(Originally written 2009. Updated 2026) By Dale Russell Picture it: a scorching Ugandan evening around 7:00 PM. The sun has finally disappeared, but it’s still about 90°F with humidity to match. As a visiting team, we’ve been invited to a special event—a.k.a. the weekly bee inspection at the Bee Center at […]
It Seemed a Good Idea, Until…. Read More »
by Dale Russell What could an Adult In Custody (AIC) possibly share with a Ugandan orphan living at Otino Waa Children’s Village (OTW)? At first glance, the answer seems obvious: very little. One lives behind prison walls, the other within the fragile safety of a children’s village thousands of miles
Is Handwriting a Lost Art—or a Lifeline? Read More »
(Let’s have fun—with purpose.) Artificial intelligence reflects humanity’s curiosity and creativity. Y. LeCun Observe people who are good at their work— skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a backseat to anyone. Proverbs 22:29 AI-generated art is everywhere these days. Whether you’re scrolling through social media, spotting it
FROM BARS TO BRUSHES TO AI Read More »
by Dale Russell – (Highlighting AIC Artist zebra/horse creations over the years) On paper, it seems obvious. They’re basically horses in high-contrast pajamas, right? Well… not so fast. The Dutch actually did try to tame zebras during their time in South Africa, but the zebras responded with a clear, unanimous,
We domesticated horses—so why not zebras? Read More »
by Dale Russell We finally have a moment to reflect on all the blessings that came out of the historic Radical Reconciliation Tour a couple of weeks ago. We were engaged in six meetings during the week-long trip around Oregon. Our guests were Pastor Nelson Vargas and Carlos Colón from
Review of Amazing Things Read More »
Art piece showing stages of incarceration – arrest (left), discovery of art and purpose (bottom R) and the long-range benefit (welcoming into Otino Waa Children’s Village, Uganda – top) Life’s challenges can often leave us asking why—why pain, why loss, why struggle? Yet, Scripture reminds us that God never wastes
God’s Beauty, Truth, and Hope – When Words Fall Short Read More »
By AIC Clifford Mitts I have been donating art to Visions of Hope since 2010. I donated before I really understood what Otino Waa Children’s Village was all about. Over the years, I have come to understand how much impact we have had on the lives of hundreds of children.
I Can Make a Difference and Provide Hope Read More »
We recently completed the first “tour” of this fall season, The Romans 1:20 Prison Tour “Evidence & Choice” We made the complete round route of the state presenting to eight groups in six prisons. The plans were started months ago and required a lot of details and paperchase, with
Logical Conclusion to a Logical Question Read More »
by Dale Russell The past couple of weeks have had such an impact on us all. Deep sadness, a whirlwind of questions, and incredibly, glimpses of evil played out from all kinds of sources. On a much smaller level, we at Visions of Hope face the nonsense and creative difficulties
by Dale Russell In almost every ministry there are details that tend to communicate a message to people about their importance and/or how much they should value what’s happening. Lack of attention to details could lead to a negative impression. While details are important, so is the big picture. When
Hope Shows Up in the Mail Read More »
