Film School Africa

2012-01-27T05:04:00.000-08:00

I've settled on a verse that I feel will be the Film School Africa banner - it comes from The Message: Romans 5:2-5

We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand--out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patiences in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.

In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary--we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

2011-12-15T13:13:00.000-08:00

First the Great News—

God is so incredibly Good—you already know that!
Our first group of Level Two film students are about to graduate—you might have guessed that.
Odwa Nomavuka and Ayanda Msebenzi, have been accepted into a degree program in film with full tuition scholarships—now that’s really exciting!
And next year the program will expand to include a new Level Three (two students)—nobody knew that (till now).

And now for the Challenging News—

The largest monthly contributor to Film School Africa must significantly scale back her giving this next year—now that’s going to be a challenge.
It will be necessary to secure funding for Odwa and Ayanda to live near campus—I don’t have an exact figure yet but I’m guessing that’s a $700 a month commitment.
The cameras and computers we have used day-in and day-out for the past four years are falling apart before our very eyes—surprise surprise!
To learn lighting techniques Level Three students (2) need a course that will cost nearly $1000 each—we don’t have the lighting kits or the $2,000.

By all standards this has been an incredibly amazing year.

God has performed numerous miracles in the hearts and lives of our students, and I’m absolutely overwhelmed and grateful for your prayers and support.

But as I anticipate an exciting future, I realize we won’t be able to get there without God’s blessings and your unwavering financial help.

So here goes. Will you consider a monthly donation for Film School Africa? Your one-time or ongoing monthly gift can’t be too small or too large. Click here to donate and designate your contribution.

And if you missed the video made for you by Film School Africa students last month – check it out here!

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support. Together we’re using art to give life,

Katie Taylor

Breakthroughs

2011-09-01T02:50:00.000-07:00

As you well know, watching a breakthrough happen in someone’s life is one of life’s greatest rewards.

Recently one of my Kayamandi students was attacked. His attackers used guns to beat him on the head and face, leaving him with stitches and a face swollen beyond recognition.

When I went to visit him at his home, he embraced me in a way I could sense not only the pain of recent events, but the pain of losing his mother as well.

He needed a mom’s loving arms, and he got them from me.

While our time together was incredibly special, it wasn’t until a few weeks later I began to see the full impact of the film ministry.

You see—it was time for this young man to stand before the class and pitch his next film. He weaved a story about two friends who unknowingly run into the wrong kind of guys, he described how one of the men would be beaten and hospitalized, and how his friend would react and seek out the assailants.

It was beautiful because he was utilizing film to work through his trauma.

By using a camera and actors, he was put in a position of power to explain a situation in which he had no control.

While I thoroughly enjoy teaching students the art of film and equipping them to move into a career of storytelling, helping kids with their traumas is my most fulfilling work. And it’s the reason I reach out to friends like you for help.

Will you consider making a generous monthly commitment to Film School Africa so we can effectively use film to change lives?

You can give online by simply clicking on www.threadsafrica.org. Or you can secure the address where you can send your check. Just be sure to designate your gift to the film school.

If you’re not able to participate at this time, there are other ways you can help. Certainly your prayers are powerful and effective. And Film School Africa is blessed to have an American high school student, Stephen Linam, helping us with our numerous equipment needs.

Stephen is repairing and enhancing used mac computers and video cameras so that we can put them to use. We’re also gathering headphones, microphones and computer speakers. You can contact Stephen directly at macsforafrica@gmail.com if you have questions or would like to donate some equipment to the cause.

Thank you for all you do to support this ministry—I’m forever changed because of your generosity.

Katie Taylor

The students put together a video so that you could see the impact of your giving. You can watch it by clicking this link http://youtu.be/df99FSH-YUY

Ayanda's triumphant return!

2011-05-30T05:09:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share with you a little bit of the joy that I was able to experience recently as Ayanda returned safely from Kenya. Odwa, Luvuyo and I all attended his graduation from the Discipleship Training School (DTS) as well as the completion of his outreach phase. It was a wonderful day to celebrate, and really take in the life change that is so evident in Ayanda. It's hard to put it into words, so I won't try, rather I'll let his words speak.

"Hey!!!! I just want to thank you for everything you've done for me, I really appreciate everything. This has been an amazing experience starting from lecture phase till Outreach and now the debriefing. I believe that "DTS" planted something in my life that I can't describe: because it is too great, too deep, too high and too wide to prove, but I know I am not the same as before. The whole thing affected the way I think, speak and how I see things.

The new Ayanda is being born, am ready to do God's will, I know it's not going to be easy but am willing to take it. For I know the Lord will be by my side and he will never leave me. I feel that the Lord is calling me to Kenya to take care of his children but the problem is who is going to take care of my family because I feel that they are expecting me to support them. Which is true somehow I have to take the responsibility because they invested in my life. And if I become a missionary who will do that?"

What wonderful issues to grapple with - and what amazing ministry lies ahead. I've always believed that Film Project Africa could and should be replicated - perhaps these are just the first steps toward a Kenya branch. :)

Please continue to pray for Ayanda as he finds his feet in Kayamandi once again. As he tries to swim upstream in his community and with his friends, that he might stand firm in all that he has learned.

In three weeks he'll be starting the video production semester and it will be nothing short of a challenge, but it's one that will equip him, and for that I'm grateful. For all who have supported us, you've made a real impact in the lives of many - but it's so fun for a moment focus on just one.

To become involved or donate to Film School Africa, simply go to www.threadsafrica.org and click on the donate button. Together we're harnessing the power of film to forever change lives.

Leadership Camp - 45 Student Leaders Camp in Tents

2011-04-08T05:46:00.000-07:00

Three and a half days of leadership camp left me simply desperate for God, desperate for answers, and desperate for a bed!

It was incredibly fulfilling to work with these young leaders and help to provide guidance and instruction during these few days.

The weekend started with an intense challenge that would rival Survivor because of its more than two hour length! Students were put into groups of 5 and were given laminated maps, two inner tubes, 3 sticks and a rope. They were then sent into a gently moving river of varying depths to take their team and their raft upstream.

Several stops along the way had them searching for flags and working as a team. But easily the greatest challenge was the fact that of 45 students, at least 20 were not at all comfortable with water! Some could not swim at all and one of my own students said later that it was her first time being in a body of water of any kind! (It was great fun to watch her learn to swim in the pool throughout the weekend.)

“Going against the flow” was a common theme over the next few days as students grappled with issues of their identity, the effect that Apartheid has on how they value themselves, and forgiveness. Huge topics for a huge weekend.

If I’m being honest, I didn’t really want to go. Just the idea of taking a long weekend and spending it in tents was not that appealing to me. But man was I glad I was there!

The weekend really brought me back to the heart of what I do – and it connected me with students that I wouldn’t otherwise have known.

The weekend made me desperate to find all the answers in the bible to every question they have.

The weekend reduced to me tears as conversations about forgiveness led one young girl to speak about how rape had left her pregnant at 15. Through tears she told me about the blessing of that little girl’s life, even in such turmoil and hardship.

Days later I was struck with this picture of what happens when we don't strive after forgiveness as people who have been forgiven so much. I'm sure the analogy stems from so much talk about who is able to swim and who is not...Our feet are shackled to the bottom of a pool and the water is filling up around us, but we have the key to unlock our chains in our hand. But it's just too scary to put our face under the water, dive down and begin the process of unlocking ourselves. So instead we settle for drowning slowly.

From Cape to Kenya!

2011-04-08T05:41:00.000-07:00

Ayanda Msebenzi has completed his 3 months of discipleship training and is now on his way to do 2 months of mission work in Kenya!

I was reminded by a friend recently, that it’s an amazing fulfillment of the great commission to see a young man who lives in a shack take to the slums of Kenya to spread the gospel.

Personally, for me it’s experiencing his dynamic change in just 3 months that blows me away. Before he left for Kenya, Ayanda joined us for our Monday morning prayer meeting. To hear the conviction with which he speaks and his command of the truth was just plain inspiring.

The other day I received an update that read, “Dear Parents” and I giggled. He and I laughed about it together over lunch, and then he later wrote me a text and called me mom. A touching sentiment for sure, but also an accurate account of how invested I feel in his future, and the future of others.

