11 Jan The Power of Sharing Our Stories
Recently I received the following message from a new friend I made while flying home from Asia. She was the passenger to my right and her words encourage me to continue sharing from my heart, telling stories and taking risks.
“About a year ago I was returning home on a plane with my family. I happened to sit next to an incredibly kind, thoughtful man who struck up a conversation with me and as we talked, he began to share his story of tremendous loss and a journey toward deeper hope and God. I don’t think either of us intended initially to share such deeply personal, spiritual experiences, but it ended up being the most profound plane ride of my life. I have since watched his journey on FB continue through all parts of the world as he serves others through his talents in photography. This photo particularly touches me and I had to share. He is truly evidence of how we are surrounded by good and the Divine more than we realize. Thanks Ronnie Mosley for taking a moment to share your light with a stranger on an airplane. It made a lasting impact.”
Three years ago, as 2013 concluded it was all that I could do to breathe. Our families unthinkable earthly loss of Christina left me in a state of total brokenness. If you had told me then that I would conclude this past year having traveled through twenty countries, five continents and learning to breathe above 19,000 feet, I would have just shook my head in disbelief. These past three years are truly the result of my faith in a God who loves us more that we can ever comprehend. A God who restores, heals and redeems.
My testimony of Trust, Faith and Change has led me on a path around the world, with an abundance of divine appointments along the way. Learning to share my story with others who struggle has been one of life’s most profound experiences. Our stories are important and hearing the stories of others puts our own lives into perspective. Stories tell us who someone is and they tell others who we are. In the process of sharing stories we find out that we are not alone in our pain, in our grief and in our loneliness.
The memories of what I have seen and experienced in 2016 will stay with me the rest of my life. The destinations have been unforgettable but it is the new friendships forged through mutual loss and encouragement that I treasure the most.
In this new year I encourage you to make a new friend, hear their story and share yours as well. Who knows where 2017 will take you as a result?
“They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them but then an entire life to forget them.”
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- A sadhu at Pashupatinath Temple in Katmandu, Nepal
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- Exploring the glaciers in Iceland
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- Sweet little school girl in Agra, India
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- Elevator de Gloria which I road up to Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, one of several beautiful points that one can look out over the tile roofs that give this city it’s color. With the rain dampening my clothes but not my spirits, I explored the Bairo Alto neighborhood on my way to yet another funicular, Elevador da Bica. The view of the water here is beautiful.
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- Flying over the Himalaya’s of Nepal
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- The Taj Mahal in Agra, India
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- Beautiful Thai ceremony in Chiang Mai, Thailand
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- Unexpected adventure in Zanzibar, just off the east coast of Africa
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- Experiencing “Thai smiles” at the Floating market just outside of Bangkok, Thailand
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- Riding Elephants in Thailand with Lenneke
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- Photographing for World Without Orphans in Thailand
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- Yosemite during the winter, an unforgettable hike in the snow with Marcus Bowen
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- Sleeping in the tree’s in Masai Thailand near the border of Burma
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- Finding beauty in Cambodia
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- Two hours south of Siem Reap Cambodia is a village that floats on the water. The Kampong Klang floating village on Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake. Adrift on the water, engines silenced, all I could hear was the sound of children’s laughter echoing off the water and a poem running through my mind.
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- They survive by sifting through trash at the dump looking for what they can sell for pennies. Poipet, Cambodia
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- This beautiful smile was my reward for complimenting the lovely flowers on her dress. Precious girl in the mountains of Ethiopia
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- Photographing in the In the Rikkai area of Uganda, the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic.
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- Photographing the floating markets in Thailand
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- The Ethiopian countryside
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- The Ethiopian countryside
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- Photographing in the Nepalese villages of Nepal
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- Photo taken in the Himalayan mountains in Nepal, between Mugu and Jumla
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- Nepal – Exhausted from the altitude gain (was flown into 7000’ only to hike to 11,000), I walked into a mountain village where this precious little nine year old girl was playing on the dirt floor of her hut. Even in the shadows her eyes sparkled like little diamonds. My heart literally stopped…. her voice sounded like the wind blowing through the trees as she spoke her musical name.
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- Flying out of the Himalaya’s on a much to short runway… Jumla, Nepal
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- The Rakai region of Uganda
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- The Rakai region of Uganda
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- Life along the rivers of Cambodia
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- Country of contrasts, and so many people. Agra, India
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- One of the kindest people I have ever met. An orthodox priest at a monastery on Wenche Island, Ethiopia
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- Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for a cause…. learning to breathe at over 19,000′, the climb of my life
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- Mount Kilimanjaro – I had never seen the skies so dark nor the stars so bright…
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- Summiting 19,341’ Mount Kilimanjaro with the best climbing buddy a person could wish for, my friend Kat.
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- Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro for a cause
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- Flying with Emirates – Departing Bangkok for Dubai
Phoebe Chi (Puppydoc)
Posted at 08:42h, 11 JanuaryBeautiful photos with an inspiring message. How wonderful it is that you have been able to have these experiences! Simply wonderful. 🙂
Ronnie Mosley
Posted at 09:39h, 11 JanuaryThank you Phoebe, I am grateful 🙂
mjre
Posted at 10:13h, 11 JanuaryRonnie, What an amazing post! I too, like the lady on the plane, want to tell you what an impact you’ve had on SO SO many lives-mine included! Your light shines SO brightly to others and isn’t that what God tells us He Will do… Make beauty out of ashes?! You are beautiful in every sense of the word-you LOVE others with HIS love and share God’s story with all those around you! You are a true example to all of us of living out the gospel! May your 2017 be filled with His love, His joy and His peace! Much love, Mary Jane
Sent from my iPhone
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Ronnie Mosley
Posted at 11:34h, 11 JanuaryThank you Mary Jane, your encouragement and kindness to our family continues to be such tangible evidence of God’s love to Carol and I both. Blessings to you and your sweet family ❤️