Portraits & Art

One of my favorite activities, painting! I am painting portraits of people I have met from around the world. Take a look and read a little about where each one is from. And be on the lookout for more as I get to painting/posting them!

Acrylic on butcher paper. 

From a hill tribe in Northern Thailand, we met this woman who was decked in beads. A Stunning grandmother to the community up there she speaks Karen, one of many dialects in Thailand. The hill tribe is called Baan Khun and there we spent several days ministering to the remote community where 1 Thai man has committed to pastoring. His vision is to see the entire tribe and the neighboring ones encounter God as their Lord and Savior. Not only is he passionately pursuing these people for the Lord, but his family is also temporarily sponsoring many Compassion International children who live in the village and don't have a supporting family.  My team leader felt God lead her to give this elderly woman, already covered in beads, her cross necklace. She had kept it with her the whole trip, knowing God wanted to give it to someone - and here she is! Because of the language barriers we never got the woman's name, but all of our team will forever remember that incredible community! 

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Acrylic on canvas. 

‘We can do no great things, only small things with great love’ - Mother Teresa baby blue eyes. cocoa soft skin. heart that beats with bravery far beyond her years. this sweet sista’s name is Nelly. she is just one of the many kids who live around the Madan Coffee and Tea Plantation in the rural Jiwaka Province in Mt, Hagen, PNG. nelly is just shy of three years old, yet when a team from Justice Water was working with locals in the highlands to build a rain catchment tank and needed to carry rocks across a bridge to the school in her community, she loaded up her torn and tattered green singlet with stone after stone. After each trip she would reach her little arms up for a rest on the trip back, but in a matter of minutes would be back with her singlet full of stones. this little face is true evidence of small things with a great love. 

Larry and Aarlie Hull, a charismatic duo, have committed their life to sustainable practices at the Madan Coffee and Tea Plantation PNG alongside their primary focus to work alongside the local community in gaining access to clean drinking water and sanitation across the Jiwaka Province communities. The thread that binds these three beautiful souls together is the greatest love, that of a Creator whose desire is for life and life more abundantly for all his children of Papua New Guinea.

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Acrylic on butcher paper.

On the left is Rachel, a young Thai woman trapped in prostitution. A sweet and strong woman, Rachel works in a red light district of Thailand sending the money back to her family who take care of her beloved son. On the right is Gulya, from Tajikistan, one of my team members who built an incredible bond with this young lady. Gulya spent hours loving on Rachel and at one point we believed that Rachel would take a risk, choosing to no longer work in the bars. Praying for her daily, we believed she would come with us to a ministry that would provide food, housing, vocational training & Christian mentors to help her find restoration through Jesus. Unfortunately we never saw that happen, but not one of us left doubtful of the seeds planted in her heart, along with the many others we loved on there. To this day she remains in my prayers and I believe that God's love will win her heart & we will meet in heaven.

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Acrylic on butcher paper. 

Ok confession: I have no idea who this little girl is or where she is from. I saw this on the internet somewhere and just fell in love with the raw expression on her face. At about 3x2ft, painting this precious little girl had me praying for the children of the world as I worked on it. Halfway through God had me pray for everyone else- that we would become more like children - running to our Daddy for everything. Whether we're hurt, scared, happy, or just "ok,"He so desires our reliance on His comfort, protection, peace, love. So no, there is no story to this one but for the incredible Love that our God has for us - just ask Him how good a Daddy He is.

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Acrylic on canvas. 
A gift to my dear friend, Nina Coyle, she met this girl in Haiti and penned the description for this portrait. 
"Friends, meet Sintia. She is one among fifty or so precious children of God living as a "child of Hope" in an orphanage outside of Port-au-Prince Haiti. In one week, she brought me into a deeper understanding of the gentleness and intentionality of the Father. When I was with her (and when I said goodbye), I tasted the sweet joy of play and the sorrow of being separated from family, biological and spiritual. Though quiet, this sweet girl is one of perseverance, diligence and fierce love. She cares for the children around her, beams when reading and writing Scripture and like every other child I've encountered across the globe--she loves to be held. When I see this painting, I'm not only reminded of the memories with Sintia and the heart ache for wanting to see her again--I'm reminded of a jealous Father who swoops in and scoops her up each day, pulls her into His chest and teaches her to sing victory songs." -FMC
If you would like to read more, or consider sponsoring a child at the Children of Hope Orphanage click here.

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Watch for more to come!!!

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