Last year, I graduated from college and received my BFA in Photography & Design. I decided to stay in Portland, Oregon because my freelance photography was starting to take off. However, I’m writing this letter to you because I have a story that I want to share.
When I was fifteen years old, I went on my first mission trip to Mexico. Our youth group served at a local church filled with children who had nothing. No toys, no books for school, some didn’t even have shoes. However, those kids taught me the meaning of true joy. They had nothing, but somehow they had everything. They loved Jesus, and singing worship songs in Spanish made me truly realize how much the Lord loves us and calls us his own no matter who we are or where we’re from. My heart was wrecked that year. It was wrecked for the nations, for those who haven’t yet found the hope of Jesus; it was wrecked with the longing to see a changed world. Ten years later, I realized that even though I have my college degree, landed a sweet job working with Apple, and have become a successful photographer, I chose the World Race. The Lord was calling me to something more and nothing makes my heart happier than when I am serving with the least of these.
The World Race is an 11-month Christian mission trip to 11 countries around the world. One of the unique things about the World Race is that it’s not only a mission trip, but also an intensive discipleship program designed to launch my generation into our specific kingdom calling. Through the World Race, my team and I will serve in partnership with churches and ministries in local communities to preach the Gospel, plant churches, work in orphanages, minister to women and children trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking, and bring the hope of the Lord’s love to many tribes and nations. With the route that I specifically chose I will be starting this journey in September of 2015 and heading to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
I am so excited to share this journey with you, but I cannot do this alone. By faith, I will not fear. By faith, I will not hold back the love that I have for my brothers and sisters. I believe that if the Lord is really calling me to do this, He will provide and remove the obstacles planted in the way. The Lord doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called. In order to leave fully funded in September, I need to raise $16,267. This money will cover all of my field expenses for the 11 months of the trip, as well as my medical insurance. As I take this large step of faith in trusting the Lord, would you please pray for my heart, my team, and the lives that we will be pouring into during this journey? If the Lord leads you to give financially to my trip, or you know of someone that would be, you can click the Support Me tab on my page. If you’d rather mail a check to Adventures in Missions, let me know and I can connect you with my fundraising cards! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you and tell you more about the World Race and all that God has been placing in my heart. I’ll be continuously writing and posting my photographs here once the journey begins.
Thanks again for your prayers, love and support. Please spread the word. We’re in this together to make disciples, to fight the good fight, to finish the race, and to keep the faith.
Warmly and with love,
B
