If a picture is worth a thousands words, my hard drives could fill the Library of Congress.

Photography is a hobby of mine, my current mode of hunting.  I enjoy viewing the world through a lens, thus my computer now holds over 65,000 photos.  Through photography I can capture small parts of life, tiny details of daily normality.

I have photos full of laughter; birthdays and celebrations with the family.  I have goofy photos of the girls at the Home of Hope in moments of levity.  I have images of gratefulness when a church building is finally dedicated.  I have countless photos of Moldova: horse-drawn wagons, shaggy sheep, weathered faces, and innocent children.

Yet even a fantastic image cannot completely reveal the depth of history behind a photo.  Each photo is full of memories that spring to life.

When I see the image below of these two girls, my mind flashes back to eating crowded lunches at their house, to the smell of sheep cheese their mom always sends home with me, and to the hugs and smiles they gave me last month.

When I see the photo below of this church and their building, I remember hauling buckets of cement up stairs to pour a floor, dreaming with the pastor to reach his community, and hearing the horrendous news one day that the pastor had just tragically died.

Photos bring back a flood of good and bad memories.  Images are a moment of history.

God’s camera works in a different way. While my photos freeze time, His images stand outside of time. My photo is of what was, and Jesus sees what will become.  His photo of us reveals our potential, not our limitations.

Christ knows the plans he has for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. (Jer 29:11).  He sees you healed and restored, being salt and light to your families and community.

God sees what you will be, not where you have been.

Years ago, I never thought I would preach in Russian, serving in Moldova.
I never could have pictured our girls ministering alongside broken women.
I never could have seen Nancy leading a staff that they hope will set the gold standard for ministry to victims of trafficking.

But God did.

What does Christ see in you?  Even if you cannot see it, God has a photo of what you will become.

God has an image for our nation.  Thanks for your part in bringing Moldova’s transformation.

Dreaming for a resurrected Moldova,
Andy Raatz