Upon his return Ayanda will start into the Media Village video production semester, and the directors there are already speaking with him about fulltime employment with them, which speaks to how hard he’s working.

The outreach cost was more than we planned, but it’s certainly not my place to halt what God has set before him, and so we step out in faith that God will meet these needs as He has met the others!

Jungle Room grabs cameras and takes to the streets (of Kuyasa)

2011-04-08T05:26:00.000-07:00

Our 8 to 11 year-old art class is in full swing! We’re working through the ViewFinder Project curriculum – a wonderful initiative that teaches students that with the help of a camera they can make even “ugly” things beautiful.

It was insightful to get a glimpse into what they find to be ugly. When asked the question I heard answers like, “fights, stabbing, shouting, food in the road, police, vomit and Tsotsis (street thug)”. At the least it was a glimpse into what an 8-year-old might be exposed to in a township.

What a challenge and privilege it is to teach a young child about photography – and in another language! Each Friday I’m amazed with what they retain from the week prior, and I certainly love the tiny arms eager for hugs at the end of class.

First Kuyasa Photo Exhibition a Success

2010-10-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

After six months of classes we have successfully graduated our first Kuyasa Level 1 photography class. The class was an initiative started by professional photographers Christine Meintjies and Lauren Kriedemann with the inspiration of The Viewfinder Project. Intern Ncumisa Siko, fresh off her time at the Media Village, was critical to the success of the project.

The students exhibited their work this past week, and the response was overwhelming. Many visitors that had never experienced Kuyasa came to participate in the day’s events. The demand was such that we actually began selling the photographs on behalf of the students, and it looks like a donor has stepped forward to create a book of their showcased photos. The theme for the exhibition was “Life In Kayamandi”.

Have a new or used digital camera that you'd like to donate? simply email lakatie_taylor@yahoo.com

Photo on the right was taken by student Cwenga Gwadiso

Another student is heading to the Media Village!

2010-10-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

It is both incredibly rewarding and scary at the same time, but another student from the 2008 class is soon to pass his matric (graduate from high school) and his sights are set on the Media Village.

The Media Village is a YWAM program in the Cape Town area that focuses on different areas of the media, one of which is video production. And while we believe that one day the Kuyasa Film School will be pumping out incredible film talent, we’re not yet staffed and equipped to offer that kind of in depth training for our students.

So our very own Ayanda Msebenzi will start with his 6 months of discipleship training in January and will then transition into the school of video production at the end of June.

Ayanda has been a Hats & Glasses leader for several years as well as participating in the Film School. We are happy to support him in this effort, as this has been his focus for completing high school.

It’s a big commitment for me since it costs about $6000 for this 9 months of training/room and board. But I believe that God will provide and so we step forward in faith.

Breakthroughs

2010-09-17T05:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to many of you I am back in South Africa full time overseeing the visual arts department at the non-profit Kuyasa. We’ve successfully launched a new Level 1 film class of nine dedicated students. Thanks to the continued efforts of my former student Odwa, many of them are starting with a greater knowledge of cameras than the pilot program had in 2008.

After weeks of class work we recently evaluated their first short films, typically the movies that students look back at and laugh, and they are excited to hone their skills. When they sat down for their first personal interviews for the documentary I was truly inspired. We strive to create a very open environment of sharing and vulnerability and that was no different with this class. Students shared openly and honestly and I’m glad for the opportunity to truly know them through this process.

One of my favorite moments in this very busy week happened around the editing bay (sitting in front of our old mac laptop) with a student named Emmanuel. He was one of our first round of directors for their task 2 assignment, which includes their first crack at editing their films. It's a steep learning curve the first time, but to edit their own film is an invaluable lesson in directing as it helps you to think through how you would shoot things differently the next time. There are often shot opportunities missed and they always wish they had more coverage of each scene (shooting from different angles and more close-ups etc). It was so fun to sit down with Emmanuel - take his short film and just teach him one on one. He just soaked up the information, and at moments threw his hands in the air in amazement at how we were able to change and adjust his short to make it that much better. By the time we finished, he turned to me and said, "SisKatie, I'm so proud of myself, cause I've never done anything like this before. I didn't even know that I could do something like this."

It's one of those moments that makes all the work worth it.

It's one of those moments where my sacrifices, big and small fade to the background.

It's one of those moments that you can be proud of the dollars that you send in support of this project.

When passion meets opportunity there is no end to what we're capable of doing together. Thank you for believing in this project, in these students and in me. I'll never be the same.

My New Best Friend

2010-09-16T03:30:00.000-07:00

This nine-year-old, Phlumehlo, is my new best friend. I remember him from years past as a real trouble-maker, but this year he’s anything but trouble. Phlumehlo comes to visit me at my office everyday in the afternoon. He starts by looking into the outside window to see if I’m in, and then comes tearing down the hallway and announces first that he needs a hug. Once he gets his hug, he promptly sits down and fidgets while I write out a sheet of math problems.

It didn’t take long to figure out that Phlumehlo couldn’t tell the difference between the addition and subtraction symbols, so that became our first lesson. Once we graduated to the adding and taking away of fingers, we then started the lesson that we will always have 5 fingers on each hand, no need to count them each time.

With each day he gets a better grasp on things, and while I’m sure he appreciates the help, I imagine that the individual attention is what he’s really seeking each day.

Beginning Again

2010-08-09T08:27:00.000-07:00

It’s always hard to know where to start, perhaps that is because each time I attempt to put my thoughts down, the internet goes out, or all the power shuts off. But this is Africa after all, and so it’s par for the course I guess.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the power of family and the impact that is has in each of our lives. Perhaps it’s on my mind now more than ever because I’ve recently said good-bye to my family – a drawn out time of letting go both of my physical possessions and those I hold so dear. It is never easy to say good-bye and yet as I sit here I am fully aware of how truly spoiled I am when it comes to this gift of family. I have been so loved and cared for throughout my life that I’m fully equipped to allow that love to spill over onto others.

I have students working with me that I love dearly, but it’s clear that the love and guidance of family is something they’ve not often experienced. I find myself breaking down concepts again and again, and I’m reminded that even accountability to a task is in many ways a very new concept. Taking apart vision and goals until they become tasks for the week or the day. I’m so grateful for the time that was invested enabling me to reach my fullest potential, and I’m blessed to pass on this gift.

I moved into my new room over the weekend, and my dear friend Carmen put her arm around me and said, “This must be such a huge change for you. So if you need anything let us know. You’re family now, you are my sister.” I was so grateful for that moment because I know the strength that comes from having sisters.

I’m so grateful for this family on the other side of the world – that is willing to support me while I get my feet wet again on this side.

I’m happy to call this complex and beautiful place home.

And I’m so grateful for each of you that lift me up in prayer and support me with your tithes each month.

I’m still about $1000 a month off from what it will cost to stay and maintain the project. So if you’re able to start an automatic monthly gift at www.threadsafrica.org by clicking on the donate tab and selecting the Kuyasa Film School project it would be a huge relief for me.

Love to all from Africa,

Katie

Kuyasa Film School - Where Art Gives Life

2010-07-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

I didn’t see it coming.

But God is calling me back to South Africa for the next few years.

When the Kuyasa Film School started in 2008, I had no idea it would become such a passion in my heart.

Experiencing first-hand the effect the school has on students has totally amazed me. And seeing my students journey from their initial interviews to their walks down the red carpet at the first Kayamandi Film Festival was arguably the happiest time of my life.

When school began, not one student had ever held a video camera.

But by the end of our sixth month together, students were excitedly editing their films on sophisticated Mac laptops. And while I experienced the highs and lows of working with students in abject poverty, it wasn’t till much later that I grasped how it shaped my soul.

The revelation came in the form of an email from one of my students.

At the time—some six months later—she was taking classes at a digital photography school. Her initial training and support provided her with the wherewithal to seek a greater learning experience, and now she was pouring out her appreciation.

She told me she stopped dreaming at 11 years of age—realizing that living in poverty was going to be her lot in life.

She thought she was doomed.

The poverty she grew up in as a child was the poverty she would live in as an adult—the poverty she would raise her children in.

