What's this trip and why am I going?

For those of you who know me through YouTube, you know that I love perpetrating positivity through my videos. For those of you who know me in real life, you know that passion extends to all the other aspects of my life and people that I meet.

The school that I attend, Southern Adventist University, has given me the incredible opportunity of going on a mission trip to the La Vida Mission in New Mexico this coming spring. La Vida is a really cool school for Navajo kids where they can have positive role models, learn about Jesus, and become better educated for their lives ahead (watch the video below for the amazing story of how La Vida came to be and what awesome stuff they do!!).

While the fine details are still being arranged, the group from Southern that I will be going with will be doing construction at the school as well as a Week of Prayer. This is at least the sixth year that Southern has done a mission trip to La Vida. While the specific project may change year to year – sometimes painting, sometimes constructing a new building, etc. – the focus never wavers from helping the Mission out in a tangible way. Teachers for the school is important, but so too are buildings to have school in! For those of you who don’t know, a week of prayer is basically a series of programs that we Southern students will put on for the La Vida Mission students that consists of singing some spiritually-themed songs, participating in some small group discussions on various Bible topics, and maybe a short sermon or two. In other words, getting to share Jesus with these kids in a real and relatable way.

While the division of labor may change slightly when on site, one of my primary jobs will be to make videos of the trip – not just as a personal souvenir, but as a way to share how God is blessing La Vida Mission. And to give Southern’s mission program a unique way to promote for future La Vida mission trips – if they can show other students a 5-10 minute video of what this trip, this school is like, many more students may sign on to go.

For nearly five years I have made videos on YouTube of me visiting history museums and national parks, but more and more this year I have felt a calling to use my video skills for God in much more of a bold, Jesus-focused way than merely making history videos. Now my chance has come. To capture and share with others the awesome work La Vida is doing, the enthusiasm for God that the college students on this trip have, and just plain to showcase the amazing things that God is doing in this part of the country – what an incredible opportunity and privilege to use my creative talents for Him!

And that’s where you come in. I am willing to put myself out there and do all of this, but I need your support! As of this writing, I still need $650 in order to go. If you have any spare pennies, quarters, or dollars, your donation to my trip would be much appreciated!  And whether or not you are able to financially donate, your prayers for me and the other students on this trip would be very much appreciated as we all try to perpetrate positivity – God’s love -- to the students and faculty of La Vida Mission. And for those of you interested, I will for sure be posting my video(s) of this trip on my YouTube channel (youtube.com/tnphotobug) come next spring!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and for considering donating to my trip. May God richly bless you!

More about La Vida:

We will be serving alongside La Vida Mission.   Below is an awesome 11-min video that tells the incredible story of how they came to be and all the super cool stuff for Christ they are doing now!!

How YOU can Help:

Please consider supporting our trip financially.  Your donation will help cover travel costs, supply our group with training, provide construction and children's ministries supplies, etc.  Please review Southern Adventist University's Giving Policy to ensure you understand how your donation will be processed.