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Thank you so much for visiting! I am a professional natural-light photographer specializing in pregnancy, infant / newborn, baby, child and family photography serving the greater Milwaukee Wisconsin areas.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb" Psalm 139:13

Being a parent is an amazing blessing. My desire is to capture the anticipation of your new baby, the beauty of your newborn, the joy of your baby, and the love between families.

Thank you for visiting!

♥ Jill

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Ethiopia ~ Day 7 | Southeast Wisconsin newborn baby family photographer

03.09.12

* Thank you for visiting! This is a personal blog series about my time in Ethiopia in Jan 2012. If you are looking for newborn/baby/family sessions, please feel free to check the ‘Galleries’ drop-down in the menu bar above. Thank you!

Our last day in Ethiopia. Kind of difficult to believe. Months of preparation and very busy days and now to imagine it being our last day… sort of crazy. I was ready to get home and see my kids and husband for sure, but also realizing what an amazing journey this had been and how this has been (aside from my wedding day and having the blessing of my children) 7 of the most impactful days of my life so far.

We spent our last day in Dahley, Ethiopia. Daley is a village in the countryside and it is quickly being developed into an area where the wealthy are building their homes nearby. A few of the ladies who had been to Dahley the year prior were stunned to see all the wealthy homes built so quickly. The traditional stick and grass huts are being replaced with the dung/mud/tin homes. The air was amazingly fresh compared to the exhaust-filled streets in Addis Ababa. It was a relief to our eyes and noses and throats to be in fresh air.

We partnered with a group called ‘ 6 Baer Essentials‘ to bring bananas and bread to the children in the school. The school is the turquoise building below. The door on the left is for the young children and the door on the right is for the older children. The rooms are plain except for a chalkboard, some posters on the wall, some long wooden desks and another table with paper and pencils. A room with books and extra tables was to the left off of the photo.

The kids were SO well behaved. Being a former public school elementary teacher, I was seriously thinking that they definitely have a secret to keeping the children so quiet. ha! I complimented them on how nice they listened (and these were 3, 4 and 5 year olds in the young room). We read to them, sang some songs and then played some games before passing out the bananas and bread. The children peeled their banana and carved out the middle of the bread and stuck the banana inside the bread. Voila! Instant ‘banana bread’. Brilliant. 😉

Afterwards we played outdoor games with the children. At one point we had to shoo off a cow from the school year. Here are some photos from our last day 🙂

The little girl that is turned around on the right captured my attention with her personality.

* Below, the little girls’ shoes really stood out to me. Such a gorgeous child.

* The little girl on the left was such a little peanut. So teeny. She was shy too. Later on she and I played a little game of tag. 🙂

* And this little one was quiet but had ants in her pants. I loved her spunk and her big brown eyes.

We spent some time next with the older class. They were much more outgoing. Such a great sense of humor. Many of the people in Ethiopia focus on relationships and supporting each other emotionally.

How often I saw kids hugging other kids (adults are often the same way), speaking highly of each other, etc. Absolutely the way it should be.

We learned a new windmill/clapping game (I’m not sure of it’s name). This little boy was the grand champion. 🙂

Dancing is really an important part of the culture. These 3 little girls did a little dance for us as well.

We also see a lot of older children caring for their younger siblings. This little girl carried her baby sister on her back the entire time keeping her comfortable.

*Photos from the van as we left the village

* Cattle walking in circles to break down the straw

Once we returned to the guest house we packed up our belongings, had dinner together and met for the last time as a group. How bittersweet it was. Many of us are mothers and we missed our husbands and children – and of course we were excited to go home. But, there was an incredible bond that developed with each other. I knew no one from this trip prior to our 2 short team meetings and within a day or two these women became my sisters. I love each of them. They are so precious to me. God perfectly formed our group and we were sad to know that this experience was ending. Our interpreter Aki and our new friend, Joe (from Nebraska) were with us at our last meeting and when Aki spoke to us saying how deeply touched he was to have us wash the feet of the street children and give them shoes (his passion is the street children) it sent us all into tears. He explained ‘God bless you and I hope we meet again. If not in America or Ethiopia, then in Heaven” { insert lots of tears}

At 8pm we loaded into the vans and made our way to the Addis Ababa airport. We had one very ill team member and the airline wasn’t eager to let her on the plane at all. They almost made her stay in Ethiopia. God absolutely took care of her – a medical team from Madison, WI was on our flight (an ER RN and MD) and they put our friend into top concern and monitored her on the flight (and amazingly they let her board the plane). So she was allowed to board and then had a personal ER RN and MD for the trip. Such a blessing by God. No doubt about that. She made it home safely to Virginia!

