“The goal is not to change your subjects, but for the subject to change the photographer."

 ~Author Unknown

My plans were to become a photographer and travel the world for National Geographic magazine. The art of photography had captured a part of me and I wanted to live a life of adventures and exploration. I was intrigued by the challenge of capturing moments and expressing emotions through pictures. Even normal day places seemed to open as I stood behind the lens and beauty that I had not noticed previously became magnified. Every street corner and every person I passed became a subject to explore. 

For college I decided to attend John Brown University for two main reasons: My parents got a job there causing my tuition to be free for the first year and it just so happened that they had just started a photography program. I figured that was not coincidence but God pulling me to Arkansas. I became a photography major and dove into art classes. My sophomore year I was finally enrolled in my first photography class and I felt one step closer to my national geographic dream. A couple weeks into the semester everything changed, it was the period where there were two days left to drop a class and for some reason I was unsettled out of nowhere. Confused as to why I would feel this way I battled the thought that I needed to drop photography all together. I realized that I had been chasing after my own dreams and not asking God what he wanted for me.

So after a lot of struggle I dropped my photography class and I changed my major to Intercultural Studies. It seemed a little crazy at the time as I had already taken so many art classes and would have a lot of classes to make up for my new major. I wondered if would even be able to graduate on time. Well God of course was faithful and worked it all out, I was able to graduate in four years; which was a small miracle in itself. Now looking back I see that it was because of my change of major and the events that came after that I now find myself in Cambodia. 

Yesterday God gave me an unexpected gift, he brought photography back into my life. I had the honor of photographing a Human Trafficking Member meeting put on by an organization here in Cambodia called, “Chab Dai.” I was able to witness the coalition of many Anti-Trafficking organizations in the city and document the union of passionate people sharing ideas on how to better stop the sex trade in Cambodia. As I held the camera and walked around the room, I felt very much alive. I was able to be a part of an issue I am passionate about and use an art form that I love to contribute in a small way. And because of that day, more opportunities came up for me to use photography! God is so intentional! 

Now I see that there was a purpose in giving up one of my dreams and offering my passion of photography to the Lord. The track that I had put myself on was not headed to Cambodia and God and to derail me; which I did not understand at the time. I feel so blessed to have had my eyes opened yesterday and to see that the picture God is painting is so much bigger than anything I could imagine. God had to get me to a place where I held my hands wide open to him, offering all of my desires and wants. Now I see that He does not simply want to destroy my plans and take away things I want just for the heck of it but His plans are so much better! And he was the one who designed my heart and planted the passions that I have in the first place. I am able to live in Cambodia, doing what I love and in a way I could not have planned! Thank you Lord! 

"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."  

Ansel Adams