July 29, 2006 Self-Portrait

_JEF4383w, originally uploaded by Jeff Frazee.

Hello FrazeeFamily Fans.
I've worked my tail off for the last three days, 37.5 hours. Sports isn't my passion to say the least, but I'm glad my editor made me stay and work all the angles. I met a lot of people, and I enjoyed being a part of such a big event. I love learning how to do new things, and shooting Champ Car racing is a new thing.
My parents are home from Kenya. It sounds like an amazing vacation. Africa is truly a land of contrasts. They ate amazing food, 60% of which was thrown away in some cases, at these amazing hotels and camps. A stones throw away, literally, was a village of 600 people who had to let their cattle go because they couldn't feed them. They hope the stock will find water and survive. Then they can collect them next year, when the rains come. People are living of the brink of starvation.
It seems to me that they could supply aid to the North... but they won't. God, move in that country and provide for your people.
It is hard to be a compassionate, giving believer in America. God, move in our lives too.

Heidi and I have always thought we would end up back on the mission field. Wanting to be humble and open to God's leading we tried not to put our own desires in the way. But you know what, God is so good. He is the good dad that we've always dreamed of. Tell Him what you want, and ask Him what He wants.
I would have to say that my daughter Harley was one of the clearest answers to prayer that I have experienced. I believe that is the way God always is. Usually, His timing isn't out timing. But, in general, God and man are on the same time schedule when it comes to the 9-month time span from when a baby is conceived to when he or she is born. So when I was talking to God and telling him that I really wanted a girl, I was pretty sure I was going to get a 'yes' or 'no' before the year was done.
Our underlying desire has been to return to Mali. We love the people and the life there. And it seems God is opening the doors for us. We have been talking with WorldVenture. (That’s the mission we went out with before, but they used to be called CBInternational.) As it stands now we are in contact with missionaries on the field, and we are building up a vision of the ministry we would be doing there. I would likely be doing photojournalism, possibly for the newspaper in the capitol city, Bamako. And I would be working on a documentary film. I have been encouraged to teach these skills too because up-to-date education is lacking limiting opportunities for young Malians.
First we need to pay off our school loans. If we were to pay them all off ourselves, it would take about 10 years. We want to move our children while they are still young because it is so much easier for them. So we are counting on God and his Body, the church, to help us get rid of our debt. The director for West Africa said that the mission would not accept gifts for student loans because they are considered personal gifts. So people wouldn’t be able to get tax deductions. If you really want to get me fired up you can ask me what I think about people who give to the work of God to get a tax benefit.
This picture is from a photo shoot I did in Coté d’Ivoire. It was a turning point for me, and it lead me to photojournalism instead of commercial photography. Click on the picture to see some pictures of Heidi and me when we first moved to Mali.
I’m going to try to put up a new post every Friday. So check back often.

IMGP1968_W

IMGP1968_W
Originally uploaded by Jeff Frazee.

This photo cracks me up. Harley is learning to communicate better, but at this point that only means that she now knows that if she screams in this really loud, angry way she gets attention more quickly. When she really means business she switches to this low growl that means, "I'd kick your *** if I had enough motor function to stops my hands from hitting me in the face."
So the newest news is that Heidi and I are seriously looking into moving back to Mali, West Africa. We lived there in '99 - '00, and Heidi lived there from when she was 8 until 18.
We would love to raise our children there. It's one of the last African nations where families can really feel safe. Of course we felt safe in Coté d'Ivoire, and that didn't turn out so well. More importantly, you can't be safer anywhere than where God wants you.
Don't forget to click on this picture to see more pictures. I know I've been stuck on Harley lately. Can you blame me? I'll have pictures of the boys up soon.

_JEF2124w

_JEF2124w
Originally uploaded by Jeff Frazee.

Each year we watch the fireworks from the roof of Su Casa. That's what we call the studio that my family stays in. This was the first time that Drew and Joe joined us. Joe didn't last long, and Drew was afraid the close fireworks were going to land on us. Harley Joy didn't come up on the roof, but she watched wide-eyed with Lulu and Granny down below.
Oh yeah, Heidi made amazing burgers and an ice cream cake that I'd give my left two lug nuts for.

_JEF0874w

_JEF0874w
Originally uploaded by Jeff Frazee.

This shot just kind of grabbed me. It is unlike what I usually shoot, but I love it. Click on the photo to go to flickr. Then you can click on 'All Sizes' and really look around in the photograph.
I have a little more insight because I watched the whole thing happen, but I want to know what you think about the body language of the two people kissing.
Regarding the previous post, Heidi did kind of freak out when I said I was thinking about focusing more on our lives and ministries in San Jose instead of focusing on moving on. By the end of the conversation, she said she trusted me and that she go wherever I went or stay wherever I stayed. Guys, you can imagine how good it feels to hear stuff like that. God has blessed me with Heidi every day since the day we met. He's too good to us.
So I'm working at Kiddie Kandids in the mall. I just finished training, and I start work on Thursday. I thought, "If PF Bentley heard about this he would roll over in his grave... Well, he'd have a heart attack, die, and then roll over in his grave." He is my teacher that said, "If you turn in a picture of a cute kid, he better be holding a crack pipe or an AK-47." On the flip side, I don't think PF could do this job. We're each suited for different things, and I'm good with kids.
For those of you who pray for me and my family, keep praying that God would provide for our needs. He always has, but we would love to be making enough money to take care of our basic needs and support more missionaries and 3rd world kids. We'd love to adopt too. So you could start praying about that. Oh yeah, and pray for a sense of peace about where God has us.
Let us know how we can pray for you too. My e-mail address is on the contact page of my website, jefffrazee.com