For weeks after the return home I would wake up from sleeping in the middle of the night and see the faces of the poor people we met – especially those in Korah. It was very strange, but I believe it is because the trip was so impactful on me. I will never ever look at things the same way. I thank God for this amazing trip and absolutely hope and pray I am able to return to Africa in the future. This from a person who was extremely fearful of planes (not afraid anymore – yay!). Given a choice between resting on a beach in the Bahamas or serving the poor… I’d serve the poor in a heartbeat. There is no greater reward than serving others out of love and compassion.

Matthew 6:19-21

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Thank you for following my journey! Thank you for the many of you who prayed, supported financially, encouraged our team, donated shoes to Soles for Jesus and even made meals for my family while I was away. Thank you to my mother in law who helped with my children and for my loving husband for being a single parent for 10 days. Thank you to Diane Studor for the amazing ministry of Soles for Jesus and her humble leadership. Thank you to our team leaders, Sherry Mahnke and Kris Jansen from Soles for Jesus as well. Thank you to my church family at Community Church in West Bend for their amazing support.

My advice to you is to listen to God and when you feel him placing a calling on your heart. Obey him. I had so much fear and anxiety upon applying for the trip because I strongly dislike planes and also I love being home with my children. I knew he was asking me to go on this trip though and felt very called to go. After SO much prayer the fear in me died. Absolutely died. I was never afraid on this entire trip and that is absolutely God blessing me with courage that I don’t have naturally. If I hadn’t obeyed God, I would never have received this amazing blessing and experience. So, my advice is to just listen, pray, read his Word (bible) and obey the one who knows everything.

Jeremiah 29:11

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Thanks to the LORD, I am filled with much gratitude and joy! May God bless you, Jill

Ethiopia Mission/ Soles for Jesus

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Tags: 6 Baer Essentials,Soles For Jesus

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Joanna - Awesome Jill – I really loved reading about your experience and seeing all of your pictures. What a blessing for you and what a blessing you were to those kids. Thank you for sharing!

Ethiopia – Day 6 ~ Wisconsin newborn and baby photography

03.06.12

* This is a personal blog series about my time in Ethiopia in Jan 2012. If you are looking for newborn/baby/family blog posts, please feel free to search the ‘Galleries’ tab above on the menu drop down. Thank you!

This morning we were blessed to be able to go to Aki’s guest home – Amazing Grace Guest house (message me and I will get you the information if you are planning a trip to Ethiopia and need a guest home). Aki has an amazing heart for Christ and for the street children in Addis Ababa. He offered to bring about 30 children to his guest house and we would wash their feet as Jesus washed his disciples feet and find them a pair of shoes for them. Shoes are a luxury in most places in Africa. Children often have no shoes, shoes that are too small, falling apart, etc. Shoes cost about as much as 2 months worth of food, so shoes are often unattainable as a luxury item. As well as many street children having been orphaned, abandoned, or having dying/ill parent(s).

When we arrived, there was a group of street children waiting outside of the walls of the guest house. There was even a ping pong table brought out by Aki for the children to play on. While we were waiting for the Injera to cook and for Aki to arrive, we passed out stickers for fun and talked and visited/played with the children.

This is the street right outside of the guest house. Joe, a man from Nebraska who has decided to spend time in Ethiopia serving the needy in the name of Jesus explained that when he was walking in the dark one night he stepped on someone sleeping outside. It was a scary realization to understand that the street children oftentimes sleep near walls/fences and near and under bushes.

The bags of shoes we brought in our duffle bags sorted and laid out so sizes could be attained quickly.