Yet there she was—camera in her hand and smile on her face.

She was becoming a person others were beginning to look up to, and she was overwhelmed with the new direction her life was taking.

I couldn’t help but cry—tears streaming down my cheeks—as I thought about this young woman and her newfound hope.

I wept, realizing for the first time I was a tool in the Master’s hand.

And I wept at the thought that a young person’s life had changed because you made it possible for me to be in Kayamandi, South Africa, sharing Christ’s love, and equipping young people to make a difference.

In July I’ll be moving to South Africa.

And for the next couple of years I will share Christ’s love and help create opportunities—through the medium of film—for ways out of poverty and despair.

The mission is to create a model which will prepare promising students for employment in a fully operational film production company—enabling them to make an honest living and move toward advanced studio work and greater career opportunities.

But to do that, I desperately need your help.

First of all, I need your prayers. This isn’t going to be easy. But I’m going because of God’s calling. Please, will you lift me up when you think of me?

I trust you’ll prayerfully consider making me a part of your monthly tithes and offerings. Like other missionaries, I’ll have living expenses, but in addition I’ll need to secure a substantial amount of film equipment before leaving for South Africa.

To give online you can do so at the following link – www.threadsafrica.org and click on the donate button - just be sure to designate Kuyasa Film School as the project.

Major expenses for video equipment, computers, the flight, medical insurance, and such, must be secured before I can leave for South Africa. Your initial gift will help secure the essential equipment for operation of the Kuyasa Film School.

Then the real sustaining work begins.

Staying in South Africa will require the ongoing financial support of family and friends; I am fully trusting God to secure ongoing monthly support I need.

So your gift today—for cameras, laptop computers, lights, microphones, and incidentals—will get the ball rolling.

And your longer-term financial commitment will help make it possible for me to fulfill God’s touch on my heart to provide “life-giving solutions” to the life-threatening conditions of so many young South African kids.

Thank you for your gift today and your ongoing financial support.

I’m so grateful to have you in my life.

Katie Taylor

July 27th, 2009

2009-07-27T05:59:00.000-07:00

Wow, thanks to all for your overwhelming and uplifting response to my last email. I really enjoy each email that I receive – it just often feels very time consuming to write individual emails with so little consistent connection to the internet. But I’m glad that you seem to appreciate the updates, so I’ll do my best to keep them coming.

I’m really grateful to have been able to come prior to the arrival of the Threads team and even more grateful for these two weeks that followed their departure. Things can feel so busy and rushed when attempting to connect with each project and I’m now able to focus on each student with which I speak.

For example on Monday I was able to assist a student with their university application. To walk him through each question and help him to enter his latest grades into their correct slots is a very simple gift that I’m able to give. And while at moments I wonder how he’ll be able to thrive, let alone survive, in a university course when the application proves daunting – my pride is reinstated when we check the boxes with regard to his parental education.
Mother: PRIMARY SCHOOL X Father: PRIMARY SCHOOL X

And when it comes time to check the positions that his parents currently hold with regard to work, he calmly explains that they are both deceased. And I begin to imagine the many obstacles this young man has overcome simply to get to grade 12. And what gifts I’ve been given in this life…to not think twice when I once checked boxes that both parents have more than a 4 year degree, not to mention the love that flowed freely from them both.

The other day I went to the home of one of my students to complete an interview. She graciously shared so much of herself with me – at times through tears. Later I sat on the roof of Kuyasa with Odwa and we burned through an entire 60-minute tape and talked for another hour after the tape ran out! It’s difficult to express the feeling of gratitude that I have that these students are still so willing to be vulnerable in talking with me. I feel really honored at the depths to which they are still willing to go even after a year has passed. I know it’s a truly a cathartic process for them and one student even commented that they had never been asked the question of how they felt after the death of a parent.

Please be in prayer for one of my students Ncumisa. She is a media village student that was traveling with the YWAM team into Mozambique when the bus carrying the team was in an accident. It’s hard to know all the details from this distance but several of us have spoken with her. From what we can understand in the early morning hours the driver either fell asleep or took a turn too quickly causing the entire bus to flip. The students were sleeping and Ncumisa woke outside of the bus with her two front teeth knocked out of her mouth. The windows of the bus had shattered and as far as we can tell it is possible that most of the passengers were thrown from the bus. Praise be to God that all of the students are as okay as they can be, truly shaken up of course, but some of the worst injuries sound like a fractured hand and a few sore backs. Ncumisa is down playing her injuries we believe so as not to worry others, but she describes her missing teeth and a few scrapes as the worst of her injuries. A doctor has checked her out, and the team is now headed to a hospital. So please keep her in your prayers.

So many more stories to tell of course – but those are just a few highlights and lowlights before I fly home again this Friday. I’m happy that it looks like I’ll be returning to a job pretty quickly after my return – truly an answer to prayer.

Loving you all from the other side of the globe,

July 22, 2009

2009-07-27T05:58:00.001-07:00

things are going well here in south africa -

had some hot chocolate up at the new Tapestry house with some of the girls yesterday. it's really fun, i think we have a nice little bond now thanks to the shedding of many tears at the homes open. for those that don't know the Tapestry home now houses 6 young ladies that were previously in very desperate need of a place to stay. i was charged with the task of inviting the girls to accept Christ into their lives at the homes open. needless to say that when i began to speak i was reminded of my dear Lusi and Nana, now safe and with a loving family in Ohio , and the tears began to flow. i expressed that i wasn't familiar with each of their journey's, but that i knew it had been a long and difficult road to that moment where they stood before a new warm home complete with new beds and couches. each and every girl began to sob with me as we prayed together...they have since offered me one of the beds in hopes that i'll stay. :)

sounds like they already have a wonderful dynamic worked out of eating together as a family, praying together at night and speaking openly about their expectations of one another. i think my friend heather and i will go over one evening to play monopoly. i've started a few guitar lessons with one of the girls (for those that know the extent of my guitar understand that i'm teaching the fingering for G, C and D) and have been able to connect with a few others with talk of clothes and music. :)

had an amazing time of debrief with the team and i was graciously able to share the safari with my good friend Carmen. far too many stories to share in an email but Carmen (who never cries) was moved to tears and stated more than once that it was THE best experience of her life. we were joined by my good friend Maud for a truly moving trip to the Apartheid museum. we were handed cards at the start that denoted our skin color, and based on those cards we were required to use a specific entrance to enter the museum. the fact that i was now "colored" and that my dear friends Carmen and Maud were white, and that we would be separated for even just a few minutes hit me to the very core of my being and induced immediate tears. it was a blessing to watch Dave, the only Afrikaans male in the group, put his arm around Maud, his dear friend and sister in Christ, and recognize the many years of hurt between their two cultures. it was an experience i won't soon forget.

had a wonderful outing last night with most of my film students. we were minus a few but 9 of us went out last night for pizza and a movie. 9 people polished off 6 large pizzas! you can tell we were mostly young men. :) we then went to see the Transformers movie. two students had never been to a movie in the theatre and most of the others were only there for a second time - and this is with a movie ticket priced at 9 Rand (a little more than 1 dollar). the reaction was priceless - so much excitement, laughter and even fear from the ladies in the group. one student continued to turn around to look up at the room from which the light was projected, it was really funny. i managed to sneak a video camera in and captured some of their reactions immediately following the movie. good times.

had a wonderful weekend away with friends this last weekend. lots of time by the fire, a little wine tasting and even a couple hours in a canoe. it was a wonderful time of connection with dear friends and is a wonderfully inexpensive way to vacation. :)

still have more video to do of the house but am also working on connecting with each film student to interview them personally. so lots to do!

my love to all - thanks again for everything - my heart feels very full when i'm here,
katie

