Saturday, June 11, 2016

THE LITTLE BOY WITH THE CELL PHONE CAMERA...

Ira Desire was a “lanky” ten-year-old kid with a quick tongue when he first crossed the threshold at Granny’s House, an after school program that had become a “Pied Piper” of sorts in the projects - a gathering place for kids who’d come from all over the world: Rwanda, Afghanistan, Liberia, Russia, Thailand, Congo, Yemen, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Tanzania. “Desiree” (pronounced “Duh-zeer-ray”) as he was called back then, had just arrived from Tanzania with his family and the English language along with American, mid-western culture was all new to him. Some of the first words he learned to speak well were the same words that kids sprawled across the bricks at Granny’s House after hours. He was smart, sometimes angry, witty, sometimes melancholy, creative, sometimes lawless, and you never knew which version you’d encounter on any give day. He was, indeed, a challenge for Granny’s House staff and volunteers as they endeavored to carry out their mission of mirroring God’s unconditional love to the kids who hung out on Trinity Place after school.

"Disiree" during his early days at Granny's House.

We first began to see little glimpses of his creativity when he’d bring in little minute-long movies he’d videoed and edited on a cell phone. We’d always pepper him with questions after watching one of his movies: “How’d you do that? How’d you catch that scene? How’d you get that shot from inside of a microwave?” There was no doubt that this kid had a creative “eye!”

As the years passed, Ira got better and more sophisticated cell phones and then better and more sophisticated cameras. He took classes at CATV (Columbia Access Television), did job shadows with Steve Twitchell at Steve Twitchell Production Studio and with Blake Godwin and Brett Manie at the Missouri School Board Association’s Media Center. He has been the photographer and videographer for quite a few Granny’s House projects, often makes movies featuring soccer players and rap artists, and is frequently asked to take senior pictures for classmates. He takes advantage of every opportunity to learn and expand his skill set to become a successful professional photographer.

 Ira Desire with one of his mentors, Tyrone Flowers, founder of Higher MPact in Kansas City.

And, all while developing his photographic skills, he’s been honed into what my dad would have called a “fine young man” i.e. kind, courteous, and a keeper-of-his-word type of guy. I often find myself saying, “Ira, you always make me think… you force me to study! You ask the most difficult questions about the Bible!” He’s never satisfied with pat answers or even a hint of religiosity! He insists on hearing the raw TRUTH!!  We proudly call him one of our “Sons.”

 Ira Desire with his little brother at Granny's House; Ira's baptism.

Granny Pam and Granny's House "alumni," Kiona Hughes with Ira Desire.

We were thrilled when he agreed to do a family photo shoot for us when our son come home for a visit from Germany – the very first photos we’d taken with all four of our kids and the grandchildren! Believe me, it was not easy photographing fourteen people outside on a hot summer evening – a large group that included three busy-bodied little boys! 


Yes, Ira Desire is now a “Professional” photographer and we couldn’t be more excited to show him off on our Facebook pages and soon on all of our fireplace mantles!!  -Granny Pam

Ira Desire doing a family photo shoot at Shelter Gardens.