Online Archives

Connecting through the 'the blue girl'
By Erik Alsgaard

I was sitting in the sanctuary of Calvary UMC in Mt. Airy a few Sundays ago, mentally preparing myself to preach for its New Consecration Sunday. As the praise band was, well, praising, the song leader introduced me, which was very nice.

She said that the newspaper I help edit (this one) had recently held a photo contest. She then introduced Terri King to the congregation and to me.

And that?s where this story of signs and wonders gets really interesting.

Last summer, we held our second photo contest. We asked people to take photographs of where they saw God and send them in. King had sent in several images, and one of them won a prize: third place; $40.

The photo is of a little girl from the Dominican Republic. King took it last summer when she and several members from her church were there for missions work. King told me later, over a pasta buffet in the church?s social hall, that the little girl?s picture was taken in an instant; no pose, no stopping, just, 'here it is, take it,' she said.

When we saw the photo submission for the contest, in my mind?s eye, it leapt off the page. The image captured something of the little girl?s spirit, her soul, in those eyes, that face. The other judges agreed. After all the votes were tabulated, King?s photograph came in third; $40.

When she received the check, King decided that the money really didn?t belong to her, that it belonged, instead, to that little girl. In an instant, she decided that that money had to get back to her.

Fast forward several months. It?s now Spring 2006. King is back in the Dominican Republic, back in the same village she had been earlier. She is searching for the little girl in blue in the photo.

With the help of other villagers, King finds the girl?s mother. In a few moments, she is ushered to a tiny hut in the village. King told me they had decided to do the presentation inside her home, in private, because the amount of money might attract unwanted attention. The floor of the home is dirt; there is no running water.

King has converted the money to local currency. At first, she gives the picture of 'the blue girl' to the mother, who is overwhelmed by the gift of the picture. It is the first, and only, photograph the mother has of her child.

With the help of an interpreter, King informs the woman that this picture has won a prize, and with that prize, some money. King has come to give her that money.

Remember, the amount of money is $40. But in the Dominican Republic, this amount of money is worth so much more than we could ever imagine.

The mother tells King the story of her husband working outside the home each week, coming home only on weekends. She has five children, ranging from 4 to 18. Her daughter, 'the blue girl,' was born with a speech problem and at the time of the photo, she was unable to talk. She had since received some help and now can, at last, talk.

The experience will also make a difference in other ways. Because of these mission trips and the relationships that have developed, Calvary UMC?s involvement in mission and outreach is starting to percolate. More and more people are getting involved and interested in mission, both overseas and in the community. God?s spirit of service has taken hold.

When we started the photo contest, my idea was to offer you, the reader, an opportunity to interact with this publication. The first year we held the contest, we heard from several of the contributors how the contest opened doors for them and even brought people closer together or offered opportunities for people to re-connect with the church. That, in and of itself, was a sign and wonder, making the photo contest worthwhile.

But when I heard this story, sitting there in the sanctuary of Calvary UMC in Mt. Airy, I knew that the tears welling in my eyes were why I was in the story-telling ministry in the first place: To help make connections like these; to help make connections that only God can make.

I also made another, unexpected connection that morning. With King, yes. And also with my call.

SIDEBAR:
I greatly appreciate direct and helpful concerns about any editorial I write. I?ve received such feedback regarding the editorial in the March 15 UMConnection edition. The attempt to use satire in that column communicated the wrong message. The editorial was insensitive. The use of Native American names for sports teams is offensive and demeans people. The General Conference was correct in moving from Richmond, Va. I apologize for any offense I have caused.

Correction
Because of a transcription error, remarks attributed to the Rev. Mamie A. Williams, in the April 5 article on clergywomen were actually made by the Rev. Kathryn B. Moore. We regret the error.