Faces and Places

Working in rural India kids surrounded us wherever we went. Most of the time they were happy and silly, but there were occasions when the hardships of daily life became hauntingly apparent.

Crossing the Suez Canal by ferry from Ismailia to the Sinai Desert in Egypt. As this lime vendor walked past our van I managed to snap a couple of discreet photos. I love the character in his face along with the interplay of colors in the morning sun.

Living proof that God has a sense of humor!

Visiting a Christian orphanage school in rural India, there was no shortage of volunteers when asked to share their memorized bible verses.

I took this photo in early January 2005 just after the Asian Tsunami. We were visiting a fishing village on the east coast of India in the state of Andhra Pradesh. There was little damage that was apparent to us other than a few boats that had been carried inland and stranded. We had however heard stories that some of the fisherman had been killed while on the water. What we saw were hundreds of boats tied up at this village. Nearly all of the local fishermen were unwilling to venture out into the Indian Ocean fearing another wave. For people who survive day to day on what they catch this created a great deal of hardship. We were eventually forced to leave the area as crowds began to surround us hoping for a handout. This intrepid fellow showed great courage willing to venture out when so many of his peers were bound by fear.