MK forum

That is a great post, AnotherMK. Maybe a few current missionaries might read your input on photos and give your ideas some thought.

Missionaries: what motivates you the most? "Partnership development*" or the development of a mutually respectful and appreciative relationship with those you've come to serve in your host culture/country?




*Partnership Development = the art of raising funds for one's missionary endeavors.

I would love to hear about this topic from others...hope to get some comments on this!

My husband got some really great pictures the other day of people weaving traditional palm decorations and crucifixes, etc. for Easter...he told me that he felt a little uncomfortable just going up and snapping pictures, so he first took the time to ask the people what they were making and what the significance of the items were. After that, people were fairly happy to have their picture taken because he'd shown interest in them first. I thought that was a pretty cool story and the pictures turned out very nice.

There have been other times when I've really wanted to take pictures, but have refrained because it felt wrong somehow...I guess it's just good to try to be sensitive to the people and the situation...

It no doubt comes down to motive. Most of us take photos to remember someone or something.

I was up North two days ago and found the church where my parents discovered NTM many decades ago, so I took a picture of it as the sun rose. Nice picture that evokes memories of where it all began. Wonder if I should sent it to Sanford with a bill, asking for a refund?

I have very few pictures of PNG and none of the MKs I grew up with. There was a period I just didn't want to remember so out they went. Of course with the invention of facebook, it's not hard to find people from the past.

Most of my pictures are of our hound or scenery.

That's usually my motive in taking pictures, we love to go back over our pictures as a family and remember fun times or the different trips we have taken and the people we met. We also collect pictures for different purposes, some for ministry, some just for our own records and some for family (we have no family close). When we show pictures or albums for ministry purposes, we like to have the pictures tell stories so that people can get a better idea of what our lives are like and also feel a connection in some way to us and to the people. In a way, it's kind of like trying to build some sort of a relationship there between two parties who may never meet!