Meet the Rags and Riches Team

Rags and Riches: Changed Perspectives Change Lives

The PhotogenX Around the World Track is about to hit the road again!  Last year we traveled to over 20 countries to document injustices.  What we found was men, woman and children ending up in horrible situations and often driven to desperate measures because of poverty.  We met many of the thousands that poverty has landed under bridges, in orphanages, in red light districts and in slums.

For me, the reality of poverty hit home in a personal way.  The face of suffering became real when we met kids who could be fed for a few days for the cost of one Starbucks latte.  We felt a burden to do something, but how could we, as a team of photojournalists help to end this world wide problem?  Our photos weren’t clothing the homeless, or feeding the hungry.  What could I, a young Canadian woman really do to make a lasting impact?

I can’t say that we found a solution to end world poverty, but we want to do our part.  To quote Mother Teresa, “Not all of us can do great things.  But we can do small things with great love.”  I believe that a child should be raised in a loving home, not alone on the streets.  I believe that people should have proper nutrition and housing.  I believe in mentoring and educating the next generation because after all, education is a fundamental solution to poverty.

We just published a book titled: Rags and Riches.  It tells stories of the people who we met through our travels.  Our purpose in writing this book is to use it as a tool to help combat poverty.  In July and August of this year we will travel through Europe and North America to promote the book, raise awareness about poverty, and to raise funds in support of orphans and community projects in Kenya, Romania and Indonesia.  All profits from the book will go toward these projects.  Most of all we want to inspire and empower others to use their skills and gifts to respond to the needs of the world.

I am so excited to be a part of this team, and to help change the lives of people around the world through our Rags and Riches project.  We hope that by the end of tour there will be enough funds to build up two orphanages and aide in two community projects who help and mentor youth and people trapped in slums.  Please visit our website: www.track.photogenx.net to read more about our team and the organizations we are supporting.

You can be a part of ending world poverty too.  It starts small.  You don’t have to go around the world to find people who are in need.  Right there, in our own neighbourhood there are people who have needs.  You can donate clothing, sponsor a child or go on a missions trip.  You can also partner with me in donating towards the financial costs of our tour, which will in turn, support the cause of our book.  Above all, I challenge you to be part of ending poverty yourself.  Let’s make this world a better place, by doing small things with great love.

To donate towards our tour follow this link:

Project Funding Office

Find out more about our book and tour:

Rags and Riches Website

Thanks everyone.  Thank you very much.

European Book Tour Flyer

I'm a tool.

I was reminded of a tragic accident that occurred nearly three years ago outside of my house.  Despite efforts to save his life, Cole Slavin, age 17 died in my arms with his friend watching.  Cole loved biking, but in the end - biking claimed him.  It's hard to imagine how much pain and hardship was faced by so many people on that fateful day.

Last year I travelled around the world - to fourteen countries.  In the dark places, we saw and learned things most people can't comprehend.  From trafficking victims, to drug addicts, to homeless, to abandoned children we found these people in the corners of the earth.  We helped, we fed people, we prayed, we loved and we documented their stories.  Whatever we could do - we did it.

As I recollected my thoughts from traveling, I realized something:  I don't need to go far to find people who need help.  Simple - yet it took me a journey around the world to understand.  It took looking into the eyes of Cole Slavin as he took his last breath - something I just learned now - three years later.

I don't know why this came to mind.  Perhaps it was because I am thinking about the future.  I know God has called me to work with teenagers at home, but lately I've been exploring other "money making" options.
As I relived the events and emotions of that pivotal hour with Cole, a thought resonated through my head:

"Why am I concerned about money when life or death is in your hands?"

Is not human life of more concern than debt?

What would happen if a teenager decided to play a sport, or join a club of some sort instead of smoking weed or getting drunk?  If you could influence someone's life in a positive way, would you?  Sometimes that decision could be the choice or life or death.

Youth at risk.  What does that mean?  To me it means they're at risk to joining gangs, getting addicted to drugs or engaging in risky behaviour.  They are at risk of not living up to their full potential.  Their lives are at stake.

How can we, as an "older" generation set an example, and teach our youth to make good choices?
How can I be a part of changing my own neighbourhood?

I know this is a heavy topic, I apologize if you didn't see that coming.  But we have to realize that life is too short for some.  We have to make a difference now - wherever we're at.  We're the ones who can be the change.  I am the one who gets to have a future, while some kids, like Cole do not.

My experience has taught me many things, but one thing sticks out more than any other:

Bad things happen and sometimes we don't know why God would allow it.  We could either blame God and see no way around it or maybe, just maybe we can be the tools he uses to fix it.

Cassandra's Life Message.

Please meet Cassandra D'Alessandro, one of my students on the photogenX track.

Cassandra is dynamic and vibrant.

