I had a dream recently, the night after I participated in a Help-Portrait event at the Allume conference in Greenville, South Carolina. I saw a sheet with a list of names, highlighted in blue, of those who worked at this event to primp, pamper, and eventually photograph fourteen 5th-8th grade girls who participate in a local mentoring program for at-risk students in need of extra support.
Have you ever dreamed the same thing over and over, all night long? This was one of those nights, one of those dreams for me: that piece of paper with the list of names.
I awoke knowing the dream was about the One whose name wasn’t on the list but came anyway—as present in meaning but visibly missing as that “understood you” we learned about in English grammar class—Jesus Christ.
As sure as the camera I held in my hand, Jesus and I worked together that day.
He didn’t walk up from the hotel lobby or in off the street like the people who saw my camera and backdrop and laughingly told me they’d come for their head shots. But he was there.
When those young girls smiled their shy smiles and their sassy smiles; told me their names; and allowed me to create testimony to a day when greeters, stylists from a salon school, photographers, and a support team dedicated themselves to showing them just how valuable, special, and beautiful they are, Jesus allowed me to be His hands and His feet in this world, a merging of the virtual and the visible.
His eye and mine at the viewfinder, our fingers clicking the shutter. I pray these girls felt His love emanate from me.
Help-Portrait isn’t about taking portraits; it’s about giving them.
About Help-Portrait
In January I told you that the last four years I’ve worked with Help-Portrait, a global movement of volunteers including greeters, photographers, make-up artists, and hairstylists, who join together on a Saturday in December to give back to their communities by photographing—and delivering those photographs—to those in need.
When the first commenter said, “I’m interested to join this . . . but you may have posted this too late?” I committed to sharing this in time for this year’s event on December 7.
Click here to find out how you can get involved. If you’re bold enough to start a new Help-Portrait event in your area, you’ll find helpful planning tips here.
You don’t have to be a photographer to volunteer. My husband served as a greeter last year and entertained kids while their mothers got their hair fixed and make-up applied. A lady read about Help-Portrait on my blog three days before last year’s event, signed up online, and we worked together most of the day.
If you’re looking for a way to give back this Christmas season, volunteering with Help-Portrait is a great choice. Join me?
by Dawn Camp, My Home Sweet Home
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