I'm Coming Home

At the beginning of the summer, I wrote down 3 things I wanted to see come out of time traveling in Europe.  These prayer requests were things too big for me to achieve, but they required consistent effort on my part.  They are as follows:

1. Fully finance the entire Africa Video Project ($35,000)
2. Conversations to change me and change others.
3. Teach me that Christ is my “Home.”

Prayer is … well … confusing at times and at the same inspiring.  I haven’t seen these desires come to fruition the way I had hoped, but still I can’t shake a certainty that they have been answered.

This is best illustrated by the last item on my list. In June, I gave up my apartment in the hope and expectation of being able to start this video project when I returned from Europe. That hasn’t gone according to my plans. I am still living out of two bags and trying to figure out where to go and stay. Part of this I anticipated and hence my prayer at the beginning of the summer.  And yet God hasn’t answered it. Even now that I’m back in the US, I don’t feel any more “at home” than I did sitting in a hotel room in Munich. It would be a lie to say, “I’m not homeless, because Jesus is my home.”

I have often pleaded this summer, “Lord, be my home. I’m tired of not knowing where to return to, of not having anything grounding me, of just floating by with nothing holding me to the ground.”  In reflecting on this summer, I have begun to see that is exactly what He wanted to teach me.  I am homeless.  

Chicago is not my home. Kentucky is not my home.  No place on this planet is my home.  I am a sojourner wandering through these lands and every once in awhile I see a glimpse of my home.  In the smiles of friends, the hugs of family, the laughter of strangers, the singing of the church, the encouragement of scriptures, and the beauty of a sunrise over cloud skirted mountains.  

But these are not my home and so I must carry on, confident that one day I will cross the threshold and drop my bags, kick off my shoes, and breathe in that refreshing aroma of “home.” 

Until that day, I am homeless.

Lovin' Summer

This summer while traveling in Europe for some payed video work, I got the opportunity to work with the Livies and Owens in Chevry Cosigney, France.  Take a look at what they are doing there.

Cooking in Chevry - English Camp 2012 from Drew Hayes on Vimeo.

My summer wasn't all work, I also got to have some fun and to see some beautiful and stunning scenery.  It was quite a great trip.  Here's some of what I got to see when I visited Paris, France. 

Le Gare de Paris from Drew Hayes on Vimeo.

So... What do you do exactly?

Telling people what it is that I do can be a bit of a challenge. It's easy to show them the results of my work. All I have to do is press play and they can see it. But explaining what it takes to make those videos and the impact it has on the people I serve that is another thing entirely. So I thought I would give someone else a chance to explain it. Becky Kendal is one of the missionaries that I got to work with in Kankan, Guinea this past April. This is what she had to say about my visit and work.

We so enjoyed having Drew Hayes come out to make a video documentary of life and work in Guinea. His efforts have yielded some great tools for telling others about what life here is like and also about our lives and ministry focus. Drew’s prior cross-culture experience gives him a comfort-level in the culture that most “newbies” and short-termers don’t have.  He wasn’t fazed by setbacks or the rigors of food prep, time schedules, or daily life in rural Africa.

Drew’s lens captured and portrayed the rigors of maintaining solar power, shopping for vegetables and meat in a bustling market, teaching your own children. More than just the activity he captured emotions – the quiet word, a smile, a caring heart or a listening ear. The neighbor kids who bully my children, when seen through Drew’s lens, were again transformed into the children I came hoping to draw to Christ. The dusty, trash-filled streets, a constant drab backdrop to life, were filled with beautiful people I care about and flooded with the hope of a beautiful sunrise.
 
What I am unable to communicate to my supporters and friends, because it is my everyday life, Drew captured on video as a beautiful story.

I’ve forgotten how my life is different here from what my friends in the US experience.  I’ve also forgotten that how I live and interact here is different than those around me - that the fragrance of Christ is on me.  But in Drew’s lens I saw again what I can’t always see, but what is the whole reason I am here – God at work in and through me, reaching out to those around who don’t know Him yet.  

Thank you Drew for your work."

Eye Opening - Part 2

Balancing work, life, friends, and editing has definitely been a challenge.  But I continue to make head way.  This week I was able to finish up two new videos.  Take a look and let me know what you guys think.




The next step for me is continuing and finishing the fundraising for this project.  I still need about 50% of my support in monthly commitments.  That roughly translates to $30,000 dollars.  If you haven't committed to giving already but would like to use the links on the right; or if you prefer you can give a one time donation. Again use the links on the side.  Thank you for being part of this project and I can't wait to share the rest of the videos with you all soon. 

