Orphans of India - Chennai & Shankavaram

Here's a video I put together for a demo reel of our time in S. India 2007.

Orphans of India - Mumbai

A little over 2 years ago, a friend and I started a documentary that focused on children who were orphaned by the tsunami of 2004.

We went to southern India and filmed children in orphanages for the better part of a year. (I was there only three weeks.)

We're leaving tomorrow to go back for another three weeks, this time to Mumbai, focusing on AIDS orphans and victims of the sex trade.

Here's Peterson: One of the boys I'll meet.


I'm looking forward to my time there, but three weeks is a long time away from my wife.

Iranian Elections

I'm paying attention to the craziness that's happening in Iran. I can't get it out of my mind. It's like it's a movie; because it's so bizarre and enthralling, yet we're so detached from it all.

It's strange to experience an extended event like this one, all the while knowing it'll probably end up as a film or a documentary.

My heart goes out to the Iranian people during this time. I think I'd be pretty upset if I thought my vote didn't count either. Who knows? Maybe I'd be out there with the hundreds of thousands of other protesters on the streets.

I can't say whether or not I think the election was rigged. One one hand, it seems like a conspiracy theory - not to mention, it would be very difficult to pull off.

On the other hand, the opposition has a lot of compelling circumstancial evidence, like how Pres. Ahmadinejad won so heavily in the opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi's hometown. And also, counting 40 million write-in ballots in a matter of hours seems a little fishy.

My gut is telling me that it'd take a miracle to change the 'outcome' - and likely not much will change in US-Iranian relations. Both leaders are pretty anti-American. And our approach won't change either. We will still try to engage them with talks, persuading them towards nuclear disarmament and ending support for terrorist states.

I'd like to see a change in their leadership, but we'll probably have to wait 4 more years.
In the meantime, I'm glued to the news.

Colorado

I love living in Colorado. I think the greatest thing about living in the Springs is being literally minutes from being swallowed up in vast pine forests among snow capped peaks.

There's such a variety of nearby hikes to where I work and live. Any day, I can come in early to get off at 3:30, and I'll be in the mountains by 4.

As of yesterday, I had a view of Pikes Peak from my desk. They just replaced the window with a cubicle piece. Bummer.

Today, I'll be hiking Eagles Peak, which towers above the Air Force Academy Chapel
What a great way to end the workday!

Invisible Nation with an Invisible Future

I'm editing a story right now on the beginning of some work we're doing in Kurdistan, Northern Iraq.

The Kurdish people are the largest people group without a nation.

They're spread out mainly throughout Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey. They've been persecuted heavily in Iraq, especially in the late 80s when Saddam launched his Anfal Operation, exterminating thousands and thousands of Kurds. Villages were leveled and millions were displaced.

This was done in the name of Islam, and so it left the Kurds a little disenfranchised with the religion. As if they need any reminders, the hillsides are covered in mass graves.

They're especially grateful for the Americans. We helped topple Saddam and establish a Kurdish Regional Authority, which gives them some degree of autonomy.

I felt like a celebrity when I was there. If you ever want an ego boost, go to Kurdistan.

There's a feeling of hope and openness in the region. It's exciting to see what will happen in the upcoming years, especially with all the foreign investment pouring in.

They've been called an Invisible Nation with an Invisible Future. With this great freedom they're now experiencing, I hope that will no longer be the case.

General Council

This last week, I had the opportunity to attend our denomination's General Council in Louisville, KY.

I pronounce it Looahvul. How about you?

I was there recording interviews of our international workers from all over the world. It was eye opening for me to see just how broad the Alliance is.

Africa, Asia, Latin America, we're every where!

And it wasn't just missionaries. It was encouraging to see all the pastors, youth leaders and lay leaders who are living the call together.

I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to connect with people at Council, and I was very happy to get back to the Lexington area and visit my Alma mater.