encouraged.

so i just got back from pennsylvania,
where i met two cool people at starbucks.
(they're also going to be traveling to hawaii for the PhotogenX DTS).
we were there for almost 4 hours,
talking camera stuff and getting to know each other.

i really enjoyed talking to them,
and i'm excited to be spending the summer with them also.

i feel like this was what i needed.
a reassurance.
an encouragement.
i feel like the Lord is saying to me, "don't worry, you're gonna be fine. trust Me. I have it all worked out already, there's nothing to worry about."

i'm so glad i was able to meet them before we go to hawaii.
i enjoyed hearing their stories about how they found YWAM,
and i think we're going to become pretty good friends.
even though it doesn't work out to travel together. ;)

65 days.

no fear.

as the time to leave for hawaii draws closer,
i'm taken in by the fears.
fears of traveling alone.
fears of not being "in control" (even though i'm not in control anyway).

traveling 12+ hours alone on airplanes (through multiple airports),
well, it's quite adventurous for an 18-year-old
(especially one who has never traveled -alone- farther than one hour away from home).
it scares me more than horror movies scare me.
(which basically means that i'm terrified).

i was kind of freaking out,
but then i was reminded that God is going with me.



praise the Lord for His promises.
He never breaks them and He will never leave me.
i don't have to be afraid.

am i still a little nervous? yes.
but guess what? i can do everything through Him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:13)

66 days until i leave for kona, hawaii.

nothing happens by chance.

life isn't going to happen like we plan it. <-- fact.

this morning i was reminded of when i was in the middle of the fall semester last year,

realizing that getting an associates degree in art education isn't what i wanted.

God knew everything that was going to happen.

He knew i was going to go to community college for a semester.

He knew i wasn't going to like it.

He had a greater plan already in place.

i thought it was going to be so simple.

i had planned out what i was going to do,

but God is working things out better than i could have ever imagined.

everything happens for a reason

and trusting that God has everything worked out already is what i need to do.

"and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, 

who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

flight: booked.

i just booked my flight to hawaii!
i leave at 10:40am, april 5th
(but i secretly wish i was leaving tomorrow).
i am SO excited!!! :)

the story.

this is the story of how

i found out about YWAM's DTS.

be warned, it's nothing fancy.

in fact, it's quite boring and long.

just the ramblings of a farm girl

(yes, i live on a farm).

okay...here goes!

last semester i was enrolled full-time at our local community college.

everything was going well, 

it was what i wanted to do.

i had everything all planned out.

i was going to go there, 

get my 2-year associates degree,

then jump full-time into building my photography business.

haha, it's quite funny how i thought i had it all figured out.

(i didn't have a clue).

so there i was, last semester.

taking 12 credits, working part-time on the farm,

working part-time as a photographer.

full-time student. 

busy,busy,busy.

anyway, about 5 or 6 weeks into the semester,

something in me changed.

suddenly, i didn't want to be there.

i dreaded the 45 minute (one-way) drive to the college.

i hated that i was spending so much time alone.

i didn't want to be majoring in "art education."

i'm not going to be an art teacher (unless it's with photography).

fast-forward, past the depressing facebook statuses.

and me bawling my eyes out on my way home from school.

and the tantrums i threw on my way to school.

to the part when my mom, unable to stand my attitude any more,

googled "Christian photography schools."

i know i'm supposed to do something with photography.
preferably in a Christian environment.

the google search came up, and we found this thing called "school of photography I"
i started reading about it (it's a 3-month intense photography school that focuses on using photography to glorify God), and decided that i wanted to do it.
but there was a catch.
to be enrolled in the "school of photography I,"
you have to complete a 6-month school called a
"Discipleship Training School."

three months of training, then three months of outreach/missions.
at first, i wasn't so sure about it.
but then, i found a DTS called PhotogenX.
their mission? use photography to be a voice for the voiceless.
to bring light to a world lost in darkness.
the training? three months of Bible classes and photography classes.
the outreach? anywhere in the world, reaching out to people using photography.
my next thought: when/where can i sign up for this????

my parents heard where the training was (hawaii),
and said, "uhh, no way."

i prayed and prayed,
asking God what He wanted me to do.
the longer it went, the more i felt called to apply.
finally, i got the "go ahead" from my parents.
they said, "we can't stop you from doing what God wants you to do."

overjoyed and nervous, i applied.
a few weeks later, i got an email saying i was accepted.
i leave for the training in hawaii on april 5th.
i am so stoked for this!
i feel like it's where God wants me.

stepping out in faith,

i dropped the community college classes i was registered for (this semester).

i'm praying that God will provide the funds for me to go on this trip.

i need about $7,500.00 before may or june.
please consider supporting me.

i am willing to do whatever i can to raise the $7,500 i need.
i'll babysit your kids.
wash your car.
clean your house.
take photos of you. (see this post for details).
anything you can think of, i'll do it.

please keep me in your prayers as i'm raising my support.
and as i prepare to leave maryland and head to hawaii.
i'm nervous about it, but i've never been more sure of anything.
~Valerie

beginnings.

hello.
i'm valerie.
this is my blog.
my thoughts.
my story.
my journey.
my adventures.

through the eyes
(and camera lens)
of a small-town girl
who knows what she wants from life.


i want to follow God and serve Him faithfully.
"he who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much..."
Luke 16:10a

i want to shine a light on a lost world.
"...let your light shine before others, that they may see...and glorify your Father in Heaven."
Matthew 5:16

i want to use photography for God.
(don't have a Bible verse for that one...haha)

i'm part of a terrific group of people who want the same things.
they're called the 2012 photogenX DTS group.
and we will be joining together on april 5th.
in kona, hawaii.
DTS is a 6-month discipleship training school with YWAM.
three months of training in hawaii,
three months of outreach and missions
(where? i have no idea yet).

in short, this blog will keep you updated while i'm raising my support.
(amount i need to raise: $7,500).
and i will be updating it with photos and posts while i'm in hawaii.
and hopefully i'll be able to update it when i'm on the outreach.

i'll share about my decision to work with YWAM in a later post,
but for now, please keep me in your prayers as i try to raise the money i need.
to quote one of the DTS leaders,
"you do what's possible and God will do the impossible."
i've seen Him provide before.
i'm trusting that He will be faithful.

would you consider taking a step of faith to support me?
it would bless me, enable me to go on the outreach,
and help me to touch many lives of lost and broken people.
my heart is heavy with the alarming numbers of people still in slavery today.
(watch this video to see what i mean).
and i feel called to do something about it.
i've listened to the call, and i've stepped out in faith to do it.
(that's where i got the title for this blog). :)

i don't like begging for money, but i can't afford to do this.
i feel like God has burdened my heart to go, and He will provide.
maybe even through you.
this is NOT a scam.
every penny you donate goes directly towards my trip.
(see my other blog for more details).
please, just pray about donating.
thank you. :)
~Valerie