{portraits for a cause}

In June, I will be embarking on my first trip to Africa. More specifically: Pemba, Mozambique.

A group of around 15 are traveling to the Iris Ministries base to serve in any areas that are in need and to basically, love.

I won't even pretend, with flowering paragraphs, that I know what awaits me or even that I know how I will best be of service to a people I have yet to meet. The only place I can speak from honestly is the place that my heart is currently.

Inside of me is a passion for stories. Real stories. To know and understand what people have gone through. And the most wonderful challenge of all is to be able to convey these stories without any words, but purely through photographs. I think the deeper we are willing to be open and connect with others, the more we revel in the Love that's been given to us and how it all at once BECOMES who we are without any sort of striving on our part.

In this spirit, to raise funds for the travel expenses and to leave there with the Mozambicans and Iris, a different sort of fundraiser emerged. Wayne Dutrow came along side me and offered the use of his professional grade equipment to set up a studio in one of the storage rooms in our church building. We began in March taking "Portraits for a Cause." The sitting fee is donations only and all proceeds go entirely to this mission.