So, I am certain by now you have all heard how excited I am to be headed back to Africa in April, how I have so much to do in the way of preparations and how I only have two weeks left to raise all my funds. This is all very important, but some people have been asking me for a more extensive overview of what my schedule will look like while there. Allow me to thoroughly fill you in.
When I was first asked by Carie Jorgenson to start her “experimental media team,” my responsibilities were to include
(a. taking photographs of the missionaries I will be staying with and their various ministries (b. gathering information and data (personal stories, statistics, various narratives) to be used in articles and magazines/ newsletters for the Assemblies of God (c. teaching the importance of social media in the areas of marketing to the missionaries. My duties haven’t changed per say, but more has been added to them. Below are four main tasks I will be focusing on while there:
- Photography. Having four plus years of experience in photography, working in the areas of portraits, sports and weddings, I am excited to be able to use my skills in the area of photojournalism. My aim is to take inspiring, out of the box photographs that will not only inspire and provoke thought, but tell a story. I would love to create a new standard of photography for the Assemblies of God that strays from the cliché portrait, canned type photos. Some of my favorite photographers are individuals who search for the photo opportunities that so many others overlook or miss entirely. It takes patience, creativity and a desire to make a change. Videography is another angle that I will be working and this will present a new challenge to me, as I have not done much in the way of videos. I will be doing the majority of my shooting with a Canon 7D and a Rebel T2i as my backup. Photoshop and Lightroom will serve as my editing tools.
- Writing. The first step in writing for the A.G. will be gathering enough information to compose quality material. I think most journalists can be labeled as “story tellers,” because in essence, isn’t that what we do? We listen, we learn and then we tell. Listening is going to be the first and most vital step in the writing process. My job will entail listening to the missionaries and the people I encounter, then translating their stories into written words for the rest of the world to read. I will have the opportunity to interview prominent leaders in the communities I will be working in-individuals who are making a huge difference in world missions and the humanitarian scene. The majority of my writing will take place after the initial tour, once I am stateside and have time to formulate the data into clear, concise and beautifully written work.
- Teaching. Social media is an enormous tool, and one that should be utilized in every area, especially in missions. I will be teaching the missionaries the importance of using social media, from Facebook to Twitter, to blogging and website design. I am currently writing up a handbook that I will leave with the missionaries that covers everything I will be teaching in the courses. All content is coming from things I have learned in school and from personal experience in dealing in the realms of social media.
- Researching/ investigating. In addition to work for the Assemblies of God, I will be doing some research for the California Rice Commission and a bit of freelance work. I was approached by the president of the California Rice Commission, Tim Johnson, and asked if I would do some investigative work into where U. S. rice is sent in Africa, how it is used, what sort of dishes it is used in, who the main consumers are, etc… I was more than happy to help, as my father is a rice farmer and the former president of the CRC and I have the rice industry to thank for paying for my education, hobbies, really my entire life. In addition, I am going to be doing some freelance, investigative work into the empowerment of women. It is my belief that the key to ending poverty is by empowering the women of the world, particularly those living in third world countries. My goal is to see firsthand, number one, the struggles women face in the developing world and number two, what it takes to equip women with the education and skill sets to overcome poverty and make a sustainable difference in their lives and in their nations’ economies.
Perhaps it is easier to understand now, that this is not your average missions trip. If anything, this is a job, and that is exactly how I look at it. I am going into Africa with a checklist, and I intend on fulfilling every task handed to me, all the while producing quality and sustainable work that will pave the way for future media positions in the Assemblies of God network.
Because it is an entirely self-funded trip, I depend on the generosity of my donors, whose belief in me and in the work I am doing is incredibly humbling. I see this trip as the first step onto the road of my career as a journalist and a humanitarian. The experiences I gain in Africa will shape my life and the lives of others.
Having said all that… I still need to raise $1200 by the first week of February, that is a mere two weeks away, but I have faith that everything will come together as it should. I am asking you to partner with me, both in finances and prayers. I have complete faith that God is using and moulding my life to help change the course of history. Join me.
“Since that day there is nothing anyone could ever say to convince me that one person cannot change a nation. One person can do unbelievable things. All it takes is that one person who’s willing to risk everything to make it happen.”
-Sam Childers
MUSINGS OF A WANDERER 