I'll start with a quick run down of yesterday the 7th...
We woke up early and ran downtown to the national courts again. This time we planned to capture a few shots of kids being marched across the street for trial. Maggie (mark's wife) also came along to secure an interview with the judge responsible for trying all juveniles. He promised an interview which we look forward to getting his unique perspective on the youths of the Bahamas. Later that day we interviewed the mother of a student involved with the program. When we got back Stefan slept over and we watched blood diamond and ate pizza.
Friday the 8th... We slept in late today- till 9:00 which was nice after yesterdays 5:45am wake up call. We allowed ourselves to wake up slowly since we didn't have any pressing responsibilities. We left at 11:00 for the office of the superintendent of Nassau schools to drop off a letter requeseting rights to continue filming in the schools once they let out for the summer. After that we went to the public archives to search for the dates of important gang related events in the news. It was depressing and encouraging at the same time. Encouraging because we found plenty of what we needed. Depressing because we spent the afternoon reading about 14 year-olds being shot to death and teenagers being caught with thousands of dollars worth of drugs. Now that we have identified the dates when those events took place we can request footage from local television stations to use in the documentary. When we finished we stopped for a late lunch at Wendy's and returned home to review footage accompanied by the sounds of a summer rain storm.
Our documentary is supposed to reveal the "true" Bahamas beyond the cruise ships and beautiful beaches that are pictured in many tourists minds. As I consider my own picture of the Bahamas I realize that I have misunderstood just as much as any tourist. Even though I came here to shoot an exciting documentary about gangs in the ghetto of paradise, I have been frustrated with the true nature of the Bahamas. My mind has been fighting to find its way to the sunny shores that my imagination promised. This place couldn't possibly be as despairing as it has appeared to my senses! I am beginning to realize that this is a place where the curtains of reality are pulled open to my minds eye. Here in "paradise" I can see the world (not just the Bahamas) as a whitewashed tomb. A beautiful place with intoxicating scenery. But a mile to the interior you stand next to dilapidated shacks that you would imagine finding in a third world country. This place is as fallen as the next and regardless of how nice the resort you stay in is, you can still see the truth from your hotel window. I feel as if my heart is rebelling against what my head is telling me. I want desperately for this to be the paradise that I imagined it to be. But that wouldn't be the truth... This is a place that needs God as much as any other.
In other news... We are all healthy and Jason's hand seems to be healing well. We are happy to have sheets and fans. We all can't wait to depart for our boat trip to the family islands on Sunday.
Until Next time... This is Jonathan saying goodnight from The Bahamas
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1 comment:
Thank you Jonathan for the insightful description of the Island. I appreciate the depth of what God is teaching you all. Dad and I continue to pray for all of you. We are glad that Jason is healing. Your blog was well written and I think some of your insight might well be used in your documentary. We grieve with you over the loss of lives of their youth. We pray that God will use you and others to bring the Hope of Christ to those that you encounter perhaps even through your documentary.
Love you all
Mom and Dad Bennett
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