Archive for the Stateside category
Facing The Future Exhibit in Carrboro
by Nathan Clendenin on August 4th, 2008
After a good running at the Chapel Hill Bible Church, the Facing the Future exhibit has moved to Padgett Station in Carrboro. The deep red walls inside make a really nice backdrop for the prints; I am excited how it looks, and unlike most exhibits I’ve hung, it was a breeze.
A good friend Rachel Lillis has volunteered to be the curator of the exhibit and while Rebecca and I are in South Africa. She is currently in search of some new venues starting in November.
Headed Back!
by Nathan Clendenin on May 23rd, 2008
We have great news to share. My wife and I are headed back to sub-saharan Africa for a year! We’re going as part of a team of interns with the organization Africa Revolution. Our friend and co-conspirator for the Saturday Night Soul event, Will Brown, is on the team. And the the other two are the Africa Revolution founders Allan and Annie Greig. We’ve set up a new site for that trip called Mamelodi Stories, where we’ll share some of our experiences but also the stories of people we meet. It’ll be similar to HIV Stories, but not focused just on HIV/AIDS. We’re very excited and feel greatly blessed to be called to this endeavour. Join us on this new adventure!
Support for those suffering in Dallas, TX
by Nathan Clendenin on February 4th, 2008
Recently, a woman named Chastity Kirven contacted me through this blog – asking if I could mention a need that she is working to help out with in Dallas, TX. She is mentioned in this article, and there’s a portion of her email below as well. Please consider supporting Chastity’s fight for Food Pantry Program.
My story is simple. I read an article about the food pantry program losing it’s funding and the program keeps thousands of people alive every year. Some of those people where successful and after being diagnosed with HIV fell to poverty. They can’t afford the medicine and lost everything trying to stay alive! I decided to not only be sad about what I read but to do something about it.
I have no link to this except for being human and not wanting anyone to die or being hungry if I could help in some way. At some point in your life, you can complain that the world is a horrible place but at some point you have to take responsiblity if you have not done anything to make it better. That’s my story and why I am pushing to support this issue.
You can donate directly online to the to the resource center and I have enclosed the link below:
Support Chastity’s fight for Food Pantry Program
The donation amounts range from $15.00 to to $1000.00. After donating online, email the resorce center about your donation and you that you would like your donation to go to the food pantry program. Also, you can mail your donation to the Resouce Center: (Checks payable to Resource Center Dallas)
“Supporting Chastity’s fight for Food Pantry Program”
in care of Resorce Center Dallas
PO Box 190869
Dallas, TX 75219-086Thank you again for your help with this issue. We are saving lives! It’s that critical…
Chastity
Exhibition at the Chapel Hill Bible Church
by Nathan Clendenin on September 26th, 2007
It was over three years ago that I met pastor Vincent Nyathi at an AIDS in Africa panel discussion at the CHBC – when I told him what I was interested in doing for my thesis, he immediately invited me to Mamelodi. Now prints from the project that he helped me complete are going on display at the same church. It’s also going up in time for Carolina Hopefest as well as a group from Kenya arriving to lead worship at the church this Sunday. I don’t know how long it will be up, but hopefully it’ll stay for a month or so!
The Giving Continues
by Nathan Clendenin on January 21st, 2007
The Christmas Eve Blessing
The Chapel Hill Bible Church decided to dedicate their Christmas Eve offering to the Powerhouse. They received the largest Christmas Eve offering ever with almost $20,000 raised! Praise God and his people for pouring out generously. Read Vincent’s response:
“We received the good news yesterday. Gloria and I could not sleep because of the joy which flooded our hearts. We are still battling to find words to express our appreciation. It is like we are in a deep sleep enjoying a good dream. When we wake up we shall be able to respond appropriately to this huge help. I am sure you will be interested in getting the response from our leaders and church members as well as the progress of the building. We shall update you. PRAISE GOD FOR THE BIBLE CHURCH.” – Vincent Nyathi
Saturday Night Soul A Huge Success
by Nathan Clendenin on October 3rd, 2006
With more than 300 lbs. of meat, more than 100 volunteers and months of prior planning, the first annual Saturday Night Soul benefit went off without a hitch. More than 250 people from around the country showed up for some amazing food (smoked brisket, smoked ribs, corn and sweet potatoes for starters), great music from the New Soul Survivors and an exhibit from HIV Stories, all outdoors in a beautiful park in Will’s neighborhood.
We met lots of great people, mostly from Atlanta, but many came from elsewhere. My father, sister and friend Bill Ross, came from Arkansas and Rebecca's parents and a friend came from Birmingham, AL. Not to mention a posse from Chapel Hill. We had a great time setting up, enjoying the evening, and most of all raising more than $7,000 for Vincent's church, The Powerhouse! Vincent will be able to finish the building his church hopes to use for the next few years as their permanent location goes through a long process involving endless paperwork and bureacracy.