Eye Opening

After a few weeks back in the States, I've had the energy and time to think through the incredible experience that I had in Guinea. To put it simply the trip was "Eye Opening." The idea behind this preliminary trip was to test the idea behind the project. Could it really be done? Would it work? Could I shoot and produce using Guinea as a base. Would it be possible for me to live in that community?

The resounding answer throughout the trip was, "Yes, It's what I made you for." I've never felt more certain that I was created to tell stories in this way. I was continually struck by how well I fit into the work I was doing.  Experiences and skills that I really hadn't considered became useful and helpful to producing these stories. My personality allowed me to patiently wait for the right shot and quietly watch the story unfold.  I didn't feel like I was home or that Africa was were I belonged, my skin and the language barrier were constant reminders of that.  It was more a sense of being perfectly tuned to the purpose at hand.

My eyes were opened to God's ability to provide and prepare. I have been dreaming of telling stories in this way for so long. I've written often about how tiring it can be waiting for these dreams to become reality, but this trip was not one of those times. It wasn't part of any of my planning and worrying, but the trip couldn't have gone better. It encouraged my confidence that God has made me to tell these stories and is continuing to work out His plans to use me to tell His story.

These are a few of the images that God used to open my eyes to these truths.




Even now as I am going through the tedious task of editing hours worth of footage into only a few minutes, I am reminded that He is working and preparing me to be used to Open the Eyes of others. 

I Made It!... Now What?

Greeting from Guinea,

It seems not too long ago that I was only exploring this idea of producing  videos in Africa.  Now it is a reality!

I made it here to KanKan Guinean after only a slight hiccup at customs, and a 12 hour drive through nearly all of Guinea. Over the past week, I've been working hard with the World Venture team to help tell the stories of Gods work through them. God continues to confirm for me that this is what he made me for. All of my life experiences give me an edge in how I do life here and the work I am able to accomplish. Praise God for that!

It consistently is 90 plus here even at night. The dry heat creates dust that gets everywhere and I am discovering that while I understand a little French, I can't really communicate with anyone except the missionaries. Despite those difficulties, we are actually ahead of schedule if you would believe that. So we are adding a few extra pieces to the production schedule. When we first set the production schedule I thought it was ambitious, but my gear has performed perfectly and everything has fallen into place. The content I've been able to capture has been great and the material is editing together beautifully.

Sharing
God continues to bless these productions, and I'm excited for the next phase of production: Distribution.  With these first videos, my goal is to see every video to be viewed at least 250 times. Then as more videos are produced and online, to have videos viewed 1000 times a piece.  By the end of 2 years that should add up to over 200,000 views!

In order to reach those goals I need your help. If everyone on this list shared the videos with 4 friends we would reach our second stage goal. So let's give it a try.  Internet here is slow, but I've been able to upload one short piece to Vimeo. Take a look and share this video across social media channels. Let's see how many hits we can get this first time around!

Sticks and Stones

     I've been called a lot of things in my life. When I was a baby my Mother called my "Little Lamb." My Dad called me "Drewski." I'm sure my siblings had names for me but I've blocked those from memory.
     One year for vacation we went to Virginia beach. That day there happened to be some military lifeguards off duty and they were throwing children into the ocean. Throwing probably doesn't do it justice. They were Launching kids six or seven feet up into they air where we could land safely in the waves. Because I was the youngest and also the smallest and lightest I was thrown higher than anyone else. Imagine a 50 lbs kid being launched by four lifeguards who would have put David Hasselhoff to shame. My family has pictures of me 12 feet above the waves, laughing and screaming each time. After that they called me "Sky-Willie."
    In high school, I was called "God Hog." My classmates would tease me that I spent so much time talking with God that nobody else could get a word in edge wise. Some how what they meant as a tease I took as a badge of honor. 
    When I was traveling to my sisters in Uganda, I remember driving  through the mountains and across the valley children came out of the houses yelling, "Muzungu, Give me money." The only English they knew. Muzungu is what they call white people. Here in Guinea the kids yell, "Toubabu, BonJour." The only French they know.
     Today I was called something new and will always remember it.  I spent the morning shooting in Leferani a local village. The classic scenery of locals cooking, building hits and in just living kept me constantly behind the lens trying to capture every image. Our host for the day, made the comment that I was a Deaf, Mute because he hadn't heard me say anything. That struck me. A deaf mute. I've never been called that before, but I like it.    

Just think ... a Deaf and Mute Storyteller.     

Yeah, I like that.