July 7th 2009

2009-07-27T05:56:00.000-07:00

July 7, 2009

wow - we have had a very busy start to the week! this small, but experienced, team of 12 is working quite well together and we seem to be accomplishing a lot in a short amount of time. monday was a very full but a very productive day as we all hit the ground running. it was great to meet with a few of my previous students and include them in the process of filming the Tapestry Home going up. we sat together and i explained the vision and the story that we were trying to convey - gave them a few specific tasks of footage that they were to gather - and they took the responsibility on themselves and got right to work. it was really rewarding to watch as they broke off and began to sort out their tasks - and i could see a renewed energy in the face of one of my guys that has many big home struggles. my friend Heather asked him how he was doing, and he responded with a giant smile that things were great this day because he is back behind the camera. :)

the home is going up faster than you can blink and it has been so wonderful to watch the excitement build for the girls that are moving in. i escorted two of the girls up to see the home, and the joy on their faces cannot be described as they saw their 'new rooms'. one of the girls was so gitty she was jumping up and down.

at one moment i ran into sisNoma when she was walking back from seeing the house for the first time. she looked at me and asked, "sisKatie, have you seen the house?" when i responded that i had, she quickly burried her head in my chest and began to sob. i had my video camera in my hand, so sadly there was no one there to "capture the moment". we joked as i tried to extend my hand and capture what my friend Brad called emotional breakdown take 2. it was a great to hear her try to describe her excitement over how huge the home is.

many more stories to tell but sadly i'm out of time. my love to all -

back in africa

2009-07-02T06:08:00.000-07:00

I’m safe and sound – and while I know that several of you have been waiting for days to hear that I’ve arrived – in true Africa fashion our internet has been down for the last few days. So I thought I’d catch you up on a few stories that have started this blessed four-week journey.

I arrived Saturday evening and was greeted at the airport by the two smiling faces of Cindy and Neal. When I’m not with the team I’ll be staying at their place – and I’m grateful to report that their place is bigger and nicer than the flat that Cindy, Nana, Lusanda and I once shared. ☺

I did get some rest on the plane, but it was really nice to be able to get a full nights rest lying down on a bed upon my arrival. I believe that first nights rest helped me to quickly get over that jet-lagged feeling and I was ready for church the next morning.

It was great to be back at church and I was excited to see my dear friend Heather again. As a double blessing she brought one of my students, Luvuyo, with her. This was a wonderful treat, because Luvuyo is one of the two students whom are currently taking part in the Media Village YWAM program, and I really didn’t expect to see him at all. That afternoon he would be leaving to rejoin the YWAM group, and would the next day be catching a flight to Brazil! It’s an amazing opportunity for him to minister to others, but it will no doubt prove to be a very challenging 2 months there. A moment that touched me deeply was when we stood there singing a stanza in a praise song that read, “I see a generation…rising up to take their place”. My heart was overflowing with the reality that this young man was growing so much and that he was being stretched and challenged into taking his place as a wonderful young Christian man – and that it all started with the film project.

The great day continued with a Sunday afternoon braai (BBQ) at the home of some friends of Cindy and Neal. The stark contrast between the “haves and the have not” is always an odd feeling to me at first, but it was still a wonderful afternoon of playing catch phrase and enjoying a big lunch.

Monday was my first day in Kayamandi – a day to which I was very much looking forward. When I stepped out of Cindy’s car I was practically pounced on by my dear Odwa. It was so wonderful to see him, and so much has happened for him since we were last together, but it felt like nothing had changed. I could hardly take a step without giving him another hug and then another hug – it was great to see him again.

Later in the day I was greeted with a phone call – Heather brought me the phone and handed it to me before telling me who was on the other end. I said hello and the person on the other end of the phone call burst into tears. It was then that I knew it was sweet Ncumisa, my other student doing the Media Village YWAM program. She is currently up north doing her mission work time and will shortly be going up to Mozambique for a few months. It has been a very challenging time for her, but she is a very bright and strong young woman. It was great to be able to encourage her a bit, tell her how proud I am of her and how much I miss her. I know that she is sad to be missing this time while I’m here – but like many others she has been using the momentum of the film project to move herself forward and experience a life outside the confines of the township.

That afternoon I was able to go over to see Zintle and her 3 month old baby girl Lisakhanya. I had a massive bag of clothes to deliver with 5 or more outfits in each size ranging from newborn to 3T! It was complete with blankets, socks and shoes - and it was a huge hit. She was very grateful for all the clothes and I was able to hold little Lisa while we visited. Zintle seems to be doing well and little Lisa has her mother's deep beautiful eyes and two of the biggest cheeks I've ever seen on a baby. :)

It's been a great first few days and with team members trickling in over the next few days it promises to get busier every day. I really miss having Nana and Lusanda here. It feels so quiet to not have Nana sleeping in the living room watching Generations, but I'm so grateful for the time I was able to spend with them in Ohio before I left the states.

My love to all - I hope to be able to provide more updates soon.

hey party people

2009-06-09T10:52:00.000-07:00

Well, for the two of you that are still reading this blog - the countdown has long since begun.

Within a few weeks I'll be back in Kayamandi, South Africa and will be having a sweet reunion with my wonderful film students. It will be hard to leave knowing that my sister's family is moving to Portland and will therefore be gone upon my return - but still I have great joy in going back to this land that I love.

I hope to write a few blogs, post a few pictures and include you both in my journey. :)

Until then...

First USA post

2008-10-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

Well, there are still a number of stories to tell - amazing stories that will stay with me all my life. And I will do my best to continue to tell them now that I am home. I don't know if anyone is even checking this blog anymore - but I thought it would be fun to link you to a few short films that were shot by my students.

When you remember that none of them had held a video camera before the class began - the stories they have been able to tell is nothing short of amazing. I am so proud of each of them and their ability to speak wise words to their communities and also share their own stories of pain.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3mHzA_g0q4

to view more of the short films you can go to www.youtube.com and look under films posted by lakatietaylor

2008-07-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

The other week I had one of the most touching moments of my trip. Cindy and I had planned on having over the four youngest Kuyasa Kids, all the 12-year-olds.

One of those little ones is actually a child that I sponsor through Horizon International. I truly love this little girl, she is shy and very intelligent, and it takes some time for her to warm up and come out of her shell. I have loved watching her grow over the last year. On the tour a year ago I was blessed to spend some good time with her – and when we reunited on this last tour I was greeted with a huge hug.

Cindy and I were going to stop by the homes of all the girls that were going to spend the night so that we could touch base with their parents and make sure it was alright for them each to come over. My little one was the last home that we went to visit and serious arthritis made it so that her grandmother could not get out of bed. The shack in which they live is very small – it’s the size of one small American bedroom and it is divided into a kitchen and bedroom. Resting on a slope the shack leans down the hill.

We sat at her bedside and spoke with her about her arthritis and about our plans for the overnight with the young girl sitting beside us. I sat there and wondered if I should mention that I’m the person that sponsors her grandchild. But as our conversation finished up I felt like it was probably not necessary.

I began to walk out of the shack when suddenly the grandmother began to ask a question. Cindy stopped and the grandmother asked again, “Where is Kholisa’s mother?” Cindy was sort of confused by the question and then Kholisa spoke and pointed to me as I walked back into the tiny room. “So you are Kholisa’s mom,” she said with a big smile on her face, Kholisa bashfully began to cover her face. I told her that I am and began to tell her how much I love this child and how special she is to me. Then the grandmother said, “Well this child loves you!” Kholisa continued to cover her face and I put my arms around her and embraced her.

It was such a special moment for me. First it was an affirmation that all the time and love that I’m pouring out is being received and felt. And it was also a reminder of the value that is placed on my relationship with this family. Culturally they view me as a mother to this dear child – and it touches me deeply.

Thank You!

2008-06-23T01:25:00.000-07:00

This is just a 9 minute video that I have put together to say thank you so much for all you have contributed to this project!

We are still several months from finishing up this project - and there is still a great deal of training and equipping before us. So far, about 3/4 of the necessary funds have been provided - but we are currently about $5000 under the needed budget. I know that part of the blessing of this project is the ability to leave behind several cameras and a few laptops on which to edit. I have seen my students really excited to continue to use all that they are learning even after I am gone.

I believe that the students are really learning a lot - and I’m confident that all that is needed will be provided. Your tax deductible gift of support for this project can be made out to: Threads Africa and sent to 26 Stratford Irvine, CA 92620

Thank you so much for your prayers and support!
Katie Taylor

The Things We Take For Granted

2008-06-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

I know that I am blessed. I've always known it and I'm frequently reminded in this setting. When I was younger, birthdays were a big deal. Appropriately, since there were three children in our home, my parents limited our birthday parties. Every other year was what we called a "quiet" birthday. On years where our birthday's were quiet, it simply meant that maybe some cupcakes would be brought to our class and that we would go out as a family or extended family for dinner. But on those years there was no big party with lots of friends.

