unwrapping summer: the absolute easiest way to make this a great, unforgettable summer

When the sun slides down windows, beckoning us to come out now, you have time now to come out and be — it’s like hope and grace begin again with every summer day.

And these fleeting summer days unwrap like melting ice cream sandwiches, like gladiolas unfolding unabashedly glad in the garden, like monarchs unfolding out of pearled cocoons in His own perfect time.

Try, but really, are there fresher words than those two: summer morning? Summer mornings and the air thick with the spices of a thousand opening flowers and would it matter if we were one of the winged ones that lived only a handful of summer days, because we could fill those handful of open-handed days with more glory than a cynical seventy years might ever contain?

You unwrap the gifts you’ve always wanted most — when tight hands unfold into open-handed trust.

Esther Havens, who brings us our next instalment of our Unwrapping Summer series, is one of my favourite people on the planet and she lives like this… She lives open-handed, lives like every day is an adventure project not to be missed, lives like there are only so many summers —

and gratitude in the present can make any day, anywhere, a gift. 

*  *   *

guest post and photos by Esther Havens

I’ve been running around for a month in Africa living out of my suitcase.

I’m exhausted right now. I have no more steam in me. I miss my own bed and my own comforts of home.

It’s in these exhausted moments, that in the past, I’ve wanted to quit and not continue photographing for non-profits in developing countries.

To most, the life of a humanitarian photographer seems glamorous.

At times, I think it is.

But most of the time,  it’s long 12 hour days driving on bumpy roads, sweating in the hot sun, feeling sick, and listening to stories from people that break your heart.

Driving the bumpy roads in Ethiopia
Sweet Grace in Kageyo
Hope Voskamp and I visiting Kevine, my sponsored child with Africa New Life Ministries
Standing in the wind in Omo Valley, Ethiopia
My lovely family all together at my Grandfather’s funeral in Illinois
Some of my closest girlfriends cherishing time together in West Texas
One of my absolute favorite spots in Texas – Marfa! Yes, you can sleep in the Teepees
Bible Storytellers in Omo Valley, Ethiopia
Sunrise in Ethiopia
My Hero Berki – I could talk to this guy for days. He share bible stories with his tribes in his local language in Ethiopia. You can read his story here
Austin Mann and I exploring the trails in Tennessee. I had no idea there were so many beautiful waterfalls around!
Ati came right up to me and grabbed my camera and started shooting. I couldn’t stop her…she knew what she was doing. haha
I always try to give polaroids as a gift to communities after I photograph them. For many people, it’s their first photo print they’ve ever had.
With two new friends in Omo Valley, Ethiopia
Making Smore’s in 90 Degree weather for my bible study group in Dallas
My good friend and Writer, Constance, walking in the desert in West Texas
My friend Paul Pryor captured this amazing photo of thousands of butterflies in Western Uganda. I felt like a Disney Princess in that moment.

I can’t say the past 10 years that I’ve been doing this job has been easy. There have been so many times I didn’t think I could continue doing this. But I’ve stuck with it. I know this is my calling, at least for now.

Years ago, I saw a post on instagram of a person having coffee in Amsterdam airport and they tagged it #BucketList

It made me think about how many times we experience moments that are very normal to us and to someone else it’s their dream.

It is all perspective though.

We can choose to enjoy these moments God has given us to the fullest or let them pass us by.

This summer, I really tried to focus on thankfulness.

Thankfulness for every story I get to listen to (even if my stomach was sick during the interview).

Thankfulness for every bump on those rough roads.

Thankfulness for every time I got up at 5am to photograph to capture golden hour.

Thankfulness for every person’s life I get to be a part of!

Sunset in Rwanda! I love golden hour
Sweet little Mary in Kageyo, Rwanda
My new friends Bosco and Theo showing me all their incredible veggies from their garden. The Africa New Life school now serves lots of greens in the school lunches thanks to these guys.
Sweet Grace lifted her hands and praised the Lord after her very first garden was built for her in Rwanda.
Soaking it all in in Uganda….I can never watch enough sunsets.
My Sweet girl Kevine. I met this girl when she was just a baby and am only now back in her life. I love her with all my heart.
Well Mechanics in Western Uganda for The Adventure Project
The “shot” Betty, Constance and I had to get in front of the Safari car. We spent a lot of hours in this vehicle on bumpy roads
Another one of my favorite spots in Texas….McDonald’s Observatory. It happens to be the darkest spot in Texas. It’s incredible!
Uganda from the air
Farmers in Kenya with The Adventure Project
One of the best car moments of the summer was most definitely passing by this pig on a motorcycle in Kenya.

 

This summer had many ups and downs.

I traveled with my girlfriends to West Texas and had lady time in the desert, I also had to say goodbye to my 90 yr old grandfather who went to be with the Lord.

I worked on a story for the most incredible tribe of Bible Storytellers in Ethiopia with The Seed Company. I photographed farmers making money off their crops in Kenya and water well mechanics fixing broken water pumps for communities in Western Uganda with The Adventure Project.

I spent 2 weeks in Rwanda working on stories about garden projects in a refugee resettlement village and spent time with my sponsored kids I have with Africa New Life. I visited a girl named Dalphine I did a story about last year who lives in a village in Rwanda. Her Father died of Malaria last week. My heart broke so deeply for them.

Emotionally it can be so much to process all of this.

I sometimes want to just run from the sad stories.

Today the most beautiful thing happened. I enrolled a boy that I met in a village 7 yrs ago for driving school. His name is Jean Bosco and I did a story about him on my first trip to Rwanda. On Monday he starts what could be his new full time job.

It’s stories like all of these that remind me that God has us where He wants us for a purpose.

Even when we are tired, we have to keep following His lead.

We all get to be a part of the stories that are interwoven around us.

Today as I’m reflecting and writing this from Rwanda, tears fill my eyes with thankfulness.

God is good —

and His beauty surrounds us.

 

 

Esther Havens , named as one of Christianity Today’s 33 Under 33: Christian Leaders Shaping the Next Generation of Our Faith, is a humanitarian photographer capturing stories that transcend a person’s circumstances and reveal their true strength. For many years she has worked on social-awareness campaigns with organizations such as charity: water, TOMS Shoes, Warby Parker, and Malaria No More.

Her images compel thought and challenge action. She has traveled to over 50 nations in the last 10 years — and she’ll keep going until she sees that every person on the planet has access to education, clean drinking water and a job to provide for their families.  At heart, Esther’s is a connector, fostering relationships across continents, cultures, industries and perspectives. While not traveling, Esther is currently home-based in Dallas, TX at WELD. 

You absolutely have to follow her on Instagram — her pictures are iconic miracles — and do you see where she is now?!?:  Esther’s amazing Instagram. Esther’s also tweeting her way around the world on Twitter and her beautiful website is a wonder.