Wrapping up. LIVE, from the Orlando Airport!

Q: How did you get started in photography?
A: In grade school, I discovered the family camcorder in my parent's closet. Although I didn't realize it at the time, that moment was the moment I discovered one of my greatest passions. At any rate, I began recording family events. After these basic attempts, I ventured down a six-month road that led to the "premiere" of my first feature: a 25-minute story involving a soldier's basic training. While editing that film, along with various smaller projects during my high school years, I got hooked on using video as a visual medium to communicate stories.

Q: ...and what role does it play in your life?
A: For me, photography is just a hobby for now. Photography is a tool that equips me to capture and share the beauty of God's Creation. My idea of the perfect weekend is one spent hiking a mountain with a friend or two and my camera. Video, however, is a medium which provides limitless opportunities for me to share a variety of messages.

Q: What really stuck out to you about the Dominican?
A: Beauty. The people, the landscape, the feet of the Saints--all beautiful. The people, while in absolute poverty, displayed beauty through their smiles and welcoming spirits. The landscape was beautiful in how it showed off God's handiwork: the Ocean, mountains, and ever-present produce plants. And the feet of the Saint's are beautiful in the way they illustrate fallen people who are redeemed by the blood of Christ to share the Good News.

Q: What was the most important part of the trip for you?
A: Before I share what happened in the Dominican, let me give some backstory. Over the few months leading up to the team's trip, God had been stirring my heart and soul; asking, "Was there a time in your life when you began living for me?" and "Do you understand the weight of sin?" I searched my memory to answer the first question and no matter what answer I gave my soul was not satisfied. As to the second question, God showed me the weight of sin through dreams, spiritual visions, and the Truth of His Word. Unbeknownst to me, all of this was preparing my heart for this trip.
By the eleventh day of the trip, we had spent many hours capturing the Dominican people as well as evangelistic and compassion ministry by short-term missionaries. After dinner, I went to the evening meeting to capture some video clips for a particular video segment. During the time of worship I tried to get the shots I wanted, but was overcome with the spirit of worship in the room. I began singing with all I was, just as I had done many times before. When the sermon was over, the young preacher took the group out to the courtyard. In the dark, I saw the scribe as he called out my sins, the judge as he sentenced me to death, and Jesus as He took my sins and was beaten, dragged to the cross, bleeding. "Jesus, Jesus, JESUS, Jesus, Jesus......." in my mind, my voice echoed as His name became so very precious to my lips and ears. Jesus was coming to meet me at the cross. He was cleaning my sinful, disobedient, wretched heart. He made me His--a child of God! Before this I thought I knew Him. Now I know I know Him. This is the most important event of my life. I traded my sins of selfishness in for a savior of unending Justice, Grace, and Love. I share this because I want everyone to know that even someone who grew up in the church for his entire life is not living in righteousness unless his soul has done business with God--the business of surrendering and releasing sin while accepting Jesus' atoning blood. May God bless you richly!

Jordan Craig
314.650.5444
jordancraigmedia.com

EpicQuest Photos

DAYS 5 and 6

Over the past 48 hours, the EpicQuest team has been busy finishing up construction in preparation to leave the D.R. Our team´s time them ended this morning when they left for the States. They have made a great impact on the people who have seen them working, presenting drama, and sharing testimonies. Their team reminded me of the following verse from Isaiah 52: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

DAY 4 (draft)

The team went out to a construction site where a church is being built. More to follow.

DAY 3¨- Traveling to Barahona, DR

Today we took a flight to Miami, where we boarded the plane for the international flight to Santo Domingo (the Dominican capital). After a brief wait, the Y-WAM bus arrived to take us to the missions house in Barahona. The drive was beautiful and we noticed how different the DR is from the States.
EpicQuest is a missions exposure program run by Y-WAM. Leaders bring individual high schoolers to foreign and domestic destinations to show teens compassion and evangelistic oportunities.
When we arrived at the missions house around 30 teens with EpicQuest greeted us, along with several staff. We spent the evening in prayer and fellowship, in awe of God´s Creation at Barahona´s beach.

DAY 2: Training in Orlando

The team hit the streets of Orlando this morning. Our crew of seven snapped about a thousand pix around downtown and one of the city's parks. Below are three photo-journalistic shots from my photo set.


In the afternoon, we took time to review and critique each other's photos as well as discuss the upcoming trip. Jessie Anderson (team co-leader) led us in a devotion. He took us to the passage in Matthew 8 which describes Jesus' encounter with two demon-possessed men. Jesus' power over the evil spirits drew people to Him and made their hearts inquisitive. As missionaries we should always be prepared to give an answer to people who ask us about the hope within us.

1 Peter 3:15-17

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. "

DAY 1: Arriving in Orlando

Today was the big travel day for everyone. Three team members are from Canada, I'm from New York, and our leaders are from Texas. We spent the evening talking about how we came to be involved with this trip, sharing ideas for shoots and praying with one another.

MEET THE TEAM:

Kristen Anderson has been a missionary with YWAM Orlando for several years and will be leading our Documentary Team. Her husband, Jessie, had a huge part in planning the trip. Perry Mills, Rachel Hiebert, and Catherine Behman are the three team members from Canada. Rachel is just finishing a missions assignment with YWAM, and I am representing Lake Placid, New York. We all love taking photos, have a heart for the lost, and want to glorify God during this trip.

Prayer Request: That each person on the team would be able to focus on God during this trip.

Answered Prayer

The team has all arrived in Orlando safely and with all of our bags! Praise God!

Albany, New York

After a busy evening last night and a quick hotel stay up in Albany, New York, I am now boarding flight 2436 bound for Orlando. The Documentary Team will be in Orlando training for a few days before we leave for the Dominican.

Prayer Request: For safe travels and that all baggage makes it to Florida!