Yesterday one of my students was celebrating his 21st birthday. He's everyones favorite kid, a brilliant artist that has experienced a great deal of loss in his 21 years. Recently he went from being art and film student to part of the Kuyasa staff - he's our new art teacher and it's been really fun to have him be a part of the team.

We thought it appropriate to throw a small birthday surprise - a few cakes and snacks were purchased and one of the rooms here at the office was decorated with some streamers. When he entered the room of 15 friends and co-workers, he was truly overwhelmed. A few of us "rich" Americans went together on a nice portfolio for his artwork - and a few of the students bought birthday cards. When he opened his cards he fought back tears - he then told us that this was the first birthday card he had ever received. The gift brought more amazement to his face and the party continued.

A few minutes later he came to me for a hug - I held him close and told him how special he was - and he simply broke down. Tears began to stream down his face and I just continued to hold him and tell him how loved he was and how much he meant to us all. It was one of those moments that I will hold onto forever.

It made me sad to think that he had never experienced such a birthday - but so grateful that we had made what seemed like such a small effort. Every year I receive cards that express how much I am loved - when I left for Africa it was with a book in hand filled with affirming notes, cards and pictures. I'm so grateful to you all for your love - for the gifts and cards that come every year and even the days in between.

Blessed

2008-06-05T04:50:00.000-07:00

I notice that my writing has become more infrequent and for that I apologize. With regard to the Xenophobia outbreaks, all tension seems to have subsided. In Kayamandi, we only saw action and movement that one Friday evening and for that we are grateful. The effect of such violent action is long lasting, and it has provided an interesting topic of discussion for the documentary component of the film project.

I am really enjoying my students - the more I get to know them the more difficult I know it will be to part. When I hear their stories I want so badly to be able to fix each situation. Provide parents when they are absent. Instill love where there is none. Open my door for a meal when children feel scared to eat at home.

Each situation is unique and there are no easy solutions - often it feels that a band aid is being applied to a very large wound. But I do what I can, giving lots of hugs, saying lots of "I love you's" and praying constantly.

The other weekend I had all of the girls in the film program over to spent the night. We laughed a lot, some tears were shed and I felt such joy that I didn't want it to end. Each student is blessing me in a unique way - and I continue to receive daily love from the Kuyasa Kids as well.

I love being here, but I also miss home. I wonder how my sister is doing on nights when her husband is on call. I think often of my nephew Roahn, imagining how big he is becoming and if he will remember me in 3 short months. I showed my students a picture of my niece Raime, it was a picture that was taken at her 2nd birthday party. She is lounging on the grass and scrunching up her nose. The comment from my students was "this baby likes chocolate!" It's true, I don't know what it is about us that makes our loves so evident to others. :)

A Troubled Nation - Xenophobia Outbreaks

2008-05-28T03:37:00.000-07:00

So I’m not entirely sure how much you all follow the news – at this point my hope is that you haven’t paid it much attention. The last thing I want is for you to be sitting with fear when all is fine with me.

If you have been frantically seeking out any bit of news on the recent conflicts in South Africa I’ll take a few minutes to catch you up on what is happening on this side of the world. Let me start by saying that I am fine, feel totally covered in prayer and work continues here at Kuyasa as usual.

The struggle that is happening here is common among around the world – the question of what do we do with foreigners that cross a border illegally, refugees seeking asylum. Zimbabwe has been in a very serious crisis for the past few years as a result of a dictator that has been doing what dictator’s do. The people are starving and dying, the rate of inflation is beyond imagination and I have heard it said that it is cheaper to use the money as toilet paper than to actually buy toilet paper. They have been living in conditions that I can’t begin to imagine and to be totally honest I really don’t want to most of the time. An election almost removed Mugabe (the current president) from office, but there was of course issues with tampering and it has taken the last few months to sort it all out. Meanwhile Mugabe uses the countries resources to begin beating and killing anyone that opposes him – so now one question becomes can the man who ran against Mugabe actually stay alive long enough to make it through the end of the election process. Only time will tell.

So of course the people of Zimbabwe have come flooding across the boarder into the neighboring and more affluent South Africa. They begin to start working illegally at jobs that pay them 30 Rand a day (about $4) and South Africans - particularly black South Africans – become angry that people are taking their jobs because they are willing to work for less money.
In JoBurg, some riots broke out that included attacks on foreigners (essentially any black that didn’t speak Xhosa or Zulu). Stores in townships were looted, people were beaten and killed and shacks were burned down. The media really hyped the incidents, enabling the hatred to spread quickly and providing criminals with reason to perpetrate crimes.

In my opinion, the root cause of all this hatred is actually tribal – it goes back centuries and children are taught from a very young age that to be proud of their tribe and in turn anyone that is different from you is less than.

At Kuyasa we were warned that if anything was going to break out in Kayamandi that it would likely happen over this past weekend, so extra security precautions were taken. They actually brought in 40 polices officers from Stellenbosch, which is good because in a lot of areas the police were aiding the criminals, but was bad because it meant that 40 white Afrikaners with guns were there for target practice. I was watching the news one night with Nana – and when a government official for the police force (a black man) was asked why it took them so long to take action in the townships, he actually used the words, “We are not trained to work with animals”.

I had a film crew that was out finishing a project so I was waiting for them to return by the 6pm cut off. They didn’t make it back until 6:30pm and when I began to launch into the importance of them coming back on time, I could see on their faces that something was wrong. A few of my students began to tell me that things were falling apart beyond our protective gates. Riots had started near the police station and Somali owned shops were being broken into and looted. We were told that shots were being fired, but I never heard any gunfire and have not heard any confirmation about anyone being shot.

One of my students thought that it would be good to get some of the action on video – when another Kayamandi resident put a gun to his side and told him to stop filming. My student explained that you couldn’t see anything because of the dark and the man with the gun said that if he tried to film again that he would be shot.

I was nervous, but really not scared. I knew that the attacks were not aimed at me – so my only concern was now driving out of Kayamandi amongst a greedy mob. As we watched the mob take every item from a shop just outside the gate, my good friend Mbongeni said that today he was embarrassed to be an African.

In reality, it was nothing compared with the Los Angeles riots – but a few of my students went home and cried. They were very saddened watching people in their community treat others with such disregard.

Within two hours all looting and chaos was finished. And we have not seen any other flare-ups in Kayamandi since. Please continue to pray for Zimbabwe and South Africa that these Xenophobic attacks would cease and be replaced with love for one another.

Love in any Language

2008-05-21T08:24:00.000-07:00

My good friend and 16-year-old roommate Nana is teaching me a lot about the differences between American and Xhosa culture. There are a lot of differences of course and she has had to adjust to many things as a Xhosa living with a couple of Molungus (white people).

One of the things that stands out to Nana is the ease with which we say the words “I love you”. She explains that the words “I love you” are only used in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship – and that they of course rarely mean anything. Of course when it comes to the molungus in the flat, we are constantly telling Nana how much we love her. She thinks it’s funny and giggles once in awhile but I know that she loves it. Who doesn’t love to be told that they are loved, even if it does feel out of the ordinary?

The first time she heard the words she made a mental note that maybe these white people didn’t actually mean it – but in her words, “You each just keep on saying it – and I began to figure that if you didn’t really mean it – you would forget to say it. So you must really mean it.”
Nana likes to joke about the fact that one time her best friend told her that she loved her – and Nana’s response to her friend was, “Are you dying or something?”

One night while we were chatting about how odd she finds it – and about how it’s not “part of her culture”. She turns to me and mentions that when she has children, she’s going to tell them how much she loves them.

While I thought it a small victory for this molungu, it speaks to one of the biggest lessons that I feel I’m learning while I’m here. Culture is important. But it’s up to us as individuals to find what works and is beautiful about our culture and strive to keep it. And it’s equally as important to move away from what doesn’t work, and learn how other societies have managed to succeed.

