AFRICA!
James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer…
That is such a simple and direct statement. So clear and easy to understand and yet the needs of the orphans and widows in Africa are so overwhelming and daunting.
I’ve asked myself, “What can I do? Where do I start?”
It is my hope to add my voice to other artists who are raising awareness of the devastation cause by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa today. Statistics seem to bore people. Numbers can be overwhelming but the power of a painting is its ability to make ‘real’ those who have been affected by this crisis. Of course, the most vulnerable of these are the children; hundreds of thousands of orphans in nations without resources to care for them.
I started painting this series of African people as a project for the church that I attend. I was asked to paint one painting to showcase the area in Africa that the church was reaching out to and raising money for. Looking through their archives, I was heartbroken by the scenes of all the homeless, orphaned children and young widows left to fend for themselves and their children. The painting, “Woman of Malawi” was painted and sold to raise money to buy blankets for mothers and children. “Blankets4Malawi” is a painting from a photo of that blanket distribution. I felt so blessed and humbled to be a part of that. ( http://woggobaloutreach.blogspot.com/)
Most of the scenes I have chosen to paint portray great courage and hope. I want my paintings to be reminders of the awesome grace of God in the most desperate of situations. There IS hope and help. Countless agencies and ministries are reaching out to the widows and orphans in their great need. But there is angst and anger and uncertainty also, as they face a future rife with political upheaval, poverty and HIV/AIDS.
Micah 6:8
What does the Lord require? To do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.
.For more information:
Blankets4Malawi go to http://woggobaloutreach.blogspot.com/
Woman for Orphans and Widows http://www.wowmission.com/
www.visionledd.com
or read
When God Stood Up
By James Cantelon
