Sunday, August 3th, 2015 – Brazil.
“Similiāntia”
‘Wow Thiago, you look like an Arab.”
It was Sunday, I had the car stopped in front of a Syrian friend’s house, who together with his family took refuge here in Brazil because of the war. As he entered the car he saw me and his reaction was to in great shock said I was looking like an Arab.If you were to see me today you would notice that I currently have a few physical trates that resemble an Arab man, the main one being the long beard.
Three years ago, I went through a three month leadership course here on our Centro de Capacitação de Lideres, YWAM- CCL . The course’s main goal was for each student to create a life project, where they would have their values, goals and life mission etc. After three months I was able to successfully finish the course that we call LTS.( Leadership Training School) . I discovered a new fase in my like that I didn’t even know about. refugees! my project was aimed to serve refugees. However, the school came to an end and a few years went by. They went by so fast that I didn’t even keep up, the truth is that when I realized how many years went by I was similiantia to them , in other words, similar to them.
In the middle of this year (2015) I was strongly lead by the Holy Spirit to do an advanced photography class here in Curitiba. Today, I am also involved in the photographic scene here in the capital of Parana. I had the privilege of exposing some of my work in a book Roda de Fotografos that we released in the end of 2014. In this book you find my pictures that are related to abortion and Indigenous infanticide. In this circle of photographers i mad friends. Friends who not share my religion , but have the same passion: document through pictures. God’s direction for me was to this advanced course called FOTOGRAFIA VISCERAL. That was based on photography as a life vocation. And through the friends I made during this course, I was able to materialize the beginning of my project to serve refugees.
I am dedicating myself to document the daily life of a few refugee families here in Curitiba. They are Syrian and Armenians , common people who left their dreams and a whole life because of the war, but they are extraordinary in teaching how to learn to live in a new culture, new language even with so many difficulties that the war put in their lives.
Saturday, February 7th, 2015, Brazil.
But she represents life itself, my own expressive attempt to understand, know and live other people’s feelings.
Even though it is in the past, I would like to share about a present that God gave us during 2014. Besides the photographers which I greatly admire and care about, our photography group was gifted with our first book. The first Roda de Fotografos book here in Curitiba. In the end of last year, we had the book release at MON -Oscar Niemeyer Museum. Each photographer was able to show a little of what he/she believes and who he/she is through his/her pictures. It wasn’t different for me, as a follower of Jesus and because of the fact that I have the Holy Bible as a life manual, I tried to convey some issues that are currently being debated and that go against the value of life God has given humanity. These topics are : abortion and infanticide.
I believe I can’t take all the credit for this, even though these decisive moments were captured by my pictures, this was only possible because of a few people who I can’t fail to mention. Andre Barbosa, who took me to the north of Brazil and had the patience to teach me the “rules of photography” during the flight, and for allowing me to use his camera to shoot one of the pictures in the book. Ana Paula , thank you so much for your invitation and for allowing me to photograph you guys during that time in Berlin. You were a part of this process and the final result is now printed in the book, the place every picture should be!
Thank you very much.
Monday, Octuber 20th, 2014 – Brazil
“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”
This frase is from and American photographer called Ansel Adams. He is known by almost all photographers in the world. And to day I can identify with Adams’ phrase. Everyone has a way to express themselves , and mine is visually , it is through photography, and photography does this very well. It identifies, denounces, and reveals alls sorts of feelings that humanity can feel and live. Jesus identifies with the people he approached. Not the other way around. And that is how I feel in regards to photography.
Over the years I have begun to believe that photography isn’t just a tool ( like i have affirmed in the past) . It has become more than that, it represents my own life, my own attempt to express and understand, to know and to experience the others feelings. And here in Curitiba, I have received lots of understanding through the stories of those who love photography. Roda de Fotografos “Circle of Photographers” is what it is called . There are all kinds of photographers in this group, it literally is a circle, there is no hierarchy. The older photographers teach and encourage the younger ones. There aren’t any “best ones” because the best is when we are together hearing each others stories.