Once we were all ready, Aki asked in a number of street children. The number started on the lower side… but word got around and the number quickly increased. Again, it was explained that they should not see Americans coming for them, but followers of Jesus coming to serve them as Jesus served his disciples. Diane again explained that though we have all sinned and fallen from God, God sent his only son, Jesus, to take our sentence of guilt so that whomever believes in him will have their sins washed away and have everlasting life.

At one point a couple officers came to see what the crowd was doing outside of the guest house. When they saw that Christians were washing feet of the street children and giving them shoes, they were amazed … and they got shoes too. 😉

Beginning to wash the feet of these amazing people. Some react with uncertainty and reach to wash their own feet, but we kindly explain that we want to do this and they are willing. Others sit quietly taking it all in. Still others may have a huge smile on their face. It is humbling and powerful for us to wash their feet as well. Above, I see Jeranya smiling in his green shirt. His joyous face is recognizable anywhere to me. His powerful story is posted on one of my past posts. It’s definitely worth a read: Day 5 in Ethiopia (his story is at the end).

Sizing each foot once washed and finding them shoes. As it is tough to know what sizes to bring, we began to run out of larger mens sizes. Some of the teenage boys took smaller girl shoes so that they could sell them and use the money to buy themselves shoes that would fit them.

These children came in with varying emotions. Some with joy, some with sorrow. One 2 year old hit his head when he was waiting outside the gate and came in crying. It struck me that he was the first person I had heard cry since we were there. He had a little cut on his head and Jody came over and washed his little head. I had to hug him and console him before washing his little feet. Such a sweetheart.

As each person was given new shoes, they were given a bible tract (likely the gospel of John in their Amharic language) and a meal of Injera over on the grass.

Our lovely cook

(Below) As Melva washed this young man’s feet I saw him looking at her with this look that a loving son would give his mother. He sat quietly while she massaged and washed his feet. You could see his body relax. It struck me that she was washing his feet like a mother washes her son’s feet and as I mentioned, his face showed gratitude and love towards her in a quiet way. Tears filled my eyes and I thought about imagining that this was my son. That if I was sick, dying or dead and my son (or one of my three children) was left on the streets how desperately I would want someone to care for my child. It’s only by birth location that many of us in America never experience this type of poverty that many around the world experience as a normal part of life. God loves and cares deeply for us (his most amazing gift to us being sending Jesus for us) and how he loves us more than we can imagine.

These were the dirtiest and most injured feet that I’ve seen. Dirt that extended deeper than the whites of the nailbed into the pink. Scarred feet. And these are children and teenagers. Pictures just don’t do justice.

People who did have closed-toed shoes (flip flops don’t make as much of a difference) had notably healthier feet.

Joe filling the tubs with fresh water as often as possible. The water would be murky and dirty within one foot.

A pair of abandoned shoes.

A young man leaning against the wall after having his feet washed and given new shoes. He was reading the bible tract (gospel of John in Amharic) and I could see him thinking as he reflected on what just happened. Often we won’t know what impact this has on these people, but we pray for them often.

One young man had such damaged feet that we had to document it. The cracks in his feet were deep deep deep. This type of injury, though easily treatable in America, can be deadly if it is infected. He sat quietly as Melva and Christina carefully washed his feet and put antibiotic creme on it. Its an incredible rarity to see the poor with socks. Quianna took her own socks off and they put them on his feet. I believe this was also the man who really needed a pair of shoes and as I mentioned we had so many teenage men come that we were quickly out of the sizes we needed. He needed a size 10 in mens and we were out of men’s size 9 and 10. The largest we had was a WOMENs size 7. And imagine …. it fit. This is not possible without God. We could rationalize it all we want, but it was a miracle. I wear a size 7 and that does not fit a man who needs a size 10. God absolutely stretched that shoe that it would fit him.

This was an amazing day. A day we all felt the power of God. On the way home we stopped along side the road to take a picture. Do you see the smoke rising in the distance? That is the dump in Addis Ababa that typically is on fire in areas. That is near Korah (see day 1 and 2) and where many make their living searching in the trash for food and items that they can use or sell. The sad fact is that this dump is being phased out by the government in Addis Ababa. So those who have only garbage to search through will soon have nothing. Please pray continually for the people in Korah and the street people in Ethiopia and around the world. Also, consider making a financial gift to charities that have excellent charity ratings such as: Soles for Jesus, Bring Love in , Project 61, Baer Essentials, … I could go on and on.

