My Time in Asia
About a month ago I came back from traveling across Asia, and I am blessed to be back home. The major takeaways from the trip come down to counting my blessings, understanding my gift in photography, and trusting God to take care of me.
Traveling through different environments gives you a chance to see God move through a completely different lens. I took a lot of photos, but the heart behind the people, situations, and experiences matters just as much as the images themselves.
New Perspectives on Home and World Realities
Visiting countries like Taiwan, Fiji, Indonesia, and Japan makes you realize how different the rest of the world is compared to where you live. Experiencing those places firsthand gave me a deep appreciation for what I have back home in the United States.
It is not that those countries were bad, but it gives you a fresh perspective on what God has given you. Some places deal with difficult economies, adversarial neighbors, or severe natural events on a scale that is stark compared to what we experience. Everyone in the world lives in a different reality, and experiencing those differences made me truly thankful for mine.
Photography, Gear Miracles, and Breaking the Mold
The photography side of the trip was a huge learning experience. Early on, I actually dropped my camera setup on two separate occasions because I was using a clip mechanism incorrectly. By the grace of God, the camera body did not break. The lens became a bit wobbly, but I brought it to a shop in Japan and they were able to fix it right up. That was a huge blessing.
When you visit unique international destinations, it requires very little effort to find interesting subjects. Everything feels foreign and unique. However, my goal was to enjoy each location while trying to capture a fresh perspective rather than taking the exact same postcard shot everyone else takes.
Sometimes I succeeded at breaking the mold. Other times the photos looked like standard travel shots. At the end of the day, as long as I am using my talents to capture the world as best as I can, I am content with that.
Seeing God Move Day to Day
Most importantly, I saw God move throughout the entire journey. From making close flight and bus connections to protecting my camera equipment, making new friends, sharing my faith, and returning home safely, God was clear in the details. When you see Him show up day after day, all you can say is that He is good, He knows you, and He hears you.
I am grateful for the opportunity to travel the world, and I am blessed to run a business that allows for these kinds of experiences. Praise God.
Thanks and Gig'em,
Isaac Killgore
