Portrait Project in DC

Before I moved to DC in February I dreamed and contemplated ways that I could do a Portrait Project in this city. Holly was already well established here so I pitched to her my desire to team up again  and I knew that together we could come up with a way to do one last P.P. here before I leave the states.

From that, God added Liza to the mix, our dear friend who is employed by CASA of DC and daily advocates for children in the foster system here. She told me that the Superior Courts of DC are hosting a family day this summer to celebrate all the families in the DC court system who have successfully been reunified.

(top-Liza, bottom-me and Holly-June 16th 2012. Family Celebration Day.)

We all thought that this would be a great opportunity to do a Portrait Project so Liza set off to get approval from the courts for us to participate in their day.

Even before I took a single picture, God was already at work behind the scenes. I just love it when He does that.

There were lots of meetings Liza went to on our behalf pitching the Portrait Project and hammering out the details on how we could be included. In Omaha I would do this leg work on my own, seeking approval, getting permission, the whens and where's, but seen as how Liza already had established working relationships with the court staff God was able to use her to share what the Portrait Project is with people I wouldn't be able to meet with. I just love how God strategically places people in certain places and positions to be a vessel for His work!

And then the day that the Family Day planning committee met to officially approve Portrait Project participation, I got this email from Liza....

"the Presiding Judge of Family Court is apparently THRILLED about the idea. Richard and I were in a meeting and he kept going on and on not just about what a great idea it was, but about what an amazing gift you were giving to us/the court/these families.  I could almost hear his wheels turning - "Why would someone give that generously?  What would make a person do this for NOTHING?" I could hardly keep myself from shouting "JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!" across the conference room table at him. Ha. You guys have no idea the ministry impact this is having (already)..."
 
So cool. Jesus. That's all it's ever been about. And just like that the Lord opened up a door for us to go in and shine His light again.

After almost four months of planning and ironing out the technicalities, the day finally came. So many people worked really hard to make this day a true celebration for these families. The family day was sponsored by the courts, but many other organizations were there as well. It took place on the grounds of THE ARC property, a fairly new constructed community center in the heart of Anacostia. Anacostia (where we also happen to live) is located in the SE section of D.C. and is considered the most dangerous place to live in the city, it is stricken with poverty and crime and the majority of the courts families live in this area.

So, for all these professionals to come and set up shop in this area, the armpit of DC, and offer a celebration for the families who worked hard to be reunited with their kids, is something these people needed. They needed to be celebrated. They needed to be the center of attention to highlight the good works they've done instead of the mistakes they made. They needed for once to have people lavish them with praise instead of criticism. That's what this day was about. And praise Jesus I got to be a part of it.

It was a privilege to stand with the courts and CASA to help remind these families of their worth. And I love that God enables me to do that through photography.

This P.P. had a lot of similarities from the others I've done in the past, but also some differences. One difference was that we were working outside so I left my studio equipment at home in favor of going all na.tur.al. The space we had designated for us was down a little hill, so I just wanted to do as simple as possible. No heavy props. Just a small blanket. No strobes or massive backdrop. Just my camera. It was weird to not have to make umpteen trips to bring in all the equipment. But it worked out really great.

And, because there was no need to spend an hour setting up my work space, we were able to use some of our time before the families arrived in prayer. Me, Holly, Liza and Katie, one of the volunteers, gathered off to the side, formed a little circle, held hands, and prayed over the day. Prayers lifted up to heaven that God's light might shine bright in this dark city. That the families would feel a renewed sense of dignity. That they would leave feeling better equipped to continue maintaining unity than before they arrived. And that Jesus would use us to serve them and pour His life into each person here.

We didn't pray a super long time and really didn't think that anyone noticed as we were off to the side and down a little hill. But turns out people did. Many court volunteers noticed and at least one gal approached Liza later in the day and said, "I saw you praying and wanted to come join! But, I knew you had us all covered." The reality of that comment brought me to me knees. In a city and a system where so many of the workers are unbelievers and the programs provided are not in any way Christ centered, God was able to use our little inconspicuous prayer circle to subtly but visibly direct others attention to our motivation for why we were there, Jesus, and it was able to filter out another believer! Holla!! Praying that God fans the flame in that gal's heart to take more steps to show off His light! So encouraged by that!

Soon after that the families started trickling in one by one. But, instead of photographing them all on my own this time, Holly was by my side photographing them along with me. It has been cool seeing Holly develop her photography skills these past few months and a delight to photograph with her. I would love to see God encourage more photographers to get out there and use their skills to bless others without expecting a payoff in return. Just another thing I love about this ministry.

Not only were the families able to get portraits taken but there was food, music, face painting, a bouncy house (located directly in front of us...that was interesting trying to get the kids to sit still with a massive balloon vying for their attention. :~) )

And of course there was dancing. That boy down on the bottom wasted no time gettin' his moves on, all by himself, in the middle of the lawn. But before ya knew it the grass was crowded with people out there breaking it down and having a grand ole time! No one cared that it was hot, they were there to celebrate and celebrate they did!

The D.C. Mayor, Vincent Gray, was on hand as well as some judges and tons of other court staff to show their support for the reunified families being honored. (and of course your heavily armed police officers, but, that's to be expected round here.)

I photographed ten of the twenty two families that came out that day.....ten families...some single moms, some moms and dads, some with partners, some grandma's, some great-grandma's, big families of ten, small families of two.....each one of them knowing the pain and heartbreak involved when their family was broken and splintered apart, and each of them knowing the triumph of seeing it restored. What a beautiful thing to photograph.

The significance of what God is allowing me to do is not lost on me. Each Portrait Project I am newly humbled with the opportunity God has given me to bless these families through pictures. To serve them. To dote on them. To bless them with a little bit of extra.

Recognizing that beauty is not to be defined by the world's standards. But instead seeing beauty as it is defined by God's standards. A mother of four with a two week old newborn who came sopping wet in swim suits because she cared more about her kids being able to be kids and romp and play in the water, rather than dressing them up for their pictures in the trendy clothes we see plastered about everywhere as "the what to wear for beautiful family portraits". That's a lie. Because this is what's beautiful. They are beautiful.

And these are the people God has gifted me to photograph. The underprivileged, broken, beat up, beat down, stepped on, discarded, the people who know real need, the ones who have had to claw, scrape, and fight their way out of discouraging impossible circumstances. These are my people. These are God's people. And what God has used me to give to them seems very small compared to what I have been blessed with in return- a softened heart, a heavenly perspective, learning to really see people, a new definition of beautiful, a joy that comes from serving, humility, gratefulness, a piercing pain for the broken and wounded, the honor of getting to meet and be impacted by so many amazing people...God has definitely changed me through this ministry these past couple years. What a wonderful day. What an incredible opportunity. Praying God protects these families and that these pictures serve as an extra reminder to them of their worth and value in Christ Jesus.

"You make beautiful things.

You make beautiful things out of the dust.

You make beautiful things.

You make beautiful things out of us." 

-"Beautiful Things" by Gungor