Typical scaffolding made of sticks near a building being constructed.

Thank you so much for sharing in this story! You were a definite part of this ministry if you donated financially, prayed and supported those on this trip. Thank you sooooo much! One day left to share. 🙂

Tags: Amazing Grace Guesthome,jill velicer,jill velicer photography,Soles For Jesus,wisconsin christian businesses

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Joanna - So amazing Jill – especially the story of the size seven shoes fitting a size 10 man. Definitely a God thing!

Ethiopia ~ Day 5 | Wisconsin newborn baby photographer

03.01.12

* This is a personal blog series on my trip to Ethiopia in Jan 2012. If you are looking for newborn, baby, family sessions, please see the drop down ‘Galleries’ above on the menu bar. Thank you!

As I write this blog post about Ethiopia, it’s been almost a month since I’ve been back. Yet each and every day and almost moment by moment, these people and my experiences are in my mind. I so love my family and I love American food and home, but my heart aches to return someday. It’s something that is almost impossible to express unless you’ve experienced it. What an impact this trip has made on my life and I’m so grateful to be able to share the stories and the faces of these beautiful people.

Our 5th day in Ethiopia, we were able to go to Trees of Glory. This is a feeding program for the abandoned, abused, poor children in the area that Trees of Glory is located in. An Ethiopian couple shared their story with us. A while ago his wife was pregnant with their 2nd child, a son. They saw their baby boy moving on the ultrasound and shortly there after, the baby passed away. They had to deliver this baby via c-section and have a hysterectomy. While the husband was waiting for the surgery to be completed, the Doctor came and told him that his wife died as well. Shortly after this his wife came back to life. While she was in this surgery and struggling with the deep and raw loss of losing a baby, God spoke to her and told her that her and her husband would be taking care of orphans and needy children. And that is why they began ‘Trees of Glory’. She still cries over the grief of losing this baby, but her and her husband have such a passion to care for the needy children and widows.

They have built a small home for widows and orphans so that they can recreate family structure within Ethiopia. Right now they are able to provide for a total of 8 in the home, but have goals to provide for more. To take broken children and women and create new families is beautiful. A theology teacher from the USA was speaking with us and said that the home that they invest in and built for the recreation of families is far nicer than their own. They love God and they love people. They also are starting a feeding program 3 days a week for the children. They had been praying for God to provide the income for them to be able to feed these hungry children, but weren’t sure where that money would come from. When we brought them sheep to cook injera for the kids this was the answer to their prayers and she openly wept on the floor thanking God for answering their prayers. There are amazing people in Africa serving God and serving the people that are in such dire need. Women who have been abused, dying of Aids and widows. Children who are also abused, neglected, abandoned, hungry and in need. There is a great need, but God is moving in Africa in enormous ways.

* Below, the husband of ‘Trees of Glory’ who lost his son and almost his wife.

While we were there Diane explained a little about Jesus. Since all humans have sinned against God he sent his only son, Jesus, who was without sin to die as a sacrifice for our sins. This does not mean God is bloodthirsty and out for revenge. The opposite is true. He is the God who loves us all so deeply that Jesus (God himself) willingly died a humiliating and painful death for us. It is an easy gift to accept. Two girls accepted Jesus’ sacrifice for them that morning. One of the girl’s had a very sorrowful presence about her, but after she prayed she became a new person. She was smiling and happy. It was an obvious change in her life immediately. Diane explained that we were her sister’s in Christ and gave both girls lots of hugs. The previously sorrowful girl later on thanked us and kissed us – but, it wasn’t us, it was Jesus.

John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

* Diane speaking to one girl after she prayed and accepted Christ.

* below, the girl who was sorrowful

… and full of joy afterwards.

(below) Children came forward and shared what God has done in their lives. This boy came and explained that he was playing on a bridge and fell off, but God rescued him and he survived.

This man was with the children and although he is older, he is also handicapped. He was so full of kindness and gratitude that he stuck out to all of us.

Another handicapped young man who was amazingly sweet. He wanted a photo with his cross necklace.

