Through the Eyes of Jesús

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 18:3

Have you ever wondered if children have something to say about poverty? Have you ever wondered if they might have something to say about the injustices of the world? What would change in our perceptions of poverty and our judgments about the poor if we viewed them through the eyes of children?

Located on a steep hillside named Jasmín, in homes of cardboard, tin, fragments of cement, and wood, subject to seasonal mudslides, hundreds of children simply exist. One of these is a 12-year old boy named Jesús. In his world, sickness, hunger, lack of education and many social problems dominate.

“Through the Eyes of Jesús” is a project giving you a front row seat to life in Jasmín. Through the photographic eyes of Jesús, featured kids have become a gateway into their community – illuminating the life of their families, their neighbors, and joining them on their real-life journeys. We will follow the lives of these courageous children through photos and videos as they tell their stories and participate in changing their community.

We have purchased a digital camera and have been training Jesús in the use of this camera. He possesses a good artistic sense for composition. By giving him additional skills and means of photography, we hope that he will be able to explore his surroundings and understand his relationship to it, and perhaps discover some technical and interpersonal skills that he can put to practical use some day.

Jesús lives with his mother, Ely, and his aunt, Virginia. He has two younger brothers -- Isaac and Jordy. He is a unique young boy who easily connects with others. And he "gets things" most 12-year olds do not. The normal routines of daily life in a place like Jasmín give him insights that even most adults don't have. It will be interesting to see how God uses him, and what he has to say about poverty, his Gringo friends, and God's work in Jasmín -- as seen through his eyes, the eyes of Jesús.

Stay tuned!