the Sea of Galilee as we made our way along the Jordan River to the Baptismal Site of Jesus Christ. From there we stopped in Jericho for some camel riding before we took the cable cars up to the Mount of Temptation where we toured the Greek Orthodox Monastery built into the cliffs of the mountain. Afterward we were treated to views of the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. The group then enjoyed a dip in the Dead Sea to experience the extreme buoyancy and rejuvenating properties of the Dead Sea minerals. From there we were not far from Jerusalem so we drove on in to the city to get settled at our hotel. After a much needed break we walked into the old city at Jaffa Gate and enjoyed pizza and wine at Jacob’s Pizza before heading to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After that we walked through the dark walkways across the city to the Western Wall. Quite a day!
Ecclesia with Breaking Bread Journeys: Jordan River, Mt. of Temptation, Qumran Caves, Dead Sea, Jerusalem by Night
On day 5 of our journey we covered a lot of ground. We started our day at a baptismal site believed to be the closest to where Jesus was baptized. It’s a beautiful area with nothing else around it except for what’s across the river on the Jordanian side, you’ll see a couple of orthodox churches.
From there we went on to Jericho for some camel rides and a trip up to the Mount of Temptation on the cable cars. The views from the mount’s sheer cliff dropoff are breathtaking.
Next up was the Qumran caves, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered.
Next we heard from a representative of a local water conservationist NGO (EcoPeace Middle East) who showed us how far water levels were dropping. She took us to a previous resort that is now closed and abandoned because it is no longer at the shoreline of the Dead Sea.
After that we visited Kalia Beach on the Dead Sea where we experienced the peculiar sensation of extreme buoyancy and the rejuvenating effects of the mineral-rich Dead Sea mud.
We packed up and then made our way to Jerusalem. We enjoyed wine and pizza in the old city at Pastor Chris’ favorite spot, Jacob’s Pizza. Then we were able to make it to the Holy Sepulcher before closing time. We entered the old city through the Jaffa Gate…
Afterward we saw the generations-old tradition of the locking of the doors of the Holy Sepulcher, something I personally had never witnessed in any of my five visits here.
We walked onward through the Muslim Quarter to the Western Wall in the Jewish Quarter. Pastor Chris was invited by some orthodox Jews to dance with them as they sang songs at the wall. Quite a night!
Ecclesia with Breaking Bread Journeys: Mt. Precipice, Mary’s Well, Tulip Winery
Today we started our tour in Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus. We took a short hike to Mt. Precipice. It is believed by many to be the site of the Rejection of Jesus described in Luke 4:29-30 – The people of Nazareth, not accepting Jesus as Messiah tried to push him from the mountain, but “he passed through the midst of them and went away.” The mount is situated on the southern edge of the city and provides beautiful views of the valley below and Mt. Tabor (Mount of Transfiguration) seen as an isolated peak to the east.
Next we visited Mary’s Well, which is believed to be located at the site where Christians hold that the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she would bear the Son of God, an event known as the Annunciation.
Found just below the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in modern-day Nazareth, the well was positioned over an underground spring that served for centuries as a local watering hole for the Arab villagers. The actual well-spring is difficult to see down a dark passage, but I did manage to get some shots of the beautiful interior of the Greek Orthodox church; Greek iconography is one of my favorite art forms.
For lunch we spent the afternoon hearing the beautiful story of Tulip Winery. The Israeli winery employs special needs adults who make their home in the village of Kfar Tikvah where the winery is located, in the Haifa District. We met some of these wonderful people whose lives have been transformed through the healing of having a job they love, where they are appreciated and valued. We were treated to a delicious lunch and an unforgettable wine tasting. We were blessed by our host Lital who you could tell was very passionate about the cause behind Tulip, which employs 35 special needs adults who live in the village where the winery is located, a former kibbutz. The village’s name appropriately means “Village of Hope.”