* As I turned from this woman I heard the holy spirit speak to me, “Take her picture and tell her she is beautiful”. So I walked back to her and did just that. Her left hand was born deformed and she had been peeking from behind a door. She politely let me photograph her and I touched her shoulder and said, “Conjo” which means ‘beautiful’. She is indeed beautiful.

As we served the children Injera I walked around and took a lot of their pictures. Looking at their faces tonight my heart just pumps for them. They are precious. I am so eager to return to Africa when God calls me. I have deep gratitude for God for removing the fear I had to go on this trip ( I struggled with the fear of flying and leaving my family for many weeks). After lots of prayer the fear in me died. That is the best way I can describe it. I am so thankful God replaced my fear with courage because this experience has changed me and blessed me in more ways than I could’ve ever imagined and can ever explain. Life has an entirely different meaning now.

* Click on the thumbnails and to scroll through the faces of these beautiful people.

We also ended our day by visiting Grace Orphanage. Cameras are not allowed in there. We were able to hold infants and hear their stories. The director showed us a book of before pictures of these abandoned babies. Babies found on top of garbage piles left to die covered with ant bites. Babies dying of pneumonia, malnutrition or starvation and many other complications. But their 3 months after treatment photos were amazing. These babies were thriving and surviving and waiting for adoptive families. These are babies born into unfortunate situations, but fully human created by God and deserving of life.

Later on that evening at dinner Aki shared with us a story of deep sadness and also of joy – of a orphaned boy, alone and on the streets he found eating dirt and with deep emotional and physical scars . I’ll add a quote from Joe’s blog, Wandering Africa, since he explains it best…

After lunch we decided to pull Jeranya out of school for the afternoon so he could join Aki in a Bible study. I guess I better give a background of Jeranya, because his story is truly amazing to say the least. God is so alive in him and the path of Jesus shines around him! He is 15ish years old and is from a village close to the Sudan border. He lost his family a couple years back in a terribly tragic evil way. But God’s Awesome Grace and protection brought him out of this tragedy.

He spent a total of 2 years on the streets all over Ethiopia. He had mental problems from this event in his life, but about 3 months ago God brought him off the street healed him mentally and made him new! (2 Cor. 5:19)

Aki and one of his Kentuckian friends named Nathan found him in the mud of a river running through Addis. They felt God’s prompting to bring him out clean him and make him a long term guest at Amazing Grace Guest Home. He truly shines and praises Jesus; in fact as we speak he is jumping up and down singing praise songs! I’m not joking he really is and this is not a rare thing its constant! His smile now is one you could only imagine.

When we walk down the streets people are amazed to see him. He was very famous around a city of 4 million. When he tells people his story he is truly witnessing to people about the miracles God can work out of terrible circumstances. He has made people cry, and praise God because of his story!

So with that said we took him out of one of his first days of school ever, but God had a big plan for our day!

We got finished buying him a belt so he didn’t have to where his pants rolled up high water style anymore. Then an amazing thing happened, a man stopped Aki and told him something this isn’t unusual since Aki knows everybody then when we walked away I looked back at this man and I saw him talking to a young boy and I had a presence of the Lord feeling in my heart.

I asked Aki what the man said, and Aki told me, “The man said there is a boy that is homeless and needs some help.” So God prompted us to talk to the boy. We started talking to him and found out he is from the same Region as Jeranya. Aki can’t speak the language, so by God’s grace again we had Jeranya with us to translate!!

The boy’s name is Mesganew and he has been living on the streets for seven months. His mother passed away and when his father remarried his new step mother kicked him out of their home to make room for her and her children.

It’s really a sad story that even the father was ok with this. I have only known Mesganew for a day now, but I feel God brought all of us together for an amazing reason. So we now have 2 long term guests at Amazing Grace! He and Jeranya are already like brothers! It’s Amazing!

* Jeranya full of Joy

Please pray for these families and children. Please pray for Trees of Glory to be blessed so that they may provide for the children and widows. God is entirely good and can bring beauty out of sadness. We live in a fallen world and some day there will be no more sadness, death, sickness or pain. We hold tight to that promise. ~ Jill

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away,” (Rev. 21:4).

Why is there evil and suffering in the world?

Why did God create us with sin in the world?