Some Things Just Grow On You...And Some Things Never Will

2008-05-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

I've come to the conclusion that there are a lot of things to which you can become accustomed - and there are just some things that you will never get used to seeing.

I have been living with Mama Shumi for a month, and I have grown such a deep love and respect for her that it kind of surprised me the other day. My good friend Jenna has moved up North to live near her fiance's farm. Which means that my other good friend Cindy is looking for a roommate and help caring for a 16-year-old named Nana that I have come to love very much. So tomorrow I will be moving out of Mama Shumi's place and into the flat with Cindy and Nana. I'm happy to be moving, and I cherish the time it will give me with Nana - but when I thought about leaving Mama Shumi it made me very sad. I honestly didn't know that I had grown to love this chicken feet lady so much! She has taught me many things - and from her I have learned to enjoy SA soap operas, eat dinner in the presence of tubs of chicken feet and live in peace with small roaches in the kitchen. I love her dearly.

The other day I had my first bite of a chicken foot - and I think I can say with confidence that I doubt I'll ever have another. The flavor was fine, it's the texture of the tough scaly skin that's unpleasant. Don't get me wrong, I only had a small bite - I was far from biting off a toe like my sisi Nana did with ease. I'm not sure that chicken feet is ever a meal that I will be able to embrace.

Another thing that always gets me here is the age at which children become responsible for other children. We have young babies at our feeding scheme - one-year-olds that are being cared for by their four-year-old sisters. I watched closely the other day while a young girl consoled her baby brother by pulling him close to her and rocking him back and forth. This child is not old enough to take care of herself let alone take care of another. When I thought about what it would look like if my sister told my niece (age 3) to walk down the road for lunch and watch over her brother (18 months) it made me cringe. It's something with which I don't think I'll ever become accustom.

A Unique Breakthrough

2008-05-13T02:18:00.000-07:00

This last week I invited my students to come to the center on Saturday and watch an Academy Award winning documentary “Born Into Brothels”. It’s an incredible documentary and if you haven’t seen it, I can’t recommend it highly enough. The doc is about 8 young children living in the red light district in India - and their lives are built around the profession of their mothers – prostitution. All of the young girls face the reality that once they are old enough they will also be forced into working “the line”.

An American woman that has been living in India for some time taking pictures, and she gives a camera to each child and begins to the children how to take pictures. The journey for each child is amazing.

There were several small breakthroughs as a result of this documentary. First, almost the entire class showed up to view it. I know this sounds like a silly thing to be grateful for, but it was not a requirement to show up. Also, understand that what I have been prepared for was a very high drop out rate. Some programs start here with 30 students and end with 3. It’s only been two weeks, but I’ve yet to lose one student.

Second, after watching the documentary several students asked me when this was made. At first I didn’t understand why they were asking this question, and I told them that it wasn’t that long ago, I think it won the award in 2001 or somewhere close. The reason they asked that question blew me away, they couldn’t believe that there were people living in these conditions right now. So here we have a group of students, a few of which are living in small brick homes, and most of whom are living in shacks. From the American point of view, Kayamandi represents the poorest of the poor – and you will never find an informal settlement like this in the states. But still their hearts were broken over the conditions in which these children were living.

One of my female students came to me fighting back tears. Her question stopped me in my tracks, “How do we change the world so that no one lives like this anymore?” The first thought that popped into my mind that I did not express is that no one needs to live like this – that there is enough wealth in this world that no one needs to go hungry. Don’t get me wrong - I’m not a communist - far from it in fact. I don’t feel guilty for living in America, I feel blessed! Americans work really hard for what they have – and give a great deal of it away again to benefit others. But the fact remains that many live in abject poverty, while others live with more than they could ever need.

So my response to her was that sometimes people don’t look outsides themselves – they worry about their own lives and their own families and give little thought to others until something moves them to do so. Then I reminded her that there were people in her community that were living in a poverty that is similar to what they saw in this documentary. She agreed and started to think through a potential life change for herself, “Maybe I don’t need children. Maybe the best way to help is to care for other young children that need love.” Wait for it, it gets better when you know the life situation of this young girl, abandoned by her parents and living with an aunt that she believes doesn’t love her. She has spoken to me before about a poem that she once read about a mother’s love, and after examining all the characteristics that the author equated to the love of a mother, she came to the conclusion that her mother was not any of those things for her and therefore her mother didn’t love her. What an amazing revelation, in a culture that believes there is something wrong with you if you’re married and can’t have children, to come to the conclusion that being a safe haven for unwanted or orphaned children might be your contribution to ending poverty in your community.

The final breakthrough was a small personal victory for me. In Kayamandi, it is estimated that about 1 in 3 people are infected with HIV. It’s always a big topic of discussion and few people get tested because of the stigma that surrounds the disease. So while many are infected, few resolve to actually deal with it. In the documentary, the teacher tries to get each of these students into a boarding school. There are several things that need to fall into place for this to happen, and one requirement is that they have HIV tests, and if any child is infected then they won’t be accepted to the school. When the results are revealed and we learn that all of the children are negative – my entire class started clapping with joy – and one even uttered the words “maybe we should all go to get tested as a class…”

Evidently I'm famous

2008-05-07T05:26:00.000-07:00

So in South Africa they have this tradition – there is a specific man called an Imbongi that is given the job of essentially shouting before the President. It works something like this, if Nelson Mandela is walking through a crowd, this man jumps around and crouches down shouting in poetic form about the wonder that is the president. I was commenting to the kids how funny this was to me, mostly because I don’t understand the language, so it looks like a crazy man jumping around and screaming in a crowd of people.

I also have an Imbongi – and her name is Nana. She is one of my film students and she wants to work in “media”. The word media is used a lot here – and it pretty much is the word that I hear from every student. When I ask them to tell me what aspect of media specifically they don’t really know. Nana is a very talented writer, so we have been discussing a journalism future, but she also wants to be famous so we’re thinking maybe a news anchor. ☺

Nana pretty much thinks that anyone that works “in media” is famous. Even to the point of posing for pictures with the man that is hired to take photos of the 10k, calling him paparazzi . So when Nana first learned what I do I had to explain it several times so that she would understand that I’m not famous, I just once in awhile run into people that are famous. When I enter a room where Nana has gone before me, I am often flooded with students that joke about wanting my autograph and tell me that they had no idea I was a producer on Spider-man. Funny, I didn’t know I was a producer on Spider-man either. I should make a few calls about residual checks…

wisdom abounds

2008-04-25T02:13:00.000-07:00

every once in awhile i'm reminded that i'm living with a woman that is almost 70.

the shower door is a delicate balance of three fogged glass panes that glide on a small ledge. Mama Shumi refers to these hanging door pieces as her babies, so that i'll remember to always slide them with care. so after the 20 seconds of gently gliding each individual piece of glass i've finally earned my shower. once in the shower, i look to my right and notice that on the little soap dish rests the lower dentures of Mama Shumi. like i said, every once in awhile i'm reminded that i'm living with a woman that is almost 70.

but i can also see it in the wisdom that Mama has to impart. last night the two of us sat in the living room area, i was eating my dinner, and Mama was cutting the webbing out of the chicken feet. (i guess here is where you realize that people can get used to almost anything.) Mama started to tell me a little bit about her past. she was part of "the struggle", which means that when this country was battling over apartheid she was out marching. she actually spent a year in prison - and gave birth to her first born son while in prison. she became a business woman in 1985 when her sister told her about how much school children in her area enjoy a good chicken foot. :)

i am always amazed by all that people have to teach - and i rarely forget how much i have to learn.

