Natural Beauty

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Wednesday, September 22, 2010 | 5 photos

I went to Guatemala on my first Christian missions trip less than two weeks ago. When we arrived in Antigua it took my breath away. Three massive volcanoes were there to greet us as we entered the city, one of which would release puffs of smoke letting us know the raw power it still holds. Many of the colorful and warm-hearted people are splendid artesians who make their living by the skill in their craft, and little children roam the streets with bracelets, scarfs, and flutes to sell for their families livelihood. There is a grandeur and untamed beauty in that land.
A great earthquake almost completely leveled the buildings of Antigua in 1770 but here and there as I walked down the cobblestone streets I stood in awe of magnificient glimpses into a past civilization. There in front of me, next to jewelry stores and souvenir shops, was a magnificent ruin that really had stood the test of time. I am a 23 year old United States citizen, born and raised in Florida, but I have such great admiration for the natural beauty of other lands and the skill and designs of other cultures. My aunt gave me a new camera right before this trip and a card that said, " It is my prayer that you will use this tool for the glory of God." Well God's glory is all around us and it is my dream to travel and capture the beauty of the natural world entangled in the civilized one.