Believe

Photo by: Dewi Amsari Ameer/Sunset in Banda Aceh Province, Indonesia
Current Location: Jakarta, Indonesia 6°12′45.61″S - 106°52′23.74″E

I was sitting on a promontory at the edge of the world. Above me, darkness rolled in as it continued to stretch to infinity. Below, jagged rocks jutted from the sea. Beside me, my camera.

Looking out before me, there was neither moon nor stars, as if they'd taken shelter from the scorching, tropic sun. Yet, sitting there, the warmth in the air permeates to the marrow of my bones. I've been caught in something much larger than life, much more romantic than love itself--a mere synapse of a moment so beautiful that I had to put down my camera and view it with my very own eyes. And as the clouds became darker, I began to reflect on the challenges I've faced, the people I've met and the person I've come to be.

Viewing the world thru a lens is not just a job, its a way of life. You live with it, breathe it, see it in your sleep and wake with it on your mind. Being here, I've come to realize that no matter the challenges or the hardships that I must endure, the quest to quench my thirst with visual stimuli out weighs it all. It's worth every ounce of sweat, every drop of blood and every measurement of your imagination to know that you've captured something more powerful than words, more meaningful than text and titles. It's an amazing feeling few will ever understand.

As I stare into the abyss, I'm reminded of the people I've met, the way they've invited me into their lives and opened their hearts to a stranger from a far off land. I'm reminded of Ahning and Riahn, their new born child and the shelter they call home--poor in wealth, yet rich in so many ways beyond all our fortunes combined. And just as inspiring were the people who helped to guide them, giving them hope, letting them know that they're not alone--people like the group I met at Lentera, International Aid, Habitat for Humanity, and CHF International. Throughout this trip, it was the image of their smiles that gave me the strength to push forward, to keep going in the hopes that people like Riahn and his family can one day live better lives. After this assignment, I too, have hope.

I was sent here to tell stories, to capture in picture and sound the plight of those who need our help. It's a task I've been given many times before. Yet, I was scared. Afraid of failure and terrified of tribulation. My fears rested not on my technical or artistic merit, but more so, on my ability to correctly tell their story, to give them the voice they so desperately need. It's a fear I constantly live with--an obligation I hold dearly in my heart.

I sat there on that ledge, on the precipice of defeat knowing that some how, I'm a different person. I leave here tomorrow with a notion that I, too, can make a difference. I too can help change the course of humanity--even if its just with a turning of the lens. And so can you! In the depths of the World's most under developed regions, they need not your money or your wealth, but more importantly--all they need is your love, your guidance and your prayers, your knowledge and your insight on how they can sustain themselves in poverty and despair. It's a simple concept, really. One that all of us can be a part of.

Watching the rolling clouds that roared above me and the waves that crashed ashore, I reflected not on the hardships that I've endured, but on the hardships that THEY constantly live with. And like the sun that prevails every morning to the east, I know that there's hope, there's life after the storm and rainbows to be cherished.

You just have to believe--in yourself, and each other.

Be well, my friends. I will write again soon upon my return home.

Ron

Jakarta, Indonesia