Beauty in the unexpected

2008-04-24T02:46:00.000-07:00

the last few days have been really great. yesterday was the start of my interviews for the film project and i was really impressed with what i have seen thus far. i have another 8 students to interview this afternoon and they all have a qualifying assignment that is due next week.

each student took the interview so seriously, it was really great - and in a way i felt like i was casting again. casting this group of young people that will need to work closely these next few months, and casting different types and personalities for the documentary aspect. several were incredibly vulnerable and honest before me and the camera and helped to make my decision very clear and easy. i'm still wrestling with a few of the others - and while i thought that a group of 20 would be good - my instincts are starting to lean toward a smaller group of 15 or 16.

yesterday afternoon, i sat in front of my computer with no internet connectivity, and was a little frustrated. my young friend Gugu, one of the Kuyasa Kids, came and sat down next to me. he and i talked for thirty minutes, talked about our time in america, about the importance of school, and what it meant to be a leader. here he is, a 15-year-old guy, that desires to just sit and chat about life. there was something so profound and beautiful about our time together, and it's not something i'll soon forget.

this morning when i walked out of my room, bleary eyed with my towel in hand, Mama Shumi was doing some ironing. i gave her a side hug and said good morning, and she replied with "i love you".

i was standing on the front porch this morning, waiting for my ride. the sun was shining and the air was so clear. i turned to my left and took in the reality of this place that is now home. our neighbor has a shack that slants down hill - but beyond that is a beautiful mountain. it still strikes me that there can be such poverty with such a beautiful backdrop.

the weekend

2008-04-21T03:13:00.000-07:00

it's funny how much a weekend can change when you're in a new place. at home, i can't wait for the weekend! for the time away from work and time with friends. of course here, i work with all my friends and time at home is when i'm most prone to loneliness.

this last weekend was actually pretty successful - and was much more fun than i had anticipated at the end of the week. friday evening, my friends Cindy and Neal invited me over to watch some movies - so we enjoyed watching "13 going on 30" and "the holiday" on Neal's computer. Neal cooked dinner and then later drove me home. the next day i slept in and spent some time alone in my room reading, listening to music, and even working out if you can believe that! Then Neal and Cindy picked me up again to join them at the home of a friend where we watched a movie and again, Neal made dinner. good news is - he's a very good cook. :) sunday was another relaxing day and i went to church in the evening with Cindy and Neal.

back at the office today, and i received the first sign-ups for interviews that will be held on Wednesday and Thursday. for the most part it looks like the interest is mostly among young men that are recently out of high school. this could actually work out well for me time wise, cause we might get to work during the morning time and not just the afternoon. the afternoon time here is usually filled with tutoring for all different age groups - so if we can meet another time it will allow for more options with regard to rooms where we can meet.

well, my love to all - i miss you so much but you can rest in the fact that i'm doing well.

i think i'm gonna need more zone bars...

2008-04-17T01:32:00.000-07:00

well, the good news is - i wasn't served chicken feet! turns out that Mama Shumi sells her chicken feet at the school, which is good news for me. :)

the first night was interesting. Mama Shumi served me dinner which consisted of chicken, rice, and a sort of carrot/potato sauce. the salad was not a typical american salad, it was more like a salsa - lots of chopped tomatoes with onion, peppers and some sort of sauce that looked like soy. so that took some choking down, but i considered myself lucky that it wasn't chicken feet. when i prayed before my meal, Mama Shumi said that i was the first visitor she's had that prayed before dinner.

my room is nice and big, and i even have carpet on the floor of my room, which will help when it gets really cold. the house is much bigger than the home i stayed in while in Costa Rica - and outside is nice and loud so that you remember you're part of a community. i woke up this morning bright and early when the roosters decided it was time for me to wake up. i did my best to get back to sleep, but since my room is right off the kitchen the sound of chicken feet prep continued to wake me up.

i took my first shower in lukewarm water - and i kind of think that's the best it's going to get. it could certainly be worse - in Poland the showers were freezing. breakfast was unique... Mama Shumi left everything for cereal out so that i could help myself. i was lucky enough to see a fly do a swan dive into the milk carton - and when i looked closer i could see that he was just joining his friend. so i grabbed a zone bar, covered my tracks so that it looks like i ate, and headed off to the office.

one of the girls my age that is working with the center is also living in Kayamandi. her name is heather and she's living with pumla in her new shack. she's really roughing it, sleeping in pumla's bed and peeing in a bucket. so things are pretty good all things considered. yesterday heather mentioned to me that on tuesday evenings you can go to the movies for 7 rand (1$) - i think she and i are going to get along just fine.

Safe and Sound

2008-04-16T02:56:00.000-07:00

i've arrived! the flight easier and believe it or not shorter than usual. due to a nice tail wind we managed to bypass stopping in Dakar and cut 2/3 hours off the trip. so all in all, the flight was good. i spent last night at Cindy and Jenn's apartment and this morning dropped off half of my things at Mama Shumi's place in Kayamandi.

the bonus about the location is that i can walk to/from work and i'm also close to the high school. so if any of the kids wanted to come over it's pretty close. we've been able to identify 3 students that would likely be interested in the film program. i'm sure there are many more out there, but we also need to be sure that we're getting students that can be trusted with the equipment. so the process will be selective. i'll likely get some flyers printed up in the next few days and will hope to start interviews sometime next week.

a big sister

2008-04-09T20:42:00.000-07:00

There are few things on this earth that I cherish more than my relationship with my big sister. We have such a wonderful bond and I'm truly grateful for the role that she has played in my life.
Among the Kuyasa Kids, the word sister (sisi) flies fast and furious, and is used in reference to any of the girls. My name is SisKatie, it's a sign of respect that the kids show me. And while I often forget the Sis before their names, they never forget to call me sister.

I was thinking about how many sister's I've actually gained in this process. While none will ever be able to replace or fill the role of my own sister - growing up I always longed to be a big sister. I like to think it's because my sister was so good at it, that I wanted to pass on all that I had learned along the way.

This idea of sisterhood really hit home the other night. Cindy and I were staying with two of the youngest girls in the group, Koko (10) and Kholisa (12). It was our second night with our host family and Cindy had gone to bed about 20 minutes before the rest of us. Cindy and I were each blessed to have our own queen size beds and our own rooms, an arrangement that is certainly not common on tour. The two girls were together on a queen air mattress in another room. Once I turned out the light in my room and settled into bed I heard a small knock. The two little ones opened the door and uttered, "SisKatie, we're scared".

There was a time when I was younger, that I would creep out of bed and down the hall to my sister's room. I would open the door slowly and say, "Kari, can I sleep in your bed?" The response always came consistently and with almost no complaint, "get in".

As I looked at these two new young sisters of mine - the words formed without hesitation, "get in". In a flash both little ones had jumped over me and began to scurry under the covers.

So this is what it looks like to be a big sister.

Typical?

2008-04-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

They seem like a bunch of American teenagers.

As I travel around the country with these Kuyasa Kids, I'm amazed by how much they seem to have all the same issues as American kids. They love "High School Musical", they give hugs to their friends, and teen boys wrestle each other to the ground. Most of the time, they seem like an average teen.

But when given the opportunity to dig a little deeper, I'm faced with the reality of these young African children. We simply ask for prayer requests and the response hits me square in the face when one of our youngest asks us to pray that her mom won't die. But it's not that simple, she asks that we will pray that her mother will live until her 18th birthday, so that she will be able to financially take care of herself when her mom is gone. When we finished our prayer, pouring out God our requests for health and life, this 11-year-old girl crawled onto my lap and just cried.

The reality that these kids face in a township where roughly 1 in 3 people are HIV infected is sobering. They all have several friends that have lost parents, so the prayer of an 11 year old, is that their mother will live 7 more years. While I know I thought about death as a young child, it was a fleeting thought, not a reality that scared me to tears.

2008-04-06T13:48:00.001-07:00

a trip to the dentist

2008-04-06T12:43:00.001-07:00

When I told three of the Kuyasa Kids that a trip to the dentist was "no trip to Disneyland", I had no idea that I would be proven wrong.

These three children were selected to travel with me to my parents house in Canton, OH because they each had specific dental needs that required attention. Puti, shown in the picture on the right, had crack one of his mollers in half. Nopro, was experiencing pain on one side of her mouth. And my sponsor child Kholisa had two holes of decay that had started to rot away the teeth to either side of the two that were front and center.

My mother had contacted close family friends Dr. Henry and Dr. Brent Van Hala, and they graciously agreed to see these three children and address their needs. The children were nervous! In Kayamandi, South Africa dental care is too expensive for people that are living in the township. So the alternative when one has a toothache is to go to the free clinic, and with no pain killer of any kind, have the tooth yanked out of your mouth.