Lastly, we came back to our hotel where we enjoyed a dinner with wine pairings, hosted by the Scots Hotel’s resident winemaker, Denis. They have a beautiful wine cellar…
Ecclesia with Breaking Bread Journeys: Arrival Day / Tel Aviv
I’m here with a group from Ecclesia Houston led by Pastor Chris Seay and Breaking Bread Journeys on a not-your-average tour of the holy land. Breaking Bread Journeys is the first joint Palestinian-Israeli tour company; they aim to build bridges by “breaking bread.” As you follow along, I’ll take you with us to many places the average tourists do not visit, such as Nablus in the West Bank. But not to worry, we’ll be visiting some of the usual spots as well. However, thanks to Breaking Bread’s desire to take their groups on a “local’s view” of the holy land, even the most usual spots will be revealed in unique fashion. And of course, as their name implies, much our of touring is woven around the dining table as we taste various cuisines and hear from the locals who prepare the meals.
Today the group arrived a bit tattered from the transatlantic journey, but they were back in full force in no time. Before we officially gathered for our first event, I had the chance to walk down to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and grab a few shots before the weather turned quite stormy.
We started the evening with a cocktail reception at which we heard from the founders of Breaking Bread Journeys, Elisa and Christina.
We then made our way to Cafe Jessica for dinner, the food was delicious and the service was fantastic. Chris shared with the group a little about what to expect in the days ahead.
After dinner, we walked back to the hotel and Chris presented us with special gifts he encouraged us to wear as a mark of our pilgrimage to the holy land. He explained that it’s a tradition which has been practiced for centuries by pilgrims making their way to this special land.
South India
A few favorites from my August visit to the Peace Gospel International girls home and boys home in South India.
A lot can happen in one second: NYC Subways
This is a series I’m really happy with. I’ve long been fascinated with the NYC Subway system. When I was a teenager I read an article in The New York Times Magazine about people who lived underground in the subway tunnels, and saw a documentary on subway graffiti artists of the 80s. Both of these stuck with me and planted a dream in my soul to experience the subterranean world of my country’s most populous city. Since then I’ve had the good fortune of visiting New York several times since I was in my early 20s.
So for some time now I’ve been obsessed with photographing the underworld of New York’s Subways. It later carried over into many other underground transportation systems around the world as I traveled; many of my photos of those worlds you can find on Instagram via a little-used hashtag called #subwayghosts.
As for this series, I shot these photos with my Leica, using 35mm or 21mm lenses, ƒ/16 at 1 second exposure, no tripod. I love the idea of “a lot can happen in one second” as it represents the fleeting nature of life— that we should seize and be aware of every moment. And because life is messy and often times feels like a blur, I’m pleased with the outcome of the shaky and almost slight double-exposure feel of some of the shots; a result of the instability of trying to hold the camera steady for a full second while the shutter is open. Hold your breath and hang on…
One other thing to note, and then I’ll get on to the photos… Usually you come to the subway to do one thing… catch the next train. You get on, and then you’re on your way. But as a photographer trying to document the feel of the subways, it’s just me and the musicians who stay to absorb multiple transitions. You notice that it’s much like the ebb and flow of life… people come, people go… transitions happen, there is life around you, energy builds, something suddenly stops, and then… silence and solitude.
Venezia: Spirit of the Gondola
On my way home from Nepal I had the incredible opportunity to stop through Italy, when the 56th Venice Biennale art festival was getting underway. After the trauma of facing Nepal’s devastating earthquake aftermath, I found solace in the soothing elegance of Venice’s gondolas. They seem to weep at times, as their heads bow in reverence to the shadowed tunnels from which they humbly emerge. Indeed I myself had things over which to mourn. Venice’s somber waterways seemed a fitting backdrop for my contemplative recovery from the previous week’s heartbreaking realities.
The timing of my trips, both of which were already planned before the earthquake, seemed surreal, yet poetically appropriate. I have more themes to share from my Venice wanderings and then will take you south to the mountainous Isernia province of Italy where I reunited with lifelong friends I had not seen in years.