Her contagious laughter might cause your sides to ache because you just can't help but laugh along.  The room lights up when she walks in, she's just one of those people.

I re-read one of Cass's writings from this past year.  It's called "My Life Message".

It tells of a simple truth, but it's one we so often forget.  Her words brightened my day, I hope in turn, they will brighten yours.

............

My life message is pretty simple. It's not super complicated because I don't see the Bible as super complicated. Yes, the Bible is deep and great and filled with amazing stories but I can always find a chapter or verse or even a word that leads me back to one simple idea.

Love.

From Genesis 1 to Revelations 22 God shows His love for us.  He shows us so clearly what a perfect, untainted, pure love looks like.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son..." (John 3:16)

God made the ultimate sacrifice out of love.  The book of Hosea is a beautiful story of God's undying love for His people.  This love is crazy and we are so not worthy of it but God pours it out on all of His people.  What gets even crazier is God tells us to love other people.  Not only does He show us how to love but He commands us to show love to everyone around us.

"The greatest commandment is this: love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, body and soul and the second is love you neighbour as yourself."

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress."

Throughout His word God talks about loving others.  When we stop and think why injust situations are the way they are is because of a lack of love. Look at the people around us.  Everyone is looking for love; from parents, lovers, pets, food etc.
The greatest things that we, as Christians, can do to help bring God's salvation through Jesus to earth is to love it. 

"The world will see how you are different from how you love one another."

It's just all about love.

The secret to life is love.

Don't Mess With Texas

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and

wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers."

- Charles William Eliot

Leaning on the Old Walls of Jerusalem
"As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore."

Psalm 125:2

 Soccer with the Kids in Peru

"To me soccer is more than just a ball and two posts,

it connects people from all corners of the world."

 Monkey Bars in Argentina
"Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars.
You have to let go at some point in order to move forward."

- C.S. Lewis

 Water Fight in Thailand

สุขสันต์วันปีใหม่ ขอให้มีความสุขกาย สบายใจ ปราศจากทุกข์โศก โรคภัยทั้งหลายทั้งปวง

"Happy New Year.  I wish you good health physically and mentally; (I wish you a life) without suffering and grief and without any malady or affliction whatsoever."

Best Friend Time in Greece

"My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me."

- Henry Ford

Team Time in Peru

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

- Helen Keller

Thanks for sharing Cass.

Visit her blog:

www.lovinglifewithcass.blogspot.com

Island time.

Hello all!

It's been a long time since you've been updated on the life of Anita.

Here are some snapshots of my life in the recent months.

If you've been following me on Facebook or Instagram, it's easy to see I am in Hawaii.

Although it's a vacation destination, and I've been enjoying the land with all of its beauty, I am not here on vacation.  This is the "last stop" for our PhotogenX Track Team where we are compiling all of our work from last year, publishing a book, creating a website and an e-book and planning a tour.

"Tainted," "Broken," "Sex and Money" are projects that have been done by previous teams.

Our book and tour will be called "Rags and Riches" where we show that changed perpectives change lives.  Some people are so poor all they have is money.

Please stay tuned for a good quality blog update.

Until then - Aloha, and God bless.

Anita

We Write.

History.  

It is written so future generations can learn from the past, is it not?

It is written to remember where we came from, right?

Tempted to forget something important, 

I am told: "Write it down!"

A writen law shapes and governs the patterns of society.

Marriage vows, agreements, contracts are written and signed, binding people to those words.

Writen words can change someones life.

A book.

A letter.

A newspaper.

The majority of our book was written while in the deep woods of Texas.

With lessons from published authors and aide of seasoned writers, we wrote.

Memories, emotions, stories - a slightly painful task.

A year of packed bags and scribbled journals, a year of documenting injustices, an entire world of people permanently etched into your heart - unfolded onto paper.

Why?  Because written words can change someones life.

"The more that you read, 

the more things you will know.

The more that you learn, 

the more places you'll go."

- Dr. Seuss

Danae and Enoch live in Tyler, Texas.  We spent some quality time together during our time in Texas.

"If things start happening, don't worry, don't stew, 

just go right along and you'll start happening too."

-Dr. Suess

David lendng a hand with the leaves on the roof.

Beautiful nature of Tyler, Texas.

"You're on your own.  And you know what you know.

And you are the one who'll decide where to go."

-Dr. Suess

"Sometimes you never know the value of a moment,

until it becomes a memory."

-Dr. Suess

Janet and I leading worship before class.

Our team - still together - going strong.

Learning from Janice Rogers.

Sarah - writing.

Janet plays alongside worship leader Paul Baloche at Community Christian Fellowship.

The entire school of writing crew.

(Last 6 photos courtesy of YWAM Woodcrest)

"Today you are you, that is truer than true.

There is no one alive who is more youer than you."

-Dr. Seuss