The children received a rather different welcome when they entered the door of the Van Hala practice. Every detail was addressed and no expense was spared. Full dental x-rays were taken of each child, if there was any indication of pain more Novocaine was administered, and the children were treated like they were the most important patient in the office.

Puti cracked tooth was given a crown - a process that can take several visits and cost $800. Nopro's hurting tooth was experiencing decay from a major cavity, so the cavity was removed and the tooth rebuilt. My little Kholisa was a real champ - she was in the chair for close to two hours while Dr. Brent removed the decay from her front teeth. They then cosmetically filled the holes making her smile beautiful as new. I sat there holding her hand and providing encouraging words. Dr. Brent then shared with me that if Kholisa had not come into the dentist that day, that within a year she would have lost all four of her front teeth. I began to cry. Crying over the blessing that we had been given. Crying that we had noticed the holes in her beautiful smile. Crying that I got to be a part of connecting these kids that I love with talented Christians that were willing to sacrifice so much.

And it didn't stop there! A few key appointments canceled that day, and we were able to get more kids in for exams and cleanings. Going to the dentist had now become the cool thing to do and 6 more Kuyasa Kids came to the dentist. Every one of them had at least one cavity, and several had four! The Novocaine just kept coming! :)

Never have I so enjoyed a trip to the dentist.

South Africa - Film Project Overview

2008-03-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

KAYAMANDI FILM PROJECT PROPOSAL

MISSION

To equip and empower fifteen to twenty Kayamandi youth and young adults to visually construct their life story through the use documentary and short films, and create an opportunity to help secure a professional career in the film industry in South Africa by instilling basic skill instruction regarding film-creation.

OBJECTIVES

The student-learner will secure basic, yet essential skill sets which will enhance his/her abilities to be a contributor in the fast-growing television and filmmaking industry in South Africa. Student-learners will also articulate, through the medium of documentary film, personal challenges and successes they encounter in the midst of this filmmaking experience.

ABSTRACT

The 20-24 week-long curriculum has been developed and created to inspire students to recreate their personal stories, stories of the Kayamandi people, and stories of what it means to be a South African.

Students will be taught basic skill instruction of film-making—enabling them to tell these stories through short films. Interwoven through theory, practice, and relationship—each student/group will be challenged to film a documentary about their journey as filmmakers. This documentary will be shot over the entirety of their film course, and they will be encouraged to take over and continue the documentary when the course is complete.

Each person has his or her unique story to tell—the children of Kayamandi are no different. By providing a creative outlet for their thoughts and feelings, they will be taught to express themselves in new and innovative ways they might never have deemed possible.

They will be encouraged to explore a myriad of themes, including the effect of HIV/AIDS in their community, families, and personally. Requirements for student/learners also include engaging in structured, classroom like gatherings for debriefing and the verbal processing of their growth experiences, frustrations, and pride in the documentary element of the project.

Students can expect to be held to a high standard of excellence. Placed into groups, student/learners will be required to work together on each project—providing helping hands on each and every project—not just those particular projects they are directing.

This process will teach responsibility, how to work within given timelines, how to best manage time, how to depend on other people, and other invaluable skills that will be practical and essential in the workforce. While the skill set will be different for each individual—some may excel in editing, writing the screenplay, camera operation, and others in direction.

The intent of this course is for participants to identify their strengths and weaknesses and encourage student/learners to pursue their goals and dreams long after the course has been completed. It is also to identify a leader within Kayamandi, whom can continue to teach and run the course for future students.

Expectations for this course are not that each student/learner will become a renowned film director—but that each person will gain a basic and working knowledge that will allow each person to fill an on-set or offset role such as a boom operator, gaffer, assistant editor, or actor.

Those that show interest and proficiency may choose to continue their education at the Media Village Program that currently exists in the Cape Town area. Persons may also gain employment in South Africa’s rapidly growing film and television industry.

CURRICULUM

Acceptance into the proposed film program is a two step process. Initially students must engage in a verbal interview process. Once convinced of the potential student/learner’s desire and commitment level, students selected will be instructed to create a story for a short film and pitch their film to gain admittance into the program.

Students who qualify will be placed in small study/work groups for the duration of the program. They will be taught basic skills such as camera operation, story structure, story boarding, editing, etc. Classes will be scheduled three times a week with additional editing time that will be scheduled individually. As students progress in their knowledge of filmmaking, one of those class times will transition into a scheduled group time for the planning and shooting of their films.

Once students have a basic understanding of technique, they will initiate work on short films created without sound. This will allow them to focus on the power of storytelling without the complications of dialogue and sound. They will work in their groups to create short films that focus on different themes each week. Each group will have one writer/director, one producer, and one camera operator. This will require them to work together closely for their vision to be carried out and will ensure that the responsibility for the success or failure of the end product is shared. Positions will rotate each week, allowing students to perform each duty several times. The class will gather weekly to watch each group’s finished product and provide both critique and instruction.

Each week, or rotation, one group will be responsible for the shooting of the documentary. It will be the group’s responsibility to coordinate with the different groups so that each group’s filmmaking process is captured. This group will also be responsible for documenting one-on-one interviews with each filmmaker throughout the week.

After months of practice and rotations, students will be given a final assignment. Students that wish to direct a final film will be required to “pitch” their story to a panel of judges. The “pitch” must be presented in a professional manner—clearly stating the outline of the story and its proposed execution. The three or four students that convince the panel of their strength of story and ability to execute will be allowed to shoot their short films. They will then choose/hire their crew (editor, producer, camera operator) consisting of other students in the class. More time to shoot this final film will be provided and if appropriate, these films will be shown in an open-air venue for the people of Kayamandi to view and appreciate.

A Personal Note from Katie Taylor

In July, 2006, while I was filming a Hats & Glasses leadership meeting in Kayamandi, South Africa, I was approached by young man. What he said has stayed with me since that meeting. He indicated that he was a filmmaker, and that he wanted to work in film professionally, but that he had no training, no equipment, and didn’t know how to make it happen.

What was so impressive about this young man is that despite his lack of opportunity, he still had an incredible vision and desire. And without question he was thinking outside the box.

Some would ask why a young person—a high school age kid who lives in Kayamandi—should spend time learning the art and science of film-making. I believe the answer is clear—it is important to encourage outside-the-box thinking. In a society where the job market leaves nearly half of the country’s population unemployed, innovation is a vital skill that will open doors for this and future generations.

Kuyasa Kids Tour

2008-03-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

hello all -

so Tuesday evening 3/18 i'll be heading to the mid-west to join the Kuyasa Kids on their tour! it is an amazing show - and i would love to see any and all that can make it to a concert. below are the venues at which they will be performing - feel free to call or text me and let me know if you're able to make it to a performance. :)

Sunday, March 23 @
9 & 10:30 AM
Waters Edge Community
Church
4141 Holland Road
Virginia Beach, VA

Sunday, March 23 @ 6:30 PM
Riverside First Church of God
3461 Fall Hill Avenue
Fredericksburg, VA

Tuesday, March 25 @ 7:00 PM
First Church of God
23 Skyview Drive
Punxsutawney, PA

Wednesday, March 26 @ 7:00 PM
Arlington Church of God
539 S. Arlington Street
Akron, OH

March 27th-April 1st in Canton, OH! :)

Tuesday, April 1 @ 6:30 PM
Meadow Park Community Church
3480 Refugee Road
Columbus, OH

Wednesday, April 2 @ 7:00 PM
North Webster Church of God
P.O. Box 313
North Webster, IN

Thursday, April 3 @ 7:00 PM
Decatur Church of God
1129 Mercer Avenue
Decatur, IN

Sunday. April 6 @ 9:30 & 11:00 AM
Pendleton Christian Church
P.O. Box 31
Pendleton, IN

Sunday, April 6 @ 6:00 PM
North Christian Church
P.O. Box 31
Markleville, IN

Wednesday, April 9 @ 7:00 PM
Westlake Community Church
6696 Rockville Road
Indianapolis, IN

Thursday, April 10 @ 7:00 PM
First Church of God - ECI
9512 N. Walnut Street
Muncie, IN

Saturday, April 12 @ 4:30 & 6:15 PM
Sunday, April 13 @ 9:00 & 10:45 AM
Northview Christian Life Church
Carmel, IN