Check out the video below, shot just a month ago in Mamelodi by a team from Chapel Hill Biblechurch visiting. Vincent discusses the site and their hopes for it. In the video with Vincent is Andy Smoak.
We said goodbye to Vincent on Monday night. He's off to Chicago for a bit, then Germany with missonary Bill Rapier, then home to Mamelodi. It was sad to see him go, but we know we'll see him again, hopefully soon in Mamelodi.
Benefit Event for The Powerhouse Church
by Nathan Clendenin on September 19th, 2006
Will Brown had the crazy idea to take his bbq events a bit further, and make it a benefit event with sales of food and photography going towards Vincent’s church in Mamelodi. After many months of planning, it is coming together, and will happen on September 30, 2006 in Atlanta, GA. Food, Photography and Blues will abound, besides fun and fellowship. I am presenting prints from HIV Stories titled, “Facing the Future.” The exhibit is made up of portraits of youth. These prints will be on sale, along with others I’ve taken, and 100% will go to the Powerhouse Church.
The best part: Vincent will be at the event!
Final Days of Post-Production
by Nathan Clendenin on April 16th, 2006
Like water to parched land, this psalm is getting me through the final days of production, as deadlines loom…
Psalm 121
“I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from GOD,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
He won’t let you stumble,
your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel’s
Guardian will never doze or sleep.
GOD’s your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you–
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.
GOD guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always.”
Boarded the Plane
by Nathan Clendenin on January 28th, 2006
I’ve just boarded the plane, a direct flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. I feel a bit anxious and uncertain, even though this trip should be a breeze. I spent last night in Atlanta with Will Brown. We spent the night hanging out with Charley and Sarah who just bought a house across the street from Will. They asked me to do some photos of them and the house, which I did. The main camera body I used is one I got from the Journalism school and had not tried out before (a Canon 20D). I adjusted the specs on it like I like, the same as what is on my own 20D. But when I looked at the shots on my laptop they look oversaturated and very grainy, even at a pretty low ISO. That makes me nervous going into the trip, although worst case I still have my personal camera that works great. It’s much easier to shoot with two cameras though, esp with lots of dust in the air, which makes changing lenses a bad idea. I also feel anxious about when I arrive. I had planned to be picked up by the rental agency and driven to Pretoria where I would have met up with Thea or Derrick, my hosts for this trip. However I am instead driving from the Airport to Pretoria, and I have no idea where I’m going! But it will be an adventure that I don’t mind. I am also feeling more calm now that I opened my bible to Psalm 139:
GOD, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say
before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there,
then up ahead and you’re there, too–
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful–
I can’t take it all in!
Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
If I go underground, you’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute–
you’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.
Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God–you’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration–what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I’d even lived one day.
Your thoughts–how rare, how beautiful!
God, I’ll never comprehend them!
I couldn’t even begin to count them–
any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
And please, God, do away with wickedness for good!
And you murderers–out of here!-
all the men and women who belittle you, God,
infatuated with cheap god-imitations.
See how I hate those who hate you, GOD,
see how I loathe all this godless arrogance;
I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred.
Your enemies are my enemies!
Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life.
God, as I embark on the final chapter of this endeavour, equip me with the knowledge, wisdom, sensitivity, and love required to do justice to the personal stories I am documenting, the beautiful people of S Africa. Continue to foster my relationship with Vincent and his church, and bless the desire I have to make a partnership with my church and his. Protect me from evil, both inside and outside. Bless my time with peace and tranquility amidst the pain and suffering I witness, and allow me to enter a situation and be totally present, forgetting myself along with my worries and desires to become in tune with the surroundings. I thank you in advance for your many blessings, and for taking care of your people in Mamelodi. Lord, you know my heart. I long to serve you and dedicate all I do for your will and purpose in this world. Thank you. Thank you.
Formulating The Thesis
by Nathan Clendenin on October 6th, 2005
I am still formulating my thesis this semester through many meetings with Jim Thomas, a professor in the School of Public Health and a missions pastor at the Chapel Hill Bible Church. He’s been extremely helpful in helping me understand the bigger picture of HIV and to dig deeper into how we can help things. If I had to title my thesis right now it’d be: “AIDS, Poverty, and Faith.” I will look at what things the Christian Church is doing and not doing to help with AIDS. This thesis will be finsihed in May, so I’ll probably do a posting on Vicarious Summer when its done (it’ll be an interactive multimedia website). I am excited to most likely return to South Africa in January to follow up on some things and explore more, now that I have more focus.
Extracted from original post on Vicarious Summer Blog