Portfolio of Works

The Digo are an ethnic group who live along the coastal region of Kenya and Tanzania with a concentration in the port city, Mombasa. As one of the major ports on the East African Coast, Mombasa has an layered and complex history. These works explore both the broader historical context of the city and the more specific experiences of the Digo people. In the late 19th and 20th century a devastating famine forced many Digo into slavery as a way to secure food and hence survival. Later on, many bought, or 'redeemed' their way out by converting to Islam. 

In 2018, Mombasa county leaders declared the city should be painted in blue to symbolize its link with the Indian Ocean.  I chose blue to predominate both to connecting it with 'blue' Mombasa but also for blue's general association with water and the life and hope it can bring.  I used yellows and orange  to give a vivid contrast to the blue in that it evokes the harsh contrast of dessert and drought that having no water brings.

“Let the children come to Me and do not hinder them”…And he took the children in His arms and began to bless them.  

  –Mark 10:14&16

My daughter, Lydia Rose, passed away on the very day we signed the contract to purchase land that would become our missions base in Uganda. She was just five weeks old. Prior to this, we had no specific vision for creating a space for children but as we planned to build, we couldn’t ignore the deep connection between Lydia’s brief life and the moment that land became part of our story.

And so we set aside a portion of the property for them—a playground, a soccer field, and a gazebo where local children could gather, play, and laugh. And they come—oh, they come! From all over the neighborhood, they flood the campus with energy and joy: laughing, jumping, swinging, playing soccer, and more.

We've been able to create a space where these children can feel safe, be loved, and have fun—something especially precious in the often harsh reality of childhood in the developing world. It’s a place where they can experience the love and acceptance of God, and learn about Him as well.

While I no longer live in Uganda, I visit often. When I see these children—full of life and light—I can’t help but think that, had circumstances been different, they might have been Lydia’s neighbors and playmates. So in my heart, I call them “Lydia’s friends.”

Through these portraits, I’ve tried to capture their smiles, their mischief, their unique personalities. I hope they bring a smile to your face, just as they have to mine. For me, they are a living reminder of how God can take even the deepest grief and transform it into something beautiful—something full of life.

*a portion of the proceeds from this collection will go to support the ongoing care and staffing of the “Lydia Rose children’s ministry”