If you have been keeping up with my blog, you know I am going to Togo, Africa in August with a missions team. There are 12 of us going. While I have raised a good portion of the money (and I have been blown away by the generosity people have shown), I am still looking to raise more. It’s the hardest part of doing this trip.

I wanted to think of a way to ask people to donate and do so in a way that it would be a benefit to them or to others in more way than one.

Part of why I am taking the trip to Africa is to help document the trip with photographs and video. What I would also like to do, is offer up my services for a family by doing a full portrait session for one.

Some of you are local and can take advantage of this opportunity yourself. Others however, live all around the country and may not be able connect with me to do so. However, you can provide that opportunity for a family in need. Here is what I am proposing:

A Drawing For A Family Portrait Shoot

For a $10 donation, your name will be entered in a drawing for me to do this family portrait session. If you can donate $15, your name will be entered twice. For a donation of $20, it will be entered three times.

For those of you that are local, you can enter for yourself or give the gift certificate to a family member or friend.

For those of you who are not local, your gift certificate will be given to a family (our church is aware of those families who could benefit from this) in need and provide them with something they may not have been able to take advantage of otherwise.

Below is a Paypal button. Enough of your information will be provided when you donate. Please indicate in the notation area the following:

Mission Trip Photo Shoot Drawing

This way I am certain of why you are issuing that donation. I appreciate any support you can give and please, if you have a Facebook account, Twitter account, or a blog, please pass this on.

Thanks!

UPDATED!! *** See below!

My church has long been involved with missions. It’s an area of ministry the church focuses on quite often. I’ve never felt led to go on any missions trip before. Our church has taken missions trips to Mexico, El Salvador, and Cambodia as well as missions trips within the United States. When it was announced that our church was going to take a missions trip to Africa, I knew that it was a trip I wanted to be part of.

A missionary couple we support in Togo West Africa, JJ and Melissa Alderman have a ministry there that is geared towards the youth of Togo. You can read more about it here.

A team of about 20 people are stepping out in faith to sign up be part of a team that will travel to Togo in August for 10 days serve at Togo Palms and to serve the children there. My heart has been drawn to that continent despite never being there before. Our family, through Compassion International, sponsors a young boy named Henry in Kenya. When I talked about going on the trip, I was surprised to hear my son ask if he could go as well. Now, as a 14 year old I know that part of his desire is based on the fact that there is some adventure involved. He’ll be flying for the first time and visiting another country. But when I told him about the focus on sports and that basketball would be involved, he became more interested. I want him to go because I want him to see how God impacts people that have so much less than we do in terms of possessions. It will be an amazing experience for the both of us.

We do ask for you to pray for us first. My view is, if this is in God’s timing, it will happen.

That being said, the trip is of course, not cheap. For the both of us, it will cost $5000 to take this trip. That money needs to be raised in the next 5 months. This is where I need you to help. There are two different ways you can do this.

1. You can donate any amount that you’d like using the ChipIn widget that is on the sidebar. You can use your PayPal account if you have one, but you can also use a credit card. All donations are tax deductible.

I am making some images of Florida landscapes I have made over the last couple of years available for purchase. You’ll see the ‘Buy Print’ link under each image. There are a number of options including regular prints along with, fine art prints and gallery wraps. Again, your purchases are tax deductible.

UPDATE: I am removing the option to purchase prints. Unfortunately, the overhead costs are too much to sustain. For instance, somebody ordered a large fine art print. The cost to them was $96, but the amount I received for the missions trip was only $30. As every dollar is critical to the chances of going on this trip, I would ask that if you saw fit to contribute, you use the Chip In link above.

Thank you so much for your consideration. I truly appreciate it.

UPDATE: I have to apologize for neglecting to ask people to pray not only for me and my son but for all of those who want to take this trip. One of the most encouraging things for me was to see about 4-5 teens from our church at the meeting and declaring their intention to go on this trip as well. There are about 20 in all that have signed up so pray for the entire team. Thanks!

UPDATE: Unfortunately, it appears as though I am going to be solo on this trip (if I go at all). I wanted to bring my son and he wanted to go but to be honest, the idea of having to raise $5000 in such a short time has appeared to be too daunting. Plus, his friend was supposed to go and he isn’t and Michael was looking forward to ministering with his friend. But Michael is still interested in doing missions and my guess is we will get him on a short term trip in the States somewhere before going overseas. That being said, it does ease the burden of me raising money for the trip. If you can donate, I would truly appreciate it!