This coming summer I will once again not be in the United States, but instead by overseas in South Africa!
God has asked me to go overseas, but this time, instead of for just cultural experience, with a mission of loving people- He's asking me to go overseas for an underwater photography internship in South Africa, with what I understand the mission to so far be:: to understand whether he wants me to have photography with a mix of anthropology or communications+culture as a major in university, and whether He wants me to be taking photos for impact or for beauty.
So many questions!
But He's provided the way and the will from the Cox Scholarship and a possible scholarship from the VASA club that I am a member of. My parents are also helping, so this time, instead of fundraising- God is focusing me on preparing my heart for whatever photography I will need to understand, and preparing my heart to be focused on His calling in South Africa; which may be very difficult with how busy I will be.
The internship is from August 1-June 1 (2 months). I will be making contracts with clients and then going out to take underwater and land photography for those clients and selling the photos for FAUP, the organization running the program. I can use the photos for my portfolio as well, which is at sinikka.portfoliobox.net, but other than that- I can't really sell them or anything!
This opportunity is still amazing though! I found it when I was looking for internships for this coming summer... with the pure motivation of just doing something different and fun this summer! And God placed in my lap and in my heart something even better than I was wishing to find...
I work at the Career Development Center, where they prepare you for the job and internship search and give you lots of resources. I use these resources often, so one day- I started to search for internships and just came across the South African Underwater Photography Internship!
It's amazing how God will answer prayers, and after waiting for Him to answer in His time.. things always turn out better than what you had even imagined.
I am so blessed to be given such an opportunity to let the creativity God gave me FLY, and to gain so much from two months- for it is in nature and photography that I see the Lord at work so much more than anywhere else. It is through these two facets that there is pure, untamed, intricate beauty, that proves at each moment that the Lord is providing for us and is watching out for us.
He has provided yet again, our Jehovah Jireh.
and He will go before me to South Africa, so that no matter what- I will be safe, for Jehovah Nissi will go before me :)
God is not only working in my heart and life this summer, He will also be working in Alan's.
For He has and still is providing for Alan's trip this summer... to Nicaragua.
The Lord planted it on his heart to leave the country for a mission trip, and on this specific trip, He will be working through Alan to the pre-school children Alan will be working with.
The Lord has been working in Alan, and in me to prepare both of us for time apart again... but I believe it once again, will all be for the Lord's glory and will help us grow with the Lord and with each other so much more- for it is in the times that we follow God the closest, in each step we take, in each decision we take, that we grow closest :)
This is a summer, just like with Indonesia, that we are both following God's path for us individually. So together, the Lord will work.
I do not usually ask for prayer requests on these blogs, for I believe that I write for myself as much as I write for you- and you can read what you want. Comment what you'd like to!! and respond in the fashion that God inspires you too.
But here, I truly request that you pray for Alan and me- in preparation for this summer and for the summer, for it will be good yet difficult- confusing, and beautiful.
I ask that you pray for us to stay close to the Lord and hear His Voice throughout this time.
Thank you all for reading and supporting :)
Go God!