The “roda” happens at the MON once a month. What is the MON? It’s the Oscar Niemeyer Museum. And currently are big circle is dreaming with a great project. A printed photography book , with the work of the photographers that are a part of the circle. We are in the final stages of the project, we are already leaving the dreaming stage seeing it become a reality, because we are already seeing our financial goal being met so it can become a reality. All of this will be done in collaborative way. Huh? That’s right, people who believe in the project are being investors.
For more information, access – www.benfeitoria.com/rodadefotografos
SATISFACTION – August 11th, Brazil.
After our time with the children in a poor community, we met up at the same point where we started at, Ukraine Square, and there, we formed a circle and one the people responsible asked a question:
– ” Describe today’s day with only one word. What is your word today?
Once a month, I get together with the NGO – Transforme Sorrisos to photograph their activity with the kids in a community called “Comunidade da Ilha” that is located in the city of Almirante Tamandaré, in the metropolitan area of Curitiba. It is a community made up of men, women and their children, who collect recyclable material for a living. As I joined them last Sunday, the question , what is your word today, sounded stronger inside of me. I answered, that is was NOVELTY. Those words just go out into the wind, they pursued me and continue to pursue me until now.
I believe Jesus is inviting me to discover a WORD every morning and live it out.
And what I take as a lesson about the restlessness, is that ALL OF US, need a word that described our day. The children in the Comunidade da Ilha revealed and stirred the word novelty in me. So this means that we can awaken and reveal a living word of God in each person that passes through our lives.
My soul was restless until I had the opportunity to write this text and now I can say that my word today is SATISFACTION.
And what is yours? What is your word of the day?
PARADIDOMI – April 9th, Brazil.
“A world that is saved by surrender.”
I never thought about or imagined the power of surrender. The meaning of this word in some dictionaries is to give, to restore, to trust. In the act of surrendering in some contexts , can be a sign of weakness, and who can be weak?
I remember a certain situation in my home town when I thought I had been wronged by a friend, and it couldn’t stay that way. I felt thwarted and I wanted justice! After two years the scales of pride became clear in the midst of my arrogance and superb attitude. Thiago, you are wrong. Wow! what a sweet and gentle voice! My justice is right, My grace is the balance over hate and the injustice of humantiy.
This is what I heard from God that day. And how can I not surrender? Weak? Yes, weak that is the description of the state I was in after hearing that whisper, and who wouldn’t be? Today, I believe even more that humanity wanting to or not has experienced God, not through death of His son, but because of His SURRENDER!
“Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[a] When he had said this, he breathed his last.”
Luke 23:46
Thiago.
IN YOUR NAME, April 7th, Brazil.
“What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Atos 4:16-18
It was a Sunday, after a few hours of private lesson of photography for a new friend I made that weekend, James ,William and I, decided to go for a coffee shop near the flat’s James, to only relax. When arriving at the coffee shop, almost leaving without paying, because we had forgotten, went to the cashier to pay the coffee. While the clerk was waiting for money, we decided who would pay, until James took a note and put it on the counter, also William then I joked, taking my bank card and putting on the notes saying , “Okay, this is all I have!” At that same moment, feeling my heart race, the goose bumps and the voice of God whispering in my ear, “No, this is not all you got, I AM, all you have!”
After fractions of seconds to felt it all, God led me to only speak to the clerk of LOVE from Him about it, and I did. I asked for forgiveness saying that bank card that was all I had, but it was God., And he asked me to convey the message that E’le loved her too. After that little phrase, “Jesus loves you” saw its structure collapsed in tears. We did not know what was going on with that girl, and she never let us know.
Acts, let us clear about POWER and AUTHORITY that has the name, JESUS CHRIST. Peter and John before the Sanhedrin were questioned about it, with what power and authority they did what they did. Doctors tried to silence, threatening them, saying they could not speak or teach about this man’s name (Jesus), but were unsuccessful.
I conclude with verse 20 of chapter 4 of Acts, using the words of Peter and John to the doctors of the Sanhedrin;
As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
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