Rejected! By The Chimes?
No room for this in Biola's school paper...
If you have a passion to affect the world for the Lord Jesus Christ then keep reading. There are people among us that are changing the world. These people of whom I speak are Southern California residents who are literally Christ to the World - locally and globally - with huge impact. Some of these incredibly fabulous people, who shatter their pre-fabricated molds daily - are a group of Biola students and Alumnus who recently came together for the event, “Into Africa", an art exhibit and benefit event (reviewed in the March 30th edition of the Chimes) with the primary goal to raise money for children's education on the Lingura Island of Uganda. (Please visit www.llhss.org)
As the curator, (event planner/organizer - www.bonniekate.com) I initiated a meeting early on with the team that inspired the events. My design contact and lead event photographer were present. We all discussed the show and what to expect. None of us could envision the results that we actually saw accomplished. I think the successes we saw through this event can be atributed to the attidudes of those involved wich are well described in this quote by one of the team members: "Africa is more than flies on babies, starving stomachs, and cruel civil wars; Africa is the dignity of the human spirit; the perseverance through death, and the beauty of uncompromising hope in those dark, brown eyes. Africa has a way of pulling you from your sense of duty into the warm arms of grace. Africa is more than a charity project; Africa is the brilliance of strained humanity and the responding resolve.".
The event itself was an overpass of roads - all briefly intersecting in a fury of a junction, much like the surreal, well lit pass of the I-5 and 57 down toward Anaheim. There were so many people functioning as crucial and specific structural elements. Some on-ramps, some off-ramps, traffic lights, and even those bumps that keep you from driving right off the road.
Key players/just a few persons who went to Uganda and brought back renewed vision to The States:
The speed limit: After exhibiting his photos from Uganda, Adam Sjoberg doesn't leave it there. Though this was Adam's first experience exhibiting his images - over spring break he continued to show his artwork and share experiences back home in Indiana. He is also dedicated to our fallen City Of Angels - where he has seen even more devastating sites than in Africa on Skid Row. I, for one, simply trust him to influence our world.
Concerning active engagement of culture and spirituality Emily Weiss (06, current designer of the Biolan) has this to say: "It is a consistent game of checks and balances. Balancing my check book in a sense - it is easy to be pulled into the world and forget my first love, God. [Likewise] it is easy to neglect culture and not be able to have any credit to your voice for lack of knowledge of the world around you. Like sitting down at a dinner table and watching the dialogue go by without having the confidence to chime in, you become useless, a hammer without a nail."
The Tripometer: Jon Crosswhite was there through everything. He pulled together details that varied from transporting water bottles to exhibiting some of his own artwork. He may not have been in the limelight, but I certainly would have been driven insane without him.
The Semi: Ira Lippke a Fine Art Documentary Photographer (www.iralippke.com) has already transported the remaining works which were not sold at "Into Africa" to Labrys Gallery at Grace Brethren Church in Long Beach, where he was the director since its inception until recently. Continuing to raise awareness and open up discussion about the world we live in - he has been exhibiting his images from Uganda, as well as images taken in Palestine, and Indonesia. Providing thought provoking images that "document the dignity and life of the people"
The long drive home: Just one of Jonathan Olinger's projects is to continue to develop a dynamic orphanage called Obangatek which means "God is Great". "Working with them has given me a greater purpose in my professional and personal life - and for that I thank them." Said Jessica Nelson (05) who is currently working with Jonathan and his team on launching a new web site at [ http://www.obangatek.org/ ]www.obangatek.org. Check out the site for extensive information that he has posted on their mission and actions.
The carpool lane: "Josh McBride, nursing student, and] one of the team members, took me on an individual tour of the art work while telling me his personal anecdotes behind each image. It allowed me to associate names to face. And in communicating the sound, smell, temperature comprising each image - allowed me to understand the immediate and personal connection we have – not as Americans to Africans, but person to person.” Laurel Dailey (06 www.laureldailey.com)
The list goes on: Angela Granados, Thomas Evind, ect...
By showing the ripple effect of what has been and will continue to be accomplished by these people, my hope is to encourage you. Not only can you effect the greater Los Angeles culture, but the world. What I am talking about is not evangelistic bible thumping; I am talking about living life acknowledging that we are participants in a family that has been grafted by Love. Our generation is gifted at networking. We are fully able to accomplish common goals of bettering culture and community together, under the banner of loving God and loving people. This is something I was recently reminded of by the character of team-member (and senior ICS student) Ryan Lindstrom.
"I am a missionary in my own right. " says Breanna Fowler (04) "My mission field is here - and my act of obedience is to stay in it...Into Africa presented an opportunity to exercise my mission... I might never be called [over seas] directly but am able to support mission fully."
Take this as your call to action. If you don't know what your "calling" is, find out about someone else's work and help them accomplish it. In no way is everyone designed for hospitality, teaching, greeting, painting or preaching. And in no way have I observed that to be a draw back.
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I understand that there is already an overwhelming flow of opinions and information filtering through your minds, and hearts at the moment - so my goal is to be direct and concise, and I encourage anyone with questions to freely BUBBS me with any comments, questions, or concerns.
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posted by bonnieKate @ 11:26 AM
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